Okay, hardly an alert, but in a story that comes as absolutely no surprise to most everybody but the psychic community…

From The Register

Telly psychics fail to foresee £12k fine for peddling nonsense
By Bill Ray, 24th June 2013

Insert ‘didn’t see that coming’ gag here

Oh, I will

Psychic TV has been fined £12,500 for failing to remind viewers that it’s all nonsense, while interactive quiz channel The Big Deal got stung with a 10 grand fine for advertising the service – something neither of them saw coming.

The broadcast breached Ofcom’s latest guidance for flimflam artists: that they must regularly remind viewers they’re talking bollocks, both in words and on-screen banners, and that claims of efficacy aren’t permitted. Both Psychic TV and Big Deal managed to breach both those clauses.

The broadcast claimed psychics could provide “accurate and precise” readings for those who called in. Presenters provided evidence in the form of anecdotes about previous successes (which isn’t allowed) and claimed to have worked for various police forces in solving crimes, specifically in connection with the murder of Milly Dowler, which is also verboten – if only because it isn’t true.

Ofcom can’t ban psychics from appearing on TV, and dial-in TV is a burgeoning industry right now, so the regulator erects a maze of legislation requiring broadcasters to constantly remind viewers that it’s all a bit of fun and shouldn’t be taken seriously.

I have to say, the motto of the Register strikes a warm feeling for me, writing the sorts of articles that we do here.

Biting The Hand That Feeds IT

Used to be that psychics and other frauds depended upon information not being available to the general public. At first maybe it seemed like the Internet would be a new way to peddle their fantasies, and it will probably always
remain that way. But that has become a two edged sword as it also becomes the way to get the word out about the bs they regularly peddle.

Maybe they should all stick to being pet psychics, after all, Fluffy, Rover, and Mr Bubbles cant actually tell you what the psychic is saying is absolute garbage.

But then…

You will just about as much luck. I could barely ever beat that chicken who played Tic-Tac-Toe on the boardwalk.

Any psychics out there who need to contact me can do so.

[email protected]

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