They should have seen it coming!
Cork’s city officials have been challenged for allowing City Hall to be used by psychics and fortune tellers during next month’s Mind Body Spirit festival.
The Cork Skeptics group said it has huge concerns about the use of a public venue for an exhibition that can, in some cases, expose vulnerable people to exhibitors offering services of "highly dubious social value".
"I am not saying that some of these exhibitors are scam artists. They are probably doing this with the best of intentions and charging hefty fees to do so," Cork Skeptics founder Colm Ryan said.
"They are probably very honest people who believe they are helping people. But there is absolutely no scientific evidence that they are."
The Cork Skeptics, formed in November 2010, is dedicated to promoting science, critical thinking and skepticism.
The Mind Body Spirit Festival is held in Dublin and Cork every March and is due to take place in Cork’s City Hall from March 9-11.
Its promoters invite people to "take a journey" with them to "explore alternative therapies, relaxation techniques and ancient wisdoms from East and West".
There will be over 50 exhibits, including stands showcasing healing crystals, aromatherapy, holistic treatments and tarot card readings, as well as free lectures from ‘experts’ on guardian angels, clairvoyance, feng shui and homeopathy.
Entrance is free and up to 5,000 people are expected to attend. But Mr Ryan said, based on his observations of last year’s event, he is skeptical about psychics’ claims: "Many psychics use a practice known as ‘cold reading’ — a psychological technique where information is gleaned from the customer, and replayed back in a way that seems to indicate that the psychic has special powers.
"Many magicians and mentalists use the same techniques but they never claim psychic abilities.
"Not one psychic has ever been able to demonstrate their powers in a properly controlled trial, strongly indicating that these claimed abilities do not exist."
In a letter to city management, he said by opening the City Hall to psychics, people who may be at a difficult time in their lives are being exposed to individuals who claim access to special wisdom.
"It is extremely unlikely that this special wisdom actually exists," Mr Ryan said.
He said there are instances of people listening to the advice of psychics instead of seeking proper medical or psychological treatment.
And he said City Hall has a duty to hold exhibitions that provide useful services to the public, and which "do not prey on human vulnerability or gullibility".
A festival spokesperson declined to comment on what she said was a "commercial event".
The Cork Skeptics group said it has huge concerns about the use of a public venue for an exhibition that can, in some cases, expose vulnerable people to exhibitors offering services of "highly dubious social value".
"I am not saying that some of these exhibitors are scam artists. They are probably doing this with the best of intentions and charging hefty fees to do so," Cork Skeptics founder Colm Ryan said.
"They are probably very honest people who believe they are helping people. But there is absolutely no scientific evidence that they are."
The Cork Skeptics, formed in November 2010, is dedicated to promoting science, critical thinking and skepticism.
The Mind Body Spirit Festival is held in Dublin and Cork every March and is due to take place in Cork’s City Hall from March 9-11.
Its promoters invite people to "take a journey" with them to "explore alternative therapies, relaxation techniques and ancient wisdoms from East and West".
There will be over 50 exhibits, including stands showcasing healing crystals, aromatherapy, holistic treatments and tarot card readings, as well as free lectures from ‘experts’ on guardian angels, clairvoyance, feng shui and homeopathy.
Entrance is free and up to 5,000 people are expected to attend. But Mr Ryan said, based on his observations of last year’s event, he is skeptical about psychics’ claims: "Many psychics use a practice known as ‘cold reading’ — a psychological technique where information is gleaned from the customer, and replayed back in a way that seems to indicate that the psychic has special powers.
"Many magicians and mentalists use the same techniques but they never claim psychic abilities.
"Not one psychic has ever been able to demonstrate their powers in a properly controlled trial, strongly indicating that these claimed abilities do not exist."
In a letter to city management, he said by opening the City Hall to psychics, people who may be at a difficult time in their lives are being exposed to individuals who claim access to special wisdom.
"It is extremely unlikely that this special wisdom actually exists," Mr Ryan said.
He said there are instances of people listening to the advice of psychics instead of seeking proper medical or psychological treatment.
And he said City Hall has a duty to hold exhibitions that provide useful services to the public, and which "do not prey on human vulnerability or gullibility".
A festival spokesperson declined to comment on what she said was a "commercial event".