Psychic Who Talks to the Dead Banned from Speaking at Library

[emad]

Talking to dead in Ripon ignites lively controversy

By MELANIE TURNER
BEE STAFF WRITER

RIPON — Irma Slage has written a book about her psychic experiences and talked to audiences for years, inviting them to communicate with dead friends and relatives.

But she could not foresee what would happen to her in Ripon: Her appearance at Memorial Library was canceled after the mayor said he would ask the City Council to pull funding for the library.

Slage was scheduled to speak last Saturday. About 40 people eager to hear her showed up, only to find out the program had been canceled.

Some say they are upset that their rights to make up their own minds about the speaker were trampled because the mayor listened to a few people who made the program a religious issue.

http://www.modbee.com/local/story/11263024p-12012086c.html

[emad]

1. Spelling mistake? Irma Slag, cousin of Private Eye's renowned

columnist Glenda Slag?

[MostlyLurks]

2. So exactly how far are we...

How far are we now from banning books from the library for no other reason than the fact that they are in any way controversial to Christians? The answer is: watch your ass, Harry Potter.

Man, I'm really beginning to lose hope.

Mostly

[Kipling]

9. This is from the USA, and some areas are very close indeed.

They'll be burning them in the streets if he gets laid in the seventh book.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

3. My knee-jerk reaction was

THEY CAN'T DO THAT! I have a right to information without censorship. But then I started to listen to the evil devil on my shoulder and I am now firmly his advocate! (at least for as long as it takes me to write this post.)

What if.. what if... this person were a representative from an association that believes young boys and men should be encouraged to become lovers? There are groups that think this, they probably believe they should be represented by speakers and get their message out there. So if they are booked at the libary, then what? Personally I'd be good and pissed.

I guess the one standard that makes sense is community standards. Which is how obscenity is defined in law today, I think. (I'm not a lawyer but this is my impression... at least that's what happened when the bottomless bar opened across the street from my school!)

So if the community as a majority objects to this, then I reluctantly agree that the close-minded hysterical folks have won a round. And if I want that info I guess I have to move to a less close-minded hysterical town and take my business and taxes with me?

Anybody have any other solutions to this problem?

[SteppingRazor]

4. Yes, but....

The groups you mention are encouraging illegal behavior, The psychic is not.

While I think psychics and mediums are cheap conmen with a good head for cold readings, they aren't doing anything illegal, per se, by practicing their trade.

Or maybe not. Pity there's no way to prove they're fraudulent, since the minute you try to quantify their mysterious powers, they just say "It doesn't work that way." :eyes:

So in that sense, maybe the city council's right. Not because the psychic breaks with their Judeo-Christian values, but because the psychic is conning gullible people out of their money -- which, just like the guys advocating sex with minors, is illegal.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

5. Excellent point. It isn't illegal

That just knocked the devil off my shoulder and onto his ass.

[MostlyLurks]

8. But there's a logical problem at the core of your argument.

"So in that sense, maybe the city council's right...because the psychic is conning gullible people out of their money"

I'm not saying I believe (or doubt) the powers of these people, but you can't proclaim that a legal practice is an extension of illegal practices simply based on unprovable suspicions. By that logic, a Phelpsian Christian could that pro-gay books are illegal (and should be banned) because gay lifestyles (legal, for now) lead to pedophilia (illegal). All they have to do is say they believe it, not prove it, because as you've stated, you can't prove your assertion that psychic readings are disguised cons. The Phelpsian is arguing within the parameters you've set up: I believe legal activities that lead to or are direct adjuncts of illegal activity should be illegal by proxy.

The simple argument comes down to your first point, which I think is correct: the books are advocating nothing tacitly illegal, or even immoral (except to Christofascist morons). At worst they are advocating scientifically-dubious beliefs, which is exactly what books about Christianity, Islam, etc are doing.

Peace.

Mostly

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. Fascinating, but isn't this Ripon, California, not Ripon, North Yorkshire?

Do you want to ask for this to be moved to LBN, emad?

[T_i_B]

7. Typical America!

Nicking all our place names, I ask ya!

That said I have been known to confuse some DUer's when referring to the stadium of the greatest football team on the planet ever to have been stuck at the bottom of the Championship as there are quite a few places in the US called Hillsborough!