Psychics [insert string of curse words here.]

[Mr P]

http://news.yahoo.com/florida-family-ch ... 46142.html

I've been reading a lot of comments blaming the victims for being "stupid". That's just wrong, the victims are usually scared and vulnerable and these fraudsters are expert in exploiting that. This is abuse pure and simple and these people deserve to be bankrupted at the very least.

[Svartalf]

The fact that the scum did prey on the weak and vulnerable does not absolve the latter from being terminally stupid as well.

[apophenia]

And sometimes it's pure folie a deux. My best friend -- a good, non-superstitious Christian -- once worked a psychic hotline. I asked what kind of readings she gave, and she said mostly Tarot. Many people involved in these lines are genuinely interested in and convinced of the reality of these "sciences" (though obviously not the people in the article, or... maybe...). I'm currently reading a new book out on Scientology (for one of my discussion groups), and what comes through clearly is that, while there are certainly bad apples and charlatans in Scientology, there are many more who wholeheartedly believe all the schtick.

[Cunt]

If someone is frauding you but really believes they were giving good value, they were frauding you.

[apophenia]

If someone is frauding you but really believes they were giving good value, they were frauding you.

Since fraud involves scienter, that claim is simply wrong.

[Cunt]

If someone is frauding you but really believes they were giving good value, they were frauding you.

Since fraud involves scienter, that claim is simply wrong.

Here I learned it as mens rea, but it's still far from a balm to the victim.

I still say fraud...what ever happened to ignorance of the law not being an excuse?