The Beyond: Psychic Kids- Children Of The paranormal

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   Psychic Kids: Children Of The Paranormal is a paranormal reality show on A&E given to us by the same minds that gave us the melodramatic, and scientifically challenged 'Paranormal State'.

   When I first saw the trailers and commercials for Psychic Kids, my eyes immediately rolled back into my head. "Great, another one sided paranormal show that caters only to the psychic and spiritual side of things", I thought... For entertainment purposes only.

   Now, for the record, I think that it's unfair to judge Psychic Kids that way. No, I am not an impostor. I REALLY mean that.

   I feel that judging Psychic kids for not being a scientifically geared paranormal show like Ghost Hunters or Monster Quest is akin to criticizing the NFL for not having enough baseball in it. It makes no sense. I mean,the show's called Psychic Kids... If you expected a scientific portrayal of spooky stuff, you're probably pretty frickin' stupid, and can't even read this anyway. Why am I talking to you?

   For a show like this, you have to be able to accept that psychics are real, and the spiritual beliefs that this show teaches its viewers ARE real and valid. If you disbelieve this, you gotta suspend your disbelief for the duration of the show. If you can't do that, you shouldn't even watch it. You're just gonna sit there watching and being frustrated. It's a show based on a specific spiritual belief. You either get that, or you don't.

   Tell a disbeliever to watch the 700 Club, a televangelist, or some other Christian programming, and TRY to 'get it'. It ain't gonna work.

   This show has not claimed to be anything but about psychics, or being involved with psychic stuff. Because of this, and to keep things on track, on this page, we are going to take the spiritual beliefs that this show puts forth, and accept them at face value. We aren't going to question that aspect. So, lets assume for the sake of argument, and for discussion that the events that transpire in this show are in fact real, and NOTHING has been staged for the sake of entertainment.

I know. I know. But please bear with me. It doesn't really matter.

The Premise
   The premise is very simple, and come to think of it, it has been a popular premise in stories since the early 60's. In September 1963, Stan Lee, and Jack Kirby of Marvel Comics decided to write a comic about mutant kids with strange special powers. These kids were confused, and traumatized by their abilities. They needed taught how to deal with them. They all went to a special school for gifted youngsters headed by a powerful psychic mutant named Professor Charles Xavier.

   Professor X took these kids under his wing and taught them to understand their gifts, and how to use them to benefit humanity with them.

   There was also a darker aspect of the X-Men. Prejudice was at the heart of the stories. You see, these kids were different. If you've learned anything about the world, you'll know that the world DOES NOT tolerate people being different. Mutants were treated badly, because of how they were born different. They often hid their abilities from the rest of the world to avoid the typical ridicule, and even violence that met them wherever they went.

That's the general idea of Psychic Kids: Children Of The Paranormal.

   Self proclaimed psychic medium Chip Coffey plays Professor X, and comes in to help these children who don't completely understand their abilities.

Child Exploitation?
   My question is, now that these children have exposed themselves to the world on national television, who will be there for them when they meet ridicule, or worse at school? How 'bout when they're walking down the street, and the neighbors say to each other, "That's the girl that thinks she sees ghosts." Have they been prepared for that sort of life? Will Chip Coffey come to defend them? Because, we've all been kids. If you think for a second that this sort of thing won't happen, then you're lying to yourself. Kids can be cruel, and their parents teach them to be that way one way or another. Neighbors gossip. Are these children REALLY being helped by being on television?

The Hosts

Chip Coffey
   Chip Coffey teaches them about their abilities. I'll be honest, though. I REALLY have a problem with some of the methods used here. Taking a group of children who can allegedly can see spirits, and placing them in a haunted house seems a little wrong. This is something I know a little about. Assuming you believe that all this stuff is real, can we say 'psychic overload'? It's kinda like taking a child who wishes to LEARN how to swim, and throwing him in the deep end.. of a wave pool. This is not what I would consider responsible.

   For the record, it's not HIM that I have the problem with. Frankly, I know nothing about him.

   I don't necessarily blame him personally for this bad idea. It's most likely the producers of the show setting this up, and him just going along with it. It's a paycheck. Right?

Dr. Lisa Miller
   Dr. Miller's job on the show is simply to council the friends, and families of the kids to help them cope with the whole situation.

   Honestly, I think her part in the whole fiasco is probably the most interesting. She takes the families aside, and explains what the kids are going through, and how to help them best with what they are going through. If they were to make a show based on THIS idea alone, I think it would be a much better program.

   Aside from the photo on the header, I couldn't find a decent picture of Dr. Miller. I'm not gonna use the same picture twice on the same page. That would be stupid. Wouldn't it? Instead, I just found a picture of a stained glass Mr. T, and put it up. COOL!

   Look, I don't really know anything about Chip Coffey, or his co star Dr. Lisa Miller. Do I think they're out to harm children? I wouldn't even try to judge that, but in all honestly, I don't think so. I mean, I'm sure they're trying to help in their own way.

Doesn't really matter what I think. Does it? I mean, everyone watching the show is going to make up their own mind on the whole deal.

   I tell ya though. I DID watch a few episodes before I really made up my mind. I wanted to give it a chance. After and during each episode, I felt dirty. The whole thing felt wrong to me.

   Flat out, I wish this show, AND its sister show would go away, and make room for some programming with some integrity and heart. The paranormal community could really use some positive guidance right now. But, Since I'm always in the minority with this stuff I expect the mindless masses will continue to tune in every time its on.

Here are some other Psychic Kids related pages:

Psychic Kids: Paranormal Children - A&E TV
IMDB
Wikipedia

ChipCoffey.com

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