Regular readers may remember Robert Lancaster. I first wrote about him in early 2007, when he went on CNN to show that "psychic" Sylvia Browne is very, very icky, and then to link to his personal run-in with this awful person. He is the creator of the website Stop Sylvia Browne (for which he has taken some heat), where he gently but firmly shows that Browne’s claims about her abilities are at the very least grossly exaggerated.
Robert would claim he is nothing special, but I know that’s not true. He is an ordinary man who was driven by extraordinary events to take extraordinary measures, and he has done so superbly. And he is what everyone should be: determined, polite, smart, funny, and a very good critical thinker. He’s one of us.
A few weeks ago, Robert suffered a stroke. He is still in the hospital, recovering. He is expected to do very well, but his hospital bills are stacking up.
You know I very rarely do this, but I am putting out the call to the BABloggees: check out Robert’s site, look over what he did, and if you are so inclined, go to a site set up by his friends and fellow skeptics, called Skeptics Unite, where you can use PayPal to contribute to Robert’s recovery. Or, to make it easier, you can use the button below.
Currently, this is the only way to donate.
If you don’t like PayPal, you can send a check directly to a PO Box:
Robert Lancaster
c/o StopSylviaBrowne.com
3129 S. Hacienda Blvd. #622
Hacienda Heights, CA 91745-6304
While this is not a tax deductible donation, it all goes 100% to Robert and his wife, who is caring for him while he travels this very difficult road. He’s a good man, and he’s trying to make the world a better place.
August 20th, 2008 at 8:15 am
Done. I consider it worth the money to help this man who has provided me with at least $50 of entertainment with his crusade against the wacko’s of this world.
August 20th, 2008 at 8:21 am
I donated last week. Where have you been?
August 20th, 2008 at 8:36 am
SkepChick was way on top of you and posted this last week. I donated and I wish the best for Robert and his family.
PS. I meant that in the cleanest way possible, I swear.
August 20th, 2008 at 8:44 am
I donated too.
Go Robert!
August 20th, 2008 at 8:51 am
Best wishes for Robert for a full recovery.
Reading through his very thorough and complete website is very saddening — so many people desperate for solace are truly harmed by the likes of Sylvia Browne. The world needs more men and women like him — willing to stand and tell the truth as it is.
August 20th, 2008 at 9:12 am
I can’t donate until I get paid at month’s end, but I’ve got an alert set on my computer to remind me on payday.
I really admire Robert for not backing down, and sticking to his guns. I hope his recovery goes without a hitch and he can get back to pointing out the ickines of Sylvia’s lies and deceptions.
I’ve been trying to convince my mother that Sylvia Browne is nothing but a con artist… I’ve been trying for years… after relating some of the data on Robert’s site, I’ve at least got her thinking more critically about the whole ting…
Thank you Robert, for helping me drag my mother into the light of reason. Get well soon!
August 20th, 2008 at 10:28 am
If you have any connection with Robert at all, you can also head over to the JREF forum. An address for Robert is listed there, and Robert’s wife is welcoming any get well messages and cards for Robert.
I mailed mine off yesterday.
We’re all pulling for you Robert.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:18 am
I hope the best for him. Here’s to a speedy and full recovery!
August 20th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
I know how devastating stroke can be. My dad never came out of the coma his put him into. I just know that Sylvia, that- mustn’t insult animals via metaphor-, will undoubtedly call this a “hit” after their encounter in Vegas. Robert does good work trying to expose her. Donated and hoping for a swift and full recovery.
August 20th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
I can really picture the self-righteousness with which Sylvia would run with this “I never wished him any harm, but when you deny the power of forces beyond science, you’re living dangerously.” What a … darn, there are no words suitable for this blog that I can use here.
So I made a donation, it would be nice to get a sense of what he needs, because I would be happy to give more — and while I’m on the subject, what is up with you Americans, punishing people for getting sick? Is it because you think you’re immortal? Actually, that would explain the gun thing.
Uh, rant over. Excuse me.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
[...] Help Robert Lancaster and Skeptics Unite – A few weeks ago, fellow skeptic Robert Lancaster (who runs the site: Stop Sylvia Browne), suffered from a stroke. He’s recovering but he’s got a lot of hospital bills. Lancaster is such an important figure in the skeptical movement and such a courageous fighter against con artists who prey on the desperate that his fellow skeptics are uniting to raise money to contribute to his recovery. Please donate if you can. For more details, follow the link above. [...]
August 21st, 2008 at 8:59 am
“Browne: [pointing at me angrily] Someone is going to deal with you!!”
You know she’ll be on Larry King, claiming that as a ‘hit’ with regard to Robert’s stroke… That she foretold that The Universe was going to deal with him. She truly has a gift…
October 14th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Wishing you all the best Robert on a quick and speedy recovery. I have read your site countless times and truly appreciate all the efforts and hard work you have done to out this con-artist. Also I do totally agree with you Richard Sylvia will definately try to count this as a hit being the kind of person she is.
October 29th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Oh my…I had no idea Robert had a stroke. I was wondering why there had been so few updates. I hope he recovers soon; he has done such great work exposing Sylvia.
In the meantime, looks like someone took the opportunity to hack the site…
October 31st, 2008 at 11:28 pm
(not the same Ryan as above)
Definitely looks hacked. I actually came here to see if anyone else noticed. Now the site claims there are real people with the “gift.”
August 10th, 2009 at 2:42 am
GET WELL SOON ROBERT!!! (my dad is ur best friend at work!! im his lil daughter!!!
)WE LOVE YOU AND I WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK!!!
June 1st, 2011 at 1:43 pm
[...] to debunk harmful psychics and spiritualists. Robert suffered a stroke on August 4th, 2008. Robert's stroke and recovery is very much like Derek's in the fall of 2005. [...]