I was planning to get back on my feet with actual skeptical posts, but I’m afraid that I have more bad news to deliver — Robert Lancaster is currently in the hospital recovering from a stroke that left him partially paralyzed. Robert is a good friend and a wonderful man who has taken on people like Sylvia Browne in a way that few can, showing compassion for her victims while giving them the facts they need to see through her scam. He has been a frequent commenter on Skepchick and we’ve collaborated a few times to help one another spread the word on fake psychics. Every time I’ve seen Robert, I’ve gotten a giant bear hug from a happy, ever-positive, affable guy. Robert, everyone here at Skepchick wishes you a speedy recovery.
Here’s the thread on the JREF forum where his lovely wife Susan has posted the news (thanks, A, for letting me know). I’ll be keeping an eye out for updates, and in the meantime feel free to post your well-wishes below.
I would like to be the first to say that I hope he gets well soon. His sites are huge in the skeptical movement, and he is a wonderful person. If there is any Get Well gesture I would like to sign up.
All our best. Get well, Robert.
Sheesh… what a rotten week. Hope he gets well soon, I’ve always loved the diligence and humor of his work against Sylvia Browne.
Robert, your site is a credit to humanity. Get well soon.
Mike Watts
Oh Noes!
Get better soon!
Robert was my favorite speaker at TAM 5.5 – he is so genuine and just such a good-hearted person. I hope he recovers quickly and painlessly.
*hugs*
Robert, you have been one of my hero’s for years. Long before you took on Sylvia, I kept a close eye on StopKaz.com. I know we’ll be hearing from you soon.
Oh no. I only have well-wishes for Robert and his wife Susan. Get better soon.
I watch for new posts on StopSylviaBrowne everyday… I was very sad to hear this news! Get well soon Robert.
RSL is my hero. Get well soon!
Damn, that sucks! Get well, Robert.
I cringe in anticipation of the snark that will come from the Sylvia camp!
This is terrible news :(
I hope he has a speedy and full recovery.
Noooo! :(
Here’s hoping he gets hooked up with an excellent occupational therapist and will make a speedy recovery. [Takes drink in Robert’s honour.]
(*Briarking: If Browne says anything even remotely related to this, she is the most evil evil that ever eviled. Then again, I’ve heard some pretty crass things come out of her mouth, so I wouldn’t be at all surprised. She’s only behind Phelps by a hair.)
It’s times like this that make me wish I DID believe in the power of prayer. Hoping is so inadequate.
I have always enjoyed his Stop site I would also like to add my hope that he gets better soon and that if Browne does say anything it will just prove eveything his site says.
Awww, man! :(
Get well soon, Robert. You and your wife will be in my thoughts. I wish you the best.
“If Browne says anything even remotely related to this, she is the most evil evil that ever eviled. Then again, I’ve heard some pretty crass things come out of her mouth, so I wouldn’t be at all surprised. She’s only behind Phelps by a hair.”
Yeah, I’m fully expecting some sort of subtle snark from her in the coming days. Nothing so stupid as claiming to have psychically crippled him or anything but certainly something to the effect that he deserved it.
I want to choke that cow.
She’ll probably say that she predicted it…just like Randi’s heart attack and 9-11. She might even go as far as saying that she tried to contact him.
Bug Girl so succinctly and eloquently stated my sentiments. May a flapping butterfly , somewhere on this planet, bring the best possible outcome to Robert. My best to he and his loved ones.
“If Browne says anything even remotely related to this, she is the most evil evil that ever eviled.”
To be fair, if Sylvia had a stroke (which surely must be imminent) we all here would pop open our cans of snark. I know, I know. There’s a huge difference there. Robert is NOT an ugly, evil, fraudulent, “nasty” piece of scraped-from-the-bottom-of-my-shoe shit.
But when we do it, it’s cute!
A stroke? Oh, man, that is NOT good. I hope Robert makes all possible recovery, as quickly as possible. I also want to send my supportive thoughts to his wife as she goes through this experience with him and aids him in his recovery; long-term caregiving isn’t much fun for either party involved.
~David D.G.
I’m very saddened to hear this news (a couple days late). I’ve never met him in RL, but he seems like a nice guy and he does some great important work wrt Stop Sylvia Browne. “Stroke” brings to mind some very powerful emotions for me, since my dad died of one a few years ago. I hope Robert has a better prognosis, and is able to make a full recovery. Life is rarely fair, that’s for sure…