Amazing Randi fans, did you know about this?

Question

I just discovered this...
http://www.trvnews.com/tsl/090502/index.html

As far as I can tell from the answers, you didn't know about this.

Answer 1

But as a leading Fellow of CSICOP, Ray Hyman, has pointed out, this "prize" cannot be taken seriously from a scientific point of view: "Scientists don't settle issues with a single test, so even if someone does win a big cash prize in a demonstration, this isn't going to convince anyone. Proof in science happens through replication, not through single experiments."

Link to original article below.

Answer 2

There are a lot of losers out there who insist they could prove their stupid, and wrong, points if only the rules were changed in some "appropriate" way.

Of course, those ways always include the rest of us being stupid too.

Always.

But to the stupid loser's point of view this is great. He can babble on forever about how he could prove "it" any time. How the smart people out there are insisting on rules that preclude this so as to keep him and other "right thinking" people down. There's apparently a living to be made out of douches like this saying such things.

And since Randi certainly will never bow to the demands of these stupes vis-a-vis the million dollars, his name will keep coming up. Don't think he loses sleep about the douches.

And of course, Hyman is correct. Regardless of winning the Randi challenge or not, only a scientific experiment will constitute proof of anything interesting.

By the way, inflation is making that million bucks less attractive each day... the douche squad had better knuckle down and get after actually winning soon or they won't be able to buy more than a nice car or TV or toaster or crappy public domain DVD at Wal*Mart with the winnings...

I predict they won't even be able to pay a dog to lick them with the Randi challenge money though. Since they're charlatans and boobs.

Answer 3

You haven't read the challenge website, have you?

1) 'Self-proclaimed fraud'? He was a stage magician. It's just tricks. Not real magic. What did you think it was?

2) Randi does not judge the challenge. The test is set up so that the result is self-evident. Either you passed or you didn't. No judging required.

3) Yeah. You want the million, you agree to a test, and when you lose because you're a liar, you can't sue them. Seems pretty reasonable.

4) Randi is not going to move the million. It's a challenge, not a bet.

5) No judges are needed for the real challenge. It's set up so you either win or lose - no interpretation is needed.

I really doubt Randi will go for this. It violates several of the rules set up for the challenge so that it would be fair and impartial.

EDIT: Dude, this is from 5 years ago. Methinks nothing came of it. Probably because they obviously didn't want to follow the rules.

Answer 4

Hey, tellya what I'm gonna do...
We'll play 3 Card Monte.
You put up $1000.
I'll put up $100.
If you pick the red, you'll get ahead by $100!
You pick the black, it'll set you back $1000.
We can even bring in judges to inspect the cards and insure that there are two red and one black.
And if you refuse (As anyone in thier right mind would)that proves......what?

Answer 5

Wow, a fraud cries fraud. Misdirection, projection, etc. If this guy could prove remove viewing then he would be spending the million right now. He can't so he's saying the contest is rigged. He is intellectually dishonest (read: lying) in his representation of facts.

Pardon the ad hominem, but this comes from a guy who is promoting the accredited and esteemed Technical Remote Viewing University.

NEXT!

Answer 6

LOL! What a strange man, this Mr. Spotts. Randi is a "self-proclaimed" fraud? Is there anybody who ever self-proclaims that? Heheheh.

Anyway, I definitely hope this fellow follows through on testing, despite his misinformation on the Randi challenge (Randi is not the "sole judge", the amount is $1 million and has been for quite a long time, the money exists in a verifiable account, it's a legally binding agreement, etc.)

However, the JREF isn't going to entertain any proposals to alter the rules of the challenge and they never have before, so unless this guy is willing to work with the JREF to come up with a mutually agreed upon protocol, nothing is likely to come from this.

And that's probably a good thing for Mr. Spotts. In fact, my hunch is that he's counting on it.

EDIT: It looks to me from the URL that this challenge from Mr. Spotts was issued in 2002. If so, then I guess nothing did come from this.

Answer 7

I would imagine that a real psychic wouldn't want or need to go along with this challenge. I real psychic who could answer just about any question would probably get themselves killed. Of course who would believe a testimony from a psychic in a court hearing anyway? The Randi challenge by his rules seems ridiculous as well. Remote Viewing is interesting but, it is my opinion that if there is any truth to it than extraterrestrials might also be involved. Things are looking up.

http://www.remoteviewing.com/remote-viewing-projects/crop-circles/index.html

Answer 8

I definately hope Randi takes the offer. It is a put up or shut up, and I love it. Please make sure the mainstream media knows about it so everything can be properly recorded and broadcasted.

If he does not take them up on the offer he has something to hide. If he does take them up on the offer, he believes what he has been saying all along.

Either way, I will definately be watching what happens. May the truth finally come out :)

Answer 9

My money is on Randi.I base it on one fact.Remote Viewing is a bunch of hooey.Therefore any person who says they can do it is a liar.Excuses,that's all these PSI hucksters ever come up with.

Answer 10

hmm... so is it real? i'll have to read up on it... if it is, it's really interesting.


i'm guessing "not"