FRDB Archives

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.


Go Back   FRDB Archives > Archives > IIDB ARCHIVE: 200X-2003, PD 2007 > IIDB Philosophical Forums (PRIOR TO JUN-2003)
Welcome, Peter Kirby.
You last visited: Today at 05:55 AM

 
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 04-22-2002, 07:10 PM   #1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Brookings, SD
Posts: 65
Post James Randi

I had the pleasure to go see a lecture of his that he gave here on campus, debunking all sorts of paranormal claims, and such. Very interesting fellow, loved his lecture, bought one of his "13 Questions shirts", yadda yadda yadda.

I'm just wondering what the various opinions of him are on the board...
TestForEric is offline  
Old 04-22-2002, 07:39 PM   #2
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Southeast of disorder
Posts: 6,829
Post

I think it takes all kinds of personalities to promote a skeptical worldview. Randi can be short, deliberate and abrasive but look at his main targets: people like Geller, Van Praagh and Sylvia Browne whose behavior strongly suggests they are consciously involved in the deception that they perform and are not just deluded true-believers. These are the charlatans who recieve the bulk of his harshest criticism. The 'everyday' dowsers and blindfold-readers who make up the majority of his test subjects are generally treated with dignity, if not respect. I think his harshest critics are simply critics of skepticism and Randi happens to be the most visible target at which to loose their venom.

I think he's done more good for skepticism than most give him credit for. I fear that there will be no one to take his place when he's gone. Massimo Pigliucci perhaps?
Philosoft is offline  
Old 04-23-2002, 04:58 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Southern US
Posts: 817
Post

James Randi is wonderful! and a hero of mine.

He is a leading member/contributor to the organization, the Skeptics. The Skeptics gives wonderful annual lectures at Caltech, where Randi will often give a "how to" detect con-men. The organization also puts out a first-class magazine.

James Randi's story of how he convinced Barbara Walters he had psychic powers is sooo funny!

Anyway, this is their website:

<a href="http://www.skeptic.com/" target="_blank">http://www.skeptic.com/</a>

[ April 23, 2002: Message edited by: Sojourner553 ]</p>
Sojourner553 is offline  
Old 04-23-2002, 05:37 AM   #4
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Posts: 7,198
Post

James Randi is awesome! I love his abrasive, crotchety-old-man style; we can't all glad-handle the gullible or dishonest just because "it's not nice." The world needs men like James Randi and his foundation.

<a href="http://www.randi.org" target="_blank">http://www.randi.org</a>

--W@L
Writer@Large is offline  
Old 04-24-2002, 05:52 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Texas
Posts: 707
Post

I like Randi too. He takes on the frauds head on so to speak. I have his book "Flimflam" and use it to show the water dowsers around here why they can't do what they claim to do. Sometimes I give them a demonstration. I ask them to stake out a water line under my place here. None can do it. Makes them spitting mad and they never come back for more. They always claim my problem is I just don't believe enough. Yea. Watching him expose that fraud who would have you believe he was turning the pages of a book using his mind was a hoot. Randi just put down Styrofoam peanuts around the glass case the book was in and the guy couldn't do it any more. I also loved how he exposed Peter Popoff (sp) that fraud preacher in California. Good stuff and yes we need more like him.

Schu
schu is offline  
Old 04-24-2002, 11:25 AM   #6
Regular Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 451
Post

"Randi just put down Styrofoam peanuts around the glass case the book was in and the guy couldn't do it any more."

How did THAT work? /boggle
Veil of Fire is offline  
Old 04-24-2002, 01:46 PM   #7
Veteran
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Snyder,Texas,USA
Posts: 4,411
Post

Quote:
How did THAT work?
My two guesses are:
1) Anti-psionic-wave styrofoam
or
2) The guy was blowing the pages over
Coragyps is offline  
Old 04-24-2002, 03:02 PM   #8
Regular Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 451
Post

Well, styrfoam IS pretty nifty...
Veil of Fire is offline  
Old 04-25-2002, 08:04 AM   #9
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: hell if I know
Posts: 2,306
Thumbs up

Randi has been a hero of mine since I was a kid.
freemonkey is offline  
Old 04-25-2002, 02:45 PM   #10
jj
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Redmond, Wa
Posts: 937
Post

The first time I saw something James Randi said 30 years ago, I was annoyed. 28 Years ago, I had acquired a great deal of information on subjective testing and I thought he was a very smart man.

I now think that he kicks butt, and righteously!

GO JAMES.
jj is offline  
 

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 11:20 PM.

Top

This custom BB emulates vBulletin® Version 3.8.2
Copyright ©2000 - 2015, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.