Calzaer

Unfortunately there's no "roll eyes" post icon.

Anyway, I was having this argument with a friend who's at least an order of magnitude flakier than I. He claims that James Randi has actually already given out the million dollars (maybe more than once), but makes the winner sign a gag order and then doesn't ever tell anyone.

I sort of just blinked at him. But I suppose he did raise an interesting point, in an oatmeal-for-brains kinda way. (Disclaimer: Jay, if you're reading this, you know I'm just teasing you, right? I'd never talk bad about my friends for real.. especially when they can beat me up. Please put down the lead pipe.)

IF by some fluke of fate Randi had to award his million bucks to someone, would we ever know it? The man does seem pretty arrogant and self-assured; could he face a public that knows he was wrong? And wouldn't his job suffer if people knew he'd been wrong?

That was this muffin-head's theory (and I mean muffin-head in the nicest way possible!). I don't BELIEVE him, anymore than I believe him when he talks about seeing fairies while not being under the influence, it does seem like we'd never know if Randi had to give out the cash in the future sometime. I doubt a man who comes across as that condescending and that obnoxious would publically admit he'd been wrong.

Toto

The procedure is described here.

Some of the preliminary tests have been written up in news stories. They usually involved self-deluded people who think that dousing works or that their dog can read minds, and a simple double blind test shows that they are wrong.

All of the major psychics, faith healers, etc have refused to even be tested.

enigma555

AFAIK, Randi has absolutely nothing to do with the testing procedure. It's done by a completely neutral orginization with no reason to keep it quiet.

Elvithriel

Actually, Randi does the testing often. Unless the person tested doesn't want him to do it, in which case someone else does. People have asked Randi not to do the testing I believe, something about him interupting the psychic brain waves.

Azathoth

Oh,yes,the muffin-head.I remember you mentioning him from before.What was that you said?

Something like:"He wouldn't know logic,if it knocked him upside the head."

I remember now.How good are you at running?






Ok.I'm kidding,of course,but if your friend does read this site,why doesn't he sign up to talk here?It would be interesting to know why he thinks this is the case.Is it because Randi sets out to debunk supernatural phenomina?

Writer@Large

The other thing to consider is that if Randi *did* try to force a gag order before handing over the million, how many subjects would willingly sign it? I would think they would rather (a) proclaim to the world that they were proven right and (b) the Great Skeptic Randi was trying to supress their powers. A persecuation story like that would garner them a million, at least, especially once they wrote the tell-all book about it. AFAIK there's no one out there actually *claiming* such, so either the money was more important than there claims, or this is a faceless accusation full of BS.

--W@L

Calzaer

Azathoth:
He doesn't like "engaging in confrontation with close-minded people." My mind is only halfway closed, so I'm fine. He's browsed a few times, but has never actually registered. I keep saying it'd be good for him, but I think he knows me too well to fall for that.

W@L: I'm leaning towards BS, but I have to say that, personally, a million dollars is a LOT of money. There are very few documents I would refuse to sign if it got me a million dollars. But that could just be a character flaw.

Jinto

Even one that denies you the opportunity for more money?

If someone actually succeded in proving their psychic ability and Randi asked them to sign a gag order, here's what would happen:

1. They would go to the presses and sell their story, getting at least a million bucks from the subsequent talk show appearances

2. They sue Randi for breach of contract forcing him to hand over the original million anyway, plus costs.

Azathoth

Yup.Being 'the Psychic that Randi tried to silence' would be sure to pay dividends.

In addition,the money that such a person could make,from then on,would be astounding.A million would be the tip of the iceburg,and they'd get that,too.

semyaza

If I remember correctly, most of the money is in the form of pledges from third parties. (Don't know if it's still set up that way). If someone did, in fact, win the million, all the pledges would have to be called in. I'm sure someone would notice.