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James Randi: The $1 million challenge
In the conditions and rules governing his one million US dollars challenge, Randi plainly states that
both parties (himself and the party accepting the challenge) must agree in advance as to what conditions of the test constitute a "success" and what constitutes a "failure." He also refuses to accept any challengers who might suffer serious injury or death as a result of the test they intend to undergo.
Some of Randi's detractors claim that the challenge is insincere, and that Randi will ensure he never has to pay out. In the October 1981 issue of
Fate magazine, Dennis Rawlins quoted him as saying "I always have an out"
http://cura.free.fr/xv/14starbb.html. Some critics interpret as meaning he will never let his organization lose such a challenge. Others, noting this magazine article grew out of political infighting among the members of CSICOP, believe this quote is being misapplied, and that it refers to the fact that Randi employs safeguards against cheating.
The challenge has been criticised for giving Randi too much control in determining if a claim is successful or not. It has been noted that a potential applicant may well be wary of taking the challenge on the basis that Randi may insist upon conditions that are impossible to meet. There is, however, no evidence of this ever occurring. The discussions between the JREF and applicants are currently posted on a public discussion board for all to see (see the
external links section below).
Another objection made by critics of the challenge is that the rules prohibit independent judging, making the success or failure of the challenge dependent on whether Randi agrees that the test has been passed (it should be noted however that Rule 8 of the challenge places an independent person in charge of a $10,000 personal cheque from Randi, to be delivered to the claimant immediately on success of the challenge, to be followed within 10 days by the payment of the full prize). This is often countered by Randi and others by pointing that tests are designed so that no judging is needed. Such critics claim that Randi's degree of control over the challenge's outcome may be a sufficient to prevent a serious applicant from undertaking it. Supporters point to the lack of evidence of this happening.
Objections to the nature of the test and its rules include:* No independent judge will be used, and the tests are designed by the JREF without scientific peer review.:... JREF points out that the rules for each test are to be designed such that the results will be completely obvious and unambiguous when deciding whether or not the applicant demonstrated any paranormal abilities. The judges involved in preliminary tests are usually scientists or skeptics unaffiliated with JREF whom they trust to be accurate observers.* Randi has rejected at least one applicant, with the rejection letter stating this was because the applicant was "a liar and a fraud." The applicant in question claimed to survive without food via breatharianism.
http://www.alternativescience.com/randi-retreats.htm:...Randi and the JREF have repeatedly stated that they will reject any applicants putting themselves in grave physical danger, which the JREF would not want to be responsible for. Randi has also twice commented on the specific case raised by the
Alternative Science web site: see
http://www.randi.org/jr/070502.html and
http://randi.org/jr/111204hot.html#9.* As of Jan 2005, no offers to conduct a formal test have yet been extended by the JREF to an applicant.
http://www.randi.org/research/:The JREF replies that this is because they have determined that none of the applicants have ever demonstrated any paranormal abilities during preliminary testing; many preliminary tests have been carried out.* Some claim the one million dollars does not exist, or is in the form of pledges or promissary notes.:The JREF states that the million dollars is in the form of negotiable bonds within a "James Randi Educational Foundation Prize Account" and that validation of the account and the prize amount can be supplied on demand. The money is said to be held in a Goldman, Sachs & Company account.
Parapsychologists generally try to downplay the Randi challenge because of these attacks on Randi's character, and also because of his harsh, uncompromising style of writing and presentation, which has won him enemies among those who claim to be paranormal experts. Randi's supporters note that there are other skeptical organizations that have their own similar standing offers to prove the existence of paranormal abilities, and anyone claiming to be an expert in their field of the paranormal can apply for any of these other prizes, avoiding Randi altogether. In his weekly commentary, Randi often gives examples of the sort of nonsense he has to deal with every day. The sheer quantity explains why Randi often has little patience.
People who find Randi abrasive or even aggressive should read
The Faith Healers. The picture of Randi that emerges from that book is of an anger and relentlessness arising out of compassion for the helpless victims of frauds. Also, in his weekly commentary, Randi often expresses dismay that he has to frequently expose various frauds due to no one else doing it.
Recently, for instance, Randi has accused Sylvia Browne — a well-known, self-proclaimed psychic medium and author of numerous books on spirituality, who has performed thousands of one-on-one readings and assignments with a wide variety of groups and individuals — of avoiding to take the $1,000,000 challenge despite agreeing on Larry King Live in September 2001 to do so. Randi keeps
a clock on his website recording the number of days that have passed since Sylvia accepted the challenge without following through.
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