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Randi agrees that non-paranormal claims can win the prize.
3rd Nov. 2006 |
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Non-Paranormal claims
Some people will be greatly surprised to learn that non-paranormal claims are eligible for Randi's challenge. They don't understand the purpose of the challenge. For the benefit of naysayers, this section explains why my claim is a valid one under Mr Randi's own rules, even though I openly state that it isn't paranormal.
Mr Randi's
FAQ describes his challenge in these terms: "It's not a contest; there are not two parties competing for the same prize. It's a challenge. It's someone who, as a result of extensive experience, doesn't believe you can do what you say you can do, daring you to do what you say you can do. It's a dare. It's not at all a friendly agreement." Or, more succinct statement that means pretty much the same thing "Prove me wrong and win a million dollars"
And this is what the challenge is all about. Mr Randi dares people to prove their claims. Once Mr Randi has issued his dare, anyone is entitled to accept. To win, you only have to prove that your claim is actually true. There is no requirement to prove it paranormal. Mr Randi has made this point himself many times. Anyone is free to step forward and say "My claim is true. It's not paranormal, you are just mistaken in your disbelief." If they can prove it, they are entitled to the prize.
Consider the
Plug-in Magnetizing Dispenser. The makers of this product say that it uses magnetic power to rapidly age a bottle of wine. They don't claim there's anything paranormal or supernatural about their product, they say instead that it works on scientific principles. James Randi, however, does not believe them, and has offered a million dollars for proof of his error. He has stated that to win the prize, an applicant merely has to demonstrate that the wine magnet works at all, by any method whatsoever. There is no requirement to demonstrate that the mechanism is paranormal. If any person can demonstrate that it works through known scientific principles that simply are outside the personal knowledge of James Randi, that would win the prize.
The same is also true about Facilitated communication,
Water Memory,
Penta Water,
The Supertech Gas Gimmick,
Tice Clock,
free energy devices and many dozens of others. All deny that they are doing anything paranormal. Randi invites them to apply anyway. Look at his response to a certain
Dr Schwartz who said that his so called "human energy systems" are not paranormal at all, but "based upon contemporary physics." Mr Randi promised that "The JREF would never choose to withhold the prize by taking refuge in the terminology."
In this way, the challenge provides evidence against fraudulent products and pseudoscience. Randi's rules are designed to eliminate any excuse for not applying. Randi has made it clear all along that saying "it's not paranormal" is not a valid reason for failing to apply for his challenge. The promise is that the prize will be awarded if the claim is true, whether paranormal or not. Randi puts a million dollars where his mouth is. If he is ill-informed, then anyone can take advantage of that, and make an easy million. That is the whole point of the challenge. And that is exactly what I intend to do.
I say that James Randi is nowhere near as smart as he thinks he is, he's rather foolish, irrational and very ill-informed about a lot of things. James Randi does not believe the claims I make. He has been mocking them for many years. According to Randi, my claims are "delusions." He has issued a public challenge, daring anyone at all to prove them, and I am willing to do so. I accept the challenge that he has set. He thinks my claim is paranormal - he is wrong. The fact that he thinks so makes my claim a valid one.
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| This article copyright by Peter Morris all rights reserved. |
| Not to be copied without the express permission of the author |
