This was presented to me as definite proof that psychic abilities 'do not in fact exist'

[lycaeus]

"Randi $1,000,000 paranormal challenge

James Randi, a.k.a. The Amazing Randi, magician andJames Randi author of numerous works skeptical of paranormal, supernatural, and pseudoscientific claims has for about ten years offered "a one-million-dollar prize to anyone who can show, under proper observing conditions, evidence of any paranormal, supernatural, or occult power." His rules were little more than what any reasonable scientist would require. If you are a mental spoon bender, you couldn't use your own spoons. If you claimed to see auras, you'd have to do so under controlled conditions. If you claimed to be able to do remote viewing, you wouldn't be given credit for coming close in some vague way. If you were going to demonstrate dowsing powers, you would have to be prepared to be tested under controlled conditions. If you were going to do psychic surgery or experience the stigmata, you would have to do so with cameras watching your every move."

http://skepdic.com/randi.html

I was surprised no one got the money. Maybe it was too hard to qualify for the tests as an applicant had to have a sufficent 'media profile' and 'academic endorsement' to try it out. It got me thinking about it, but I've experienced very mild telepathy so I know psychic abilities are real for a fact at least a little bit in my own experience.

[Neuru]

Interesting read on this topic:

http://web.archive.org/web/20070213061520/http://psipog.net/art-beware-pseudo-skepticism.html (http://web.archive.org/web/20070213061520/http://psipog.net/art-beware-pseudo-skepticism.html)

There's a link to a zip file at the end of the article with the actual emails and saved forum pages, worth reading them too.

[majicbar]

"Randi $1,000,000 paranormal challenge

James Randi, a.k.a. The Amazing Randi, magician andJames Randi author of numerous works skeptical of paranormal, supernatural, and pseudoscientific claims has for about ten years offered "a one-million-dollar prize to anyone who can show, under proper observing conditions, evidence of any paranormal, supernatural, or occult power." His rules were little more than what any reasonable scientist would require. If you are a mental spoon bender, you couldn't use your own spoons. If you claimed to see auras, you'd have to do so under controlled conditions. If you claimed to be able to do remote viewing, you wouldn't be given credit for coming close in some vague way. If you were going to demonstrate dowsing powers, you would have to be prepared to be tested under controlled conditions. If you were going to do psychic surgery or experience the stigmata, you would have to do so with cameras watching your every move."

http://skepdic.com/randi.html

I was surprised no one got the money. Maybe it was too hard to qualify for the tests as an applicant had to have a sufficent 'media profile' and 'academic endorsement' to try it out. It got me thinking about it, but I've experienced very mild telepathy so I know psychic abilities are real for a fact at least a little bit in my own experience.

In my humble opinion Randi never had, nor ever intended, to payout should his boastful challenge disprove his thesis. Had Randi actually been honest in this challenge, he would have had the monies bonded and an independent source validate any claims brought forward. Several good claims seem to have been made against Randi and nothing happened, thus I feel that Randi was a true magician, you cannot believe what he is pretending to show you.

[lycaeus]

Thanks for sharing that link! I knew something fishy was going on. There are too many psychics out there who could prove their abilities.

[CasperParks]

From channel 4 NBC LA: (http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Psychic-Says-She-Found-Body-at-Terry-Smiths-Menifee-Home-Autism-215168941.html)

An Orange County psychic who describes herself as “an intuitive” says she led police to the body of 11-year-old Terry Smith, who was missing for four days before the search was called off this week.

Human remains were found on the property where Smith’s family lived in Menifee, Calif., and a 16-year-old family member was arrested on suspicion of murder, authorities said Wednesday. A source of NBC4 Southern California's identified the suspect as Terry’s half-brother. Click here to read more (http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Psychic-Says-She-Found-Body-at-Terry-Smiths-Menifee-Home-Autism-215168941.html):

It would be interesting to watch mainstream media interview James Randi and ask if he intends pay. It wasn't under his "proper observing conditions" requirement, and he may consider it a "lucky guess".

[atmjjc]

Randi is not the only player who would give money to anyone who can prove their claim to paranormal abilities.

Check out the list of money givers if you can prove evidence of the paranormal.

From Wikipedia...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_prizes_for_evidence_of_the_paranormal

[ninjashoes]

Give people LSD and have them try to speak telepathically.

You might be surprised. I used to be this big pothead kid who would experiment with shrooms and stuff like that. I had more psychic experiences than I can count.