The One Million Dollar Challenge (Proof of the Paranormal)

[Rissask]

In 1964, famous skeptic (my hero! ) James Randi put up a $1000 prize to anyone who could provide proof of the paranormal.

It has since grown to one million dollars.

Since 1964 to present, just over 1000 people have applied. None have passed even the preliminary testing.

as to what qualifies as 'paranormal' :

The following things are paranormal by definition:
Dowsing. ESP. Precognition. Remote Viewing. Communicating with the Dead and/or "Channeling". Violations of Newton's Laws of Motion (Perpetual Motion Devices). Homeopathy. Chiropractic Healing (beyond back/joint problems). Faith Healing. Psychic Surgery. Astrology. Therapeutic Touch (aka "TT"). Qi Gong. Psychokinesis (aka "PK"). The Existence of Ghosts. Precognition & Prophecy. Levitation. Physiognomy. Psychometry. Pyramid Power. Reflexology. Applied Kinesiology (aka "AK"). Clairvoyance. The Existence of Auras. Graphology. Numerology. Palmistry. Phrenology.
The following things have been ruled NOT paranormal and/or NOT eligible for the Challenge in the past:
UFOs. "Bigfoot" & "Yeti" (or other legendary creatures). Anything that is likely to cause injury. "Cloud-busting". Claims of a Religious or Spiritual nature. Exorcism and/or Demonic Possession. The Existence of Chakras. The Existence of God[s]. Reincarnation. The Existence of the Soul or "Astral Bodies".

Other claims, such as "Crop Circles" and UFO's are rejected because they have been definitively proven to be the result of hoaxes or mass hysteria. Claims involving "Cloud-Busting", for example, are rejected because Science (along with keen observation) tells us conclusively that clouds will move and disperse despite the efforts of humankind to move them according to their wishes. The phenomenon behind Oujia boards, for example, is attributed to ideomotor reflexes, and not to anything paranormal. The JREF will also not waste its time (or jeopardize the applicant's safety and well being) with claims from applicants who exhibit clear signs of paranoid delusions, schizophrenia or other mental illness, feeling strongly that it is their moral responsibility to avoid the furthering of such delusions in the minds of those who may be in need of immediate psychiatric attention. What this means is that it is OK for you to be deluded, as the JREF feels many applicants may well be, but it is not OK for the JREF to support your illness, if you have shown clear, clinical signs of suffering from one. Randi feels that his personal and moral obligations in this regard far supercede the JREF's professional obligation to test all applicants.

http://www.randi.org/research/faq.html
So- anyone know anyone who could win the million?
For people who believe in such things, shouldn't this be enough to prove it is hogwash?

[playabum17]

What's prook?

[Rissask]

Originally Posted by playabum17

What's prook?

Smartass party girl.:p

I fixed it.

[Rissask]

Here is a list of applicants and info about them and what happened with their claims.
lotta nutcases on there!

http://forums.randi.org/forumdisplay.php?f=43

[playabum17]

Originally Posted by Rissask

Smartass party girl.:p

I fixed it.

Ya, but you gotta love me!

[Just Lucky]

Why do they discriminate against Yetis? Some of my best friends are Yetis! This is just wrong.

[Rissask]

Originally Posted by Just Lucky

Why do they discriminate against Yetis? Some of my best friends are Yetis! This is just wrong.

Well, I suppose because they aren't supposed to be 'paranormal', but actual, live, flesh and blood creatures. Like, er, Scott's chupacabras.
But if you can bring him proof, he might still give you a few thousand.

[stevo137]

Rissask, it appears to me that you are searching for answers.
Did you ever wonder if perhaps you have ever rejected the "truth"?
It's a question that I always ask myself and is not intended to stir up dissension, just a question...

[CaroleLB]

Originally Posted by Just Lucky

Why do they discriminate against Yetis? Some of my best friends are Yetis! This is just wrong.

Some of my best dates have been Yeti!

[Just Lucky]

Originally Posted by CaroleLB

Some of my best dates have been Yeti!

I've heard. Loompah the Yeti wants to know why you don't return his calls.

[Babaloo]

Originally Posted by stevo137

Rissask, it appears to me that you are searching for answers.
Did you ever wonder if perhaps you have ever rejected the "truth"?
It's a question that I always ask myself and is not intended to stir up dissension, just a question...

I don't think it's so much searching for answers (i speak for myself)...

...as much as it is squashing the b.s. that's floating around.

btw...i'm not seeking.

I found it.

[stevo137]

Originally Posted by Babaloo

btw...i'm not seeking.

I found it.

Me too, I think?

[Rissask]

Originally Posted by Babaloo

I don't think it's so much searching for answers (i speak for myself)...
...as much as it is squashing the b.s. that's floating around.

btw...i'm not seeking.
I found it.

Babs gets it.
I am not seeking either Steve. All there is to seek can be found quite easily.
I just have a pet peeve about gullible people and superstitious nonsense. And thought this was a pretty cool challenge.

[Rissask]

Originally Posted by CaroleLB

Some of my best dates have been Yeti!

Big, dumb, and hairy? :p
Don't get me wrong, there is a lot to be said for dumb men. As long as their....oh, nevermind.

[stevo137]

There is quite a bit of nonsense out there.