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Is Your Office Haunted?

WormholeFiend writes "You know Halloween is around the corner when websites like Forbes.com releases a story wondering about the supernatural. From the article: 'Maybe the spirits have decided that spooky mansions and creepy battlefields are passé. Maybe they want to cash in on the glamour of corporate life. Maybe they just wanted the sushi.'" Anyone out there have any encounters with a spiritual Milton?

3 of 266 comments (clear)

  1. snicker... by ankarbass · · Score: 5, Informative

    It's already been done. So if you are the "brilliant scientist" with evidence, just give the the amazing randi" a call and you can be a "brilliant scientist" with a million dollars.

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  2. My office? What about my house? by russiste · · Score: 4, Informative

    Shameless plug... if you're under the impression that your neighborhood is weird or that your house creaks only on satanic holidays, check out this map of haunted places to double-check that you've chosen the right place to live.

    Happy halloween...

    Greg

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    Loopsh of fury.
  3. Re:Fishy by ankarbass · · Score: 4, Informative

    Christ, at least be honest. The test protocol is agreed to by BOTH the participant and the James Randi Foundation. What this says is that applicants won't agree to a proper test protocol. If you say that ghosts exist why wouldn't you agree to ruling out EVERY possible alternative explanation. The rules aren't "arbitrary", they are designed to eliminate any chance that the "paranormal" is misrepresenting his claims and are agreed to by the paranormal. A true paranormal would welcome the strictest of tests because it would prove beyond doubt that, at the very least, his skills are genuine. If you could prove that you could talk to the dead you would be rich beyond your dreams as you would have the entire world as your client.

    The fact that nobody has ever been tested is testament to the fact that "Paranormals" are a bunch of frauds. At best they're entertaining, at worst they're criminals.

    As this excerpt from the FAQ points out. Finger pointing is pointless. Either you have the skill or you don't and since you have to agree to the test protocol you can't claim that it was some set of "arbitrary" rules.

    Since 1964 parnormals have had the opportunity to put up or shut up, yet in over fourty years, none have.

    Taken from http://www.randi.org/

    1.1. What's the history of the Challenge?

    The Challenge started in 1964 when James Randi put up $1,000 of his own money to the first person who could provide objective proof of the paranormal [1]. Since then, the prize money has grown to the current $1,000,000, and the rules regarding the Challenge have gotten more and more official and legal. It is vital that you understand this fact before you apply. The contract signifies your willingness to adhere to the Challenge rules. If you do not feel that you can abide by the rules, you should not apply, because NO rules will be circumvented on your behalf. So don't even ask.

    1.2. Why is there a Challenge in the first place?

    During a live radio panel discussion, James Randi was challenged by a parapsychologist to "put [his] money where [his] mouth is", and Randi responded by offering to pay $1,000 to anyone who demonstrated a paranormal power under satisfactory observational conditions. [2]

    1.3. How many applicants have there been for the Challenge?

    Between 1964 and 1982, Randi declared that over 650 people had applied [3]. Between 1997 and February 15, 2005, there had been a total of 360 official, notarized applications.

    1.4. How many people have passed the preliminary test?

    None. Most applicants never agree to a proper test protocol, so most are never tested.

    1.5. How many people have passed the formal test?
    No one has ever taken the formal test, as one must first pass the preliminary test.

    2.1. What do you mean by "mutually agreed upon"?

    "Mutually agreed upon" means that neither side can force the other side into doing or saying something that they don't want to, and that if no agreement can be reached, the application process is terminated, with no blame or fault attributed to either side.
    It's easy to point fingers after a Challenge claim comes to an impasse and say that the other side was being unreasonable. This phrase is used to insure that finger-pointing has no merit.

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