James Randi Posts $1M Award On Speaker Cables

elrond amandil writes "James Randi offered US$ 1 million to anyone who can prove that a pair of $7,250 Pear Anjou speaker cables is any better than ordinary (and also overpriced) Monster Cables. Pointing out the absurd review by audiophile Dave Clark, who called the cables 'danceable,' Randi called it 'hilarious and preposterous.' He added that if the cables could do what their makers claimed, 'they would be paranormal.'"

Comments

James Randi is a jerk

[Qbertino]

While Randis debunkings, undermined by his 1000000$ Award, can be usefull for seperating phantasms from truths, I find him to be somewhat of a jerk after reading and watching his stuff. He quite frequently makes unfounded hearsay claims on subjects he obviously knows squat about and presents them in such a way as if they where scientifically proven fact. Even though he often has nothing more than anecdotal evidence he presents his position as more scientifically noteworthy than that of his opponents.

I do think that his work as a critic is invaluable as it forces honest people that have fallen for flim-flam to get their head straight. However his methods are by far much to unscientific to give true further insights into the subjects he talks about. Yet it appears that his intention is to cause more (false) negatives than his methods are capable of giving.

Even his video-debunkings of such obvious trickery as the Uri Geller performances (credit to Randi: obvious trickery *after* you've seen Randis debunkings) contains factually false hearsay intended to sway peoples opinions in favour of materialisim. While being sceptical of anything possibly metaphysical is a must, to claim Randis methods, findings and results are scientific is silly. I find myself having difficulties taking him for granted in the very same way I have with Audiophiles.

The emphasis with which he and his followers claim his methods are scientific add more to the negative impression.

Bottom line: In my opionion he gets to much uncritical attention from the geek crowd.

Re:worshipped as a cult-like persona, over-hyped

[Frosty Piss]

The thing to understand is that skepticism / atheism are cults just like Christianity, Islam, Wicca and all the rest. At least the Romans where honest about their God Cults.