How to Get Conjurer James Randi to Give You $1 Million (Video)

This is the second of our two-part interview (part one ran yesterday) with Conjurer and Investigator (his words) James Randi, whose organization, the James Randi Education Foundation, has a long-standing offer: prove you have paranormal abilities and they'll give you $1 Million. They say they've recently made this award easier than ever to win. Note that, lower bar or no, Randi claims the last time a conjurer's illusion fooled him was many years ago, when he was very young. It was one done by the famous Chan Canasta -- and Randi claims that in the end he figured it out, anyway. So forget the $1 Million, relax, and enjoy James Randi. He's a great raconteur, so we can all be jealous of interviewer Rob Rozeboom (samzenpus) for having made this great video even as we enjoy watching it.

Comments

One of us?

[XanC]

So samzenpus has never seen The Sting, nor heard of Richard Feynman?

Re:Jealous of samzenpus?

[SJHillman]

Damnit, stop anthropomorphizing Slashdot. It hates that.

An Element of the Divine

[Anonymous Coward]

In the early 80's, I recall seeing "An Element of the Divine" on Arthur C. Clarke's Strange World I think it was called. Randi and Clarke were testing dowsers. Randi predictably declared all the dowsers bogus after a small experiment. Clarke disagreed, saying that there were two experiments, one to find water and the other to find metals. The water dowsers apparently had a much higher rate of success than the metal dowsers. Randi didn't even raise his eyebrows. Not saying he is a fraud or doesn't believe in what he is doing, but his objectivity seems highly suspect to me. His convictions seem to get in the way of his thinking, and I am pretty sure that the money will never be awarded no matter how well the subject matter may be demonstrated.

Re:An Element of the Divine

[MetalliQaZ]

I am also pretty sure the money will never be awarded. But that's because MAGIC ISN'T REAL.
I haven't seen that program you mention, but it is very hard to do Good Science on a television show. It's too boring. That is probably why Randi didn't play along.

Re:An Element of the Divine

[h4rr4r]

More water is likely available.

It will never be awarded because magic is fake. No one has even come close, because magic is fake. If dowsing was real a trained dowser would do better than an untrained one.

Re:An Element of the Divine

[DrXym]

Scientific credentials doesn't stop someone from being fooled. Read up on Project Alpha where two mentalists were able (with the assistance of Randi) to con a paranormal research group into thinking they had genuine psychic powers. The con was simply to kick up a fuss until the protocols went their way and bend things when people weren't looking. The scientists were even ready to announce their results to the world when Randi stepped in and revealed the hoax to them. Scientists are not necessarily equipped to spot frauds from occurring whereas magicians and confidence tricksters might well be. They have much to learn from each other especially when paranormal claims are being examined.

Re:An Element of the Divine

[Joce640k]

In the early 80's, I recall seeing "An Element of the Divine" on Arthur C. Clarke's Strange World I think it was called. Randi and Clarke were testing dowsers.

This?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqoYrSd94kA

t his objectivity seems highly suspect to me. His convictions seem to get in the way of his thinking, and I am pretty sure that the money will never be awarded no matter how well the subject matter may be demonstrated.

Rubbish.

The experiments he does are always designed so that the result is obvious to anybody watching. Results are black/white, yes/no. No interpretation or judgment is needed from him.

The participants are asked at every stage if they're happy (mainly so they can't claim afterwards that they weren't...). They get trial runs, things are altered as needed so they're sure they can perform.

Randi couldn't possibly be more fair in what he does, yet the million goes unclaimed...

Re:An Element of the Divine

[Joce640k]

You're right about that, but the show in question was hosted by Arthur Clarke, someone who, unlike Randi, actually had genuine scientific credentials.

Randi's credentials are in fooling other people. To me that seems more relevant than "science" for detecting fraudsters.

Richard Feynman

[damacus]

Interviewer didn't know who Richard Feynman was? Missing out on that one.... please renew your geek card.

Pro tip

[Al Al Cool J]

When a professional magician offers you a chance to win $1 million, you have absolutely no chance to win $1 million.