[Paul C. Anagnostopoulos]

Originally Posted by Psibeliever

I told you - impartial observers.

If you say so. Seems to me that the best person to select his reading is the sitter himself. Otherwise how would the judges know which readings fit which sitters? Only by some kind of coaching procedure, which is just perfect for leaks.

IOW, that person must have BEEN the object of media PR, not someone who has done investigations into the phenomena. So Putoff and Targ, who examined Uri Geller, cannot apply. Furthermore, what about a non-well-known scientist?

I think you may be taking the wording too literally. But anyway, it doesn't matter. It's the JREF's money, so they get to make the rules. Nowhere does it say that they think they can test all possible paranormal claims. In particular, there is a list of certain types of claims they will not test.

I'll ask the JREF about this.

Now you see why many scientists wouldn't waste their time with Randi's Challenge. Of course, then many Creationists can say that, because no one has applied for my hypothetical challenge, evolution doesn't exist.

Of course many scientists wouldn't waste their time. Who said it makes sense for everyone to apply? The JREF makes no blanket statement about the nonexistence of all paranormal claims. And who said no one has applied? Many people have applied and gone through a preliminary test.

Why apply them to psi and not evolution? Because what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

Except you're comparing geese to salamanders.


~~ Paul