What's wrong with James Randi's million dollar challenge?

[variant]

It has been done: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jasmuheen

People still believe.

Well they had the decency to stop the experiment before she keeled over.

<feels satisfied.

Perhaps we will be saved from claims of people who want us to teach alternatives to "metabolic theory" in our science classes.

 

[Pesto]

I think this could be tested ethically and safely.

Lock the person in an apartment with all the creature comforts, minus any food. On one wall is a big red button. The button opens a hatch to a refrigerator full of food. Pressing the button results in failure of the test.

Rig the apartment with cameras, so the applicant is under survailence at all times. The applicant's vital signs must also be monitored at all times, including taking weight measurements twice daily. If previously agreed upon symptoms manifest, the challenge is lost. One of the criteria could be as simple as X pounds of body weight lost.

 

[Valkhorn]

I think this could be tested ethically and safely.

Lock the person in an apartment with all the creature comforts, minus any food. On one wall is a big red button. The button opens a hatch to a refrigerator full of food. Pressing the button results in failure of the test.

Rig the apartment with cameras, so the applicant is under survailence at all times. The applicant's vital signs must also be monitored at all times, including taking weight measurements twice daily. If previously agreed upon symptoms manifest, the challenge is lost. One of the criteria could be as simple as X pounds of body weight lost.

Then they'll blame bad energy through Feng Shui or something.

"But the couch was in the wrong place!"
"Why didn't you move it?"
"It blocked a demon portal!"

 

[Pesto]

Then they'll blame bad energy through Feng Shui or something.

"But the couch was in the wrong place!"
"Why didn't you move it?"
"It blocked a demon portal!"

People always make those kind of excuses after losing this type of test, though.

I'm just saying I think it could be properly tested.

 

[MarcusHill]

That's why the rules of the test state that criteria must be established for both success and failure, and the person being tested essentially signs to say "I will admit to failing if..." e.g. I lose more than 5 pounds in weight over the test period. Randi specifically states that the proposed mechanism for the supernatural abilities is of no interest (so talk of "bad juju" is irrelevant), merely whether the claimed abilities can be unambiguously demonstrated to function.

 

[RichardT]

Then they'll blame bad energy through Feng Shui or something.

"But the couch was in the wrong place!"
"Why didn't you move it?"
"It blocked a demon portal!"

Well then we'll know it's bs.

 

[WhiteMageGirl]

Kind of backfired on the thread starter?

 

[variant]

Then they'll blame bad energy through Feng Shui or something.

"But the couch was in the wrong place!"
"Why didn't you move it?"
"It blocked a demon portal!"

I wish I could count on one hand the times my psychic energy absorbing ability was blocked by the Feng Shui of the room, but I couldn’t adjust it because of the possibility of unblocking demon portals.

 

[Valkhorn]

Well then we'll know it's bs.

As opposed to us already knowing its BS right now?

 

[DrunkenWrestler]

Living on Air (14min 44sec)

James Randi in Australia (43min 59sec)

 

[BVZ]

Actually, living on air is not that far fetched. It might not work in the fresh country air, but in certain cities, you can get all your minerals by simply breathing.

 

[lemmings]

Living on Air (14min 44sec)

"The people who claim they can do this, call themselves &#8216;Breatharians&#8217;, and not surprisingly there are not that many around, because they keep dying."

 

[Pesto]

Actually, living on air is not that far fetched. It might not work in the fresh country air, but in certain cities, you can get all your minerals by simply breathing.

I've always wondered if it would be possible to engineer an animal with chloroplasts in its skin.

 

[WhiteMageGirl]

"The people who claim they can do this, call themselves ‘Breatharians’, and not surprisingly there are not that many around, because they keep dying."

Breatharian Institute Of America


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May the forces be with you,

Wiley

 

[DrunkenWrestler]

"The people who claim they can do this, call themselves &#8216;Breatharians&#8217;, and not surprisingly there are not that many around, because they keep dying."

The 2nd funniest line is in the first 12 seconds, where he says "surely, that takes the cake." Silly Brits. XD

 

[Edx]

The 2nd funniest line is in the first 12 seconds, where he says "surely, that takes the cake." Silly Brits. XD

Since when are Australians "Brits"?

 

[Valkhorn]

Since when are Australians "Brits"?

They do have a common ancestor though...

 

[cerad]

They do have a common ancestor though...

France?

 

[Edx]

They do have a common ancestor though...

Then I guess Americans should be called Brits too?

 

[DrunkenWrestler]

Since when are Australians "Brits"?

Ever since they started teaching Creation "Science." All things are possible in magic land.