If you think James Randi's million dollar challenge is unfair how would you improve it?

Question

Someone said in an answer here

"Randi is a freud himself. He doesnt test any psychics fairly and admits to that-he is the only judge..biased judge-he doesnt even have any background in science or research..he's a magician for petes sake! "

This isn't the first time I've seen people express these kind of ideas.

So how would you make it more fair and yet still be a genuine test of paranormal abilities?

http://www.randi.org/joom/challenge-info.html

Answer 1

Oh, perhaps by having standards so well-defined that anyone could be the judge.  You know, the whole "the proof's in the pudding" thing.  Or perhaps he could have experts design the protocol.

Oh wait, that's already the case!  In other words, people who poo-poo him don't even bother to familiarize themselves with the rules of the Challenge.

10 tips for dealing with James Randi:

http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2007/10/10...

Answer 2

Without being a lawyer, the application form looks fair enough. If anyone has abilities that are scientifically testable, and have made a 'media presence' for the applicant, go for it! (that leaves me out; I'm an observer).

Answer 3

Randi is completely unfair. His tests require all sorts of checks and controls and measurements ... I mean, my god, you'd have to be a psychic to be able to win his challenge!

To make it more fair, Randi should make it a rule that the people conducting the experiment should not observe while the experiment is in progress because that will make the psychic nervous.

Answer 4

Althought I hope this question is closed down (B.c I don't go around centering out other people's opinions by making them my question-for the purpose of mockery) I will say that James Randi  is not so great himself.

http://www.skepticalinvestigations.org/e...

http://www.skepticalinvestigations.org/w...

http://www.mind-energy.net/archives/163-...

http://psipog.net/print-beware-pseudo-sk...  (Read this site to understand why his so called "tests" are a scam.).

There are better out there...lots in Ontario I know.

Answer 5

Honestly I think if there are real psychics they would be yogis meditating in caves in the Himalyas 24/7, and we will never know their names.  They would not feel a need to prove their powers, nor a million dollar prize useful to them or necessarily a good thing to accept and give away to someone else.  Randi's challenge calls the bluff of phonies in the US who people give money to based on claims of psychic ability, and I think that is a good thing.  Sylvia Brown's acceptance then refusal to take his challenge is telling, especially considering her history of gaffs and cover-ups.

Answer 6

That is completely false. The judgement is made by an independant and impartial team of scientists, pre-selected by

Randi and the challenger.

It is the challenger who decides the conditions of the test. Randi only decides whether to agree to their proposal.

After that, he has to accept the decision of the science team.

Answer 7

I don't think you can.  Since there is no way to prove that ghosts exist, there is no way to come up with a fair and unbiased test because there is nothing to compare it to.  Just like a person can say anything they want about the existence of ghosts, a person can also say what they want about them not existing.  If it were possible to put a ghost in a bottle and show the world it was there, there would still be people who would not believe it.  It is a fifty fifty thing.  And I do not think that is ever going to change.  You can not make all people believe you,  one way or the other.

I feel that Electronic Voice Phenomenon is proof that something is out there.  No one has been able to explain it.  It is a real phenomenon that anyone can experience.  What do people say about it?  That it is a hoax or that it is caused by a persons own mind.  (This said by people who usually say telepathy does not exist.)  Or worse, that it is demons or Satan.  Anything to dismiss it.   What it will always come down to is you either believe it or you don't.  For that reason, Mr. Randi's million dollars will likely stay safely in his own hands.