Quote:
Originally Posted by KellyM  Many psychics have claimed to have an easily testable ability. As Rob S mentioned, one possible test would be to have a medium give readings to 10 believers, then to have the clients select their reading out of the group. If say, 8 out of 10 can determine which reading is theirs, the claimant passes the test. How could Randi prevent a genuine medium from passing such a simple test? |
All he'd have to do would be to drag out the negotiations until the other person gave up. As the judge Randi can easily make the process go on indefinitely with no verdict. Then as soon as the claimant gives up, they're pronounced a fraud. Randi has a million reasons not to make the testing process fair.
If I offered a million dollar cash prize to demonstrate the existence of gravity, and I control the application and testing process, I can guarantee you no one will ever win the prize. I can even promote the test as being mutually negotiable. All I need is right of refusal for anything the claimant suggests, and the prize will be effectively unclaimable.
To rule out the wackos, I might also require that you must have a media presence as a gravity expert to apply for the prize, since I don't want to waste my time with the obviously deluded.
The JREF prize is a clever marketing idea. In a purely Machiavellian sense, I rather like it.