The $1,000,000 Challenge

[Carl Carlson IV]

I'll be honest and upfront, I'm pretty skeptical about Paranormal and Psychic abilities, however I like to have an open mind about everything. I don't really know much about the topic (other than the frauds on television and of the like) so that probably has something to do with it. However, I have one question.

I'm sure many of you know who James Randi is (for those who don't his wiki has a lot of info), he is a former magician that cracks down on false psychics, etc. I'm not going to lie and say I have read a lot about the man and know about his past and such, however I know he offers a $1,000,000 challenge to anyone who can demonstrate a supernatural ability under agreed-upon scientific testing criteria. Now, my obvious question is, why has no one won this prize yet? And if you have abilities, why don't you take the test?

I don't want to sound like I don't believe any of this exists because nobody has beaten this test, that would be silly. However, to me it would only make sense for me to at least try for the chance of one million dollars if I had the abilities. I know some people claim that his test is made so that it is "unpassable" however I have seen videos where people have taken his test, and nothing seemed to be added to make it difficult. And alas, no one has ever passed.

[Carl Carlson IV]

Arg, sorry folks.. I just noticed this has been brought up before in an earlier thread. I should have looked first! Well, regardless, if anyone still wants to discuss it, shoot.

[Erin Pavlina]

They are no longer offering the challenge. Now they are going after people with sufficient media profile and challenging them directly.

[A GROWING MIND]

Well in my experience it is very hard to do it when I want to it just kinda happens when I am not expecting it, thats just with me though.

[Blueskied]

People with supernatural powers are highly sensitive and don't function when under pressure.
Tuning in the right level of vibration just don't work this way.
Like it happened to that Uri Geller dude:
YouTube - Uri Geller Exposed on the Tonight Show

[Old Soul]

I have dreams that come true, future events before they happen, and i have only had a few day time visions

I do not seek this out,,, it just happens, like the night prior to 911, I dreamt about the old testement prophet Daniel, maybe it was coincidental that I had that dream the night before 911.........i honestly don't know

Have I ever helped the police with missing children or solve a murder mystery, nope.......and I have never tried, or have i ever gave a psychic reading*, in fact I don't know how they do that....

all i know is that i have had a few experiences where i saw something that was gonna happen........maybe it happens to alot of people they just don't speak about it

[Old Soul]

just kinda happens when I am not expecting it,

that is exactly how it is with me :-) I don't even know how people give psychic readings, never done this or tried to do it..

[Old Soul]

I'll be honest and upfront, I'm pretty skeptical about Paranormal and Psychic abilities

Actually I was totally* 100 percent convinced that it was all BS... I did not believe it period...figured it was all a con ......then i started having too many things happen to me.....

Now I believe, there is more to this, that something is deffently going on...and I do not attribute it to mental illness, but I also believe there are some who do profess to do readings and they are frueds....

who knows maybe the real psychics of the world are not making money at it ? possible

[Dive Bomb]

I don't think any sensible person who has good stuff in terms of powers would out themselves in public. They'd recieve so much attention and what not, it wouldn't be worth the 1,000,000 dollars that they can probably make on thier own. I'm talking about the really good ones who probably don't even need the lottery since it would put alot of attention on them.

Who cares if people don't believe you have any paranormal abilites? I wouldn't at least.

[Carl Carlson IV]

Originally Posted by Erin Pavlina

They are no longer offering the challenge. Now they are going after people with sufficient media profile and challenging them directly.

Really, this is quite interesting. I know Randi had jumped on a few well known psychics and what not but was not aware it was only offered in this way. I can see how perhaps this would make sense because I can imagine there are some nuts (can I say nuts? ) that would take their shot at a mil. I can also see how people would note this as Randi is scared of losing the money.

[Carl Carlson IV]

Originally Posted by Dive Bomb

I don't think any sensible person who has good stuff in terms of powers would out themselves in public. They'd recieve so much attention and what not, it wouldn't be worth the 1,000,000 dollars that they can probably make on thier own. I'm talking about the really good ones who probably don't even need the lottery since it would put alot of attention on them.

Who cares if people don't believe you have any paranormal abilites? I wouldn't at least.

I disagree here. I can understand about not wanting to make yourself public in that regard. However, to almost anyone, $1 mil is a lot of dough. Sure they can probably make it on their own, but if there were a test or a challenge where it used abilities that I could for $1,000,000; I would be the first to sign up.

I wouldn't care if I had abilities and people did not believe me either. However if you could use those to better yourself financially, go for it! It wouldn't only help you alone, you could take the money out of the account and donate it if you really wanted to. Better that then sitting in a bank account for years.

[Yukio]

I think that 'none' of them had a winner.
There was something similar on Europe with a smaller prize.

[Yukio]

Probably only one million would not worth the trouble for a stabilized celebrity.

Now, for those that are really good in sensing the vibrations.
If you really wanted "One Million" you could try the MadeBig Lotto.
It is easy to try and FREE!
A Lotto game in each day of the week.

[Natsu]

I don't know, but if could use telekinesis, I'd win the Euromillions the week it had a cumulative prize of 100+ million euros. If I was a telepath, I'd go out Wall Street scanning the minds of the brokers. If had pregonition, I'd use the same. If had telekinesis, in fact, I'd stop the hearts of some dictators around the world and be happy about it (I don't like your massive rape camp, sir, you are soooo dying)...

I don't know if people have paranormal powers, but I can tell you if I did, I'd never ever let anyone except my husband know about it XD So, considering my point of view, I see two possible answer to your questions:

1. No one has psychic powers.
2. No one who has psychic powers would go for a million dollars when they can get far more by remaining anonymous.

[Natsu]

Originally Posted by Carl Carlson IV

I don't want to sound like I don't believe any of this exists because nobody has beaten this test, that would be silly. However, to me it would only make sense for me to at least try for the chance of one million dollars if I had the abilities. I know some people claim that his test is made so that it is "unpassable" however I have seen videos where people have taken his test, and nothing seemed to be added to make it difficult. And alas, no one has ever passed.

I don't know if those things exist. But to your second argument, I disagree. If you could control small weights with telekinesis, wouldn't it make more sense to go to Las Vegas and get more than a million dollars? I mean, I haven't seen those powers, but I'd have a bunch of ideas of what I'd do with them if I had them (ever since I was little), and the possibilities are awesome. If I got a bazillion dollars in casinos and lotteries and then went for Randi's challenge, I'd never be able to win again in a casino: maybe I'd have to give all my previous earnings back. And maybe people would be suspicious about weird things happening near me (waha, I'd do such nasty stuff to corrupt politicians I laugh only at the possibilities).

So... apart from the fact that I think Randi is a debunker, and not a seeker (though a very good and necessary debunker to fight ruthless charlatans who abuse gullible people), I still think that if I had paranormal powers, I'd much rather use them in an anonymous and imaginative way, than having myself singled out and investigated for having them. What I think that can be done with any supernatural power is far more entertaining and wealthier than getting a lone million dollars.

So... I don't have those powers, but, how I wish I did! :-)

[Carl Carlson IV]

Originally Posted by Natsu

I don't know if those things exist. But to your second argument, I disagree. If you could control small weights with telekinesis, wouldn't it make more sense to go to Las Vegas and get more than a million dollars?

Why not do both?

[Natsu]

Originally Posted by Carl Carlson IV

Why not do both?

Well, because I bet my right hand that if you win a state lottery of 100+ millions (either in USA or the Euromillions), and then go out and prove you have telekinetic powers, the casinos and the states would ask for the money back, they would sue you, and if you had previously proved you had won by cheating (and sure proven telekinesis would count as "cheating" in games that are supposed to be governed by odds), you'd probably be forced to give the money back. In the best case, you'd be sued, and in the worst, you'd be sued and would lose... I think most judges would consider that playing lottery and choosing the balls would be cheating. In any case, you'd get lots of unwanted attention, which I think is something totally useless.

And that's only about money, but there's other stuff. There are some dictators in the world who don't respect humans rights whose hearts I'd gladly stop from beating had I the power to do so. Mind you, I am not saying those powers exist, I don't know, and I assure you I don't have them. All I am saying is that if I had those powers, I'd never let anyone know. If there's anything better than being rich and famous, it's being rich and anonymous, and then killing some dictators after having sent them telepathical messages warning them to call for elections if they don't want to be killed... Man, the possibilities! No, certainly I would NOT enter the Randi challenge if I had such powers. I have far better ideas that require anonymity.

[MartialDev]

Originally Posted by Natsu

2. No one who has psychic powers would go for a million dollars when they can get far more by remaining anonymous.

Bingo! A high-level gongfu master needs Randi's approval like a fish needs a bicycle.

[Namaste]

Originally Posted by Natsu

All I am saying is that if I had those powers, I'd never let anyone know. If there's anything better than being rich and famous, it's being rich and anonymous, and then killing some dictators after having sent them telepathical messages warning them to call for elections if they don't want to be killed... Man, the possibilities! No, certainly I would NOT enter the Randi challenge if I had such powers. I have far better ideas that require anonymity.

And yet there are a number of "psychics" who aren't anonymous and who make hundreds and hundreds of $$ from poor families wishing to communicate with dead relatives (Sylvia Browne, for example). If they are already making money out of their abilities, why not go an extra step and face up to Randi?

[Sam988]

I can actually fly, but why would i reveal myself and my superpower and become a lab rat for the US government?

[Old Soul]

And yet there are a number of "psychics" who aren't anonymous and who make hundreds and hundreds of $$ from poor families wishing to communicate with dead relatives

I'm not claiming what Sylvia Brown does for her living, but I saw my father after he died, he came to me in a ball of white light in my dream.. to this day
I am still effected profoundly*........... (this dream was 15 yrs ago now) I did not make a dime on reporting this experience, or do i intend too

to this day I do not deny what happened...... and i will continue to share with people :-)

[Peter Filis]

Carl, the million dollar challenge is not genuine.

Let me give you an example.

About 10 years ago, a man took up Randi's challenge.

He demonstrated an ability to correctly identify songs by looking at the tracks (and only the tracks) of old vinyl records.

Randi did *not* give him the 1 million! He said that his ability could be explained scientifically....ie, it was done visually.

I'm serious. Randi did not give him the money.

I'm skeptical about skeptics.