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Changes To The Challenge

When April 1st rolls around...

Randi and JREF have proven themselves pretty clever folks over the years so I'd be really surprised (and disappointed) if the FAQs didn't deal directly with the question of how Joe or Susie Truwoo can get themselves qualified for the MDC -- without involving JREF in a bunch of work.

Personally, I applaud the changes coming to the MDC and look forward to a much higher visibility, more impactful JREF as a result.
 
Good on you, Robinson.

Where are the details of the new challenge?

Was it all an elaborate April Fool's Day joke?
 
Moochie said:
When did you move to Pentridge, Bill?
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http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/2/story.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10432345

MELBOURNE - A former ANZ Melbourne bank employee who stole $8.47 million for a customer, and received $8000 in secret commissions, has been jailed for at least two years...Stephen Craig Jenvey, 45, of Mooroolbark in Melbourne's outer east, pleaded guilty in the Victorian County Court...
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:mad:

Atheist spilled the beans here:

http://www.internationalskeptics.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2491510
 
New Rules New rules as of April 1st, 2007

Now it is a joke.

12. This offer is not open to any and all persons. Before being considered as an applicant, the person applying must satisfy two conditions: First, he/she must have a “media presence,” which means having been published, written about, or known to the media in regard to his/her claimed abilities or powers. This can be established by producing articles, videos, books, or other published material that specifically addresses the person’s abilities. Second, he/she must produce at least one signed document from an academic who has witnessed the powers or abilities of the person, and will validate that these powers or abilities have been verified.
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This is contradictory! First it says the offer is open to any and all persons. Then it says it is only open to those with “media presence."

Then it goes on to require a "signed document from an academic" ... "that these powers or abilities have been verified." To verify means to confirm the truth of something. An academic is an educator who works at a college or university. So this rule requires a signed statement from an educator that the applicant's paranormal abilities are true!

That will never happen. Would any academic put his/her career on the line by signing a statement saying someone’s paranormal abilities are true?

The million dollar challenge is dead! May it rest in peace!
 
Jim_Mich said:
This is contradictory! First it says the offer is open to any and all persons. Then it says it is only open to those with “media presence."
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I think you may have skimmed over the word "not" in the rule. Here's what you quoted, copied directly out of your post:

12. This offer is not open to any and all persons. Before being considered as an applicant, the person applying must satisfy two conditions: First, he/she must have a “media presence,” which means having been published, written about, or known to the media in regard to his/her claimed abilities or powers. This can be established by producing articles, videos, books, or other published material that specifically addresses the person’s abilities. Second, he/she must produce at least one signed document from an academic who has witnessed the powers or abilities of the person, and will validate that these powers or abilities have been verified.
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(Emphasis mine.)

Jim_Mich said:
Then it goes on to require a "signed document from an academic" ... "that these powers or abilities have been verified." To verify means to confirm the truth of something. An academic is an educator who works at a college or university. So this rule requires a signed statement from an educator that the applicant's paranormal abilities are true!

That will never happen. Would any academic put his/her career on the line by signing a statement saying someone’s paranormal abilities are true?

The million dollar challenge is dead! May it rest in peace!
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I'm not sure I agree. There have been many discussions on this board, and in the Commentary, of academics who have whole-heartedly embraced pseudoscientific and/or paranormal notions. It's often held up as proof that mere education does not "woo-proof" a person, and that critical thinking is not automatically a bypass of education, even higher eduction.

Although I have to say I do think the wording is interesting; my understanding of the Challenge (up to the change, that is) is that the affidavit requirement simply required a professional-type person to say (in essence) "I've observed this demonstration, and cannot explain it". I think it'll be worth asking about the sentence "...and will validate that these powers or abilities have been verified", since it seems to imply that not only has the academic witnessed the proported ability, but either has tested it or knows it to have been tested. I'll see what Jeff says and ask him to post a comment here.
 
Where have you been for the last month? The challenge was open under the old rules until April 1st so there was plenty of time for you to figure out what you could prove and file an application. The changes were necessary to filter out the nut cases so the Jref staff can focus their energy on the scam artists that are most visibly promoting paranormal claims particularly the ones that are causing harm or grief.

If you really have a paranormal ability there are still several channels through which to bring forward your claim to the challenge. Getting the attention of the media is only one of them. It's also been mentioned that if someone were to prove a paranormal ability to a local skeptics group that would open the door to the jref challenge. [I should find a link to where that was said and post it here.]

ETA:
Jeff Wagg said:
Gr8wight said:
Didn't Randi or Jeff already say that a member of the general public need only pass one of the many smaller skeptical challenges out there in order to qualify for the million dollar challenge?
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I did, in fact. :)
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Dan O. said:
Where have you been for the last month? The challenge was open under the old rules until April 1st so there was plenty of time for you to figure out what you could prove and file an application. The changes were necessary to filter out the nut cases so the Jref staff can focus their energy on the scam artists that are most visibly promoting paranormal claims particularly the ones that are causing harm or grief.

If you really have a paranormal ability there are still several channels through which to bring forward your claim to the challenge. Getting the attention of the media is only one of them. It's also been mentioned that if someone were to prove a paranormal ability to a local skeptics group that would open the door to the jref challenge. [I should find a link to where that was said and post it here.]
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I think you'll find we're all aware of all that. It just hasn't created even a ripple of interest a week after the "New ChallengeTM" commenced.

Apparently, one of the reasons for change was to increase the profile of the MDC (n.b. NOT MdC)

Not setting the world afire just yet, eh?
 
The Atheist said:
I think you'll find we're all aware of all that. It just hasn't created even a ripple of interest a week after the "New ChallengeTM" commenced.

Apparently, one of the reasons for change was to increase the profile of the MDC (n.b. NOT MdC)

Not setting the world afire just yet, eh?
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Yeah, what he said!

Have I missed the big announcement or information about exactly what the JREF is doing now that 4/1 has passed?
 
I'm a little disappointed. I thought there would be a grand assault on the big names in woo. Is there a plan about to unfold that I've missed?

On April 1, I expected to see The Amazing Randi on Larry King calling out several well known charlatans. I'd like nothing more than to have the world see these people proven to be frauds.
 
ksbluesfan said:
I'm a little disappointed. I thought there would be a grand assault on the big names in woo. Is there a plan about to unfold that I've missed?

On April 1, I expected to see The Amazing Randi on Larry King calling out several well known charlatans. I'd like nothing more than to have the world see these people proven to be frauds.
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Well, the good thing is that there is no "ticking clock" to worry about, if things are such that Randi's April 1st date needed to be pushed back. The "offensive" portion of the new challenge can be implimented at any time.
 
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