1) Since the JREF and I have not even really begun the Protocol negotiations, I do not see this years attempt to be acceptable by the JREF.
I've had several calls by those interested and are following the negotiations to see if I will do "Something" anyway.
I will be deciding that question in a few days if all goes well.
Again, I'd recommend doing some experiments to find out what you can and can't get out of these "paranormal entities". Your protocol negotiation will go a LOT more smoothly if you actually know what they will and won't do for you. I would be interested in reading here, after the fact, what specifically you did, what controls you used, and what happened.
As far as using dice or envelopes in the test I would steer away from it. There are too many ways to rig the outcome. It would be suspect from the beginning.
Not necessarily -- there are ways to control for that. That's the point of the protocol. The dice are just one method of many, though, for coming up with a random number, which is of course the point of my suggestion. If you are going to use people to listen to a tape to determine whether or not they hear something, you are going to need a control tape, and you're going to need a random method of determining who listens to the control tape and who listens to the actual tape. And the tapes will have to be labeled randomly by someone who never comes in contact with the listeners. This is part of the standard double-blind setup, which is very important for removing any chance of conscious or subconscious cueing.
2) As many who've read what has been written, I have never agreed with the "Double-Jeopardy" feel of the multiple testing. I see it as a weak point in the JREF MDC and it seems that Randi himself, in order to appear fair, offers to disregard the preliminary test all together. He has done so for Sylvia Brown, John Edward, Uri Geller, a test in Europe, (To name a few) and just three or so weeks ago for Graham at DragonCon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW1KaSSftLE
In this video he states that he HAS done it and OFFERS to do it again.
That aside.... I will do whatever it requires to take the test for the Million Dollars!
See, I don't think that's going to happen. He does it for especially outrageous claims and/or by people who are enormously famous...especially people who exploit vulnerable people (such as Sylvia Browne, John Edward, etc). Those people are especially dangerous because they are soulless, greedy, manipulative, hurtful people out to make money and garner fame however they can, and I don't have any objection
at all to Randi putting out a challenge specifically to them the way he does.
However, it has been made clear that you do not meet the criteria for this kind of exception (I am 100% confident that the reason is NOT that the JREF somehow fears you will win, btw). Surely you do not want to be classed with this sort of person?
You are going to have to do the preliminary test first. If you cannot budge on this point, then it is more than likely you will not be able to test for the MDC. You need to clear this up with Jeff immediately, BEFORE any further discussions of an actual protocol.
3) Since it is the Janes Randi Educational Foundation's Million Dollar Challenge, It would seem quite revealing if Randi, claiming to be honestly seeking the truth about the Paranormal, did not attend. But if it is not part of our agreement I would be happy to deal with it.
Excellent. That's one of the two points resolved. But the other one -- taking the preliminary vice skipping the preliminary, still remains, and has to be answered before you can proceed. Really, any discussions of a protocol at all are a waste of time until you get this cleared up.
To better understand the Protocol, many have called this a SHOW and act as if Publicity is a BAD thing.
If not for Publicity, there would be no Million Dollar Challenge.
Randi knows that. He is a huge publicity hound and loves the limelight (Rightly So! Who Doesn't)
The Application now INSISTS that you have Media Attention (Publicity)!
It is written in as part of the JREF MDC.
I call it a show because that's what it's going to be, a show. It is neither positive nor negative, at its outset, to me.
From the various responses I have read in this thread, I gather that other people are objecting to the show aspect of it not because of publicity (which, as you point out, is not -- or should not be -- a problem), but because they feel that you are attempting to pull off nothing more than a magic trick and that you are trying to utilize the JREF and the MDC for your own personal promotion.
In fact, to be honest with you,
I believe that that is what you are doing. I think you fully expect not to be able to make it through the process and you're going to try to make a big deal of it, with plenty of YouTube videos decrying the nefarious JREF and their "rigged test", and how frightened they were of losing the money to you that they had to call of the test in their terror, in an attempt to boost your "cred" as a "paranormalist" (or whatever label you use to identify someone with your abilities). Your behavior on this Forum certainly lends a great deal of credence to this belief.
You could always prove me wrong, though, and because I like the MDC and really enjoy protocol design (and such), I'm willing to help you with your protocol. But it sure would be a positive step if you would concentrate on the one remaining obstacle (your insistence that the rules be changed for you) and your protocol and not allow yourself to get distracted by other discussions. It would also be helpful if you would not post promotional advertisements, offer to pay people, etc. Frankly, it looks like a lot of hand-waving and an attempt to avoid actually working on the protocol. If that's not your intent, please just buckle down and work on the important stuff.
As a further note, I have noticed that there are a number of people on the thread making snarky comments, mocking David, etc. I would point out to those people that if it is David's goal to prove that the MDC is somehow (unfairly) unobtainable, you are playing directly into his hands. If it's not David's goal (and even if it is), it would be best if everyone who's not interested in actually guiding him toward a workable protocol would take their observations to another thread, or sit on their hands. Everything that's been said about David's attempt being a sham and shenanigans and his being a charlatan has already been said, several times. This, the protocol thread, should be a showcase of how willing people are to help develop the protocol. If you're not willing to help, don't. If you get to the point where your patience runs out and you throw up your hands, fine. Please don't post in this thread. David, don't let yourself get distracted by the noise.
My own further participation in the thread (for what it's worth) will be driven by your attempts to progress towards (and through) a protocol. That's what I'll respond to, from here on out. When you drop your insistence on going directly to the formal test, in other words, I'll be back to help move the protocol along.
Taskers (as I see it), ranked in order of importance
o Formal vs. Preliminary test
o Permission from local authorities to run any kind of show inside the cemetery at midnight*, to include copies of regulations required by said authorities (that is, the black & white of what
they require).
o Protocol
*Again, if you can do this during the day (and if I am reading correctly, you can), I'd recommend doing it during the day. It makes things a bit simpler.
