The $1,000,000 challenge fraud.

[Mooncalf]

I've run across a magician's forum, where someone thinks Banachek did some slight of hand to purposely force that dowser woman to fail.

Another person brought up that it shouldn't be put past him, because of his "hoax against Washington University"

 

[Sunray Breaker]

I've run across a magician's forum, where someone thinks Banachek did some slight of hand to purposely force that dowser woman to fail.

Why exactly would he need to do any slight of hand? Dowsing has never worked in the first place, so how or why would he expect to be stumped this time around. Skeptics don't take dowsing seriously enough to sabotage it.

Another person brought up that it shouldn't be put past him, because of his "hoax against Washington University"

The whole intention of Project Alpha was to expose the very same kind of mind games people like Connie Sonne (the dowser your refferring to) use to swindle people out of money. The people in those forums are obviously soar loser that probably responded the same way to their parents when they were told there's no santy claus

 

[zaphod2016]

I've run across a magician's forum, where someone thinks Banachek did some slight of hand to purposely force that dowser woman to fail.

Are they able to successfully replicate the dowsing, in a controlled environment, with other 3rd-party witnesses?

If not, Banachek is the least of their worries.

 

[rjh01]

Which forum? Just done a search and can find nothing relevant on Connie Sonne.

 

[fromdownunder]

Which forum? Just done a search and can find nothing relevant on Connie Sonne.

Perhaps this is because her name is CONNE SONNE. Here is the thread on the Million Doller challenge forum, and there is another major one on the "The Amazing Meeting" forum which is dated from the time of the actual preliminary test.

http://www.internationalskeptics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=132871

Norm

 

[kookbreaker]

Another person brought up that it shouldn't be put past him, because of his "hoax against Washington University"

Yeah, right. A 'hoax' that could have been prevented with even the most basic of precautions. A 'hoax' that could have been ended with a single question. A 'hoax' that should have been caught from day one, because it was designed for that to happen.

The only hoax was the money wasted for all the scam of trying to find psychics.

Believers got caught with their pants down, grumbled about it. Kept quiet, then decided about 15+ years later than they were gypped and tried to re-write the history of Project Alpha.

 

[kookbreaker]

I've run across a magician's forum, where someone thinks Banachek did some slight of hand to purposely force that dowser woman to fail.

Let me guess: Magic Cafe?

 

[Alan]

Let me guess: Magic Cafe?

The only thread there after 2007 that comes up when I searched for "Sonne" is available below.
http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=327950&forum=62

Banachek responded in that thread.

Is there animosity between these two sites?

 

[rjh01]

Perhaps this is because her name is CONNE SONNE. Here is the thread on the Million Doller challenge forum, and there is another major one on the "The Amazing Meeting" forum which is dated from the time of the actual preliminary test.

http://www.internationalskeptics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=132871

Norm

More accurately it is CONNE SONNE in Danish and CONNIE SONNE in English. The former gets 41 (or about 39) replies in Google, the later about 15,000.

 

[connie sonne]

My name is CONNIE SONNE in both danish and english. And I had never said that Banachek did some slight of hands. It was people around who mentioned that. Yes Banachek cheats but it is through JREF and it`s quite another thing they do. I will write it all on my own website, and you will be surprized. www.conniesonne.dk

 

[JoeyDonuts]

Actually, I'm not surprised. Not in the slightest.

 

[Obviousman]

My name is CONNIE SONNE in both danish and english. And I had never said that Banachek did some slight of hands. It was people around who mentioned that. Yes Banachek cheats but it is through JREF and it`s quite another thing they do. I will write it all on my own website, and you will be surprized. www.conniesonne.dk

Ms Sonne,

If you believe you have been "wronged", why don't you ask for a rematch? Seems like a good way to settle any doubts.

 

[connie sonne]

mr. Obviousman, I will, but not through JREF. I will find honest people to do that, and after that JREF have to stop thinking about, what they will use the 1.000.000 dollar for. It`s is decided !

 

[JoeyDonuts]

You think they're holding a million dollars in escrow for the fun of it?

That kind of capital could keep the organization solvent for a few years, or at least be donated to a charity they care about.

I find your allegations of dishonesty to be reprehensible, and completely baseless.

I think you can't possibly allow yourself to let go of something you'd convinced yourself was true and that made you special.

You weren't cheated, and you know it.

ETA: You will not find another group on the planet who is more dedicated to the unbiased scientific process than James Randi's organization.

 

[rjh01]

You have had several months to duplicate the feat in front of anyone you chose, yet you have not done so. I wonder why?

 

[JoeyDonuts]

She hasn't managed to dowse her way towards a facility packed with people who fervently believe in dowsing.

 

[skeen]

What I don't get about these woo's is, they don't need the JREF to prove their abilities to the world. If they can do what they can do, they can do it, and that is that.

However, it is never as straightforward as that.

Connie Sonne convincing scientists of her ability, would put the JREF in a bad light, in that it failed to detect a genuine paranormal ability.

As it stands, paranormal abilities have never been proven, and Connie Sonne's claim has no merit.

Connie: what are you waiting for? You woo's don't realize the implications of what you're claiming. If you can do what you say you can do, it will CHANGE THE WORLD FOREVER.

And yet, no one is knocking on your door.

It should be no matter of debate, or speculation as to whether you can do something; if you can do something you can do it you can do it.

I always find it hilarious how difficult these things become once being tested.

 

[GzuzKryzt]

I've run across a magician's forum, where someone thinks Banachek did some slight of hand to purposely force that dowser woman to fail.

Another person brought up that it shouldn't be put past him, because of his "hoax against Washington University"

I does not matter much what people think in this regard or what could have happened.

What matters is: Can they prove that he used sleight of hand and thus did not adhere to the protocol?

If they are convinced that Banachek cheated, this matter should be taken immediately to the proper authorities.

Because anything else reeks of a smear campaign, doesn't it? Especially when it has been discussed ad nauseam in this very subforum.

 

[GzuzKryzt]

My name is CONNIE SONNE in both danish and english. And I had never said that Banachek did some slight of hands.

Connie, either you forget very fast or you are deliberately lying.

It was people around who mentioned that. Yes Banachek cheats but it is through JREF and it`s quite another thing they do.

Prove it.

I will write it all on my own website, and you will be surprized. www.conniesonne.dk

You have said that before and you said it would happen in September.

 

[paiute]

mr. Obviousman, I will, but not through JREF. I will find honest people to do that, and after that JREF have to stop thinking about, what they will use the 1.000.000 dollar for. It`s is decided !

My sig. See it.