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John Benneth on YouTube

Loren

Student
L
Joined
Aug 30, 2005
Messages
41
In looking for a Randi video on YouTube, I stumbled across a video by a guy named John Benneth, claiming that he has the real proof to beat Randi's Challenge. I did a quick forum search, and it seems that Randi and Benneth have a bit of a history.

So I thought it might interest some folks to see what Mr. Benneth has posted in the past week. Unfortunately, I don't have enough of a post history to post regular links, so all I can offer is his account: youtube.com/profile?user=Bandershot .

The two anti-Randi videos are "How to Win $1,000,000" and the other is "The Truth About Homeopathy".

Plus, check out "Come out with your hands up" to see Benneth do political impressions, including Giuliani and Barbara Bush.
 
Loren said:
In looking for a Randi video on YouTube, I stumbled across a video by a guy named John Benneth, claiming that he has the real proof to beat Randi's Challenge. I did a quick forum search, and it seems that Randi and Benneth have a bit of a history.

So I thought it might interest some folks to see what Mr. Benneth has posted in the past week. Unfortunately, I don't have enough of a post history to post regular links, so all I can offer is his account: youtube.com/profile?user=Bandershot .

The two anti-Randi videos are "How to Win $1,000,000" and the other is "The Truth About Homeopathy"
Click to expand...

No offense, but "video shmideo". ; ) I mean, Benneth can make all the mouth-noise he wants. When he actually applies for, and wins, the Challenge, that's when I'll believe him. Otherwise, he's just yet another in the seemingly endless string of people who talk smack about the Challenge without actually ponying up and doing anything (besides talk smack).
 
For the lazy folks, here are the direct links to YouTube:

The Truth About Homeopathy

This screenshot says it all:

4514465a0bbd0b801.png



The other video titled "How to Win $1,000,000" is exactly the same video as the "Truth About Homeopathy" one, except for 30 seconds of additional drivel.

NB: I wonder if John Benneth's glasses are homeopathic, too.
 
Jackalgirl said:
No offense, but "video shmideo". ; ) I mean, Benneth can make all the mouth-noise he wants. When he actually applies for, and wins, the Challenge, that's when I'll believe him. Otherwise, he's just yet another in the seemingly endless string of people who talk smack about the Challenge without actually ponying up and doing anything (besides talk smack).
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's what I thought was funny about his video. That he'd go on and on about his supposed "proof," but his testimony offered up nothing more than him talking into the camera and making an appeal to authority.

When I searched the archives, I was rather hoping there'd be an old entry for him in the Challenge Applications section, just so I could see what kind of methodology he proposed. Alas, no such luck.
 
Loren said:
Yeah, that's what I thought was funny about his video. That he'd go on and on about his supposed "proof," but his testimony offered up nothing more than him talking into the camera and making an appeal to authority.

When I searched the archives, I was rather hoping there'd be an old entry for him in the Challenge Applications section, just so I could see what kind of methodology he proposed. Alas, no such luck.
Click to expand...

Benneth pre-dated that section, IIRC.

Pyyrho beat me to it, but the majoirty of the saga is laid out in usenet groups from several years back. Benneth constantly changed conditions, tried to alter protocols after "agreeing" to them, was borderline abusive (IIRC), and finally alienated everyone who was attempting to negotiate on his behalf or help him (and who were homoepathic supporters/promoters, btw).
 
Oh, I almost forgot.

Search usenet for "Benneth" and "exploding seagulls" if you want some comedy gold.
 
Loren said:
In looking for a Randi video on YouTube, I stumbled across a video by a guy named John Benneth, claiming that he has the real proof to beat Randi's Challenge. I did a quick forum search, and it seems that Randi and Benneth have a bit of a history.

So I thought it might interest some folks to see what Mr. Benneth has posted in the past week. Unfortunately, I don't have enough of a post history to post regular links, so all I can offer is his account: youtube.com/profile?user=Bandershot .

The two anti-Randi videos are "How to Win $1,000,000" and the other is "The Truth About Homeopathy".

Plus, check out "Come out with your hands up" to see Benneth do political impressions, including Giuliani and Barbara Bush.
Click to expand...


Benneth said Randi was "the judge and jury" of the challenge. If the Benneth can't even take the time to read the challenge why should this even be discussed?

The challenge is quite clear, despite Benneth's dancing:

All tests must be designed in such a way that the results are self-evident, so that no judging or voting process is required.
Click to expand...

http://www.randi.org/research/challenge.html

Either take the challenge or not.
 
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Benneth's blog is here.

I am probably not qualified to analyze the studies referenced there, and I haven't the stomach for the time it might take to slog thru them. But is there anyone here that has taken even a cursory look at any? I would be interested in your observations. An example of Benneth's summaries/claims is the first one:
1902 P.Jousset investigated the effects of silver nitrate up to 25c on mycelium. He found significant results in their weights, finding that the silver nitrate stunted growth. (reported by Gabriel Bertrand) “The Extraordinary Sensitiveness of Aspergillus
Niger to Manganese.” Comptes Rendus Academie des Science; 154, 616, 1912
Click to expand...
 
Heh! I dropped a skeptical comment on it for him to go nuts over... ;)
 
Just got the link to one of JB's youtube videos. Looking at his blog, he seems to have posted 'The Skeptic Challenge' this July: johnbenneth.wordpress.com

I don't know anything about the history (other than what I've read here). Is this something new, or a re-hash of old stuff?
 
Whoops - forgot I commented on this back in May or so.

Comment deleted as repetitious.
 
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zeno2712 said:
Just got the link to one of JB's youtube videos. Looking at his blog, he seems to have posted 'The Skeptic Challenge' this July: johnbenneth.wordpress.com

I don't know anything about the history (other than what I've read here). Is this something new, or a re-hash of old stuff?
Click to expand...


Old stuff, regurgitated.
 
Yeah, it's just a bunch of old noise, from what I understand. Unfortunately, at least two psychics or psychic-friendly people have pointed me to his "challenge." They really think it's a good way to get around Randi's challenge. People are noticing him, sadly.
 
Only just seen this video today as you know who has posted it to Magic Cafe(he's one obsessed dude)forum.He's only a year behind the times!

Why are so many "magicians" woo woo's.So many people slate the MDC yet there are many other awards from skeptical organizations,are they fake and publicity stunts too? All of them!?
*shakes head*
 
Sherman Bay:

I took the trouble to read the studies on wheat that Benneth mentions and concluded that Benneth hadn't. The authors found that homeopathic dilutions enhanced wheat growth in some of their experiments yet hindered it in others. Almost as if the true effect size was zero and their results varied at random around that point.
 
Benneth is a raving Christian fundamentalist apologist in disguise. He mixes in with that some ardent but unproven belief in all sorts of woo, not just homeopathy. So far I've seen ghosts, EVPs, casting of spells and curses, and creationism. He refuses to accept any counter-information on his favourite writers (most of whom are pretty much off their tiny twigs as well, e.g. Josephson). Favourite tactic is to stick fingers in the ears and try to shout insults louder.

In short, a lunatic with a computer. Amusing, but only for a short time.
 
The Professor said:
He offer $100,000.00 to prove him wrong!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZE_UzmtUH7g&feature=channel_page
perhaps one of the critical thinkers here can get some easy cash?
Click to expand...

In my case, having seen his hysteria play out on USENET some years ago I can honestly say there is little to no point of playing any of Benneth's games*.

Keep in mind that Benneth was unable to convince his fellow homeopaths that he was not dishonest and disingenuous. That speaks volumes.



* Most, if not all of these woowoo offers are smoke screens or game-playing by loons with little actual cash and a big set of conditions. See Kent Hovind's 'offer' and commentary about it for a typical example.
 
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