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Application Proposal - Mental Telepathy

Dargo said:
OK, I've sent Dumb All Over a copy of the last letter sent to me by Skeptics Australia.
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Post it here too, please.

Or shall I ask for a copy from Skeptics Australia myself? Of course, if you are on the up-and-up, they will have a copy and will share, or can at least confirm your application is in the pipeline somewhere.

Well...?
 
Dargo has, indeed, sent me a scan of what appears to be his confirmation letter from Australian Skeptics. It is a large file, too large for me to host. I'm going to try to whittle this thing down to make it smaller. It might be easier to forward his email to one of you forum members with better imaging skills than I have. The JPEG image is 2480x3507. PM me if you can help.
 
Indeed, a warm fuzy to you for staving off thread unraveling.

If that makes sense.
 
DAO emailed me the full sized file (A.S. confirmation letter) which I have temporarily posted here for downloading. Dargo, please let me know if you would prefer not to have this posted.
 
I would like to take the time to officially state a good thing about my fellow telepath (shamath). She is a beauty princess.
 
Oops... forgot a few additional things. She is the most gorgeous creature to ever grace the surface of this world.
 
OK, I have now followed up with both Australian Skeptics (AS) and WA Skeptics.

As far as AS is concerned, they do not have any current applications for the AS Challenge, and are unaware if there is anything happening in that respect in WA.

WA Skeptics, Dr John Happs, have confirmed that they did indeed send the above letter, although...
The name "Dargo" doesn't ring a bell but we will be testing two "psychics" early next year. They are aware that, if they pass our test, we will then recommend them for official testing in Sydney. They claim to be able to "transmit" words to each other. Our testing will be very stringent. We have tested psychics before and found no evidence of any such ability under controlled conditions.
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(email to me from Dr Happs.)

Further, Dr Happs copied me the letter sent to the applicant (presumably Dargo). Herewith this letter.

NB. Dr Happs has concealed the identity of the recipient before sending it to me - I do not know their name.
Dear <identity_hidden>

Thanks for your letter regarding your proposed challenge for the Australian Skeptic’s Award of $100,000. We are always happy to investigate any paranormal claim.

I have noted your claim of telepathic powers and your suggestions in terms of what you and your colleague will be able to demonstrate. We will design a test around your claims and a formal proposal will be prepared for you to consider. This proposal will specify the claims you make and the controlled conditions necessary to test such claims. Should you be happy with the test conditions, we will then ask you to sign to the effect that the test and conditions are satisfactory from your point of view. I will also sign the test proposal on behalf of the West Australian Skeptics.


I am provisionally suggesting the following:

(a) Any test that we conduct in Western Australia will be sited at a university campus to be decided upon. In this way, the conditions can be better controlled in a scientific way.

(b) All testing will be recorded by video to verify the protocol and conditions under which the testing is conducted.

(c) You and your colleague will be checked initially to ensure that you have no electronic means of communication on you.

(d) You and your colleague will be placed in separate rooms so you will have no visual or verbal contact with each other.

(e) Since you claim that you will be 100% successful in telepathically transmitting words to each other, you will be shown individual words and given one minute to transmit that word to your colleague who will be asked to write it down on a piece of paper. A total of 20 words will be shown to you at one minute intervals.

(f) The test will be repeated with your colleague having an opportunity to transmit the words to you. In this way, if one of you is not successful, the other one might be and you both have an opportunity to succeed.

(g) Testing will be carried out by myself and Dr Geoffrey Dean and we will have colleagues on hand to assist with monitoring the test and recording the outcomes.

(h) Although you are claiming 100% accuracy, we will recommend you for testing in Sydney, for the $100,000 award, should you attain an accuracy of only 90%


I have responded to your written proposal according to the specific claims you make and, I’m sure you will agree, the outlined test is very simple and straightforward yet it is sufficiently rigorous for anyone to take your claim seriously, should you be successful in your challenge.

Please note that the West Australian Skeptics do not (and cannot) award the $100,000. Only the Australian Skeptics can do that. We will be provisionally testing your telepathic claims in WA and, should you be successful in your demonstration to us, we will then recommend to the Australian Skeptics, based in Sydney, that they take your claim seriously and test you for the actual prize money.

Remember that there is $1 million dollars on offer in the USA for any successful demonstration of the paranormal and, should you be successful in claiming the prize money in Australia, the Australian Skeptics would be more than happy to recommend you for the test in the USA.

Please let me know if this proposal is satisfactory to you so that we can move on and arrange a mutually convenient time for the test to take place.

Yours sincerely.


Dr John Happs
(President WA Skeptics)
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Finally, Dr Happs wanted the following point clearly reiterated:
You can use any part of the letter but please ensure that you make explicit that this is a challenge only to convince the WA Skeptics that the challengers have psychic ability.
This is not a challenge for the $100,000 award but, if they are successful in the challenge we set for them, we will recommend they be tested by the Australian Skeptics.
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Ain't it nice having some facts, folks!
 
Dargo, in the according to you very unlikely event of an unsuccessful demonstration of "shamathy", will you conclude that "shamathy" qualifies as a delusion?
 
No I've never used the name Dargo with WA Skeptics. Shamathy is true so there is no need to consider it as a delusion.
 
When I'm successful in my demonstration, I'll have more than just one affidavits.
 
Dargo said:
No I've never used the name Dargo with WA Skeptics. Shamathy is true so there is no need to consider it as a delusion.
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"Shamathy" is not quite yet true. Because you have not offered any valid proof.

"Shamathy" is just as hypothetical as the subject of my inquiry to you: Dargo, in the according to you very unlikely event of an unsuccessful demonstration of "shamathy", will you conclude that "shamathy" qualifies as a delusion?

Or, shorter: What will you do if you fail?



Again, I hope you will be able to prove what you claim. Repeatedly. I will be the first student who wants to be taught.
 
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