Dragon3 said:
Hi… ^_^
Yep, I tend to agree with what your saying, but just a few points:
1. They claim that it is their temporary site, so I don’t think we can base a judgement on them just by what this homestead site looks like. Even if it could have looked better.
Hi
Per their site:
Welcome to our mirror web site. This site is up while we update and move our .com, which will be back on-line in 2 weeks time.
A "mirror site" is an exact replica of the original site. Now...maybe they're just using the terminology wrong, I don't know. (Though you'd think that if they're claiming to be computer people around since the early days...they'd know what 'mirror site' means.) However because they said that, I'm taking them at their word...that that IS their site, mirrored. Which is why I question the lack of information regarding who the various people are, as well as their lack of other articles (since the JREF article is the only one present).
2. I re-read their post on the JREF again, and what they are saying is that JREF was contacted before the test, but because it took forever and no one turned up from JREF they decided to go on with the test themselves.
Just to use an analogy, if I want to be in the Guiness Book of World Records for eating a number of hotdogs in the fastest period of time...and don't bother to agree on the rule set, and do it with my friends, I can hardly be surprised when Guiness refuses to acknowledge me in their book. And that's not even a cash prize! Perhaps a better analogy would be an essay writing contest for $50, and I write an essay without waiting for the rules, and submit it, then angrily protest that
I deserve the money, even though I didn't follow the guidelines for submission.
Also just a personal aside, I've had one occassion to call JREF, and the person who picked up the phone was Mr. James Randi. I've had occassion to e-mail, and have
always recieved a prompt response. And this was prior to my becoming a member. (Membership by donation, I don't speak for them obviously.
) So just from personal experience, it's not difficult to get a response from JREF.
3. I agree that they should have a bit more on who they are, like names etc. I used the on-line form to email them and ask them, so if I get answered I will post it for ya.
Will be interesting to see who's behind it. As well as if they have a more substantial website and merely misused the term 'mirror site' and have other actual articles, etc.
4. I checked with an old friend of my brothers who was active in computers when the amiga was popular and he says that he remembers them from the Grapevine time and that they did some good write ups, but he did not know that they were still about.
Yeah here's
one opinion of them from LSD Grapevine. Assuming they're even the same people. /shrug
I think I will wait to get an answer to some of the questions I have sent them before I pass my final judgement on them, but some holes need to be filled in soon.
Ta at for now
Mary
Yeah I've read through the 'article', has a lot of holes in it. It's really poorly done. Just off the top of my head, one of the most glaring thing is the half-assed job they do basically stating the money doesn't exist for the $1 million dollar challenge. It does. In fact it's
easily verified.
Pretty much at that point, with such a massive, and easily verifiable error...the credibility (not that they had any to begin with) went into the toilet. I went back to the site to get the exact quotes (regarding their implications that the money isn't there):
One point that keeps coming up is the, er, shall we say, “nature” of the alleged 1 Million prize.
Take for example Sylvia Brown.
Even though she is clearly a phoney, the point has been made that she doesn't believe the money is really there and wants proof that it is. This could simply be a way for her to get out of performing for the JREF of cause, but what is more interesting is that (so we are told) Mr Randi refuses to give that proof.
It should be a simple matter in any event to supply documented, checkable proof, so that begs the question WHY wont he? We would like to know ourselves!
Maybe this money is illusionary and does not exist, but the prize is used by the JREF to bolster its position and standing.
If that is the case then JREF are not going to let anyone win it or even come close to winning it, regardless of any amount of proof they give of their abilities.
If you look on the main JREF site, you'll see how easy it is to obtain verification. Not only that, but there's two other points that just make it laughable. First, making a false claim would land Mr. Randi and the JREF into quite a bit of trouble. Second, as public as both Mr. Randi and the JREF have been about the nature of this challenge (giving lectures at numerous universities, including Princeton, appearing on numerous television programs, including Larry King Live! on CNN) it would be something that skeptic foes would
love to publically expose.
Anyway the latter two points are just for extra oomph. The fact that it's something you can verify, even yourself if you wanted to take the time and trouble, demonstrates the lack of credibility of that website.
