Karen Sellers - telekinesis

[Pup]

Don't see a thread on this, so I might as well start one, mentioning some of the obvious things.

Even on a sidewalk, is it possible the rumble of traffic could affect the key? Easy enough to tell by watching it as traffic goes by.

Checking for magnets or using a non-ferrous key.

If it's outdoors, might be helpful to have a grid or some obvious reference point attached to the jar behind the key, from the camera's point of view, so something in the background doesn't give any chance for an illusion of movement, if the clear sides of the jar don't photograph perfectly due to lighting or whatever. "See, it moved in relationship to those weeds!" "You mean the ones blowing in the breeze?" "There was no breeze."

And it goes without saying that "touch the surface that the jar is sitting on" doesn't include jumping up and down inches from it with all your might, but I'll say it anyway.

 

[sthomson]

I thought the sidewalk suggestion was a bad idea - a warehouse with concrete floors would be much better. Heck, lots of houses have concrete floors on their basements.

 

[Crossbow]

If one is concerned about Karen Sellers moving the key through vibrations (like a stomping foot, people walking around, etc.) then I suggest that the test platform be made of a large, stone block that is sitting on top of an inner tube that is somewhat filled with air.

This sort of device is used for making holograms which are very, very, very sensitive to vibrations.

 

[ben m]

If one is concerned about Karen Sellers moving the key through vibrations (like a stomping foot, people walking around, etc.) then I suggest that the test platform be made of a large, stone block that is sitting on top of an inner tube that is somewhat filled with air.

This sort of device is used for making holograms which are very, very, very sensitive to vibrations.

Those platforms the work surface from seismic noise. But you can move the platforms themselves (very easily, in fact) with the touch of a finger. It'd be fine if Sellers was touching the ground and the tube/block/jar were nearby, but I bet she wants to touch the block.

A sidewalk or concrete slab should be fine as long as the protocol forbids her from jumping or pounding.

 

[Dutchman]

Why oh why is a telekinesis demonstration always with a light object on a string, that moves with every random vibration?
I would just love to see a telekinizer saying "Hey, here we have this coffee mug, paper weight or whatever. I will move it one foot up, three feet sideways and back down again". Now that would be cool and amazing.
Not holding my breath though...

 

[GzuzKryzt]

Why oh why is a telekinesis demonstration always with a light object on a string, that moves with every random vibration?
I would just love to see a telekinizer saying "Hey, here we have this coffee mug, paper weight or whatever. I will move it one foot up, three feet sideways and back down again". Now that would be cool and amazing.
Not holding my breath though...

It is because the presence of skeptics all over the world limits their powers. Duh.

 

[Cuddles]

The easiest way to avoid problems with vibrations would be to specify the object to swing in a certain direction. Natural vibrations, or ones induced by stamping on the floor or whatever, would make it swing randomly. If she can make it swing in chosen direction better than 50% of the time, it can't be just by wobbling the jar. This is similar to the person who claimed to be able to move a candle flame - they move by themselves all the time, but getting it to move in the right direction proved impossible.

 

[RemieV]

The easiest way to avoid problems with vibrations would be to specify the object to swing in a certain direction. Natural vibrations, or ones induced by stamping on the floor or whatever, would make it swing randomly. If she can make it swing in chosen direction better than 50% of the time, it can't be just by wobbling the jar. This is similar to the person who claimed to be able to move a candle flame - they move by themselves all the time, but getting it to move in the right direction proved impossible.

That stipulation is in the protocol rough draft

 

[Crossbow]

Those platforms the work surface from seismic noise. But you can move the platforms themselves (very easily, in fact) with the touch of a finger. It'd be fine if Sellers was touching the ground and the tube/block/jar were nearby, but I bet she wants to touch the block.

A sidewalk or concrete slab should be fine as long as the protocol forbids her from jumping or pounding.

The protocol does not allow her to touch the jar.

By the same token, I would expect that she would not be allowed to touch the platform that the jar is sitting on.

 

[Crossbow]

Double-post.

Sorry about that!

 

[RemieV]

The protocol does not allow her to touch the jar.

By the same token, I would expect that she would not be allowed to touch the platform that the jar is sitting on.

She has to touch the surface the jar is sitting on in order for her powers to work.

 

[Crossbow]

She has to touch the surface the jar is sitting on in order for her powers to work.

Are you sure that is a good idea?

It sounds like it would be quite easy for her to physically shake or push the surface that the jar is sitting on and getting to the key to move this way instead of by telekinesis.

 

[jojonete]

She has to touch the surface the jar is sitting on in order for her powers to work.

Are you sure that is a good idea?

It sounds like it would be quite easy for her to physically shake or push the surface that the jar is sitting on and getting to the key to move this way instead of by telekinesis.

That's exactly the reason for the requirement of the jar being on the ground, on a concrete surface.

As ben m said:

A sidewalk or concrete slab should be fine as long as the protocol forbids her from jumping or pounding.

 

[Crossbow]

That's exactly the reason for the requirement of the jar being on the ground, on a concrete surface.

As ben m said:

I have to admit that I am still a bit concerned about cheating.

Even a sidewalk can pick up vibrations from traffic rolling around nearby, heavy machinery, etc. And if the sidewalk is not in good contact with the ground, then one can shift it a bit just by walking or pressing on it.

What might be better is a large sidewalk in park that it widely separated from a road and other structures.

 

[sthomson]

What might be better is a large sidewalk in park that it widely separated from a road and other structures.

And I don't really like sidewalks at all because they're often not very smooth, and they're meant to be a bit bouncy - it's a different mix of concrete than for smooth concrete floors, like in warehouses or basements.

 

[Crossbow]

And I don't really like sidewalks at all because they're often not very smooth, and they're meant to be a bit bouncy - it's a different mix of concrete than for smooth concrete floors, like in warehouses or basements.

Sorry, but that is not entirely right.

True, concrete is mixed and made in various ways for various purposes, but there is no such thing as a 'bouncy' concrete.

Instead, it sounds like the footing may be a bit bouncy, but not the concrete itself.

Never the less, it does show that one should carefully examine the concrete in question in advance of the test just to make sure that it is firmly fixed into position.

 

[Worm]

I'm not sure about the condition for success.

'move the key in a consistent motion'

that seems pretty vague to me. What constitutes 'consistent motion' ?

 

[LazyPint]

I'm not sure about the condition for success.

'move the key in a consistent motion'

that seems pretty vague to me. What constitutes 'consistent motion' ?

Surely it means in a circular manner for long enough without it swinging back and forth or spinning on the spot?

From the sound of the test, any motion in an airtight jar would be pretty special. But I understand it has to be circular since that's what Karen Sellers claims to be able to do.

I just hope the superglue holding the wire in the jar doesn't break. Or snap, whatever superglue does when it's had enough.

 

[Random]

Don’t think she will respond. Sounds like she has a modified table tipper act, using very minor shifting of a table to build up a sympathetic vibration on the key in the jar, hence the circular motion and "touching the surface the jar is resting on". Stipulating that the jar will be placed on the ground should inform her quickly that the JREF are onto that scam, unless she is doing it subconsciously and doesn’t realize it.

 

[Ryan O'Dine]

A couple kinda stupid thoughts from the peanut gallery...

1. Consider a monochromatic key of a single construction/substance (yes, I own multi-colored, multi-substance keys). If the test is outside or near a window, differential heating in sunlight could move a delicately balanced pendulum... maybe.

2. If you have access to local seismographic data, even in an area not known for such activity, it might be worth having a record.

Hey -- I did say stupid.

Oh, and I second Pup’s non-stupid advice of using a non-ferrous key. I’d be surprised if even a strip search could cover all the possibilities of magnet hiding.