The Professor's paranormal proof?

[Jim Callahan]

I too thought the unknown language idea was a good one. There have been many great ideas over in the claim/protocol thread that have been ignored by The Professor. Whilst I predicted it from day one, the longer this goes on, the more I think that it will never happen. What is disappointing is that the test seems to have been put off until next Halloween, so we've got another year worth of this circus to look forward to.

Chris

You have yourself to blame for that.

 

[Jackalgirl]

You have yourself to blame for that.

Would you please explain how this is so?

From what I've seen, the main brake on the whole process has been Dave himself. It took him forever to come up with a testable claim, and at the rate his protocol is not progressing, GM is quite right. Dave is clearly more interested in exchanging "witty" and "biting" messages with other people that he is in seriously trying to figure out a protocol (I put those words in quotation marks because I find them neither. I think that when someone says something insulting and then puts a smiley by it, it's indicating that they are not particularly mature). The likelihood of him spending the next year engaged in sniping with other people is much, much higher than him actually nailing down his protocol.

There is no one here, besides Jeff Wagg at this point, who can delay Dave's progress other than Dave.

This thread could actually be useful for that, though of course the actual discussion of the protocol belongs in the protocol thread. But if he explained here, in detail, his evidence that the Devil's Chair is a portal for "paranormal entities", it could provide some information that could be used over in the other thread for designing controls for a specific demonstration.

 

[not daSkeptic]

The likelihood of him spending the next year engaged in sniping with other people is much, much higher than him actually nailing down his protocol.

Of course. These guys thrive on ambiguity. So long as things remain questionable they can say or do whatever they want. Nailing things down would take away their wiggle room.

 

[Locknar]

You have yourself to blame for that.

This makes a great segway....so any idea when you'll get around to answering my question (asked in another thread)?

 

[not daSkeptic]

This makes a great segway....so any idea when you'll get around to answering my question (asked in another thread)?

Or mine ..... (also in another thread)

 

[xinit]

You have yourself to blame for that.

Would you please explain how this is so?Would you please explain how this is so?

Simple; even Jim knows what we should all have figured out ages ago; we're feeding a troll by attempting to discuss things with The Professor.

 

[Chris H]

*sigh*
I will be saying this in my sleep.....

Do not discuss the protocol for a claim anywhere outside of its thread in the MDC section.

Are we permitted to discuss things here outside the protocol? The Professor seems to be doing a lot of talking (usually negative) about Randi and the JREF outside of his application (The Magic Cafe, various radio shows), and it would be nice to have somewhere to even up the balance a little.

For example, this was posted to me on The Magic Cafe in a thread titled "Counterfeit yes/no?" by The Professor (Psychic Samurai) earlier today.

On 2008-10-01 23:36, Psychic Samurai wrote:
NO ...
You PROMISED TO HELP and then began a smear campaign on the JREF Forum ( You started the 30 pages LMAO).
But that just lets everyone know THE REAL YOU
Very transparent.

But back to the exposure of Randi as a Felon!!!!!!

Can't take the focus off of that!

It is now proven someone has violated the law!

Take a guess

I think it is worth discussing these kind of comments in relation to the widely held theory that Mr Koenig's MDC application is a publicity stunt, but I'm aware that it's not really related to "protocol negotiations".

Chris

 

[Jackalgirl]

This is off-topic, so forgive me, but I was just pondering Dave's upcoming show in Florida. What chances do you give that he'll claim that since his claim was accepted by the JREF, he's waiting for them to show up and test him, and then make a big to-do on camera that they are not there, and gosh they must be scared? "Gosh, Randi must be afraid to come because he's a felon!"*

I wonder how much of his show is going to be trying to gather some actual information that he can either use as evidence or use to build a solid means of investigation, and how much of it is going to be spent smearing JREF and Randi?

*Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but in order to be a felon, you have to be convicted of a felony. Good luck with getting the Treasury for going after Randi, especially when he's using the fake money as a means to educate people about methods to detect counterfeit money that don't work. He's actually doing them a service, so I am willing to bet a case of your favorite beverage that the worst they'll do is tell him, "hey, the money has to be 50% larger or %75 of an actual bill's size. Please make sure you do that from now on. By the way, thanks for everything you're doing -- you're the best."

Okay, so the message is only partially off-topic. I look forward to actual proof, evidence, or -- well -- anything substantive being offered here, as a result of further tests or the actual show on the 31st. But I'm not really holding my breath.

 

[0m3g4]

Are we permitted to discuss things here outside the protocol?

Yes, good question. Is this the right place to call The Professor a liar and a fraud, because that's what he is.
30 pages and counting prove it. It's just a big waste of time to try to discuss anything with him. And in the end, there won't be any test, not because it took him ages to come up with a claim, not because he'll never design an acceptable protocol, but simply because he has no paranormal power and he knows it. His only interests are self promotion and damaging James Randi.

 

[Chris H]

Jackalgirl, you read my mind. Might I suggest submitting a challenge application? This was my response to Mr Koenigs post.

On 2008-10-02 00:06, Topher Higgins wrote:
I started that thread because you were mouthing off about the details of a challenge application that, at the time, didn't exist.

http://www.internationalskeptics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=121157

My first post in that thread contains no evidence of a "smear campaign" either. I notified the JREF forum members, who have an interest in the subject, that there was a challenge application on the way from someone who they knew had been talking about the MDC for some time. I don't think it wasn't particularly bright of you to tell everyone the details of the challenge, and the time and place before the JREF had even received your application. The thread was started to even up the balance a little.

I don't believe I "promised" to help. I said I would support a genuine application to the Million Dollar Challenge. Thus far, you've done nothing to prove that your application is anything more than a publicity stunt...and I'm not the only one saying that.

It amazes me how you blatantly ignore facts repeatedly to support your own messed up little fantasy world. I'll say it again.

Apple OSX Dictionary
"FELON"
noun
a person who has been convicted of a felony.

Randi has not been convicted of a felony, and won't be at anytime in the near future. He is not a felon. Case closed.

Get your facts straight.

Chris

 

[steenkh]

*sigh*
I will be saying this in my sleep.....

Do not discuss the protocol for a claim anywhere outside of its thread in the MDC section.

Could I suggest that this is the place where we could put all those comments about TP's obvious lack of paranormal abilities that would be off-topic in the other thread?

 

[chillzero]

You need to keep this thread very very civil.
I did not think this additional thread should have been started, while the challenge application is ongoing. It is too fine a line to walk, as can clearly be seen.

Yes, you can discuss things here that are irrelevant to the protocol. However, that means you shouldn't discuss the upcoming show, as it is integral to his claim. I don't think (steenkh) that it is appropriate to want a thread for being negative about a challange claimant when that was the reason for the original thread going on moderated status in the first place.

I personally think the better thing to do is let this thread die, be polite, patient and helpful in assisting the claimant work out a protocol, and otherwise have as little as possible to do with any member who is difficult to keep on topic. That would include in the forum in general.
(This is not a mod directive - just my personal opinion, although based on what I'm seeing as a mod.)

 

[Azrael 5]

I htink there is already a thread for the counterfeit nonsense,I started this for the self explanatory title.I think it is important -obviously for protocol reasons-and also for general reasons.

My personal belief based on what Ive heard of TP's media prescence and posts on Magic Cafe forum is of a publicity seeking magician/mentalist.
COnsider these facts

1.No proof of any portal at Devil's Chair,or any paranormal activity there.
2.No proof-as yet-that Dave Koenig can do anything paranormal.(see 5)
3.So bearing in mind 1. Halloween is a none starter.
4.No proof that ITC or EVP has any scientific worth.No evidence to suggest this.
5 Dave Koenig claims he has carried out paranormal experiments before,also at Devil's
Chair,he has spoke of people making recordings they were going to upload.Again ,no evidence of that.
6.He claims to have contacted various paranormal research groups,sci-fi writers;and intimated he would apply for Tampa skeptics challenge at Aske-uk.org.
Again,no evidence of any of that.
7.Magic Cafe member Todd Robbins-a claimed friend of Randi-offered to help Dave(if he had a paranormal ability that could be truly proven to be real)to apply.There has been no mention of this person until now.

Plenty evidence of him name calling James Randi,Jeff Wagg,RemieV and JREF in general,though no evidence of any substance to these attacks.

If nothing else this post will serve as proof of shenanigans

 

[Azrael 5]

Bump ,as it would be a shame to lose a thread where paranormal proof can be so easily found.

 

[Brian-M]

1.No proof of any portal at Devil's Chair,or any paranormal activity there.

No proof?

If you put a can of beer on the grave next to the chair it will be empty in the morning and the top will still be sealed. Now how is that possible? But I know someone who did it and the next morning the can was empty.

http://ghost2ghost.org/modules.php?name=Forum&topic=254.msg613

Unattended beer going missing? Surely that's evidence!

 

[rjh01]

Very interesting read. However your quote is out of context.

One rumor says that if you place an unopened can of beer on the Devil's Chair before midnight, by the next morning the devil will have drank it and left the beverage's container behind as proof

Local police deny that the chair has any supernatural powers. The following is from the Daytona Beach News-Journal: ?Lake Helen Police Chief Keith Chester has spent many a night on patrol in the cemetery, sometimes even seated in the Devil's Chair.

"?I've been here 18 years and I've never seen (a devil),? he said. ?If there ever was one, I'd have been retired by now.'"

So sorry. Nothing will happen at the end of the month. This includes The Professor being there at midnight doing any tests.

 

[Hitch]

The disappearing beer seems to be the most easily testable claim. Just need to work out the details of what the claim is. Will a beer empty itself on any night (or just Halloween)? Will a watched beer empty itself? Will it empty itself in the presence of people? How about video cameras? Could a a full beer be left with cameras and/or observers to see that it's not tampered with overnight and be found empty in the morning? If so, I think the investment in a six-pack and a video camera could earn somebody any easy million dollars.

 

[Azrael 5]

Somewhere in one of these threads TP claims to play for a million people a year.A bold claim no less? A million people paying to see TP? Surely not?

Correct.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7S3lmpqHUBA

They pay to visit Universal Studios,and are suitably tortured

 

[Chris H]

A small sampling of The Professors latest posts over at The Magic Cafe regarding the MDC.

On 2008-10-04 18:22, Psychic Samurai wrote:
You may trust Randi as a true Follower would, But why would ANY OF US trust YOU?
Not too logical. It is based on the same nonsense that the JREF MDC is.
On a recent Pre-test the JREF member dismisses the Challenger by saying ... "You'll just have to trust me on that!"
NOT LOGICAL AT ALL!
Certainly not Scientific!
You are asking the same thing.
Only you are the judge ... So who can trust you?

If you are just kidding then that is cool, but please know that the JREF is NOT kidding and saying they will award $1,000,000 to a winner ... When they will never allow anyone an even playing field

On 2008-10-05 23:10, Psychic Samurai wrote:
Randi claims to be the great debunker. Let him in all his wisdom show where the deception is. If he can't do as he claims he can, then he deserves to lose the million. That simple!

The second one is the most interesting, in my opinion. The Professor seems to be under the impression that if an individual can "fool" Randi (the JREF) out of the million dollars, then that individual deserves the money. A poorly thought out choice of words, considering Mr Koenig's status as a current MDC applicant.

Chris

 

[Gene L]

So, what is the difference between a prediction and a paranormal prediction?

A prediction: The stock market will continue to fluctuate.

A paranormal prediction: The stock market will reach new heights next week.