Its been interesting reading/following this entire controversy; I've refrained from comment until now because I wanted to watch how people reacted, first.
My own opinion -- yes, Randi is culpable. He clearly edited the original post to make it seem as if it was himself saying these things. How was he planning to "attribute" it to someone else (if, as he claims, that was his intention, and he just forgot)?
His lack of apology further compounds the problem.
And his telling forum members to "stop barking" is downright insulting, in my opinion. The man sets up a forum in which he regularly subjects others to scathing analysis and criticism, but then turns around and objects when people have the audacity to do the same to him?
But that's all been said before. What fascinates me more is what this episode reveals about many JREF members. It seems that Randi has been elevated to an almost mythical status, he is the prophet and we are his disciples. Randi can do no wrong.
When it is revealed that Randi can, in fact, do wrong, there are two responses. One is to seek to ignore/justify it, and maintain Randi in his guru status. The other is to react with anger and/or disillusionment, that Randi has failed to be perfect.
Folks, Randi is human. Not only that, he's a rather aged human, and can be crotchety at times. He does not have any greater 'insight' into the world than other human beings. He is not immune to the weaknesses and frailties shared by other human beings.
I admire James Randi for the work he's done. For all the time, energy, and money he's put into promoting a more rational view of the world, and debunking those who seek to cheat and deceive others.
But long before I joined these forums, my impression of him was far from as wonderful as that of others here. When I saw him in interviews, especially interviews which placed him debating with others, I often saw him lose his composure, act immaturely or unprofessionally, and make arguments that in my opinion were weak or inconclusive.
He is, in other words, a fallible human being who nonetheless is seeking to do the most that he can. He'll make mistakes along the way, and he should be held accountable for those mistakes to exactly the same degree that he holds others accountable for their mistakes.
To me, the biggest issue that that this whole fiasco has revealed is not related to Randi himself. It is related to his followers, some of whom have, in my opinion, elevated him to a status that prevents them from applying the same critical thinking and evaluation towards him that they apply towards others.
I appreciate everything that James Randi has done; I admire and agree with most of what he does. In this instance, both his initial actions, and his subsequent response, were wrong. To me, that simply means that I should apply the same level of skepticism and evaluation towards what Randi says that I apply towards whatever anyone else says. Which is what I did before this whole debacle began, anyway.
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