wasser_1@viking.DEC (06/12/85)
> > The second problem is deciding what constitutes proof of a paranormal event. > If Uri cannot control exactly what happens how do you test for a range of > unexpected events and conclusively prove it was paranormal. > The Randi Challenge (the $10,000 prize) does not require "proof of a paranormal event". I believe the prize goes to the person who, under controlled conditions, produces an effect the James Randi cannot duplicate using normal trickery. I read a book by Mr. Randi that told of the many interesting ways the "psychics" in this world fail miserably when they aren't allowed to cheat. There were accounts of a group of "dowsers" who utterly failed to find a series of buried pipes (including the last one who was still detecting water flow after the water had run out!). Not only did every one of them miss the pipes but they all missed the pipes in different ways. The book is a great tribute to the gullibility of the general public (and the PSI specialists who run poorly controlled experiment, report them without mentioning the lack of control and then wonder why nobody can duplicate their experiments). PSI may exist but not under controlled conditions. Maybe this should be stated as a Law of Nature: +---------------------------------------------------------+ | Wasser's Law of Paranormal Demonstrations: Paranormal | | abilities are only demonstrable under conditions where | | they are indistinguishable from fakery. | +---------------------------------------------------------+ In other words, if you eliminate the chance of fakery, the paranormal ability cannot be used. This Law explains all of the available both for and against paranormal abilities. It does not rule out PSI (or fakery, for that matter). -John A. Wasser Work address: ARPAnet: WASSER%VIKING.DEC@decwrl.ARPA Usenet: {allegra,Shasta,decvax}!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-viking!wasser Easynet: VIKING::WASSER