# Comment on "Was Nostradamus able to predict the future?" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [February 6, 2009, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-was-nostradamus-able-to-predict-the-future/484713 "2009-02-06T16:01:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-was-nostradamus-able-to-predict-the-future/484713/21 "2009-02-06T22:08:32Z")
> [@SiXSwordS](#): > > Well, there were lotteries around during his lifetime and before, but of course today he has the unfortunate disadvantage of being dust. Quite true. Most states have regs against minors and dust collecting lottery prizes. ---
**Author:** ![SiXSwordS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@SiXSwordS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiXSwordS)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-was-nostradamus-able-to-predict-the-future/484713/22 "2009-02-06T22:51:30Z")
> [@AskNott](#): > > Most states have regs against… dust collecting lottery prizes. cite? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-was-nostradamus-able-to-predict-the-future/484713/23 "2009-02-07T04:35:07Z")
He logged on to plug his book. Yeah, that’s **Randi**. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_Astronaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Bad\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-was-nostradamus-able-to-predict-the-future/484713/24 "2009-02-07T08:52:32Z")
> [@Krokodil](#): > > In thus case, they had four tickets with the same numbers for the same lottery. Impressive, but not in a “We’re low on funds, let’s buy another winning Powerball ticket” kind of way. Also, I don’t think the couple had previously claimed to have precog powers and had been challenged to win the lottery more than twice. The chance of someone randomly winning \*after \*receiving the challenge is probably infinitesimal to the point that it can be considered a reliable test of precognition. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-was-nostradamus-able-to-predict-the-future/484713/25 "2009-02-07T08:58:20Z")
Wow. Thank you for stopping by, Mr. Randi. Hope to see you around again. ---
**Author:** ![SiXSwordS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@SiXSwordS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiXSwordS)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-was-nostradamus-able-to-predict-the-future/484713/26 "2009-02-07T14:20:41Z")
> [@Bad\_Astronaut](#): > > Also, I don’t think the couple had previously claimed to have precog powers They specifically claim to have a mathematical formula that helps them pick winning numbers. More specifically, the husband claims to have developed the formula. I predict a messy divorce. > [@](#): > > The chance of someone randomly winning \*after \*receiving the challenge is probably infinitesimal to the point that it can be considered a reliable test of precognition. One of the key features to the Randi challenge is that the challenger has to agree to the conditions of the test. Nostradamus cannot agree and, as far as I know, no one can state what his claims were in regard to his predictions and we have no way of knowing if he was even capable of making a valid claim at the time of his writings. > [@](#): > > [Some people thought Nostradamus was… insane](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nostradamus#Seer) I have not read Mr. Randi’s book and I could be wrong, but Nostradamus may have known he had a good bit going might have admitted as much – on the QT – when confronted with a challenge. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-was-nostradamus-able-to-predict-the-future/484713/27 "2009-02-07T15:39:38Z")
So Mr. Randi, when are you going to publish your next book [Why Do Pigeons Bob Their Heads?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=10534148#post10534148) ---
**Author:** ![Arkcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Arkcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arkcon)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-was-nostradamus-able-to-predict-the-future/484713/28 "2009-02-07T22:24:42Z")
Ahem. Mr. Randi, urm, sir. May I interest you in this thread here: > **[Would I be a killjoy to explain the Wonders of Houdini?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=503760)** > > He usually (always) had a confederate. No other reason is needed. It’s not like he was MAGICAL, or anything. Sorry if I ruined your fun, but take the time to figure out how you would do the “tricks” and you could be right, or right enough to... After all, you were on that show, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-was-nostradamus-able-to-predict-the-future/484713/29 "2009-02-08T01:37:34Z")
I haven’t seen the “documentary” referenced in the linked column, but recently (on TCM) I saw a short propaganda film from WWII, claiming that Nostradamus predicted not only the rise of Hitler and the devastation in Europe, but that the US would come in and save the day. (Now if they’d gone on to make accurate predictions about the rest of the 20th century based on the alleged quatrains, _that_ would have made me sit up.) ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-was-nostradamus-able-to-predict-the-future/484713/30 "2009-02-08T15:08:39Z")
> [@James\_Randi](#): > > The film referred to here, used some fake quatrains, some pieced together from real ones, but others invented… > > I suggest that the inquirer seek out more accurate sources of information. My book, for example – “The Mask of Nostradamus” – would be an excellent source, in my estimation… > > James Randi First of all, we are awed by your presence (you won’t be a drive-by poster, will you?). But not too awed to ask a question. Are you criticising Cecil’s column in any way or just suggesting an alternate source of complementary & reliable information, like your book? And yes, I do have your book. You autographed it for me once, in the last century. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2009, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-was-nostradamus-able-to-predict-the-future/484713/31 "2009-02-09T14:45:04Z")
I don’t believe Randi’s comment is meant as a slight against Cecil, but rather as a comment against “a movie on cable TV called ‘The Man Who Saw Tomorrow’”. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-was-nostradamus-able-to-predict-the-future/484713/32 "2009-02-09T16:37:09Z")
And a chance to plug his book! As a shameless self-promoter myself, I see nothing wrong with it. As my mom says, “Nobody’s gonna blow your horn for you.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-was-nostradamus-able-to-predict-the-future/484713.md?page=1)