# Does the Buffet Challenge debunk psychic powers once and for all? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 21, 2014, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-buffet-challenge-debunk-psychic-powers-once-and-for-all/684244 "2014-03-21T20:14:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-buffet-challenge-debunk-psychic-powers-once-and-for-all/684244/41 "2014-03-22T01:24:00Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > What would be inappropriate about using your gift to win a million dollars Is that the path God has for God’s child? > [@](#): > > and eliminate malaria with the money? You are talking about God here, who could blink maleria out of existence, our memory and any written record of it with a breath, what does God need with the million dollars, which again is God’s anyway. ---
**Author:** ![nevadaexile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb8c5e/32.png) [@nevadaexile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nevadaexile)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-buffet-challenge-debunk-psychic-powers-once-and-for-all/684244/42 "2014-03-22T01:25:30Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Supernatural gifts is God acting through God’s children using God powers. > > My question to the OP is what does God need with the billion, which is already God’s, and for all the good it can do, why does God need that particular billion, which again is already God’s? > > In the context you use it, along with Randi’s million dollar challenge, it boils down to will God submit to the will of a person offering enough money, or other worldly things? > > You may not agree with me, but it is my explanation as to why these things don’t debunk any such thing. Again, there are pantheons of gods throughout the world. Which one are we discussing? ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-buffet-challenge-debunk-psychic-powers-once-and-for-all/684244/43 "2014-03-22T01:27:06Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > What if there are psychics who have only somewhat hazy perceptions that are mostly right, but with individual details wrong? He predicts what the next person who turns the corner will look like, and he’s always mostly right–gender, height, facial composition, build, his clothes–but the guy turning the corner doesn’t have a tattoo on his right bicep, like the psychic said he would, and he’s wearing sandals instead of sneakers. That would be pretty impressive psychic powers if he could do it consistently, even with some of the details wrong. But if he applied it to brackets, he might only get 75% right. Buffett keeps his billion, but the guy’s still a psychic. i understand your point, but I’m not sure I’m my making point clear. We know that exactly 63 games will be played. There are only two possible outcomes in each game. With the guy coming around the corner, he could be any height, any weight, wearing any clothes, and look like anyone on earth. Or anyone who’s ever lived. And he could come around the corner any time, or not at all. You seem to be saying getting his shoes wrong is like picking only 50-ish of the 63 winners. I’m saying getting his shoes wrong is more like getting all 63 winners right, but being a couple points off in the score of one of the games. Yes, 2^63 is a huge number. But the odds of correctly predicting when all the variables in a human life will result in some total stranger coming around a certain corner, at a certain time, and what he’ll look like, and what clothes he’ll be wearing, is more like a zillion to the zillionth power. Even if you get the shoes wrong, ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-buffet-challenge-debunk-psychic-powers-once-and-for-all/684244/44 "2014-03-22T01:28:04Z")
> [@nevadaexile](#): > > Again, there are pantheons of gods throughout the world. Which one are we discussing? God = Love I take it as the ‘pantheons of gods throughout the world’ are either (higher such as angelic/archangelic) children of God or Love itself by another name. But to that when acting in Love that is God no matter what the being. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-buffet-challenge-debunk-psychic-powers-once-and-for-all/684244/45 "2014-03-22T01:37:39Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Your question I relate to this why do parents not do everything for their child and thereby keep that child a eternal baby. Doesn’t allowing infants to die from easily treatable conditions also keep them eternal babies? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-buffet-challenge-debunk-psychic-powers-once-and-for-all/684244/46 "2014-03-22T01:42:06Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > God = Love > > I take it as the ‘pantheons of gods throughout the world’ are either (higher such as angelic/archangelic) children of God or Love itself by another name. But to that when acting in Love that is God no matter what the being. Don’t care about the excuses anymore, or your fake “Peter Max” religion that excuses those fraudsters from being properly tested “because God doesn’t need the money!”…although apparently your god doesn’t mind his “servants” taking it from the ignorant who can ill-afford such loss. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-buffet-challenge-debunk-psychic-powers-once-and-for-all/684244/47 "2014-03-22T01:43:32Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > Doesn’t allowing infants to die from easily treatable conditions also keep them eternal babies? Our life is not here, but is in our soul state, that infant may have developed or needed that time in a human body for a purpose. While that infant may have needed to be re-born and gone through infancy again, the soul has progressed and in ‘God terms’ has more power available to him/her during i’s new life. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-buffet-challenge-debunk-psychic-powers-once-and-for-all/684244/48 "2014-03-22T02:05:13Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Is that the path God has for God’s child? > > You are talking about God here, who could blink maleria out of existence, our memory and any written record of it with a breath, what does God need with the million dollars, which again is God’s anyway. So let me get this straight, are you saying that a person doing God’s work would not be helped with that in any way with an extra billion dollars? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-buffet-challenge-debunk-psychic-powers-once-and-for-all/684244/49 "2014-03-22T02:10:48Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > So let me get this straight, are you saying that a person doing God’s work would not be helped with that in any way with an extra billion dollars? And if so, why does your god approve of “psychics” taking money from those who can least afford to lose it? ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-buffet-challenge-debunk-psychic-powers-once-and-for-all/684244/50 "2014-03-22T02:11:23Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > So let me get this straight, are you saying that a person doing God’s work would not be helped with that in any way with an extra billion dollars? Let’s leave God out if it. Does money buy happiness? Let’s put God back into it. If God needs His child to get money why would God need to submit to human terms to get it? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-buffet-challenge-debunk-psychic-powers-once-and-for-all/684244/51 "2014-03-22T02:15:40Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Let’s leave God out if it. > > Does money buy happiness? > > Let’s put God back into it. > > If God needs His child to get money why would God need to submit to human terms to get it? WTF? Just explain why it’s against your god’s will to take a million from those who can afford it, but o.k. to take it from the poor and/or ignorant. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-buffet-challenge-debunk-psychic-powers-once-and-for-all/684244/52 "2014-03-22T02:22:35Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > WTF? > Just explain why it’s against your god’s will to take a million from those who can afford it, but o.k. to take it from the poor and/or ignorant. Separate, but somewhat related issue. The question boils down to why is evil allowed to prosper, that is something I still ponder and question and yes yell at the ‘Big Guy’ at times (being God’s adorable child has it’s advantages). ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-buffet-challenge-debunk-psychic-powers-once-and-for-all/684244/53 "2014-03-22T02:26:07Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Separate, but somewhat related issue. > > The question boils down to why is evil allowed to prosper, that is something I still ponder and question and yes yell at the ‘Big Guy’ at times (being God’s adorable child has it’s advantages). No-that is _not_ what my question boils down to. Why does your god approve of taking money from the poor, but not the rich? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-buffet-challenge-debunk-psychic-powers-once-and-for-all/684244/54 "2014-03-22T02:29:23Z")
> [@nevadaexile](#): > > There hasn’t been a psychic who accuracy rate has routinely surpassed 50%. If there was, that person is hiding their talents and living a low-key lifestyle. That level of ability would have been noticed if they were not. > > They certainly wouldn’t have shows on basic cable channels or doing traveling shows as simply investing in the stock market would easily make them millions or billions. And then he’d bankroll this very contest, hoping to find another psychic like himself… ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-buffet-challenge-debunk-psychic-powers-once-and-for-all/684244/55 "2014-03-22T02:33:16Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > No-that is _not_ what my question boils down to. > Why does your god approve of taking money from the poor, but not the rich? If I am understanding you the you are asking a question then as to why there are the poor, which Jesus said the poor will always be among us. My best answer to date is our wordy society requires a underclass who has certain vulnerabilities that is exploitable. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-buffet-challenge-debunk-psychic-powers-once-and-for-all/684244/56 "2014-03-22T02:36:04Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > If I am understanding you the you are asking a question then as to why there are the poor, which Jesus said the poor will always be among us. > > My best answer to date is our wordy society requires a underclass who has certain vulnerabilities that is exploitable. No. I am asking the question that I posted, not the question you re-wrote. Do you have an answer to the question I asked? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-buffet-challenge-debunk-psychic-powers-once-and-for-all/684244/57 "2014-03-22T02:39:01Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > If I am understanding you the you are asking a question then as to why there are the poor, which Jesus said the poor will always be among us. > > My best answer to date is our wordy society requires a underclass who has certain vulnerabilities that is exploitable. Believe it or not, one of the excuses some woosters use to skip The Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge is that James Randi is actually a powerful psychic that deliberately blocks their abilities. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-buffet-challenge-debunk-psychic-powers-once-and-for-all/684244/58 "2014-03-22T02:46:06Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > No. I am asking the question that I posted, not the question you re-wrote. Do you have an answer to the question I asked? Which is this: > [@](#): > > Why does your god approve of taking money from the poor, but not the rich? In short terms, actually in 3 letters MDC um i mean IDK ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-buffet-challenge-debunk-psychic-powers-once-and-for-all/684244/59 "2014-03-22T02:51:51Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Believe it or not, one of the excuses some woosters use to skip The Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge is that James Randi is actually a powerful psychic that deliberately blocks their abilities. Actually in a way he is, and in many ways you (and many others) are his power source to do that. How to explain this briefly… -Anyone acting in Love is acting in God and has God powers. - You by wanting to help others, such as the poor and taken advantage of, by exposing frauds are acting in Love and thus have God powers - You cede your powers to such things as the MDC (Randi’s challenge) - That power is used to counter the power of the person in the challenge. - So in short your love countered their 'lust; for money. This is the same power structure that empowers nations and religions and other institutions. The power comes only from love but can be ceded to non-loving beings But it is not Randi, but all that ‘worship’ Randi and cede him their power. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-buffet-challenge-debunk-psychic-powers-once-and-for-all/684244/60 "2014-03-22T02:53:53Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Actually in a way he is, and in many ways you (and many others) are his power source to do that. > > How to explain this briefly… > > -Anyone acting in Love is acting in God and has God powers. > > - You by wanting to help others, such as the poor and taken advantage of, by exposing frauds are acting in Love and thus have God powers > > - You cede your powers to such things as the MDC (Randi’s challenge) > > - That power is used to counter the power of the person in the challenge. > > - So in short your love countered their 'lust; for money. > > This is the same power structure that empowers nations and religions and other institutions. The power comes only from love but can be ceded to non-loving beings > > But it is not Randi, but all that ‘worship’ Randi and cede him their power. Do you actually believe this crap? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-buffet-challenge-debunk-psychic-powers-once-and-for-all/684244.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-buffet-challenge-debunk-psychic-powers-once-and-for-all/684244.md?page=4)