# fighting ignorance? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [March 13, 2006, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/348177 "2006-03-13T15:58:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Operation\_Ripper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/34f0e0/32.png) [@Operation\_Ripper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Operation_Ripper)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/348177/21 "2006-03-13T21:22:09Z")
Here’s a clip of the bust: [Link](http://onegoodmove.org/1gm/1gmarchive/2005/01/from_the_mailba.html) and a brief synopsis of the incident: [Link](http://skepdic.com/geller.html) ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/348177/22 "2006-03-13T21:23:22Z")
> [@Operation Ripper](#): > > Didn’t Randi bust him on The Tonight Show back in 70’s? Randi came out and surprised Geller. He replicated all of Geller’s tricks. But Geller refuses to sign a contract for testing under controlled, but mutually agreead upon, conditions. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/348177/23 "2006-03-13T21:31:35Z")
> [@screwball321](#): > > what you guys say really doesnt bother me I take it you didn’t actually read the threads. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/348177/24 "2006-03-13T22:06:10Z")
Has spring break started already? ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/348177/25 "2006-03-13T22:33:08Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > If I push a hundred reindeer off of a cliff, I haven’t proven that reindeer can’t fly. I’ve only proven that none of _those_ reindeer can fly. More specifically, you’ve proven that none of those reindeer can fly, at least part of the time. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/348177/26 "2006-03-13T23:57:48Z")
Since no one seems to have done this yet: [How did Uri Geller bend spoons?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_062.html) > [@screwball321](#): > > you discredit a person on something that they do when it is not proven to be real or fake by using information from some one who is a fake (a magician) Er…no…Geller is discredited by using information from _two_ people: “Geller debunkers Ben Harris and James Randi, both professional magicians and the latter a winner of a MacArthur “genius” grant.” Neither of them is a “fake”; both are _real_ stage magicians. Geller is (presumably) a _fake_ psychic\*. If he claimed to be a stage magician, he would _also_ be a real stage magician. If he proved in a controlled in a controlled environment that his feats were legitimate psychic events rather than “tricks”, he could then be considered a _real_ psychic…and probably make a hell of a lot more money than he’s already making. Hell, he could make tons more money than he’s currently making by playing the lottery; it was $300 million plus recently. \*Why? Because currently there is no _objective_ evidence that psychic powers exist. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/348177/27 "2006-03-14T00:10:42Z")
Well, we all have to believe in _something_ Anyone else want a beer? 😃 Luckily, I doubt sir\*\* screwball321\*\* is old enough to become an active member. ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/348177/28 "2006-03-14T00:52:14Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > Well, we all have to believe in _something_ Anyone else want a beer? 😃 I believe I’ll have one. ---
**Author:** ![bonzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@bonzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bonzer)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/348177/29 "2006-03-14T00:56:18Z")
> [@screwball321](#): > > i can see where you are coming from. but, why do it only for a small gain? he is not filthy rich. Such lack of riches would be why [his motor is a Rolls Royce](http://www.uri-geller.com/newcontent/music/Heeeeeeere's-Johnny.htm) and [he boasts about making millions from oil companies](http://www.uri-geller.com/ok.htm). (Both links are to pages on [his own website](http://www.uri-geller.com/).) [sub]Not that I trust any statements from him about his vast wealth - and in recent years he’s been reduced to appearing on _I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here!_ on British TV, which is a good indication of a C-list name on the slide.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![PBear42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PBear42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PBear42)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/348177/30 "2006-03-14T01:13:01Z")
Well, the sign on the door does say, “Please, don’t gush.” ---
**Author:** ![Fromage\_A\_Trois](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Fromage\_A\_Trois](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fromage_A_Trois)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/348177/31 "2006-03-14T11:52:54Z")
> [@pravnik](#): > > > [@DocCathode](#): > > > > If I push a hundred reindeer off of a cliff, I haven’t proven that reindeer can’t fly. I’ve only proven that none of those reindeer can fly. > > More specifically, you’ve proven that none of those reindeer can fly, at least part of the time. Or possibly that those reindeer didn’t _want_ to fly at that moment in time, as it would blow the cover for the rest of reindeer-kind. ---
**Author:** ![Ceejaytee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ceejaytee/32/2956_2.png) [@Ceejaytee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ceejaytee)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/348177/32 "2006-03-14T13:30:41Z")
> [@Fromage A Trois](#): > > Or possibly that those reindeer didn’t _want_ to fly at that moment in time, as it would blow the cover for the rest of reindeer-kind. This shows astonishing self-sacrifice on the part of those reindeer. I hope Santa pays them well. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/348177/33 "2006-03-14T14:13:17Z")
> [@screwball321](#): > > i have read a couple of your articles and they are pretty dumb,i recently read the one about uri geller. lets look at this from my point of view: you discredit a person on something that they do when it is not proven to be real or fake by using information from some one who is a fake (a magician) that seems kind of 'IGNORANT" look even if this guy is fake what does he stand to gain from this? he does this for FREE he will always have people who do belive him and dont believe him so why would he do it for free? i mean come on man dont tell me that you think life is simple and meaningless and anyone who believes something against the grain is ignorant that in itself is ignorant. i dont know if he really can do it or not i just take it as is, there is alot more evidnce leaning in uri geller’s direction. scientists have done many studies on this guy and it has totaly changed the way some scientists look at human evolution and they are studies at credited places not some hole in the wall or warehouse in the woods. most of all if he makes one person, just one person truthfully believe that there is more to life that meets the eye then he did something that not many people can/try to do these days. so i would at least give him some credit for NEVER being proven a fake nor being proven as the real deal. btw, those books are no real HARD proof that he is fake i have read them. the only thing that i can really say is that if he is a fake than he is the best fake and i think even you can a agree with that. but like i said why would he do it for people for free without millions of cameras and a giant stage it just doent make sense to spend all that time learning how to fake such things and not get paid like david copperfield and that one guy who does the sidewalk magic stuff. the only thing he gets paid for is his seminars on mental health and healing, and stuff like that. oh, and his books. > > p.s. you should change your website slogan to fighting ignorace with ignorance since 1973 LOL! > > fire away! i have read one of your posts and it is pretty dumb and you dont use punctuation especially paragraphs which means it sound like you are babbling without breathing and you will find that doing this discredits you in the eyes of people who have to read this stuff before they even look at what you write which is full of inaccurate assumptions and illogical arguments and irrelevencies and you think that someone who claims to have supernatural powers and appears on television and sells books is not doing it for the money even though you obviously dont understand economics nor the fact that any competent stage magician can do what he does which means that he could only prove he was really using psychic powers but he wont agree to be tested so we can only draw our own conclusions from that and while i dont think life is simple or meaningless i do think your post is pretty much both of those and if youve read this far i congratulate you at least i did until you claimed there was evidence to support these claims of amazing powers when you cant even give a single reference to back up what you say which is pretty poor around here because we are dedicated to fighting ignorance although that doesnt mean we want to do harm to you you see its an expression meaning we like a cite to back up any allegations or claims you make so its a figure of speech and i wonder if you know what that means and going back to the claims yes im sure there are people who believe in psychic powers and they pay a lot of money but never get anything like the gullible souls who send money to nigerian bankers or who think they must send on chain letters or they will get bad luck from breaking the chain and who gasp with astonishment when you send them to snopes which is a website that debunks claims but i suppose you wouldnt be interested in that because you just rattle off your stream of thought and expect us to take you seriously well we arent impressed 😛 and its a shame because there are some really smart people here and you could learn a lot from them but you will need to keep an open mind and check your facts and it would help if you used grammar and proof read what you type which is why there is a preview post button 🆒 and then you could give a better impression of yourself and do better that saying fighting ignorace with ignorance would be a better slogan when your slogan is obviously frightening ignorance with incoherence 😃 and that was a joke based on what you wrote which has been the point of this post and i only have one more thing to say which is ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/348177/34 "2006-03-14T14:22:42Z")
Oh come on **glee** …pins and needles here, out with it!!! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Igor70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bc79bd/32.png) [@Igor70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Igor70)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/348177/35 "2006-03-14T14:51:46Z")
[QUOTE=screwball321] i can see where you are coming from. but, why do it only for a small gain? he is not filthy rich. that would be pointless in the eyes of a con-artist. Perhaps that depends on what you consider “filthy rich.” Check out: [http://psychicinvestigator.com/demo/GELRSKP.htm](http://psychicinvestigator.com/demo/GELRSKP.htm) There, Geller tells an interviewer that his psychic powers have earned him (and this was some years ago) “$50 million or more.” Where I come from, if that’s not filthy rich it’s at least a bit soiled. Since Screwball’s main point seems to be that Geller must be the real thing because he doesn’t make money from it, so why else would he do it, I think Screwball is faced with concluding either (1) Geller was lying about the $50 mill, (2) Geller in fact is getting filthy rich, or (3) the interviewer is lying in his recounting. As to the last choice, to continue Screwball’s logic, why would the interviewer lie? He’s not getting rich from this. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/348177/36 "2006-03-14T15:07:36Z")
Clearly **glee** has an onion on his belt. ---
**Author:** ![Fromage\_A\_Trois](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Fromage\_A\_Trois](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fromage_A_Trois)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/348177/37 "2006-03-14T15:31:13Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > Clearly **glee** has an onion on his belt. Well, it was the fashion at the time. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/348177/38 "2006-03-14T17:31:39Z")
I have it on excellent authority that Geller is a fake, and I don’t need any genius-grant winners to prove it. _The spoons themselves told me._\* Sailboat \*It’s true! Well, it’s as true as Geller’s claims, and you’re ready to believe those. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/348177/39 "2006-03-14T19:35:37Z")
> [@screwball321](#): > > there is alot more evidnce leaning in uri geller’s direction. You are, shall we say, incorrect. ---
**Author:** ![ResettingComp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ResettingComp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ResettingComp)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/348177/40 "2006-03-14T20:46:49Z")
> [@fetus](#): > > **screwball** , I could build the Great Wall of China three times over with all the ignorance you’ve stored up. This clearly isn’t your kind of board. May i suggest some alternatives? > > [Something Awful](http://www.somethingawful.com/) > > [Championism](http://championism.com/) > > [Fark](http://www.fark.com/) > > [General Mayhem](http://www.genmay.net) > > Have fun. Haha! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/348177.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-ignorance/348177.md?page=3)