# Paranormal Abilities: Genuine or Hoax? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 1, 2003, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paranormal-abilities-genuine-or-hoax/158356 "2003-03-01T06:44:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2003, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paranormal-abilities-genuine-or-hoax/158356/61 "2003-03-03T15:59:16Z")
The closest thing I could find to a stioulation related to anonymity was this: > [@](#): > > [Applicant agrees that all data (photographic, recorded, written, etc.) gathered as a result of the testing may be used freely by JREF in any way that Mr. Randi may choose.](http://www.randi.org./research/challenge.html) This doesn’t necessarily include the claimant’s name and face, but doesn’t necessarily exclude it. I’ll email the JREF this afternoon about the issue. ---
**Author:** ![Urban\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Urban\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urban_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2003, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paranormal-abilities-genuine-or-hoax/158356/62 "2003-03-03T16:08:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Extrovertive \* > But that does not necessarily prove that it is all a fraud or hoax, right? As it has already been pointed out, it is up to the proponents of an assertion to provide evidence. I bet you cannot disprove the existence of the Ten Foot Hare. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Extrovertive \* > Although most mainstrean psychics and ppl claiming to possess an abnormal ability are a hoax, I belive true extrasensory abilities exist (I presume many of you do also). From what I’ve learned about the paranormal , such as in [http://www.spiritonline.com](http://www.spiritonline.com) to give a source for basing my opinions on, I learned that most ppl who demonstrate some type of strange skill do it for good and usu. in times of danger and emergency. For that to be true, you are positing there is yet an unknown physical force that can be sensed and manipulated by the human mind. There is zero evidence for that. Besides, if you think about it, if such a physical force does exist, wouldn’t lower lifeforms such as dogs be more attuned to it, if for no other reason than they have been around much longer? ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2003, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paranormal-abilities-genuine-or-hoax/158356/63 "2003-03-03T16:38:40Z")
. . . Couldn’t have put it better myself! ---
**Author:** ![blanx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f04885/32.png) [@blanx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blanx)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2003, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paranormal-abilities-genuine-or-hoax/158356/64 "2003-03-03T16:43:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lekatt \* > **…full of it…** A gem of truth, at the last. ---
**Author:** ![Papermache\_Prince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f05b48/32.png) [@Papermache\_Prince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Papermache_Prince)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2003, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paranormal-abilities-genuine-or-hoax/158356/65 "2003-03-03T17:02:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SimonX \* > \*\*The closest thing I could find to a stioulation related to anonymity was this: > > This doesn’t necessarily include the claimant’s name and face, but doesn’t necessarily exclude it. > I’ll email the JREF this afternoon about the issue. \*\* In a commentary from his website, dated [November 16, 2001](http://www.randi.org/jr/111601.html), Randi published excerpts from a letter he had received. Since he did not correct this assertion, being anonymous appears to be an exception to the rules. “His {proposed applicant’s} main condition was that he would remain anonymous, a condition you{Randi} generously accepted, although it was an exception to the rules.” ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2003, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paranormal-abilities-genuine-or-hoax/158356/66 "2003-03-03T17:33:08Z")
hey, thanX. I’ll skip the email. ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2003, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paranormal-abilities-genuine-or-hoax/158356/67 "2003-03-03T22:40:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bryan Ekers \* > \*\*Sems to me you were stating (or at least strongly implying) that while James Randi _claims_ to want to find evidence of paranormal ability, his motive is in fact to profit from the publication of such evidence. This implies a certain mistrust of Randi’s motives and falls well into the definition of “cynical” \*\* Hi **Bryan**. Well, I certainly didn’t _mean_ to imply that. I’m sorry if it came over that way, and I also apologise for getting a bit snippy and hot-headed. That was wrong of me. **Telemark** has kindly clarified what I meant (thanks Tele!). Let’s not forget… the million dollars is real enough but it isn’t Randi’s money. It’s essentially guaranteed by the same anonymous benefactor who funded the establishment of the JREF. If I were putting up a million, even if I were fairly sure it would never be claimed, I think I’d like to arrange things so that if the million were ever claimed, I could get some of it back by exploiting news and reportage of this paradigm-shifting event! Wouldn’t you? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paranormal-abilities-genuine-or-hoax/158356.md?page=3)