# Paranormal, telepathy, one million price from James Randi, telepathic Vinko and spoon bender Uri Gel **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 9, 2012, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paranormal-telepathy-one-million-price-from-james-randi-telepathic-vinko-and-spoon-bender-uri-gel/612345 "2012-02-09T21:21:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paranormal-telepathy-one-million-price-from-james-randi-telepathic-vinko-and-spoon-bender-uri-gel/612345/21 "2012-02-09T22:33:38Z")
Well, of course the paranormal powers don’t work when there is so much negative energy in the room. And skeptics positively _exude_ negative energy. ---
**Author:** ![Furious\_Marmot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dfb087/32.png) [@Furious\_Marmot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Furious_Marmot)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paranormal-telepathy-one-million-price-from-james-randi-telepathic-vinko-and-spoon-bender-uri-gel/612345/22 "2012-02-09T22:34:33Z")
> [@neurostudop](#): > > Why all this madness scientist do not want to accept telepathy and some other things to be possible and normal I am a scientist, and I want to accept telepathy and some other things to be possible and normal. It would be super cool to move objects around or cure diseases using only the power of the mind. Everybody could be a Jedi knight. I also want to communicate with animals and eat all the cheese I like without getting fat. Turns out that wanting stuff doesn’t make it real. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paranormal-telepathy-one-million-price-from-james-randi-telepathic-vinko-and-spoon-bender-uri-gel/612345/23 "2012-02-09T23:04:38Z")
Let’s see your telepath beat the guy in #1 [Isao Machii](http://www.cracked.com/article_19661_6-real-people-with-mind-blowing-mutant-superpowers_p2.html) ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paranormal-telepathy-one-million-price-from-james-randi-telepathic-vinko-and-spoon-bender-uri-gel/612345/24 "2012-02-09T23:26:30Z")
> [@neurostudop](#): > > What about Vinko Rajic : [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOuuuvvKae4](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOuuuvvKae4) I’m convinced. He managed to bore me to tears inside of a minute. All the way from Fruitcakesylvania. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paranormal-telepathy-one-million-price-from-james-randi-telepathic-vinko-and-spoon-bender-uri-gel/612345/25 "2012-02-10T03:01:57Z")
> [@Furious\_Marmot](#): > > I am a scientist, and I want to accept telepathy and some other things to be possible and normal. It would be super cool to move objects around or cure diseases using only the power of the mind. Everybody could be a Jedi knight. I also want to communicate with animals and eat all the cheese I like without getting fat. > > Turns out that wanting stuff doesn’t make it real. The intense concentration that my dog exhibits attempting to psychically make me drop my food on the ground, coupled with his dismal success rate suggests that dogs, at least, lack telekinesis. ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paranormal-telepathy-one-million-price-from-james-randi-telepathic-vinko-and-spoon-bender-uri-gel/612345/26 "2012-02-10T06:34:32Z")
> [@neurostudop](#): > > What about Vinko Rajic : [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOuuuvvKae4](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOuuuvvKae4) Hi neurostudop I’m a scientist and would be happy to see some evidence of Vinko’s powers. I’ve watched his video and was impressed to see the light go off and back on at 3:25 without seeing his hands move to turn it on and off. This in itself would be very impressive to document and publish in some of the most prestigous journals. Of course, in order to collect the data correctly for publication, I would need to meet with him, with a light that can only be turned on and off by a light switch, and video his entire body while he turns on and off the switch using only his mind. Could you send me a personal message here with his contact information? Are you telepathic? can you tell me something specific you can do with your mind that is evidence of telepathy? If it works out, this would truly be revolutionary! I’m not kidding…if you are telepathic and can demonstrate it to me under controlled conditions, I can guide you on getting published and will be assured that you will be absolutely famous. But more importantly you may be able to save the lives of thousands of people and help millions more. ---
**Author:** ![Ahoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/50afbb/32.png) [@Ahoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ahoy)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paranormal-telepathy-one-million-price-from-james-randi-telepathic-vinko-and-spoon-bender-uri-gel/612345/27 "2012-02-10T06:47:28Z")
I am sure there are no psychics. Randi has been offering that wad for years and years. Nobody has ever gotten it. Someone would have by now if they were for real. There is no evidence. It’s just fluff. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paranormal-telepathy-one-million-price-from-james-randi-telepathic-vinko-and-spoon-bender-uri-gel/612345/28 "2012-02-10T06:58:53Z")
> [@Furious\_Marmot](#): > > I am a scientist, and I want to accept telepathy and some other things to be possible and normal. It would be super cool to move objects around or cure diseases using only the power of the mind. Everybody could be a Jedi knight. I also want to communicate with animals and eat all the cheese I like without getting fat. > > Turns out that wanting stuff doesn’t make it real. But but but…my preacher kept telling me that if I wanted something strongly enough, that I would get it! No matter what it was! Surely you aren’t saying that my preacher LIED to me, are you? Actually, it was this woo business of “power of positive thinking” that really got me started on examining what my religion claimed. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paranormal-telepathy-one-million-price-from-james-randi-telepathic-vinko-and-spoon-bender-uri-gel/612345/29 "2012-02-10T07:06:43Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > The intense concentration that my dog exhibits attempting to psychically make me drop my food on the ground, coupled with his dismal success rate suggests that dogs, at least, lack telekinesis. Yes, well, that’s dogs. I had a cat once that frequently telepathically informed me that if I did not drop some shrimp on the floor that she would leap onto the table and try to take it herself. Son of a gun if that was not an absolutely accurate telepathic message. ---
**Author:** ![Truman\_Burbank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@Truman\_Burbank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truman_Burbank)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paranormal-telepathy-one-million-price-from-james-randi-telepathic-vinko-and-spoon-bender-uri-gel/612345/30 "2012-02-10T07:37:02Z")
And with a straight face? You have got to be _kidding_…go read a book or something, it might help… oh, here, try this: > **[How did Uri Geller bend spoons?](https://www.straightdope.com/21341830/how-did-uri-geller-bend-spoons)** ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paranormal-telepathy-one-million-price-from-james-randi-telepathic-vinko-and-spoon-bender-uri-gel/612345/31 "2012-02-10T07:50:01Z")
I predict this will not end well when the OP posts the same thing in a different forum after all the responses received in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paranormal-telepathy-one-million-price-from-james-randi-telepathic-vinko-and-spoon-bender-uri-gel/612345/32 "2012-02-10T07:59:26Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > I predict this will not end well when the OP posts the same thing in a different forum after all the responses received in this thread. Like [here](http://able2know.org/topic/184388-1)? ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paranormal-telepathy-one-million-price-from-james-randi-telepathic-vinko-and-spoon-bender-uri-gel/612345/33 "2012-02-10T08:12:30Z")
Based on his website ([http://telepathy-vinko-rajic.blogspot.com/](http://telepathy-vinko-rajic.blogspot.com/)) it seems pretty clear Vinko is sincere but seriously deluded. However, his ranting is very entertaining. ---
**Author:** ![Panurge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/fbc32d/32.png) [@Panurge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Panurge)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paranormal-telepathy-one-million-price-from-james-randi-telepathic-vinko-and-spoon-bender-uri-gel/612345/34 "2012-02-10T08:18:09Z")
Damn, **jackdavinci** , I was just about to post that link, and a conclusion very similar to yours. Crazy, yet entertaining. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paranormal-telepathy-one-million-price-from-james-randi-telepathic-vinko-and-spoon-bender-uri-gel/612345/35 "2012-02-10T08:36:26Z")
Without looking, my psychic powers tell me the OP’s join date will be Feb '12. ::Checks:: Ha ha, in your face so-called James Randi. Million bucks right now please. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paranormal-telepathy-one-million-price-from-james-randi-telepathic-vinko-and-spoon-bender-uri-gel/612345/36 "2012-02-10T08:56:59Z")
> [@Truman\_Burbank](#): > > And with a straight face? You have got to be _kidding_…go read a book or something, it might help… > oh, here, try this: > [How did Uri Geller bend spoons? - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/660/how-did-uri-geller-bend-spoons) Uri Geller once bent my brother’s fork. Which sucked, because it was a special fork, and he had a hard time replacing it. ---
**Author:** ![lynne-42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lynne-42/32/3138_2.png) [@lynne-42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lynne-42)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paranormal-telepathy-one-million-price-from-james-randi-telepathic-vinko-and-spoon-bender-uri-gel/612345/37 "2012-02-10T09:20:04Z")
> [@drachillix](#): > > … the world of science would love nothing more than to be able to experiment with someone who can perform paranormal feats. Every time they have tried the subject turns out to not be able to produce the desired results under controlled conditions. Got it in one! It would be wonderful. I’ve heard Randi express that opinion, and lots of other skeptics and scientists. So where are the negative vibes coming from? I find it interesting to compare extraordinary claims of being psychic to extraordinary claims of being able to redraw entire cities from a single fly over and then do it entirely from memory, getting every building right. The difference is that [Stephen Wiltshire](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Wiltshire) really can do the extraordinary - and consequently enjoys all the attention and testing. ---
**Author:** ![AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paranormal-telepathy-one-million-price-from-james-randi-telepathic-vinko-and-spoon-bender-uri-gel/612345/38 "2012-02-10T09:23:01Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > _What_ evidence, exactly? > > These guys are illusionists, showmen. There is exactly as much evidence that they have actual telepathic powers as there is evidence that David Copperfield can fly. Or, for that matter, that Luke Skywalker flew an actual spaceship and blew up an actual Death Star. Randi’s prize is about taking the showmanship out of it and proving that one can really do what one claims to be able to do. > > To turn your question around, if these guys are the real deal, why\* wouldn’t \* they step up and agree to have their powers tested under controlled scientific conditions? Perhaps b/c while there’s a lot of fraud going on there’s still a lot of random stuff. I have personally experianced pre cog dreams as well as “flashes” that I was going to see/get something from someone. I can’t control it, and it doesn’t always happen…but the stuff I’ve experianced has been dead on, and REALLY freaky. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paranormal-telepathy-one-million-price-from-james-randi-telepathic-vinko-and-spoon-bender-uri-gel/612345/39 "2012-02-10T09:31:19Z")
I don’t think Uri Geller is the best example, Randi knows him well – “Uri Geller has six tricks, five of them are tricks and one of them is suing me.” - James Randi. Not to mention that Randi figured out and performed all of Geller’s “psychic feats,” almost universally better than Geller executed them himself. Of course, this is all proof that Randi is a psychic covering it up to suppress THE TRUTH! > [@AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet](#): > > Perhaps b/c while there’s a lot of fraud going on there’s still a lot of random stuff. I have personally experianced pre cog dreams as well as “flashes” that I was going to see/get something from someone. I can’t control it, and it doesn’t always happen…but the stuff I’ve experianced has been dead on, and REALLY freaky. I’ve had this too, and there’s a perfectly rational explanation. It’s a combination between “even a stopped clock” and “the astrology effect.” First think of how often you think of random shit that DOESN’T happen, now think of astrology, where all the horoscopes and descriptions are so hilariously vague they could apply to anyone. Take the venn diagram of things you think of that COULD happen, and things that could apply to a lot of situations, sprinkle a little bit of deja vu and you have pre-cog powers. Yes, it can be freaky, and sometimes they can be REALLY uncanny (I’ve had what I swear are step by step recreations of a good 10-20 seconds of a dream), but they’re explainable. Especially if it’s something that was likely to happen anyway. It’s not hard to “imagine” something that was probably going to happen soon given subconscious evidence you’ve gathered. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paranormal-telepathy-one-million-price-from-james-randi-telepathic-vinko-and-spoon-bender-uri-gel/612345/40 "2012-02-10T12:21:45Z")
> [@AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet](#): > > Perhaps b/c while there’s a lot of fraud going on there’s still a lot of random stuff. I have personally experianced pre cog dreams as well as “flashes” that I was going to see/get something from someone. I can’t control it, and it doesn’t always happen…but the stuff I’ve experianced has been dead on, and REALLY freaky. Each time this happens, you should write it down - and this is the important bit - _before_ it comes true. Then after a week, month or whatever, have a look at at your list and see what your success rate _reallly_ is. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paranormal-telepathy-one-million-price-from-james-randi-telepathic-vinko-and-spoon-bender-uri-gel/612345.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paranormal-telepathy-one-million-price-from-james-randi-telepathic-vinko-and-spoon-bender-uri-gel/612345.md?page=3)