# Talking warts away **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 2, 2007, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-warts-away/417796 "2007-09-02T07:16:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 19
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-warts-away/417796/361 "2007-09-06T11:16:25Z")
If there was a community of people who claimed that, on a regular basis, they could sprout wings and fly to the sun (“Look, I’ll even prove it by selling you a piece of Sun Crystal!”) - but that they generally just did it when nobody was watching, then I think a challenge offering ten million dollars for a demonstration, presented as a _transparently obvious_ way of saying “put up, or shut up” isn’t dishonest. ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-warts-away/417796/362 "2007-09-06T13:21:27Z")
[QUOTE=Iknewit] Randi accepts the challenges that he knows are frauds. That’s the bottom line. He choses his battles so that he always will win. Whether you believe exposing frauds to be worth offering a bogus prize is the only debate here. To quote Randi, "Concerning the challenge, I always have an out. " . That sound like a man offering a chance at a prize to you ? [/QUOTE] He knows they are frauds because he knows the supernatural is bullshit. Anyone espousing anything supernatural can be called a fraud to one degree or another. So anyone who would be qualified to take the test is a fraud. Randi does this as a public service. He’s not trying to help himself, he’s trying to help people who put stock in these frauds. And you wanna cite that quote? Sounds an awful lot like you’re taking it out of context. > [@](#): > > Here we have a well documented phenomenon. What makes this “phenomenon” not admissable in Randi’s challenge ? It’s documented. It is known to exist. That’s all it takes to be disqualified. Do you seriously believe that as long as people have tried to explain this and as widely verified as it is, that Randi will cough up a single dime if we prove that we can make sugar have the same effect as morphine on the human body ? Can you explain that ? Can anyone ? Are you just making stuff up as you go along? Of course the placebo effect isn’t admissable, it’s not supernatural. It’s understood (kind of) to be a purely physical phenomenon, and doesn’t involve spirits or physic powers or anything else like that. Is it really that hard to understand that when testing the supernatural, the non-supernatural is not on the list? > [@](#): > > On cold fusion, the thing is, like most _real_ manifestations of paranormal or impossible into the realm of possible, a million bucks is small change. While Randi may (but I would bet small change he won’t) accept a challenge, no one in the feild will waste the time to set up an experiment for the cash he has to offer when there are much larger fish to fry. By the time anyone who can do it gets around to Randi, it’s established science, (much to Randis dismay, I’m sure) and the claim has no merit of breaking any law of science by the sheer virtue of the law it will have established. Please, cold fusion has so much more to worry about than Randi’s challenge. People dealing with science aren’t worried a paranormal debunker, they’re more concerned with actual science. There’s no reason for anyone to bother with Randi when they can just publish results. I can’t even see why you brought this up. > [@](#): > > There are many things beyond the realm of science (I have said this way too many times now) and many of them will enter the realm at some point and become part of our base of knowledge. Things that are beyond the realm of science? This means something different than ‘we don’t know it right now’. Just because we don’t know something right now doesn’t mean it’s beyond the realm of science. > [@](#): > > Randi’s challenge has absolutely zero to do with any of these phenomenon. He won’t touch them. His claim, to anyone who examines it and has a basic understanding of the scientific process, is just as transparent as you say: You can see right through it. What are you talking about? He tests things people claim are ‘beyond the realm of science’ all the time. Dowsing, mind reading, talking to the dead, faith healing, etc. He most assuredly will touch them, and your blindly asserting that he won’t doesn’t make it true. > [@](#): > > For Randi’s challenge to be in anyway genuine, we would have to assume he is ignorant of the scientific process. We know he is not. Now what are you talking about? Randi’s challenge isn’t puprely scientific. Why would you assume otherwise? He isn’t interested in peer review of his studies, or publishing in scientific journals. He’s offering to test someone’s paranormal claims and give them money if they succeed. Why does this have to be scientific all of a sudden? This claim is absurd. > [@](#): > > He knows that no one is going to show up, without any notice, without any notariety, without any published account, without any well known research, and display any sort of radical occurance or event that he offers the prize for. He will, the scientific community will, we will, know about it before it gets to him. And it is disqualified, just like the placebo effect. Not because it is explained, but because it’s existence is known. Like I said before, it’s a dog who has chased and caught it’s own tail. Randi’s challenge is to prove the unknown. If you prove it, it’s known, you lose. The challenge is bogus. So things we know all about and aren’t supernatural don’t qualify for the a test of the supernatural? Yup, sounds right to me. You should mabye concentrate on the supernatural, rather than just making stuff up. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-warts-away/417796/363 "2007-09-06T13:45:58Z")
[QUOTE=hotflungwok] So things we know all about and aren’t supernatural don’t qualify for the a test of the supernatural? Yup, sounds right to me. You should mabye concentrate on the supernatural, rather than just making stuff up. [/QUOTE] That’s the problem though - the OP is clinging to a dictionary definition of ‘paranormal’ that is argued to encompass nearly everything, rather than the obvious everyday meaning of the word (that the [Wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paranormal) article makes a good job of describing) - the definition that happens to be in popular use. ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-warts-away/417796/364 "2007-09-06T13:50:47Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] That’s the problem though - the OP is clinging to a dictionary definition of ‘paranormal’ that is argued to encompass nearly everything, rather than the obvious everyday meaning of the word (that the [Wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paranormal) article makes a good job of describing) - the definition that happens to be in popular use. [/QUOTE] Yeah, I know. I decline to participate in his hallucination. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-warts-away/417796/365 "2007-09-06T15:01:52Z")
[QUOTE=Iknewit] Doing even more digging on Randi, I find that Randi attributes many things to the placebo effect. This is a great demonstration of why his Challenge is a hoax. Like I said before, the mere existence of phenomenon disqualifies it from the challenge. The placebo effect is quite a phenomenon. People are healed of sickness and relieved of pain through inert medicine and faith healers. So you think a faith healer could win ? Nope. Not according to Randi. [/QUOTE] You’re ignoring a point I made (among about 15 others) several times. Randi HAS allowed people to demonstrate their powers before him. If they had demonstrated their claim successfully, he would have paid the prize! If someone claims they could can heal warts with a month of positive thought, Randi will ignore the claim. Claims such as bringing sight back to the blind, eradicating cancer, healing wounds (or even warts) instantly and the ability to grow back limbs is another matter. If he agrees to let them demonstrate their claims, then he has agreed to pay up if the demonstration is successful. This is a great demonstration of why his challenge is NOT a hoax ---
**Author:** ![Iknewit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4491bb/32.png) [@Iknewit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iknewit)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-warts-away/417796/366 "2007-09-06T18:12:11Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] Actually, I think he calls himself a ‘psychic investigator’. The field of interest we’ve been trying to talk about in this thread is quite roundly defined [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paranormal) [/QUOTE] I like this definition too. Here is the opening of the Wiki article: "Paranormal is an umbrella term used to describe a wide variety of reported anomalous phenomena. According to the Journal of Parapsychology, the term paranormal describes “any phenomenon that in one or more respects exceeds the limits of what is deemed physically possible according to current scientific assumptions” An “ **umbrella term** ”, very nice, very broad, and we further have "\*\*any \*\* phenomenon that in \*\*one or more \*\* respects exceeds ". The article does go on talk about pshchics and telapathy but I have said that those things weren’t under that **umbrella** term, paranormal. ---
**Author:** ![Iknewit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4491bb/32.png) [@Iknewit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iknewit)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-warts-away/417796/367 "2007-09-06T18:17:08Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] Actually, I can conceive this happening; a genetically- or surgically-modified human might have wing-like appendages, and said human might pilot (“fly”) a spaceship that makes an orbital pass close to the sun, collecting gas from the corona (a “piece”) and returning to Earth, satisfying the literal conditions of your challenge using technology which, though far more advanced than anything we have now, is not wholly unreasonable. Admittedly, it could easily take several centuries, and cost far more than $10 million. I suggest you put the money in a well-managed trust, since you’re not going to remain youthful and fun-loving forever. Unless, of course, you take this opportunity to start moving the goalposts, i.e. editing the scrolls. [/QUOTE] Sure, you can find your way around what I\*\* mean\*\* by taking me at what I **say**. Have at it. Good thing we’re dealing with Randi here though cause what we would have here, is another case of a poster supporting exactly what I calim about the Challenge: It does not mean what it says. You can litterally satisfy the Challenge, like propoase to do mine, but your claim won’t be accepted or paid. ---
**Author:** ![Iknewit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4491bb/32.png) [@Iknewit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iknewit)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-warts-away/417796/368 "2007-09-06T18:19:13Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] If there was a community of people who claimed that, on a regular basis, they could sprout wings and fly to the sun (“Look, I’ll even prove it by selling you a piece of Sun Crystal!”) - but that they generally just did it when nobody was watching, then I think a challenge offering ten million dollars for a demonstration, presented as a _transparently obvious_ way of saying “put up, or shut up” isn’t dishonest. [/QUOTE] Un huh. The honesty of my claim doesn;t depend on **my honesty** , it rest with what a bunch of other people are saying. Nice logic. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-warts-away/417796/369 "2007-09-06T18:38:54Z")
[QUOTE=Iknewit] Un huh. The honesty of my claim doesn;t depend on **my honesty** , it rest with what a bunch of other people are saying. Nice logic. [/QUOTE] That’s not what Mangetout said or implied, but I think you know that and have resorted to twisting others words as to frustrate posters from continuing to reply so you can raise your arms in victory. The honesty of the claim doesn’t rely on the honesty of “what a bunch of other people are saying”. Whether or not those people are lying about their ability to sprout wings and fly is not the issue. Maybe they can. Maybe they are deluded. Maybe they are lying. So what? The point is that issuing a challenge which includes a reward is NOT DISHONEST! It is an HONEST challenge to, as Mangetout put it, “put up, or shut up”. ---
**Author:** ![Iknewit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4491bb/32.png) [@Iknewit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iknewit)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-warts-away/417796/370 "2007-09-06T18:42:46Z")
[QUOTE=hotflungwok] He knows they are frauds because he knows the supernatural is bullshit. Anyone espousing anything supernatural can be called a fraud to one degree or another. So anyone who would be qualified to take the test is a fraud. Randi does this as a public service. He’s not trying to help himself, he’s trying to help people who put stock in these frauds. [/QUOTE] Thank you for helping demonstrate the Challenge is bogus. He **knows** they are frauds. He **knows** it is bullshit. Anyone that would be allowed to take the test, like you say, is already deemed a loser before taking the test. This is exactly what makes the prize bogus. It’s not a prize. It’s idiot bait. It’s money. It will never be, and there was never an intention to, award it. That is not a prize. Also, as much as you see it as a public service, and as much you think he’s trying to help, I have to ask again: How many otherwise honest people have been tempted into actually becoming either believers or frauds by the proposition of a million dollars ? I’d bet he’s created as much or more of this bullshit than he has ended. [QUOTE=hotflungwok] And you wanna cite that quote? Sounds an awful lot like you’re taking it out of context. [/QUOTE] > **[James Randi Educational Foundation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Randi_Educational_Foundation)** > > The James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) is an American grant-making institution founded in 1996 by magician and skeptic James Randi. As a nonprofit organization, the mission of JREF includes educating the public and the media on the dangers of accepting unproven claims, and to support research into paranormal claims in controlled scientific experimental conditions. The organization announced its change to a grant-making foundation in September 2015. The organization previously administered ... [QUOTE=hotflungwok] Are you just making stuff up as you go along? Of course the placebo effect isn’t admissable, it’s not supernatural. It’s understood (kind of) to be a purely physical phenomenon, and doesn’t involve spirits or physic powers or anything else like that. Is it really that hard to understand that when testing the supernatural, the non-supernatural is not on the list? [/QUOTE] It’s not supernatrural ? Super Natural: relating to or attributed to phenomena that cannot be explained by natural laws. Of course we “kind of” understood. It’s understood only to the extent that we know it exist. The rest is speculation. If you can show the natural law that explains the placebo effect, please do. [QUOTE=hotflungwok] Please, cold fusion has so much more to worry about than Randi’s challenge. People dealing with science aren’t worried a paranormal debunker, they’re more concerned with actual science. There’s no reason for anyone to bother with Randi when they can just publish results. I can’t even see why you brought this up. [/QUOTE] I’ve already stated that anyone researching cold fusion doesn’t have time to deal with Randi. They need hundreds of millions for their work. Cold fusion is, however, contrary to the accepted laws of science. And why do I bring it up ? Maybe because Randi says it’s garbage. Put your money where your mouth is Randi. [QUOTE=hotflungwok] Things that are beyond the realm of science? This means something different than ‘we don’t know it right now’. Just because we don’t know something right now doesn’t mean it’s beyond the realm of science. [/QUOTE] Again, you support that the challenge is actually bogus. It is designed to test only failures and frauds. Anything, anything at all, that can be demonstrated, is assumed to have an explanation. You have faith. You have faith that someday science will explain the placebo effect. [QUOTE=hotflungwok] What are you talking about? He tests things people claim are ‘beyond the realm of science’ all the time. Dowsing, mind reading, talking to the dead, faith healing, etc. He most assuredly will touch them, and your blindly asserting that he won’t doesn’t make it true. [/QUOTE] But he won’t touch just anything beyond the realm of science. If it stands a chance of being real, and without explanation, he won’t touch it. [QUOTE=hotflungwok] Now what are you talking about? Randi’s challenge isn’t puprely scientific. Why would you assume otherwise? He isn’t interested in peer review of his studies, or publishing in scientific journals. He’s offering to test someone’s paranormal claims and give them money if they succeed. Why does this have to be scientific all of a sudden? This claim is absurd. [/QUOTE] [QUOTE=hotflungwok] So things we know all about and aren’t supernatural don’t qualify for the a test of the supernatural? Yup, sounds right to me. You should mabye concentrate on the supernatural, rather than just making stuff up. [/QUOTE] Not at all what I claim. Things that are beyond scientific explanation don’t qualify at Randi’s whim. He hand picks what he wants to test. If he stands a chance to lose, he has every avenue to weasel away. He has provided, in his own words, “an out” for anyone that might actually have a chance to win the challenge. ---
**Author:** ![Iknewit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4491bb/32.png) [@Iknewit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iknewit)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-warts-away/417796/371 "2007-09-06T18:48:07Z")
[QUOTE=x-ray vision] That’s not what Mangetout said or implied, but I think you know that and have resorted to twisting others words as to frustrate posters from continuing to reply so you can raise your arms in victory. The honesty of the claim doesn’t rely on the honesty of “what a bunch of other people are saying”. Whether or not those people are lying about their ability to sprout wings and fly is not the issue. Maybe they can. Maybe they are deluded. Maybe they are lying. So what? The point is that issuing a challenge which includes a reward is NOT DISHONEST! It is an HONEST challenge to, as Mangetout put it, “put up, or shut up”. [/QUOTE] I think he can answer for himself. He said **IF** … **then** it would be honest. You understand the proposition of an “if, hen” statement ? That the “if” must be met for the “then” to be true ? ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-warts-away/417796/372 "2007-09-06T19:02:49Z")
[QUOTE=Iknewit] I think he can answer for himself. [/quote] So? I’m responding to the dishonesty of your post; it’s irrelevant that it was a response to someone else’s. [QUOTE=Iknewit] He said **IF** … **then** it would be honest. You understand the proposition of an “if, hen” statement ? That the “if” must be met for the “then” to be true ? _If there was a community of people who claimed that, on a regular basis, they could sprout wings and fly…_ [/QUOTE] That’s how many hypothetical situations are started- with an if. His hypothetical situation happens to parallel a real one. There ARE people making claims that they can read minds, remote view, etc. There is no IF in those situations. The ‘if’ has been met in the real life situation since there are people making those claims. By your own admission, the “then” as in “ **then** it would be honest” has been met. Good to see that you finally conceded. ---
**Author:** ![Iknewit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4491bb/32.png) [@Iknewit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iknewit)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-warts-away/417796/373 "2007-09-06T19:05:06Z")
Mr. Kolodzey: Don’t treat us like children. We only respond to responsible claims. Are you actually claiming that you have not consumed any food products except water, since the end of 1998? If this is what you are saying, did you think for one moment that we would believe it? If this is actually your claim, you’re a liar and a fraud. We are not interested in pursuing this further, nor will we exchange correspondence with you on the matter. Signed, James Randi. (A hard-copy of this letter will be sent by post to you, today.) James Randi Educational Foundation 201 S.E. 12th Street (Davie Blvd.) Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316-1815 What we have here is a letter from James Randi, refusing to expose this man as a fraud. Now you all come on and rationalize why. Why doesn’t Randi just send this letter to everyone that he is so sure is a fraud ? ---
**Author:** ![Iknewit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4491bb/32.png) [@Iknewit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iknewit)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-warts-away/417796/374 "2007-09-06T19:07:55Z")
[QUOTE=x-ray vision] So? I’m responding to the dishonesty of your post; it’s irrelevant that it was a response to someone else’s. That’s how many hypothetical situations are started- with an if. His hypothetical situation happens to parallel a real one. There ARE people making claims that they can read minds, remote view, etc. There is no IF in those situations. The ‘if’ has been met in the real life situation since there are people making those claims. By your own admission, the “then” as in “ **then** it would be honest” has been met. Good to see that you finally conceded. [/QUOTE] Not at all. I stand by the original claim. You are rely on someone else to verify if the challenge is honest. YOu are still in the position that becuase there are liars, Randi is not dishonest. Absent the liars and frauds, is the offer still honest ? Honesty stands on it’s own merits. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-warts-away/417796/375 "2007-09-06T19:08:03Z")
[QUOTE=Iknewit] Why doesn’t Randi just send this letter to everyone that he is so sure is a fraud [/QUOTE] What paranormal ability is being claimed? How would you design a test? > [@](#): > > Honesty stands on it’s own merits. Yet, the cheese stands alone. ---
**Author:** ![Iknewit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4491bb/32.png) [@Iknewit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iknewit)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-warts-away/417796/376 "2007-09-06T19:11:06Z")
[QUOTE=x-ray vision] You’re ignoring a point I made (among about 15 others) several times. [/QUOTE] Yes I am. I haven’t the inclination to take on yet another poster who, in essence , says: Take it back ! Randi’s challenge is fair ! ---
**Author:** ![Iknewit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4491bb/32.png) [@Iknewit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iknewit)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-warts-away/417796/377 "2007-09-06T19:12:41Z")
[QUOTE=Contrapuntal] What paranormal ability is being claimed? How would you design a test? . [/QUOTE] Don’t know. Randi refuses to even consider it. (Didn’t you notice ?) ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-warts-away/417796/378 "2007-09-06T19:14:22Z")
[QUOTE=Iknewit] Yes I am. I haven’t the inclination to take on yet another poster who, in essence , says: Take it back ! Randi’s challenge is fair ! [/QUOTE] That’s not, in essence, what I said. I raised several counterpoints and asked questions which were ignored. Nice try though. ---
**Author:** ![Iknewit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4491bb/32.png) [@Iknewit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iknewit)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-warts-away/417796/379 "2007-09-06T19:17:36Z")
"Randi has been quoted as saying, “I always have an out” with regard to his $10,000 challenge (Rawlins, 1981, p. 89). Puthoff and Targ (1977) documented a number of mistakes. In a published, handwritten, signed letter, **Randi replied offering $1,000 if any claimed error could be demonstrated (see Fuller, 1979). Fuller proved Randi wrong. In a rejoinder to Puthoff and Targ (1977), Randi reversed himself (for a clear example, see point number 15 in Randi, 1982, p. 223). Randi should have paid the $1,000, but he never did.”** Wow. Randi didn’t pay an offer he made. Amazing. Not only do we have evidence that the challenge is bogus on it’s merits, we have evidence that the man has a history of backing out of offers to pay money. ---
**Author:** ![brossa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brossa/32/3040_2.png) [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-warts-away/417796/380 "2007-09-06T19:19:09Z")
Doesn’t Randi have some stipulation that he won’t run a test that has the potential of causing physical harm? So if you claimed to be able to stop bullets fired at your head, _Matrix_-style, but only if James Randi pulls the trigger, he would not be obligated to test your claim. Likewise, if you claim to be able to live on only air and water, Randi doesn’t have to let you starve yourself to death on his behalf. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-warts-away/417796.md?page=18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-warts-away/417796.md?page=20)