James Randi and the JREF (James Randi Educational Foundationg) is offering $1,000,000 to anyone who can demonstrate their psychic ability under a controlled challenge. May we add that he has a long Application for Status of Claimant on his website at: http://www.randi.org/research/challenge.html . If you read line 7of this application form, he clearly states that “When entering into this challenge, the applicant surrenders any and all rights to legal action against Mr. Randi, against any persons peripherally involved, and against the James Randi Educational Foundation, as far as this may be done by established statutes. This applies to injury, accident, or any other damage of a physical or emotional nature, and/or financial or professional loss, or damage of any kind. However, this rule in no way affects the awarding of the prize.” By reading this, you are agreeing that if you get hurt or injured in any way, shape or form, then you cannot sue or hold James Randi or the JREF liable. I would not want to put my life on the line for any amount of money.
I also found that Jame Randi’s statement at the end of the form was rather harsh. It states, “Please be advised that several applicants have suffered great personal embarrassment after failing these tests. I strongly advise you to conduct proper double-blind tests of any ability you believe you can demonstrate, before attempting to undergo a testing for this prize. This has saved many applicants much time and work, by showing that the powers were quite imaginary on the part of the would-be claimant. Please do this, and do not choose to ignore the need for such a precaution. This advice is offered only so that the applicant might be spared these problems.
– James Randi”
I believe that demonstration of any gift, whether it be an educational school taught gift or a psychic gift should not involve any type of embarrassement or putting down of any human being. I understand that the prize is a million bucks, but anyone in their right mind would not want to be bombarded with such cruel nature.
On the JREF website, it also states on line 4.2 that this test: “isn’t going to be like taking a test. This is going to be like going to court.” A million dollars is at stake here and you are expected to put your name and reputation on the line here and everything that you are both physical and mental. This is like putting your life in someone elses hands by a signed contract. Something is wrong with this $1,000,000 game.
Another unfair rule of this challenge is that the JREF has the say so of what they consider to be obnoxious behavior. Please read on the same listed website page above on line 6.2, “Who determines whether my behavior is unacceptable? Is there is mediator or impartial judge that makes such decisions? Can I appeal if I am deemed too obnoxious to deal with?
NO. The JREF alone determines when an applicant’s behavior is unacceptable. There is no Appeal Process, and there is no mediator. The JREF will always issue repeated warnings before taking any decisive action, and they will always strive to give the applicant all reasonable leeway in maintaining Applicant status.
It is not the goal of the JREF to reject claims. Quite the contrary. It will be done only when absolutely necessary, and only after having made all best efforts to avoid it.”
Wait a minute here. According to this rule, you have no say so in your own behavior. Only the JREF can determine whether or not they deem your behavior as unacceptable. I would never enter into any psychic challenge under a rule like this because anyone can say that any behavior is unacceptable. For some, passing gas is an unacceptable behavior. So far I see that the JREF is in complete control of this so called challenge and it is not just a challenge, it is more like putting your whole life on the line to include any unexpected injury.
The JREF also calls on celebrity psychics to take this tough test with its own rules set only by the JREF. If these celebrity psychics take this $1,000,000 challenge, then they are signing their life away literally. I do not see how a challenge can ask you to put bodily injury on the line here. If you read the contract, it clearly states that you cannot sue James Randi or the JREF under any situation. This is very unfair and anyone would be a fool to agree to such terms. He is constantly calling out to these psychics on tv and on his website on line 4. He clearly states, “The people who do apply are probably honestly convinced of their abilities, and have no fear of discovery. Where are James Van Praagh, Sylvia Browne, George Anderson, John Edward, and the rest of the current “big names? And why hasn’t Uri Geller, the professional spoon-bender (remember him from the 70s?) snapped up this easy cash? One can only wonder.” According to this contract and his “rules” of the challenge, I can see why no celebrity psychic would take this unfair challenge. I do not see this challenge as a fair challenge because it leaves any person vulnerable to any given situation when walking into a room. Anyone can say what they want outside of the written contract, but anyone knows that a written contract is what it is and it doesn’t matter what he said, she said says.
If this challenge was given on a regular show with not all these rules and no liability statements, I can see it being more relaxing. I would personally be afraid to move into this challenge because I could be considered as misbehaving or kicked out of the test for any reason. I do not know about you, but I prefer to be more relaxed when taking a challenge. Anyone that knows anything about challenges can tell you that taking any exam under stress is not good. This test will really scare you because if you make one wrong move, you can be banned from the test itself.
On the front of the Randi.org website, he clearly places psychic Sylvia Browne’s picture on the bottom of the screen with a counter stating that this is how long she has not yet taken the challenge since she said that she would take it on the Larry King show on September 3, 2001. I did watch that Larry King Live show and James Randi did not read his contract on the Larry King show or inform them of his “rules” and all. He simply makes it sound that she wont take some sort of psychic challenge. After reading this contract, I can clearly see why she has not taken this challenge yet. I find this test to be to one sided and the applicant has absolutely no rights. Is this the military or a psychic challenge?
