Jim Callahan Vs. Chad Sanborn Challenge [Archive]

RoboTimbo

12th January 2009, 06:27 AM

Hitch

12th January 2009, 06:38 AM

Why take time out from his busy schedule to pursue $25,000 when he has his eye on $1,000,000? Of course, he's not knocking himself out for Randi's $1,000,000 because he's got enough money of his own. (And in his mind Randi's million probably doesn't exist.) It's not about the money, it's the principle of the thing.

I'm even better than these so-called mediums who channel the dead, I can do it with the living. (Of course, now he has to come up with something else, just to prove me wrong.)

desertgal

12th January 2009, 06:49 AM

Not only hadn't been followed through on, it hadn't even been replied to or acknowledged by Callahan. No big surprises there. Chad posted three times about accepting Jim's challenge. Jim posted four times after that, none of which mentioned it at all.

I can understand Callahan running from Randi's challenge, but to run from his own??

Rather than wade through Callahan's nonsense in numerous threads, I'll just ask - has he ever given a reason why he didn't respond? Even a hint-like one of his "I speak, therefore I am" blurbs?

yairhol

12th January 2009, 07:13 AM

Why take time out from his busy schedule to pursue $25,000 when he has his eye on $1,000,000? Of course, he's not knocking himself out for Randi's $1,000,000 because he's got enough money of his own. (And in his mind Randi's million probably doesn't exist.) It's not about the money, it's the principle of the thing.

Jim is the initiator of this challenge. It's not like someone asked him if he would like to participate in such a challenge. He's asking others to take him on his offer.

Azrael 5

12th January 2009, 07:23 AM

Way I see it is he talks the talk but cannot walk the walk :)

Lets look at the facts: Chad Sanborn steps up,Jim backs down(by not replying or accepting)
Criss Angel steps up offers Jim a challenge.Jim backs down by throwing a "spaz"(copyright kitkaze)
Jim claimed he would serve notice on me if I gave him my details;this I did.Nothing happened.
In Spetember last year Jeff Wagg invited Jim to take MDC after Jim said "I'm in" a few days later he declined.

So what are we to take from this? Jim is a coward?

Hitch

12th January 2009, 07:26 AM

Jim is the initiator of this challenge. It's not like someone asked him if he would like to participate in such a challenge. He's asking others to take him on his offer.
His challenge was to James Randi, not Chris Sanborn. Chris Sanborn does not get him the attention he so desperately craves.

RoboTimbo

12th January 2009, 10:24 AM

Rather than wade through Callahan's nonsense in numerous threads, I'll just ask - has he ever given a reason why he didn't respond? Even a hint-like one of his "I speak, therefore I am" blurbs?

Not that I've seen. His usual response to an uncomfortable question is, "I've already addressed that, you haven't paid attention." That is, when he can bring himself to respond at all. It's difficult to really tell over there at the green monster. Here, on JREF, threads get bounced to AAH and you can still see them. There, threads get deleted. I think Callahan et al take advantage of that when the kitchen gets hot, they just start provoking and name calling and bingo! thread deleted.

Azrael 5

12th January 2009, 10:27 AM

The moderating at Magic Cafe is borderline lunacy.It seems good old Professor tries his hand at discounting various skeptic theories there,mainly due to distinct lack of many skeptics.Still he loses. :D

desertgal

12th January 2009, 11:46 AM

kitakaze

12th January 2009, 12:30 PM

The issue that this thread raises is one that I and many others are very keen to see Jim Callahan try and cope with. I sincerely hope that this thread is not closed before then. I understand the sentiment of posts like the one desertgal just made but it is those types of posts that wil ensure Callahan can further evade the issue.

Callahan puts great emphasis on cash guarantees to his claims and here we have the very situation of a person (who happened to be a fellow magician) taking Jim's challenge and offering an equal amount of money to test Callahan under his own rules. Jim's silence on this is golden. More than anything he has said about Angel, Randi, or the MDC, this is the subject he really hopes will go away and speaks the loudest about him. Here you have someone putting their money where Jim's mouth is and Jim's mouth going very quiet.

I have repeatedly pursued Callahan on this matter. He has tried to escape by various means including refusing to comment because the question was off-topic (it was not). The closest he came was to imply that Sanborn was now a fan and had joined his team. This was blatant dishonesty and a distortion of the fact that Chad Sanborn signed up as a member of Jim's site to continue pressing the offer when Jim would do nothing to acknowledge Chad's repeated requests for response at the Cafe. Sanborn also submitted himself for job openings for the dead (and a free chance to plug his own magic site.)

Make no mistake, the best way to ask Jim Callahan about anything he says about abilities, challenges, and claims is to ask him about Chad Sanborn and not let up.

desertgal

12th January 2009, 12:53 PM

Sorry. I'll refrain in future.

ETA: Isn't it possible, though, that Callahan's challenge is just another game, and he isn't responding, not because he is scared to, but because it is just the way he is playing that game? That isn't intended as a slam against Callahan - but he appears to have a 'carnival barker' style, on and off stage. Grandiose, illusory claims are generally a part of carnival barking.

Jim Callahan

12th January 2009, 04:01 PM

Hello,

I have been informed of this thread:
http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=105421&forum=15&start=90

Where Chad Sanborn is willing to take Jim Callahan's $25K challenge.

For some reason the acceptance of the challenge by Chad has not been followed through from Aug 19th, 2005. I don't know why. Maybe something happened later which I'm not aware of.

Jim, please comment why there was no correspondence from you to Chad's offer to take your challenge.

Any other input on this specific challenge from other forum members is most welcome.

Thank you.

This is an interesting thread and one many may learn from.
Does it offer a further proof for this thread/topic?
http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=132372
Surely it should because of the posts offered by those still
supporting their personal belief.
(Not the facts).

However I can see were the problem may stem from and why some have chosen to use it to support their personal beliefs.

You are correct Yairhol, there is something missing.

That being several deleted threads that went on at the same time as the thread in question.
In addition posts were deleted from the thread that is the topic of this thread.
Chad and I did come to an understanding.

He even became one of the first people to sign on to take part in my after death experiment.

Hope this clears this up.
If not call Chad and ask him.
He has a website and I think his number is on it.
(I will not post it on an open forum).

Interesting only one of you used common sense to come to that conclusion.
(Of something may or might be missing).

The others are doing what they need to support the false reality they have created.
But it is true as pointed out on the other thread I am pushing them to do so.

Interaction builds commitment.
They interact with the content I create and in doing so create value.
However that is really off topic for this thread I think so I will leave it for the other thread.

Thanks for being rational.

Jim

kitakaze

12th January 2009, 04:39 PM

Callahan is throwing up the smoke now. He's trying to find a way to dance through this and once again he thinks he sees the JREF spotting him. He's happy that people have begun to discuss his attempts at manipulation. They help him by suggesting possibilities which Callahan goes ahead and endorses if he likes the feel of it. If he can maybe get people to think it's all part of a funky plan, maybe they will become distracted from the huckster maneuvers.

Callahan would like you to think he's got it all under control. The truth is that myself and others are manipulating his responses far better than he would have you believe he is capable. Oh surely he can get 16 year old boys to have the type of reaction he wants but this is not what he was designing for.

Neither Chad Sanborn or any other person who has sought to give Callahan the opportunity to prove his claims has come to an understanding with him. Callahan predictably mentions Sanborn registering at his site but says nothing of how he addressed Chad's persistent attempts to get Callahan to respond to his $25,000 offer.

Jim talks about people responding to false realities that he has created. This is good and shows how backed in he realizes he is. He needs you to get invested in discussing this idea to draw away from the truth. Jim has fled from those accepting the offers that he has proposed and advertised.

kitakaze

12th January 2009, 04:54 PM

Chad and I did come to an understanding.

I have contacted Chad Sanborn regarding this statement by Callahan. I will post the response as soon as I am able.

desertgal

12th January 2009, 04:57 PM

They help him by suggesting possibilities which Callahan goes ahead and endorses if he likes the feel of it. If he can maybe get people to think it all part of a funky plan, maybe they will become distracted from the huckster maneuvers.

Okay, admittedly, I'm lost. To be clear, I don't believe a word that Callahan types. But, the OP did call for input from members about why Callahan didn't respond to Sanborn's acceptance of Callahan's challenge.

Then, you said that the issue of why Callahan didn't respond to Sanborn's acceptance of his challenge is something you and others would very much like to see Callahan deal with.

Now, it seems you are saying that if we respond with our observations as to why-which, to me, is obviously because Callahan was pulling his carnival barker routine when he proposed his challenge and never had any intention of following through-we're playing right into his hands and making him happy?

Should we offer observations? Not offer observations? Only offer certain observations that Callahan didn't plan on?

Or just let you and Callahan and these other people who are manipulating his responses participate? Which is fine, but, then, the OP should be amended not to call for input from the general membership.

Not trying to be rude - just baffled.

kitakaze

12th January 2009, 05:13 PM

Now, it seems you are saying that if we respond with our observations as to why-which, to me, is obviously because Callahan was pulling his carnival barker routine when he proposed his challenge and never had any intention of following through-we're playing right into his hands and making him happy?

Should we offer observations? Not offer observations? Only offer certain observations that Callahan didn't plan on?

Or just let you and Callahan and these other people who are manipulating his responses participate? Which is fine, but, then, the OP should be amended not to call for input from the general membership.

Not trying to be rude - just baffled.

I apologize, desertgal. I should have made myself more clear and thanks for bringing that up. I should have given an example and a link. I was actually referring to what can be seen in the psychological manipulation thread where people will suggest what kind of things Callahan is doing or attempting to do. What you never see is him volunteer information first but rather respond to people say yes, he was doing this or that and would add a little detail.

I'm sorry I made it seem that suggestions here why he hasn't answered Sanborn in any fashion we could see might help Jim. By all means, there's plenty of reasons to speculate what the reasons were and anybody who likes is obviously welcome to do so.

kitakaze

12th January 2009, 07:44 PM

Casual observers will note that when Callahan offers "proof" of his claims it doesn't qualify as any kind of proof at all. Does it exclude mundane non-paranormal explanations? No, so any reasonable person can see that they are not being given the proof that Callahan speaks of. Discerning an object in a sealed container by awareness of the remaining objects it was selected from requires nothing paranormal.

As could be easily predicted for this thread, Callahan has very little to say about Sanborn and his $25K offer. Callahan says that he came to an understanding with Sanborn. I think this can be interpretted in the same fashion as when Jim says he's making progress with Skeptic's Bible (Chris) and Chris chimes in letting us know that is not the case and calling Jim on it.

We could speculate what Callahan might call "coming to an understanding." Letting someone know you have no intention of further communication could be an understanding. Offering a fellow magician a routine in exchange for silence could be an understanding (though I very much doubt that scenario). Including myself there have been at least two JREF members that have contacted Chad Sanborn for clarification on the matter so it will be very interesting to see what the response is.

Legend

13th January 2009, 12:32 AM

I couldn't be bothered to read an unecessary 38 pages worth of blab.

Care to condense it for me, Jim?

Alex.

Azrael 5

13th January 2009, 02:26 AM

I couldn't be bothered to read an unecessary 38 pages worth of blab.

Care to condense it for me, Jim?

Alex.

I will.It's a magic trick.

Saves you the time.:D

Legend

13th January 2009, 02:34 AM

Thankyou.

Alex.

desertgal

13th January 2009, 05:04 AM

I apologize, desertgal. I should have made myself more clear and thanks for bringing that up. I should have given an example and a link. I was actually referring to what can be seen in the psychological manipulation thread where people will suggest what kind of things Callahan is doing or attempting to do. What you never see is him volunteer information first but rather respond to people say yes, he was doing this or that and would add a little detail.

I'm sorry I made it seem that suggestions here why he hasn't answered Sanborn in any fashion we could see might help Jim. By all means, there's plenty of reasons to speculate what the reasons were and anybody who likes is obviously welcome to do so.

It's fine...no need to apologize...I just wanted to be clear on this, so that I won't inadvertently help Callahan's act along.

Out of curiosity. Callahan claims that he and Sanborn came to an "understanding". Has anyone called his bluff and contacted Sanborn about the issue? Seems fair ro me, since his acceptance of Callahan's challenge is being discussed here, to alert him to Callahan's statement and allow him to chime in, if he wishes.

kitakaze

13th January 2009, 10:04 AM

It's fine...no need to apologize...I just wanted to be clear on this, so that I won't inadvertently help Callahan's act along.

Out of curiosity. Callahan claims that he and Sanborn came to an "understanding". Has anyone called his bluff and contacted Sanborn about the issue? Seems fair ro me, since his acceptance of Callahan's challenge is being discussed here, to alert him to Callahan's statement and allow him to chime in, if he wishes.

Yes, d-gal. Myself and at least one other poster have contacted and are waiting for response from Chad Sanborn. Hopefully the contact address still works. The only thing thing Callahan has said in the way of comment on this very telling display of Jim's games is that he and Sanborn came to an understanding. He also told us that he was making progress with Skeptic's Bible (Chris) regarding his challenge (he intentionally created a situation to encourage people to think he meant the MDC but he actually was talking about his self-designed test). Chris then came and told us that this was not at all the case. I'm confident that it will be the same case with Sanborn. Hey, it's a thought provoking piece of performance art because we're contacting someone to confirm more lies from him, right?

Jim likes to mess with people and he has the free time to do so. He can and has accomplished this with a few posters in the psychological manipulation thread and the MDC thread. It's nothing impressive and is the kind of trolling that he enjoys and has the time to do. I have implored people in those threads not to feed the beast, so to speak. What is positive about this thread is that we can accomplish by simple means a laying bare of all that Callahan is doing without giving him a stage to troll on.

With that goal in mind, it's important that we don't jump at silly string like this:

The others are doing what they need to support the false reality they have created.
But it is true as pointed out on the other thread I am pushing them to do so.

Interaction builds commitment.
They interact with the content I create and in doing so create value.

Jim wants you to think he's in control now. If he can get you to buy into that idea and invest time trying to refute it then he becomes partially succesful in a kind of evasion. But Jim didn't create this reality. Jim didn't expect another magician to come and put his money where Jim's mouth is on all his public hype about cash gaurantees. The fact is that he is being outted as a huckster and he's not liking it. Does it matter that people already think he's a scam artist? Yes and no. It's important to have a concise and clear example that allows people to say "I'm not interested in anything Callahan says or does. He's a simple huckster and a pseudo-intellectual bore." He can try weasel maneuvers with his Phenomenom performance and Angel's challenge but no amount of footwork is going to evade him fleeing from Chad Sanborn's $25K offer to play Jim's way.

kitakaze

13th January 2009, 10:23 AM

Every comment/response becomes part of his "performance".

I've given this some thought. I don't think this is actually always the case. Jim will encourage you to think so and anything that allows him the illusion of control is going to be something that he will actively encourage and in doing so further his agenda. What's happening now is not the kind of performance Jim wants or has any kind of control over. It's an excercise that encourages people once the evidence is firmly established to make an informed choice to actively ignore Callahan's purile games.

Instead of getting caught up in whether Jim might really apply to the MDC, or whether he's successfully manipulating everyone the way he wants you to think, if he really is a bad speller, etc... any of the mind-numbingly stupid things that allows him to chuckle at home over his gin... we can have something simple and plain that serves as a clear proof of what Callahan is and what the value of engaging him on these points is. We can pass it amongst ourselves and send it to anyone who is curious. I think that's worth it.

chillzero

13th January 2009, 10:32 AM

Instead of getting caught up in whether Jim might really apply to the MDC, or whether he's successfully manipulating everyone the way he want's you to think, if he really is a bad speller, etc... any of the mind-numbingly stupid things that allows him to chuckle at home over his gin... we can have something simple and plain that serves as a clear proof of what Callahan is and what the value of engaging him on these points is. We can pass it amongst ourselves and send it to anyone who is curious. I think that's worth it.

...but ... I thought the point of this thread was to discuss Jim's challenge, that was issued, and that was accepted by Chad Sanborn?

No?

:confused:

Azrael 5

13th January 2009, 10:50 AM

I suppose it is chillzero,or maybe it's just a general Jim Callahan thread.
Anyway on topic,I emailed Chad Sanborn re:Jim's comments but have had no reply as yet.

All you have to realise is Jim is annoying and an attention seeker;anyone that takes 35 pages of magic forum to do some bizarre prediction(if thats what it was I lost the will to live trying to figure it out)is blatently so.

chillzero

13th January 2009, 11:08 AM

I suppose it is chillzero,or maybe it's just a general Jim Callahan thread.
Nope, I checked the title and OP - pretty specific.

Anyway on topic,I emailed Chad Sanborn re:Jim's comments but have had no reply as yet.
Cool - please keep us updated.
Until that response comes, or until Jim Callahan makes some sort of response to the challenge acceptance, I'm sure there are other threads around the place. :)

All you have to realise is Jim is annoying and an attention seeker;anyone that takes 35 pages of magic forum to do some bizarre prediction(if thats what it was I lost the will to live trying to figure it out)is blatently so.
Not half as annoying as the fact that all threads lead to Rome. Let's try to have one on topic that desn't degenerate into off topic bickering.

Myriad

13th January 2009, 11:18 AM

Just for everyone's information, I've split the posts not related to the Chad Sanborn challenge out of the thread. A few went to AAH, but most are in a new thread about Jim Callahan's various public and recorded performances, here: http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=132892.

Also, to make Chillzero's excellent suggestion official:

Let's try to have a thread on topic that desn't degenerate into off topic bickering.

Respectfully,
Myriad

kitakaze

13th January 2009, 11:21 AM

...but ... I thought the point of this thread was to discuss Jim's challenge, that was issued, and that was accepted by Chad Sanborn?

No?

:confused:

Yes, correct. Yairhol started the thread to seek clarification on the challenge and why Callahan had not responded to Sanborn's offer. How do we get resolution on that and what its implications are? What are the facts? First we look to Jim's own few words on the matter. "We came to an understanding." Is that helpful? Jim likes to say "hope that clears things up." Does that clear things up? Not at all. It rather looks looks as though he is avoiding the issue.

So what can we do to learn what really transpired? We can do as Callahan himself suggested and contact Sanborn for comment himself. Did Callahan expect that to actually occur? Is it a play for time? Who cares. Either way the information that Yairhol was after will become available if Chad is available to let us know.

I suspect, as was the case with Skeptic's Bible and Callahan's misleading comments about "making progress," that there is no understanding (or at least one where Sanborn became satisfied of the abilities that he offered $25K to test). Without getting to much into issues from other boards, Chad made his offer in a Magic Cafe thread about Jim Callahan's $25,000 challenge and Deja-vu. Here is the first post where Chad puts his own $25K forward:

An open message to Jack Galloway:

I am interested in putting you to the test. I would like to begin to make arrangements that the meet criteria you set forth, as well as some other small details that will protect my interests in this matter.

I am willing to Put up $25 thousand against your $25 thousand. (sorry I don't have a million or I would do that!)

I will hide an object in a secret location and videotape the entire process. If you can tell me where the object is located* and what the object is* then I will hand over a cashiers check for $25 thousand to you. BUT, if you fail to tell me, then you will hand your cashiers check of equal amount over to me.

Simple as that.

One final question I have is, who will be showing up for the test, as you seem to have several aliases. I need to be sure who to make the check out to:
Jim Class
Jack Galloway
Jim Callahan

You can email me with any questions regarding this matter.

Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you,

Chad Sanborn

*You must verify the exact location in detail. You can do this by describing what you see, which can be checked against the videotape or by giving gps coordinates which will take us to the exact spot of the hidden object.
*You must be able to describe the object, both in color, shape, size, and materials manufactured from.

http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=105421&forum=15&start=90

This thread is not in any way a general Jim Callahan thread as I see it. It absolutely should not be. This is obviously not directed at you but I just want to point out for anyone that may not have noticed that a general Jim Callahan claims thread was closed. I'm quite sure using this thread as such is circumventing that mod action. I personally hope another general Callahan thread does not come up as it will just be used the way the last one was. This thread is to discuss the very specific point of the Callahan/Sanborn challenge and its implications. It has a resolution in sight, that being clarification from the people involved. Callahan has made it claer that he's not interested in assisting that goal so we look to Sanborn.

Once it has become clear then naturally the thread comes to a kind of conclusion.

chillzero

13th January 2009, 11:27 AM

Thanks kitikaze and Myriad.

I look forward to whatever Mr Sanborn will have to add to this tale :)

kitakaze

13th January 2009, 11:31 AM

I suppose it is chillzero,or maybe it's just a general Jim Callahan thread.

No, no, no. Bad idea. Very bad idea. This is very specific. It has a specific goal. Please let's stay focused on that goal.

Not half as annoying as the fact that all threads lead to Rome. Let's try to have one on topic that desn't degenerate into off topic bickering.

Yes, yes, yes. Good idea. Very good idea.

Please, please, please let me get what I want this time.;)

It's so easy to take swipes at Callahan and start name-calling. IMO, that's what he wants. I've seen people do it in this thread. I know I've flamed Jim myself in another thread. Let's be at our JREF best and not feed the beast, so to speak. Let's focus on finding out what the resolution of the Callahan/Sanborn challenge is.

chillzero

13th January 2009, 11:50 AM

Callahan puts great emphasis on cash guarantees to his claims and here we have the very situation of a person (who happened to be a fellow magician) taking Jim's challenge and offering an equal amount of money to test Callahan under his own rules. Jim's silence on this is golden. More than anything he has said about Angel, Randi, or the MDC, this is the subject he really hopes will go away and speaks the loudest about him. Here you have someone putting their money where Jim's mouth is and Jim's mouth going very quiet.

This is the part I find interesting. I would have thought it the height of foolishness to put money behind any bet or challenge without certainty of succeeding. To become silent when your offer is accepted can never speak well for you.

Unlike the perception by most believers of most skeptics, I'm sure I'm not alone in stating I'd prefer to see such challenges accepted and tested fully. I'd love to be witness to the proof of paranormal powers that some people are normally so vocal about, and it's a shame to see further evidence with every one of these types of challenges or tests that it's unlikely to ever happen.

I'm not sure which I'd prefer to see - a law suit to recover the money on a bet/challenge that has been run away from, or the challenge to go ahead and see the money go to Sanborn anyway.

kitakaze

13th January 2009, 12:15 PM

This is the part I find interesting. I would have thought it the height of foolishness to put money behind any bet or challenge without certainty of succeeding. To become silent when your offer is accepted can never speak well for you.

One gets the strong impression that Callahan never truly anticipated that development (another magician putting his money where Jim's mouth is) or at least was ill-prepared for it. It is interesting to note that while Jim would go on and on about cash money guarantees on his performances and abilities, when people sought clarification of exactly what is meant and how one seeks to engage in the challenge process, the misdirection and evasion would begin. In seeking commentary on his website when he first appeared at the Magic Cafe, a number of magicians raised the confusing nature of his cash guarantees and yet nothing has changed. I think that is very telling as to why those so-called "guarantees" are there.

Unlike the perception by most believers of most skeptics, I'm sure I'm not alone in stating I'd prefer to see such challenges accepted and tested fully. I'd love to be witness to the proof of paranormal powers that some people are normally so vocal about, and it's a shame to see further evidence with every one of these types of challenges or tests that it's unlikely to ever happen.

I too would love to see someone with real paranormal powers undergo some real controlled testing. I think we've seen enough to know that Callahan is afraid of any kind of real testing but that the prospect of submitting to it can be used in various ways to his benefit. Callahan tells us that he has given us proof of his claims but ignores anyone who points out that his "proof" did not eliminate mundane trickery. I doubt he thinks that asking non-magicians for an explanation of how it was done is any kind of sincere attempt to facilitate understanding.

I'm not sure which I'd prefer to see - a law suit to recover the money on a bet/challenge that has been run away from, or the challenge to go ahead and see the money go to Sanborn anyway.

I personally would like to see a clear explanation of why Callahan clearly evaded Sanborn and also a clear precise explanation of how one successfully accepts his cash guarantees.

desertgal

13th January 2009, 12:45 PM

Yes, d-gal. Myself and at least one other poster have contacted and are waiting for response from Chad Sanborn. Hopefully the contact address still works. The only thing thing Callahan has said in the way of comment on this very telling display of Jim's games is that he and Sanborn came to an understanding. He also told us that he was making progress with Skeptic's Bible (Chris) regarding his challenge (he intentionally created a situation to encourage people to think he meant the MDC but he actually was talking about his self-designed test). Chris then came and told us that this was not at all the case. I'm confident that it will be the same case with Sanborn. Hey, it's a thought provoking piece of performance art because we're contacting someone to confirm more lies from him, right?

Thank you, and, believe me, I intend to sit on my hands regarding this thread, and not be sidetracked further by Callahan's game playing. I apologize again for my earlier lapse.

I suppose it could be considered performance art..with a foregone conclusion. I don't believe anyone here expect that Mr. Sanborn with an affirmation of Callahan's position that they "reached an agreement". We shall see, though...

Out of mild curiosity, and I haven't perused his site to any extent, is there any evidence that Callahan even has this $25,000 set aside for anyone who accepts his challenge and succeeds? For example, I know he has often shown interest in, and thrown out barbs about, the status of the MDC account, and been directed to the publicized bank statement. Does he offer that kind of evidence of his $25,000?

Jim likes to mess with people and he has the free time to do so. He can and has accomplished this with a few posters in the psychological manipulation thread and the MDC thread. It's nothing impressive and is the kind of trolling that he enjoys and has the time to do. I have implored people in those threads not to feed the beast, so to speak. What is positive about this thread is that we can accomplish by simple means a laying bare of all that Callahan is doing without giving him a stage to troll on.

Again, I have no intention of further taking his bait.

Jim wants you to think he's in control now. If he can get you to buy into that idea and invest time trying to refute it then he becomes partially succesful in a kind of evasion. But Jim didn't create this reality. Jim didn't expect another magician to come and put his money where Jim's mouth is on all his public hype about cash gaurantees. The fact is that he is being outted as a huckster and he's not liking it. Does it matter that people already think he's a scam artist? Yes and no. It's important to have a concise and clear example that allows people to say "I'm not interested in anything Callahan says or does. He's a simple huckster and a pseudo-intellectual bore." He can try weasel maneuvers with his Phenomenom performance and Angel's challenge but no amount of footwork is going to evade him fleeing from Chad Sanborn's $25K offer to play Jim's way.

I think I can safely say that I don't believe that Callahan is in control, don't consider him to be anything but a simple huckster and pseudo intellectual bore (boor?) - and I applaud your effort here to establish that 'concise and clear example'.

I shall wait to comment further after Mr. Sanborn's anticipated response.

kitakaze

13th January 2009, 01:34 PM

For anyone that has noted the transparency of Jim Callahan's claims to be in control and manipulating others in some type of thought provoking performance and has been wondering what is the best solution to counter his games without feeding into them I have some good news.

Both Arthwollipot and myself have noted that Callahan uses a very silly type of retconning to re-enforce the idea that he is successfully manipulating people. He sees suggestions by various members of what he may have been doing. If he likes the feel of a certain suggestion, he will latch on to it and add some embellishment and back story to make it appear as though he was employing it all along. When people respond to this objectionably he simply says that the person is further showing his abilities.

Both myself and another member, skeptigirl, noted in the Subliminal Compliance thread that any real adeptness at psychological manipualtion could be tested and should be easy to show. We both independantly suggested that to eliminate the obvious retconning that Callahan was using, that he inform a neutral person by pm of his planned manipulation before doing so. I took the suggestion further and offered that to ensure impartiality in the observer that moderator chillzero be designated as the one to receive the pm of Callahan's planned manipulation.

In skeptigirl's line of suggestion the target would have potentially been a teenaged boy. With no offence intended to that young man, I suggested that the targets be Arthwollipot, skeptigirl, and myself; there are definitely others but we are the first three that came to mind for examples of people that were not playing into Callahan's games. I suggested that Callahan could choose one but given the kind of proficiency he indicates he has for this non-paranormal psychological technique that he advertises on his website, he should very easily be able to manipulate the three of us either separately or in a collective fashion. I also suggested that if Callahan either declined, refused, or ignored the invitiation that it would qualify as more than sufficient evidence that he is full of it in terms of his claims of being in control and that the question would reach conclusion.

I think we can put an end to this kind of silliness and do so in a manner that doesn't involve pleasing Jim with the insults and personal comments that he is baiting. Also note that Jim claims to be creating realities and in doing so creating value. Jim has no claim to or control of any value to be gained in any of the discussions or activities I refer to. These things are accomplished not because of Jim's desires but rather in spite of them. Any claim otherwise is semantic and another example of the retconning he employs.

I would ask that anyone who would like to comment on this post please quote it then respond in the Subliminal Compliance (aka psychological manipulation thread) as it is just meant as a heads up.

Jim Callahan

14th January 2009, 07:48 AM

His challenge was to James Randi, not Chris Sanborn. Chris Sanborn does not get him the attention he so desperately craves.

Hitch,

You got it.

However one correction should be made.
Publicity has value that I am interested in.

I think we can agree that is true for any business person.

Best Wishes,

Jim

PS. A couple of other things came into play between Chad & I however they will not be disscussed here.

Hitch

14th January 2009, 07:38 PM

Rarely do you find someone so starved for attention that they're happy that you paid enough attention to them to point it out.

Jim Callahan

14th January 2009, 07:52 PM

Rarely do you find someone so starved for attention that they're happy that you paid enough attention to them to point it out.

Oh now you are being a funny boy and attempting to be clever.:rolleyes:

Hey but you did show a glimmer.

Well done I say.:D

-J im

H.o.A-X

gdnp

14th January 2009, 08:54 PM

kitakaze

15th January 2009, 07:45 PM

That's a very good question, gdnp. Many have sought clarification on Callahan's various cash challenges but failed to receive it. It's quite strange why Jim doesn't help to clear things up.

Clairvoyant_Kyle

15th January 2009, 09:21 PM

Hitch,

You got it.

However one correction should be made.
Publicity has value that I am interested in.

I think we can agree that is true for any business person.

Best Wishes,

Jim

PS. A couple of other things came into play between Chad & I however they will not be disscussed here.

That is about the most honest thing I have ever seen you write. Spoken like a true con man.

-Kyle

Klaymore

16th January 2009, 01:27 AM

That's a very good question, gdnp. Many have sought clarification on Callahan's various cash challenges but failed to receive it. It's quite strange why Jim doesn't help to clear things up.

Because everything Jim says is ridiculous, trolling ********.

Legend

16th January 2009, 01:40 AM

Perfectly summed up.

Alex.

rjh01

19th January 2009, 12:25 AM

Waiting for Jim to say you are all wrong. I think I could be waiting a long time.

Bob Klase

19th January 2009, 07:53 AM

Waiting for Jim to say you are all wrong. I think I could be waiting a long time.

No, Jim tells people they're wrong all the time.

PERSON: You don't have any paranormal powers?

JIM: You're wrong.

PERSON: What powers do you have?

JIM: I've explained that elsewhere.

PERSON: I've looked everyone and you haven't explained that.

JIM: You're wrong.

PERSON: What can you do?

JIM: I can do what I say I can do.

PERSON: That's not telling me what you can do.

JIM: You're wrong.

PERSON: 2 + 2 = 4

JIM: You're wrong.

PERSON: All right- what does 2 + 2 = ?

JIM: We must all look deep within ourselves to find the answers.

PERSON: So you don't know the correct answer?

JIM: You're wrong.

etc, etc, etc ad infinitum.

Azrael 5

19th January 2009, 11:38 AM

Well actions speak louder than words apparently,and Jim's deathly silence says a lot.

Jim Callahan

30th January 2009, 01:03 PM

Hi, Jim.

I haven't read the details of your $25,000 challenge

You say you came to an understanding with Chad Sanborn, which we have yet to confirm.

Is your challenge still active? Perhaps someone else would like to take you up on it.

My Challenge is still open to the JREF or Randi as has been noted on other threads.

Several other challenges and guarantees on my site are also still active.

My Randi/JREF challenge is about to be updated in the near future.

I assume Chad Sanborn has responded to those on the board
and I would like to see those who said they have contacted him to please let us all know what his response was.

Best Wishes,

Jim

kitakaze

30th January 2009, 01:15 PM

I assume Chad Sanborn has responded to those on the board
and I would like to see those who said they have contacted him to please let us all know what his response was.

Whyever would you assume that, Jim? Surely if Sanborn had received and responded to those correspondences, you would have seen it by now, yes?

Several other challenges and guarantees on my site are also still active.

Yet via Sanborn's offer regarding your challenge, there is no reason to think they are legitimate.

Chad Sanborn

23rd February 2009, 02:18 PM

kitakaze

23rd February 2009, 03:03 PM

I was made aware of this thread and joined just so I could post what really happened.
Mr. Callahan stated the Challenge at the Cafe. The Challenge was not directed at me, but I know he wouldn't get anywhere with anyone else. So I said I would take him up on it.
After talking in many circles over several days online, Mr. Callahan and I talked outside of the Cafe's environment.

The "understanding" that we came to was that he was never going to go through with the challenge with me. In his words, he had nothing to gain. (other than $) Beating me could not bring him fame, or glory. So instead of wasting my time, I dropped the whole thing.

Thank you for coming here and setting the record straight, Chad, and confirming what we suspected. Callahan once again proves that his behaviour is that of mental scum:

Chad and I did come to an understanding.

He even became one of the first people to sign on to take part in my after death experiment.