Anonymity?

[Stereolab]

Does a challenge-taker have the right to retain anonymity? If someone were to pass a preliminary challenge and then pass the "real" one, I understand that the results and details of the tests could be made public (and I'm sure they would be), but could a challenge-taker remain anonymous? If the test validation involved audio- or video- taping, could the recordings be modified before public release solely to protect the identity of the participant?

I have no plans on taking the Challenge, nor do I believe I could pass it. However, if I were to pass the Challenge, I personally would want to take the million bucks and go on with my normal life, as opposed to becoming one of the most important people in history.

[Zep]

It sounds like a reasonable request. However I expect that Randi and/or JREF may still want to publish the results, even if it does refer to "Mr X" the tester.

[gnome]

I suspect the biggest obstacle here would be that JREF does not want those that fail the challenge to remain anonymous... what's the use of convincing some fraud to take the test and fail, if they can pretend it never happened and go on selling their crap?

But they might entertain an agreement for the challenger to remain anonymous if successful. I don't see that hurting them.

[roger]

Um, rule #3:
Applicant agrees that all data (photographic, recorded, written, etc.) gathered as a result of the testing may be used freely by JREF in any way that Mr. Randi may choose.

[jimmygun]

Excuse for not taking the million dollar challenge #347...

I would not like to give up my privacy!

Same thing with the lottery. I wouldn't want to win 52 million dollars and have to give up my job at the rubber boot factory.

[Skeptical Greg]

Originally posted by roger
Um, rule #3:


quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Applicant agrees that all data (photographic, recorded, written, etc.) gathered as a result of the testing may be used freely by JREF in any way that Mr. Randi may choose.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




That seems to imply that Mr. Randi could grant anonymity if he chose to.


Contrary to many assumptions from naysayers, I sense that Mr. Randi would be as excited as anyone to participate in the revelation of a verifiable paranormal ability. I can't imagine him not granting anonymity to the posessor of such an ability, if that were a condition requested by the claimant.. ( in the event of a successfull challenge .... )

Of course, I will humbly recant my assumption/s should Mr. Randi choose to correct me..

[walthrup48]

Randi has agreed, in the past, to a potential applicant remaining anonymous.

From the November 16 2001 commentary (http://www.randi.org/jr/111601.html) -

"Here is the reader's account:

Perhaps you remember that several months ago I contacted you about a person - my girlfriend's Reiki master - who made a lot of claims even more fantastic than Reiki, and which could easily be tested. ... I pointed out the existence of your million-dollar challenge to my girlfriend, who tried to convince him to participate. His main condition was that he would remain anonymous, a condition you generously accepted, although it was an exception to the rules. ..."

[Stereolab]

Originally posted by jimmygun
Excuse for not taking the million dollar challenge #347...

I would not like to give up my privacy!

Same thing with the lottery. I wouldn't want to win 52 million dollars and have to give up my job at the rubber boot factory.

:rolleyes: Many lotteries specifically give winners the right to anonymity, and many people take advantage of it.