Forgotten fact about the challenge?

[walthrup48]

Taking a leaf out of the Australian Skeptics (http://www.skeptics.com.au/features/challenge.htm)' book, Randi offers a $50,000 award for anyone finding a "psychic" who takes the challenge and wins the million.

The original announcement is here (http://www.mindspring.com/~anson/randi-hotline/1998/0012.html). He's just replied to my email query, confirming the offer is still in place. Note that the finder's fee is in addition to, and separate from, the million dollar award.

Jim.

[shemp]

Is there an award for finding someone who finds someone who wins the challenge?

[roger]

I call Silvia!

[geni]

So I have a $50,000 insentive to find someone who can pass the challange. It's such a pity all the poeple I put it to keep turning it down.

[Rolfe]

I'm going to pretend I didn't read that! :D

I have enough trouble with homoeopaths accusing me of being obsessed with money if I just suggest they might go for the challenge (and give the money to charity if they're too high-minded to accept it). If they thought I was trying to set them up to get $50,000 for myself, any shred of credibility remaining to me would be gone!

Rolfe.

[geni]

So offer them an extra $50,000.

[Powa]

Originally posted by geni
So offer them an extra $50,000.
Orrrrrrrrr... You could send the $ to me. I have no credibility to lose.

[Checkmite]

Wow, a finder's fee. Reminds me of the old privateers' operational articles which specified that whomever first spots sails that turn out to be a prize gets three shares in addition to their allotted one share. Hmmm....

"...Edwardmon, I choose you!" :D

[CFLarsen]

Heavens(!), there are almost 2,5 million dollars out there. (http://www.skepticreport.com/tools/getrichquick.htm)

I like the finder's fee idea, though. Ups the ante.

[Chad Noles]

"Uping the ante" in no way implys that the challenge would be more likely,or less likely to be won.The ability to produce the observable results are the same no matter how much money is waved in the air.No one should mistakenly think that because there is a larger pay-off that winning the challenge would be easier to accomplish.

[Beleth]

Originally posted by Chad Noles
No one should mistakenly think that because there is a larger pay-off that winning the challenge would be easier to accomplish. Not easier, perhaps, but definitely quicker.

If there is a nonzero chance that the Challenge can be won, and having more money on the table makes more people apply for the Challenge, then one would expect that the Challenge would be won more quickly as the amount of winnable money increases.

[Chad Noles]

I'm might have to disagree with your assumption as to the "definitely quicker".
As you say,there may be an increase in the number of applicants.That may indeed work to slow down the individual testing process even more.Notice that with the extra work devoted to TAM2,the process of handling current applications has to be delayed hince Hal's post:Yes, right now there is a bit of a back up in applications, due to all the time needed for registrations/etc., for the TAM2. Please be patient.
http://www.randi.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=31443

The increase in the number of people applying for the challenge does not necessarily mean that it will be won faster if the monetary amount is larger.The results are still the only difference in success or failure.

[richardm]

What it might mean is that followers of the various psychics might put pressure on them to sign up for the challenge. And when they decline (or fail) they might wonder why.

Although on past experience, that doesn't appear to happen. Sigh.

[Skeptical Greg]

The real psychics know the money is there. So we have to assume they have a good reason for not collecting it..

[NullPointerException]

Maybe they know something you don't, maybe they know that Randi is actually a robot being operated by the Chinese government in an attempt to draw out monks who fled the country and know their secrets. :o

[Sanamas]

I think that to some extent the amount of the reward is significant. After all, if the prize were $20 and a 2 for 1 coupon for toilet paper, one would be hard pressed to find even a single applicant.

[geni]

Looks like Rolfe was right

So the question had been asked over and over again, why starburn and prester are here, right? They never ever answer. Well, dear friends I figured it out. Are you ready?? Shall I tell?

Well, the James Randi Foundation offers $50,000 to the individual who convinces one of us to agree to his challange and wins. So now we know. The most simple and oldest motivation ever - money!

This also implies that they actually believe homeopathy could win the challange too. Isn't that great! Of course this is just my opinion but hey since they refuse to answer the question themselves I guess my opinion will do.

http://www.hpathy.com/FORUM/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=2&TopicID=872&PagePosition=1

[Rolfe]

Originally posted by geni
Looks like Rolfe was right.Easy prediction, I'm afraid.

Now, repeat after me the anti-homoeopathy mantra (struggles to remember exact wording...)Rolfe is always right. I will listen to Rolfe. I will not ignore Rolfe's recommendations. Rolfe is God.(There's something about ripping someone's lungs out as well, I think...)

Rolfe.

[Prester John]

Looks around thread, mutters, walks out.

[MRC_Hans]

The finder's fee, as Rolfe documents it, is an extremely silly and destructuve idea. I for one am not going to mention the JREF prize again to anybody. It simply makes it easy for woowoos to attack the credibility of skeptics. The sooner it is revoked, the better.

Hans :(

[geni]

It is anaoying but it is only one more excuse that the belivers can add to their stock of several thousand.

[xouper]

geni: It is anaoying but it is only one more excuse that the belivers can add to their stock of several thousand.True, but perhaps there's an important difference in this case. It's one thing for a creduloid to make excuses about the JREF challenge, but the finder's fee also undermines the credibility of those independent skeptics promoting the challenge.

From my own personal experience on New Age forums, it's hard enough to get creduloids to take the challenge seriously, and if any of them had known about the finder's fee, (which I didn't know about until now) I would have been laughed out of town.

I do not yet know of any effective comeback to the bogus accusation that I am only promoting it for the money. The only thing that comes to mind is that I could promise to donate the finder's fee to a charity of their choice. Edited to add: or have that clause written into the challenge contract.

[geni]

Originally posted by xouper
From my own personal experience on New Age forums, it's hard enough to get creduloids to take the challenge seriously, and if any of them had known about the finder's fee, (which I didn't know about until now) I would have been laughed out of town.

I do not yet know of any effective comeback to the bogus accusation that I am only promoting it for the money. The only thing that comes to mind is that I could promise to donate the finder's fee to a charity of their choice. Edited to add: or have that clause written into the challenge contract.

Well as far as I am aware the only place this has arrisen is on the homeopthy forum. Butt that asside I think this need to be withdrawn. Fast. Anyone got any ideas on how to atchive this?

[CERDIP]

Its easy - if you are trying to convince someone to take the test, and if they know about the finder's fee, tell them you won't take it unless they agree to it after they win the challenge (but don't sign anything).

Then if they succeed, they will be a million dollars richer, presumably quite happy, and then you say -- how about that finder's fee then...you don't mind if I claim it?

Who would say no at that point?

[geni]

Your forgetting something. They dont trust you a nanometer.