The $1,000,000 challenge fraud.

[Mooncalf]

I've run across a magician's forum, where someone thinks Banachek did some slight of hand to purposely force that dowser woman to fail.

Another person brought up that it shouldn't be put past him, because of his "hoax against Washington University"

[Sunray Breaker]

I've run across a magician's forum, where someone thinks Banachek did some slight of hand to purposely force that dowser woman to fail.

Why exactly would he need to do any slight of hand? Dowsing has never worked in the first place, so how or why would he expect to be stumped this time around. Skeptics don't take dowsing seriously enough to sabotage it.

Another person brought up that it shouldn't be put past him, because of his "hoax against Washington University"

The whole intention of Project Alpha was to expose the very same kind of mind games people like Connie Sonne (the dowser your refferring to) use to swindle people out of money. The people in those forums are obviously soar loser that probably responded the same way to their parents when they were told there's no santy claus

[zaphod2016]

I've run across a magician's forum, where someone thinks Banachek did some slight of hand to purposely force that dowser woman to fail.

Are they able to successfully replicate the dowsing, in a controlled environment, with other 3rd-party witnesses?

If not, Banachek is the least of their worries.

[rjh01]

Which forum? Just done a search and can find nothing relevant on Connie Sonne.

[fromdownunder]

Which forum? Just done a search and can find nothing relevant on Connie Sonne.

Perhaps this is because her name is CONNE SONNE. Here is the thread on the Million Doller challenge forum, and there is another major one on the "The Amazing Meeting" forum which is dated from the time of the actual preliminary test.

http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=132871

Norm

[kookbreaker]

Another person brought up that it shouldn't be put past him, because of his "hoax against Washington University"

Yeah, right. A 'hoax' that could have been prevented with even the most basic of precautions. A 'hoax' that could have been ended with a single question. A 'hoax' that should have been caught from day one, because it was designed for that to happen.

The only hoax was the money wasted for all the scam of trying to find psychics.

Believers got caught with their pants down, grumbled about it. Kept quiet, then decided about 15+ years later than they were gypped and tried to re-write the history of Project Alpha.

[kookbreaker]

I've run across a magician's forum, where someone thinks Banachek did some slight of hand to purposely force that dowser woman to fail.


Let me guess: Magic Cafe?

[Alan]

Let me guess: Magic Cafe?
The only thread there after 2007 that comes up when I searched for "Sonne" is available below.
http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=327950&forum=62

Banachek responded in that thread.

Is there animosity between these two sites?

[rjh01]

Perhaps this is because her name is CONNE SONNE. Here is the thread on the Million Doller challenge forum, and there is another major one on the "The Amazing Meeting" forum which is dated from the time of the actual preliminary test.

http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=132871

Norm

More accurately it is CONNE SONNE in Danish and CONNIE SONNE in English. The former gets 41 (or about 39) replies in Google, the later about 15,000.

[connie sonne]

My name is CONNIE SONNE in both danish and english. And I had never said that Banachek did some slight of hands. It was people around who mentioned that. Yes Banachek cheats but it is through JREF and it`s quite another thing they do. I will write it all on my own website, and you will be surprized. www.conniesonne.dk

[JoeyDonuts]

Actually, I'm not surprised. Not in the slightest.

[Obviousman]

My name is CONNIE SONNE in both danish and english. And I had never said that Banachek did some slight of hands. It was people around who mentioned that. Yes Banachek cheats but it is through JREF and it`s quite another thing they do. I will write it all on my own website, and you will be surprized. www.conniesonne.dk

Ms Sonne,

If you believe you have been "wronged", why don't you ask for a rematch? Seems like a good way to settle any doubts.

[connie sonne]

mr. Obviousman, I will, but not through JREF. I will find honest people to do that, and after that JREF have to stop thinking about, what they will use the 1.000.000 dollar for. It`s is decided !

[JoeyDonuts]

You think they're holding a million dollars in escrow for the fun of it?

That kind of capital could keep the organization solvent for a few years, or at least be donated to a charity they care about.

I find your allegations of dishonesty to be reprehensible, and completely baseless.

I think you can't possibly allow yourself to let go of something you'd convinced yourself was true and that made you special.

You weren't cheated, and you know it.

ETA: You will not find another group on the planet who is more dedicated to the unbiased scientific process than James Randi's organization.

[rjh01]

You have had several months to duplicate the feat in front of anyone you chose, yet you have not done so. I wonder why?

[JoeyDonuts]

She hasn't managed to dowse her way towards a facility packed with people who fervently believe in dowsing.

[skeen]

What I don't get about these woo's is, they don't need the JREF to prove their abilities to the world. If they can do what they can do, they can do it, and that is that.

However, it is never as straightforward as that.

Connie Sonne convincing scientists of her ability, would put the JREF in a bad light, in that it failed to detect a genuine paranormal ability.

As it stands, paranormal abilities have never been proven, and Connie Sonne's claim has no merit.

Connie: what are you waiting for? You woo's don't realize the implications of what you're claiming. If you can do what you say you can do, it will CHANGE THE WORLD FOREVER.

And yet, no one is knocking on your door.

It should be no matter of debate, or speculation as to whether you can do something; if you can do something you can do it you can do it.

I always find it hilarious how difficult these things become once being tested.

[William Smith]

I've run across a magician's forum, where someone thinks Banachek did some slight of hand to purposely force that dowser woman to fail.

Another person brought up that it shouldn't be put past him, because of his "hoax against Washington University"

I does not matter much what people think in this regard or what could have happened.

What matters is: Can they prove that he used sleight of hand and thus did not adhere to the protocol?

If they are convinced that Banachek cheated, this matter should be taken immediately to the proper authorities.

Because anything else reeks of a smear campaign, doesn't it? Especially when it has been discussed ad nauseam in this very subforum.

[William Smith]

My name is CONNIE SONNE in both danish and english. And I had never said that Banachek did some slight of hands.

Connie, either you forget very fast or you are deliberately lying. (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?postid=4900202#post4900202)


It was people around who mentioned that. Yes Banachek cheats but it is through JREF and it`s quite another thing they do.

Prove it.


I will write it all on my own website, and you will be surprized. www.conniesonne.dk

You have said that before and you said it would happen in September.

[paiute]

mr. Obviousman, I will, but not through JREF. I will find honest people to do that, and after that JREF have to stop thinking about, what they will use the 1.000.000 dollar for. It`s is decided !

My sig. See it.

[Marcus]

My name is CONNIE SONNE in both danish and english. And I had never said that Banachek did some slight of hands. It was people around who mentioned that. Yes Banachek cheats but it is through JREF and it`s quite another thing they do. I will write it all on my own website, and you will be surprized. www.conniesonne.dk (http://www.conniesonne.dk)
For those of us who aren't interested in your website, perhaps you could summarize here how you have been cheated. This would be the place to discuss it, after all. You have been asked before, but for some reason have refused to answer.

[VisionFromFeeling]

What I don't understand, is, why are so many paranormal claimants so obsessed with the MDC, and when they can't get a specific claim and an agreeable testing protocol agreed on mutually by themselves and the JREF, they become upset, and also all of the criticism against past JREF tests.

The JREF MDC is by far not the only method for testing paranormal claims, nor should it necessarily be representative of what a paranormal test is like! If a paranormal claim is valid, and could be verified, there are countless of resources to do that. Many claimants come from other countries and especially for them, it would be better to search for testing closer to their area.

And especially, if you as a claimant are so suspicious of the credibility and honesty of the JREF, if you don't think you can trust your paranormal claim with them, then find someone else to test you! To my envy (since my paranormal claim is rather complicated to set up a test for), most paranormal claims are very simple to set up some initial testing for. Dowsing, telepathy, remote viewing, etc., do not require complicated materials and can be demonstrated in the presence of a scientist or other credible academic as a witness. Just to get started. And if you are successful, then move on to the JREF MDC.

The deep interest some claimants have toward participating in the JREF MDC is surely not because the MDC would represent the best chance to prove their claim, but what motivates them is the money. The MDC is perhaps not the best place to have a scientific skeptical test of a paranormal claim, and it surely is not the only place to have a test, but what the MDC is, is the place with the greatest prize, and that's what attracts them.

I for one go for simpler ways of testing the claim. And money is not a motive at all.

[VisionFromFeeling]

Connie, if you really think you can dowse for cards, please have those tests with other people over there in Denmark. You don't have to come all the way to the United States, and the JREF is not the only place where you could verify an authentic paranormal ability. Just to make it easier for you.

If Banachek and the JREF really cheated, then all you have to do to prove that is to have the test with someone else, who doesn't cheat, and pass.

[bluesjnr]

Connie - hows that Maddie thing coming along? I thought you were arranging to have her found in Sept sometime. I haven't heard anything in the news; so?

Oh and from here;

http://forums.randi.org/showpost.php?p=4900971&postcount=292

These words from you.

....snip.....My last words here on this site.

Looks you fail not only at dowsing but also at being able to make a correct prediction regarding yourself.

[William Smith]

...
If Banachek and the JREF really cheated, then all you have to do to prove that is to have the test with someone else, who doesn't cheat, and pass.

What a weird logic, VisionFromFeeling.

The more obvious way would be to simply prove how the cheating took place. Then she would have legal grounds for a re-test with the JREF.

[Metullus]

If Banachek and the JREF really cheated, then all you have to do to prove that is to have the test with someone else, who doesn't cheat, and pass.How, precisely, would this prove that Banachek or JREF cheated?

[rjh01]

If an unsuccessful JREF applicant later proved their abilities and was able to perform consistently it would give credibility to a claim by the applicant that cheating was involved in the first test.

Of course if instead, the unsuccessful applicant did not go this route and started a blog (several months later and later than promised) making unverifiable claims then their claims deserve to be laughed at.

[MattC]

If an unsuccessful JREF applicant later proved their abilities and was able to perform consistently it would give credibility to a claim by the applicant that cheating was involved in the first test.

Well no, all applicants by nature of challenge can "perform (their abilities) consistently," in their own minds, the question the challenge seeks to answer is whether or not they can do these under vastly more controlled circumstances. Control is very important in these sorts of tests (as it is in all tests) to guard against numerous potential methods of biasing the results one way or the other. Given that many hypothesized "paranormal events" are commonly presented through YouTube videos or other less-than-ideal sources, it makes sense to insist upon spuriously defined and implemented controls in an actual test.

~ Matt

[IceSage]

Even if that was true, which it's not... I would think that someone who had the ability to sense where cards are with their mind would notice.

[rjh01]

One use for being able to predict what a card is would be to play pontoon otherwise known as 21. Even just being able to say if it was a picture card, high or low value would be very useful. Earn big money fast. Just got to be able to do it without any visible instruments.

Is Connie rich yet? No, well that is a reflection of her ability.

[Obviousman]

If the JREF did cheat, and Ms Sonne's abilities are genuine, then surely the best way to prove both is to repeat the JREF test? This time there would be a heightened scrutiny of the test by independent parties to ensure that there can be absolutely no claim of wrongdoing by either party.

Going to "somewhere else" does not address the claim of wrongdoing.

[rjh01]

Repeat the test yes, but not have the test done by JREF. As far as they are concerned everything is OK, she failed the test. She should go to a respected third party to get re-tested. She has not done this. This suggests that there was no cheating. The alternative is to report what she knows to the authorities.

If JREF tests her again she can claim that again JREF cheated.

[chran]

I've run across a magician's forum, where someone thinks Banachek did some slight of hand to purposely force that dowser woman to fail.

Another person brought up that it shouldn't be put past him, because of his "hoax against Washington University"

What's your point?

[Obviousman]

Repeat the test yes, but not have the test done by JREF. As far as they are concerned everything is OK, she failed the test. She should go to a respected third party to get re-tested. She has not done this. This suggests that there was no cheating. The alternative is to report what she knows to the authorities.

If JREF tests her again she can claim that again JREF cheated.

As long as JREF can certify that the conditions are acceptable then that should not be a problem. If JREF can see problems with the test regime, then it is not valid.

[MRC_Hans]

Connie, if you really think you can dowse for cards, please have those tests with other people over there in Denmark. You don't have to come all the way to the United States, and the JREF is not the only place where you could verify an authentic paranormal ability. Just to make it easier for you.

Good advice.

If Banachek and the JREF really cheated, then all you have to do to prove that is to have the test with someone else, who doesn't cheat, and pass.

Sorry, but no. Connie will have to prove that they cheated (which can, admittedly, be quite difficult). It is not enough that she can pass another instance of the test. Not even an identical test. If you flunk your first driver's licence test, but pass the next one, it is not evidence that you were cheated the first time.

Hans

[MRC_Hans]

If an unsuccessful JREF applicant later proved their abilities and was able to perform consistently it would give credibility to a claim by the applicant that cheating was involved in the first test.

No, not really. As I just mentioned, if you flunk your first driving test, but pass all later driving test consistently, it is not evidence that you were cheated the first time.

It is just evidence that you were unable to make it the first time.

To prove that you were cheated, you must explain how you were cheated and present direct evidence for your claim.

Hans

[pakeha]

Connie - hows that Maddie thing coming along? I thought you were arranging to have her found in Sept sometime. I haven't heard anything in the news; so?

Oh and from here;

http://forums.randi.org/showpost.php?p=4900971&postcount=292

These words from you.



Looks you fail not only at dowsing but also at being able to make a correct prediction regarding yourself.

Quite distressing, the entire Connie Sonne experience.
Granted, it's my first experience with a failed claimant's reactions, other than reading archived cases. Somehow actually having seen the preliminary test via streaming makes it more sad.
Sad because the woman is dedicating her unique life and her resources to claims which are simply nonsense.

The accusation of cheating, however, crosses the line between privately held 'beliefs' and the real world.

[rjh01]

I agree that passing a test any test a second time does not prove that cheating was involved. (I have not said otherwise). However in Connie's case it is a necessary first step. Then people will be listening to her. Until then nothing she says has any credibility.

[MRC_Hans]

I agree that passing a test any test a second time does not prove that cheating was involved. (I have not said otherwise). However in Connie's case it is a necessary first step. Then people will be listening to her. Until then nothing she says has any credibility.That is, of course, correct.

Hans

[TSR]

As long as JREF can certify that the conditions are acceptable then that should not be a problem. If JREF can see problems with the test regime, then it is not valid.

.
Have you missed the fact the both JREF *and* Ms. Sonne cerified that when she was tested the first time?

Why would another test change this?
.

[connie sonne]

rjh01 "until then nothing she says has any credibility "

Then..... Why do you then follow me:D!!

[fromdownunder]

Then..... Why do you then follow me:D!!

(emphasis mine)

What a most telling turn of phrase Connie.

Norm

[JoeTheJuggler]

I've run across a magician's forum, where someone thinks Banachek did some slight of hand to purposely force that dowser woman to fail.

Another person brought up that it shouldn't be put past him, because of his "hoax against Washington University"

She agreed to the terms and conditions of the test before it was done.

This is just a post hoc excuse for a failure.

By the way, it's "sleight of hand".

If Ms. Sonne wants to file suit for fraud, the burden of proof is squarely on her shoulders.

[rjh01]

Connie, what you say is very funny. Pity it lacks any facts. I will talk to almost anyone who is civil to me. So far you have been civil.

It is not me that is stalking you. I am in Australia and have been for many years.

[GanipGnop]

I've run across a magician's forum, where someone thinks Banachek did some slight of hand to purposely force that dowser woman to fail.

Another person brought up that it shouldn't be put past him, because of his "hoax against Washington University"

OMG your evidence is overwhelming, someone on the internet thinks there was fraud involved AND another person wouldn't put it past Banachek! Well that is certainly irrefutable evidence of something. Have you notified law enforcement of your findings? Maybe the "dowser woman" can use this evidence in court to fight her injustice at the hands of the evil Banachek and his magical minions.:p

[William Smith]

My name is CONNIE SONNE in both danish and english. And I had never said that Banachek did some slight of hands. It was people around who mentioned that. Yes Banachek cheats but it is through JREF and it`s quite another thing they do. I will write it all on my own website, and you will be surprized. www.conniesonne.dk

Connie, either you forget very fast or you are deliberately lying. (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?postid=4900202#post4900202)
...

Connie, could you please comment on this?

[Obviousman]

.
Have you missed the fact the both JREF *and* Ms. Sonne cerified that when she was tested the first time?

Why would another test change this?
.

Hmm - good point.

[Chris H]

I've run across a magician's forum, where someone thinks Banachek did some slight of hand to purposely force that dowser woman to fail.

Another person brought up that it shouldn't be put past him, because of his "hoax against Washington University"


You'll probably find it was the same person making both accusations. Don't pay too much attention to him. He's a nutcase.

[kuroyume0161]

Then..... Why do you then follow me:D!!

Well, you are here in the JREF forums posting this somewhat startling question.

I'm not following you (in the stalking sense anyway). I heard about the test, watched the live stream over the internet, and saw the results. I also visited your website and read your vindictive blog against JREF for alleged cheating.

A couple things to be noted here. If the video of the test between you and Banacheck was recorded then one could carefully review the entire procedure to see if any 'slight of hand' was done during it. Note: it is doubtful that 'slight of hand' could be perpetrated beyond all recognition of a video carefully observed in slow motion (frame-by-frame). Also, you agreed to the procedure as executed. If you simpy wanted a deck of cards splayed on the table after being shown every card in that deck, you should have specified it. If the 'cards were stacked against you' then you should more carefully be involved in the construction of the experiment - but it must still be considered within its probabilistic parameters (i.e.: you can't stack the cards in your favor either!).

The problem of double-blind testing wherein there are restrictions to information to certain parties is that it is then easy to claim that there was some cheating or preparatory bending of statistical results in the process of designing the experiment. This is always a possible case since there are people who are in the know (who are then removed from the actual test procedure) and those who are not (those who actually participate in the procedure). Clinical tests of medicines or medical procedures using double-blind standards are in the same situation. In the best of those done, neither the doctor nor the patient is allowed to be able to discover which of the medicines is being used or procedures is being done so as to disallow bias in the results. In real situations, this can mean that those receiving placebos are doomed whereas those receiving the actual medication improve (if the medication is actually efficacious). The key here is in the 'unknown' parameters of the experiment or procedure. They are only unknown to the direct participants but are known to those who have designed it to be fair and who must quantify it. They are looking for unbiased results - the participants cannot have a clue to achieve them.

The only point of contention here, if the experiment met with your approval and was designed well, is whether or not Banacheck received some form of preliminary information so as to bias the test (which I doubt but...). If the procedures as expressed were maintained and he had no knowledge of the envelope-within-envelope contents then there is nothing you can contend. The only compromise that I could see here is to redo the experiment and select a random person in the audience (or some person whom you trust lets say) who is first publicly told of the procedure and then the experiment proceeds. That would remove any issue of 'cheating' since this person could not possibly know the contents of the doubly-enveloped cards and could not in any way impart any bias.

[connie sonne]

Gzuzkrytz: I will be delighted to...

Forget very fast?? .....hmmm.....sometimes I do forget common things like my shoppinglist:D, but otherwise NO...Liar?? NO Gzuzkrytz...NOT AT ALL : I haver never used the words slight of hands. I noticed some other things,and I found the reasons for it too. You people out there believe SO MUCH in you God, that you don`t realized you are being dupped yourself. You only believe in what you see now and here, and believe all they says. But as I told you, I would write it all down, and I said September...And I STARTED in September, so I was NOT lying about that. It take time to write, both in danish and english, so you have to be patient!

Another thing: I did NOT say that I would get Maddie out in September: read it all again, then you will see, that you only read the half !


And to those of you who are not interested in my website: You better be.

[pakeha]

I'd like to know why Connie Sonne thinks there was cheating involved in her preliminary test.

[MattC]

Gzuzkrytz: I will be delighted to...

Forget very fast?? .....hmmm.....sometimes I do forget common things like my shoppinglist, but otherwise NO...Liar?? NO Gzuzkrytz...NOT AT ALL : I haver never used the words slight of hands. I noticed some other things,and I found the reasons for it too. You people out there believe SO MUCH in you God, that you don`t realized you are being dupped yourself. You only believe in what you see now and here, and believe all they says. But as I told you, I would write it all down, and I said September...And I STARTED in September, so I was NOT lying about that. It take time to write, both in danish and english, so you have to be patient!

Another thing: I did NOT say that I would get Maddie out in September: read it all again, then you will see, that you only read the half !


And to those of you who are not interested in my website: You better be.

Far be it from me, madam, to allege that you have found nothing (as several of my compatriots seem to enjoy doing) - however I must point out that we are still waiting for you to tell us precisely what it is you found out and how you did so. I am willing to grant you time to write (bilingualism is not easy), but frankly restating your accusation of cheating at every opportunity while expecting anyone to stand idly by while you take cheap shots is not good form.

~ Matt

[Pixel42]

You people out there believe SO MUCH in you God, that you don`t realized you are being dupped yourself.

You believe SO MUCH in your ability that you don't realise you are duping yourself.

You only believe in what you see now and here, and believe all they says.

Only when all the ways in which you can dupe yourself are carefully and methodically eliminated, as they were in the JREF test, can you safely believe what you see now and here. Have you repeated that exact same test with someone you trust in Banachek's place and got a different result? Until you can answer yes to that question no-one here is going to listen to your vague and unfounded allegations. In fact you are laying yourself open to serious libel charges.

And to those of you who are not interested in my website: You better be.

That sounds like a threat. Are you threatening us, Connie?

[bluesjnr]

I'd like to know why Connie Sonne thinks there was cheating involved in her preliminary test.


That one is easy pakeha; she failed. In her mind she is infallible ergo when she failed it could only be as a result of cheating.

Ms Sonne impressed many, myself included, on here when putting together the protocol. I thought that we would see something very rarely seen - an individual who sits down and takes stock of their life after being presented with the fact that they could not perform their magical feat. I hoped she might realise that she was wasting her life with these ridiculous claims. I am saddened to say that I was deluded in that regard.

Prior to the test she came across as really nice. When she failed she became and still is bitter, resentful, accusatory and spiteful. I'm afraid that taking the test was probably the worst thing she could have done. Many warned her on here.

She claims to know where Madelline Mc Cann is yet refuses to divulge the whereabouts. Bear in mind that she believes that she knows where she is yet will not tell. Make of that what you will when considering her character.

[pakeha]

Hi, bluesjr.
I have the feeling I've seen that avatar before...
It was precisely the lady's insistence in the case of that particular missing child that made me think we had here either a north by northwester or a con artist, either potential or incipient.
In fact, CS's tractability in the matter of the protocol was an indication, at least to me, that the first possiblity was more likely than the second.
Hindsight and so on, I daresay.

[Marcus]

Gzuzkrytz:


And to those of you who are not interested in my website: You better be.
Why would we be? You seem to be afraid to discuss your made up allegations here. You had a chance to be the first to be gracious after a fair test and admit that your superpowers didn't exist and you blew it. Excuses are the norm but we expected better things from you.

[William Smith]

Gzuzkrytz: I will be delighted to...

Forget very fast?? .....hmmm.....sometimes I do forget common things like my shoppinglist:D, but otherwise NO...Liar?? NO Gzuzkrytz...NOT AT ALL : I haver never used the words slight of hands. I noticed some other things,and I found the reasons for it too.

Granted, I inferred the sleight of hand. It seemed plausible to do so, since it is one of the very few possibilities Banachek could have used.

Connie, I think your ongoing smearing of the JREF, Banachek and the testing procedure is despicable and you should be ashamed. I also think that it is far from discussing in a friendly and lively way.

Either tell us how you have been cheated or go away.

You people out there believe SO MUCH in you God, that you don`t realized you are being dupped yourself. You only believe in what you see now and here, and believe all they says.
...

This is incomprehensible to me.

[connie sonne]

:D I´m not afraid...I`m not threating you....and I actually don`t care at all....I still know the truth, and you don`t...that is what it all is about!

By by for now :D

[Doubt]

:D I´m not afraid...I`m not threating you....and I actually don`t care at all....I still know the truth, and you don`t...that is what it all is about!

By by for now :D

Connie, if you are unable to tell us how the JREF supposedly cheated you, then any claim by you that you "know the truth" is nothing more than a lie. Put up or shut up!

[laca]

Ms Sonne impressed many, myself included, on here when putting together the protocol. I thought that we would see something very rarely seen - an individual who sits down and takes stock of their life after being presented with the fact that they could not perform their magical feat. I hoped she might realise that she was wasting her life with these ridiculous claims. I am saddened to say that I was deluded in that regard.


It is not surprising if you consider that the higher the level of self-delusion, the more the claimant doesn't care about the protocol. She didn't even test herself. She admitted never doing any similar test at all. She was in fact arrogant beyond belief when putting together the protocol.


Prior to the test she came across as really nice. When she failed she became and still is bitter, resentful, accusatory and spiteful. I'm afraid that taking the test was probably the worst thing she could have done. Many warned her on here.

She claims to know where Madelline Mc Cann is yet refuses to divulge the whereabouts. Bear in mind that she believes that she knows where she is yet will not tell. Make of that what you will when considering her character.

Yes, that is a real wake-up call to anyone who still believes there is a shred of decency in Connie.

[Moochie]

That one is easy pakeha; she failed. In her mind she is infallible ergo when she failed it could only be as a result of cheating.

Ms Sonne impressed many, myself included, on here when putting together the protocol. I thought that we would see something very rarely seen - an individual who sits down and takes stock of their life after being presented with the fact that they could not perform their magical feat. I hoped she might realise that she was wasting her life with these ridiculous claims. I am saddened to say that I was deluded in that regard.

Prior to the test she came across as really nice. When she failed she became and still is bitter, resentful, accusatory and spiteful. I'm afraid that taking the test was probably the worst thing she could have done. Many warned her on here.

She claims to know where Madelline Mc Cann is yet refuses to divulge the whereabouts. Bear in mind that she believes that she knows where she is yet will not tell. Make of that what you will when considering her character.

What is it with people who make absurd, hideously improbable claims and then when tested in such a way as to make cheating practically impossible, are revealed for the sad, deluded individuals they are? It's all rather pathetic, isn't it?


M.

[Pixel42]

It's all rather pathetic, isn't it?
It's not as if there's any shortage of real wonders in the universe, why do people find it necessary to make them up? And such banal ones, too. I mean, being able to tell what a card is when it's upside down. Who gives a ****? Just turn the thing over.

[SumDood]

It's not as if there's any shortage of real wonders in the universe, why do people find it necessary to make them up? And such banal ones, too. I mean, being able to tell what a card is when it's upside down. Who gives a ****? Just turn the thing over.

THAT's what they claim they can do? Are they kidding? I suppose they can't do that in a casino because it would be 'unethical' or 'the video cameras mess with my ability' or 'the negative pluracit particles in the air directly contradict my nutrinons'.

[pakeha]

What is it with people who make absurd, hideously improbable claims and then when tested in such a way as to make cheating practically impossible, are revealed for the sad, deluded individuals they are? It's all rather pathetic, isn't it? M.

Yes. Although these attempts to continue attracting attention from us with claiming to 'know' something special are really over the top. Why even bother to post here?

[GanipGnop]

Hey Mrs/Ms Sonne,

According to theriverfronttimes article dated 08/26/09 written by Michael Mooney titled The God of Skeptics: this is what you had to say after the failed test.

"After the test, in the hallway, Sonne says that, although she failed today, nothing would make her believe she doesn't have psychic powers. "I just know," she repeats. Then she says the voices she hears have simply chosen another time to unveil her skills to the world. "They haven't allowed it today. But you wait. You remember me. You will see." (pg.6)

.......................... :eye-poppi (backing away slowly) O.... K!

Is this is what you said? If so why would you leave out the fraud allegations? I mean you do believe in your own powers don't you? I would have called "shenanigans" the second a power I know I have was discredited because I'd know something was up. I would have stopped the experiment to expose the fraud even if I forfeit the money to defend my honor. If you have true psychic powers how could they be overwhelmed by mere magicians tricks? :rolleyes: Why can't you see the deceptions around you before they impact you? You said you liked Mark at Skepticblog until he challenged you over your failures in the Maddy Mccann case. Were the voices not allowing you to sense Mark's "deception"? Do your "voices" enjoy embarrassing you in public? Let me guess "I wouldn't understand", "It doesn't work that way" or "I'll see" (wow, I'm a psychic).

Why not put your powers to work hunting lost treasures for fun and profit or just win the lottery a bunch of times? That will give you the resources to start you own pseudoskeptic foundation with your own $1 million challenge where you can challenge skeptics to disprove your powers.

[Marcus]

:D I´m not afraid...I`m not threating you....and I actually don`t care at all....I still know the truth, and you don`t...that is what it all is about!

By by for now :D
Yes, I see. You really don't care, but you are posting here anyway because...you just love us all so much. As long as you don't have to have that allegation discussion you are not afraid of.

[William Smith]

:D I´m not afraid...I`m not threating you....and I actually don`t care at all....I still know the truth, and you don`t...that is what it all is about!

By by for now :D

Connie, I have spent a more than reasonable time trying to discuss with you. I have concluded this seems hardly possible, since you seem to have no interest or capability in that.

Good luck in your future endeavours.

[GanipGnop]

Has it occurred to anyone that if Connie Sonne spent more time translating her wisdom for all the world to read and less time assuring us how much she knows and how little she cares about our opinions she'd be done by now?

Seriously Ms. Sonne why are you wasting time swatting fly's months after the fact when you could be revealing the location of Maddy Mccann and explaining exactly how you were cheated. Can't you use your powers to speed up the translation process? Could you please just ignore us until your magnum opus theory of everything is done? You don't even need to post a response just get on with your translation please.

[Moochie]

Hey Mrs/Ms Sonne,

According to theriverfronttimes article dated 08/26/09 written by Michael Mooney titled The God of Skeptics: this is what you had to say after the failed test.

"After the test, in the hallway, Sonne says that, although she failed today, nothing would make her believe she doesn't have psychic powers. "I just know," she repeats. Then she says the voices she hears have simply chosen another time to unveil her skills to the world. "They haven't allowed it today. But you wait. You remember me. You will see." (pg.6)

.......................... :eye-poppi (backing away slowly) O.... K!

Is this is what you said? If so why would you leave out the fraud allegations? I mean you do believe in your own powers don't you? I would have called "shenanigans" the second a power I know I have was discredited because I'd know something was up. I would have stopped the experiment to expose the fraud even if I forfeit the money to defend my honor. If you have true psychic powers how could they be overwhelmed by mere magicians tricks? :rolleyes: Why can't you see the deceptions around you before they impact you? You said you liked Mark at Skepticblog until he challenged you over your failures in the Maddy Mccann case. Were the voices not allowing you to sense Mark's "deception"? Do your "voices" enjoy embarrassing you in public? Let me guess "I wouldn't understand", "It doesn't work that way" or "I'll see" (wow, I'm a psychic).

Why not put your powers to work hunting lost treasures for fun and profit or just win the lottery a bunch of times? That will give you the resources to start you own pseudoskeptic foundation with your own $1 million challenge where you can challenge skeptics to disprove your powers.


I doubt the person you're addressing knows the meaning of "sensible," "reasonable," or "rational." These words don't appear to be in her lexicon. Nevertheless, I'd love to be proven wrong.


M.

[William Smith]

Obviously hit and run posting by Mooncalf, who has not been back since his OP.

[Cuddles]

But as I told you, I would write it all down, and I said September...And I STARTED in September, so I was NOT lying about that. It take time to write, both in danish and english, so you have to be patient!

There's a problem here. Yes, writing can take a bit of time. But not that much time. It's been at least 4 months since you claimed you had been cheated and were going to give all the details on a website:
Gzuzkrytz, you are right about both. I can and will demonstrate everything. I can and will ensure you, that Ì have been cheated. I allready have the evidences. Check my name out in first in september. I will get a website where I will put it ALL, also in english. AND all the evidences about Maddie. So you can THEN decide if I´m deluded or not!! I can only say now....most of you people out there are wrong, very wrong. My last words here on this site.

Connie

Even for a relatively slow writer it couldn't possibly take more than a week or so to write a couple of pages about what happened and how you were cheated. I could do that in a couple of hours. I'm willing to allow you a little more time to do it in two languages, but given that you're clearly very competent at English as well it shouldn't take that long. And remember there's a million dollars at stake here, so one might think you'd be eager to get it all out there. Presumably you have evidence to support these claims, but linking to it or scanning it in yourself would be a matter of minutes. I'd be willing to give you maybe a couple of weeks for actually setting the website up. So being extremely generous, it should have taken a month at most for you to do what you claimed and provide your account, along with evidence.

And yet here we are. 4 months later and nothing. Even allowing that you said you wouldn't start until September (not that there seems to be any good reason for that), it's still 2 1/2 months. Sure, patience is a virtue. But what exactly are you doing that's more important than winning a million dollars, proving several prominent skeptics are frauds and getting your message across to millions of people around the world? As with so many woos, we are left wondering why it is that so many people who claim amazing world changing powers and knowledge seem so reluctant to actually make them known.

[GanipGnop]

Here’s something for the Humor forum. At the beginning of Connie’s Sonne’s “Great Wall Of Text” website she has the following to say:

“I will NOT have a guestbook here, because I will not use my time and energy on answering questions and reading sour comments( and there`s allready many of that kind here!)”

After a long drawn out numbing litany of disorganized incoherent ramblings and claims she writes this at the end:

"Looking forward to hear from you soon.

Kind regards Connie Sonne"

!!?!?!?!?!! Is she going to use her considerable psychic powers to hear from people or should they put their messages in a bottle and throw them into the ocean? It’s funny how she uses this forum to criticize the JREF and air her “sour comments” but she fears extending the same courtesy to anyone else on her site.

And yes, I understand English isn’t her first language so her translations aren’t going to be perfect or compact but her current ramblings don’t help her case. If I were trying to write something directed towards Danish people to enhance my credibility I’d hire a local college student studying Dansk to transcribe it for a small fee. I’m sure Connie could find someone fluent in English in her country a lot easier and cheaper than I could find a Danish equivalent in the U.S.. A simple transcription of her site should only cost $50-$100 and if the student is hungry enough it might even be less. She claims to have spent $30,000 as a psychic so a transcription fee would be a drop in the bucket. If I had amazing powers I wouldn’t be spending money I’d be making money finding lost treasures.