Paranormal Olympics

[Nyarlathotep]

I managed to stumble across this little gem today.

The Paranormal Olympics (http://www.worldofalternatives.com/paranormal-olympics.htm)

While jokes about merging it with the "Special Olympics" spring immediately to mind, I'll refrain. On a serious note, though, someone ought to keep an eye on it and invite the winner to test for Randi's million. After all, the winner of such an esteemed competition should easily walk away with a cool million, eh?

[BTox]

That's funny. I also enjoyed reading the huge list of paranormal activities at the bottom of the page - unfortunately the links do not give definitions - I was really curious as to what "almosty" is. ;)

[bug_girl]

um, does anyone else think the graphic in the upper left corner is oddly....phallic?

[Nyarlathotep]

Originally posted by BTox
That's funny. I also enjoyed reading the huge list of paranormal activities at the bottom of the page - unfortunately the links do not give definitions - I was really curious as to what "almosty" is. ;)

Yeah, they all seem to link to a page that is trying to sell new-age books. Gotta keep ones psyche in shape for the big competition, dontchaknow.

[Nyarlathotep]

Originally posted by bug_girl
um, does anyone else think the graphic in the upper left corner is oddly....phallic?

I never noticed it until you brought it up.

I think it is just the work of your own dirty mind. :p

[BTox]

Originally posted by bug_girl
um, does anyone else think the graphic in the upper left corner is oddly....phallic?

Not really. Too skinny (at least from my point of reference) and only one ovoid at the base. ;)

[Keneke]

And the winner of the telekinetic 50 yard dash is...well...no one's passed the starting line yet.

[whitefork]

I'd bet "spoof", but nicely done. The link to the preliminary challenge seems to be down, but it was one of those "pick a number and do some math, and you end up with the number you picked" things.

[Nyarlathotep]

Originally posted by Kullervo
I'd bet "spoof", but nicely done. The link to the preliminary challenge seems to be down, but it was one of those "pick a number and do some math, and you end up with the number you picked" things.

Well, somebody out there takes it seriously. I was looking for info on the "1876 Kentucky Meat Shower" and was on a serious (or as serious as a site of that nature can be) Fortean Site and they had it as a pop-up.

My theory is that it isn't a spoof, it's a device for harvesting e-mail adresses.

[PinkRabbit]

I agree that it's probably a technique for harvesting email addys (for whatever purposes) rather than a gag site.

I noted that it also claims to be supported by ASSAP (The Association for the Scientific Study of Anomalous Phenomena), which claims to be a "registered charity" in the UK and which appears to be a real group which one can join (for a price). It has a few articles and such available online that are pro crop circles, esp, etc.

Barb

[whitefork]

Yow! It's getting harder and harder to tell satire from that other thing (sincerity?).

I stand corrected.

[Nyarlathotep]

Originally posted by Kullervo
Yow! It's getting harder and harder to tell satire from that other thing (sincerity?).

I stand corrected.

Oh, agreed. My first thought would have been parody too had I not found it where I found it.

It is a sad state of affairs when here are so many beliefs that are so "out there" that they are hard to tell from sarcastic parody

[Chupacabras]

Hmmm... Perhaps we should suggest to them that they add a category for "psirony", so they can gather one more email address.

Or, if they are "serious", perhaps we finally get to see the undisputed finalist on that category on TV!

[uneasy]

Originally posted by BTox
That's funny. I also enjoyed reading the huge list of paranormal activities at the bottom of the page - unfortunately the links do not give definitions - I was really curious as to what "almosty" is. ;)
That's a good one. If I knew there was a word almosty, I probably would have used that instead of uneasy.

Why do I get the feeling these olympics require a large registration fee?

[Hamish]

Are you the most psychic person in the world ?

Yep, that's me. I'm pretty sure that there isn't anyone out there who's more psychic than I am. ;)

[PinkRabbit]

Originally posted by uneasy


Why do I get the feeling these olympics require a large registration fee?

Congratulations. It sounds like you've got the kind of psychic powers that could be real gold medal material.

Barb

[Mercutio]

Originally posted by bug_girl
um, does anyone else think the graphic in the upper left corner is oddly....phallic? Hmm...I thought "rhinosceros beetle", but I think maybe Rorschach would say he knows what's on your mind...no reason you should see insects...

[wayrad]

Originally posted by BTox
That's funny. I also enjoyed reading the huge list of paranormal activities at the bottom of the page - unfortunately the links do not give definitions - I was really curious as to what "almosty" is. ;) I think it's an alternate spelling of "almasty" (a Bigfoot/yeti type creature supposed by some to inhabit the Caucasus region).
Rather a letdown - I envisioned "almosty" as being when they almost succeed in doing something paranormal.

[Yahweh]

I'd like to see a prediction of these year's winners of the Paranormal Olympics...

(Oh, I hope that isnt cheating...)

[Luciana]

Oh, my Ed... just the thread title, "Paranormal Olympics" gave me the first laugh of the morning! I envisioned a bunch of guys trying to detect mine fields by dowsing, and the one who arrived at the other side alive would be the winner. And now and then "poof" in smoke and fire! I'm also thinking in terms of telekinesis: the one who lifted the heaviest object would win. Do you think there would be a pillow fight? The mind boggles!

[BillHoyt]

Originally posted by Nyarlathotep
While jokes about merging it with the "Special Olympics" spring immediately to mind, I'll refrain. On a serious note, though, someone ought to keep an eye on it and invite the winner to test for Randi's million. After all, the winner of such an esteemed competition should easily walk away with a cool million, eh?
Why wait? The winner already knows who she will be and should contact us now to tell us how the competition will go.

[Nyarlathotep]

Originally posted by Luciana Nery
Oh, my Ed... just the thread title, "Paranormal Olympics" gave me the first laugh of the morning! I envisioned a bunch of guys trying to detect mine fields by dowsing, and the one who arrived at the other side alive would be the winner. And now and then "poof" in smoke and fire! I'm also thinking in terms of telekinesis: the one who lifted the heaviest object would win. Do you think there would be a pillow fight? The mind boggles!

The torch lighting ceremony ought to be interesting though. who needs a torch? They all just stand around in a circle and concentrate really hard, and voila, flames.

[xouper]

This reminds me of a news item I read some time ago about a psychic contest (or some such thing) to see who was the stronger psychic. I have some doubts about the accuracy of my memory of this story and I am (so far) unable to find it again using google.

One psychic claimed he would make flowers wilt on stage within a certain time frame, and the other claimed he would stop the other psychic from wilting the flowers. May the stronger psychic win. :eek:

Does anyone remember this or anything similar to this or where I can find the story online?

[Zep]

Suggested poster for the Paranormal Olympics:

<h1>PARANORMAL OLYMPICS
All psychics invited
You know where
You know when</h1>

[Charlie in Dayton]

And of course, don't forget the track and field competition. (http://pointlesswasteoftime.com/captions/1_5_03.html)

[VicDaring]

I was gonna register, but I don't know what to list under, "Psychic Strength."

Maybe I should go to a psychic gym and ask the physcic personal trainer or something.

[Luciana]

Why do they even need a competition, btw? Can't they just predict the winner and get this over with? Or at the very least give the trophies beforehand? Sure, because with so many psychics, I'm sure they will reach definite conclusions about the winners...

[espritch]

I think I should enter the competition. Every time I click a link, I get a pop-up congratulating me on winning something. I must be the world's luckiest man. Ummm...does luck count as a paranormal ability?

[Ed]

Geoff Wilkins, the owner of the site, appears to be a guy who is making some loot on new-ageish stuff. I have little doube that he is simply expanding.

Why not.

[wayrad]

Originally posted by xouper
This reminds me of a news item I read some time ago about a psychic contest (or some such thing) to see who was the stronger psychic. I have some doubts about the accuracy of my memory of this story and I am (so far) unable to find it again using google.

One psychic claimed he would make flowers wilt on stage within a certain time frame, and the other claimed he would stop the other psychic from wilting the flowers. May the stronger psychic win. :eek:

Does anyone remember this or anything similar to this or where I can find the story online? I have read something like that. It's driving me nuts trying to remember where now...

It was not in the news, though, and it was quite some time ago. Possibilities I looked into and ruled out were 1) the Laputa chapters in Gulliver's Travels, and 2) the antics of the Order of the Golden Dawn.

It is beginning to come back to me that I read a second-generation and rather tongue-in-cheek account of the event, rather than an original source. It may have been in a popular history book or the skeptical literature. Or it may even have been a novel that borrowed the idea for comic effect.

I know that is no help, but at least you aren't the only one racking their brain now!