JREF's Million Dollar Man

[reprise]

I was going to email this question to Randi but I realise that he is very busy and that it's very possible that another JREFer can provide me with the answer.

When reference is made to the mystery donor who gave the funds to establish JREF, it is very often assumed that person is a skeptic who wishes to expose the paranormal as one great big con.

But it seems to me that it's equally possible that person is a believer who would very much like to see proof of paranormal ability. If I was a wealthy person who believed in the paranormal but would like some kind of evidence to validate my beliefs, it would make no sense whatsoever to ask fellow-believers to provide me with that proof - their motives for doing so would always be suspect; but I could be pretty confident that any proof which came via the JREF challenge was legitimate, couldn't I?

So has Randi ever mentioned whether the mystery donor is a skeptic, a believer, or undecided?

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Me.

[Doubt]

Based on:

1.) Randi’s appearances on the Tonight show
2.) Things Randi has said in public lectures
3.) The Smoking Gun web site:

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/amazingrandi1.html


It would not be to much of a stretch to think that Johnny Carson is probably the source for the $1,000,000.

This is all circumstantial and I could be wrong, but if I had to place a bet on this……..

[hal bidlack]

The donor is not a famous person, and wants to keep it that way. The individual is very private, and has no interest in publicity, and Mr Randi respects that.

[Beleth]

Maybe it's the same "mystery donor" that gave Oral Roberts the $6 million he needed to raise so that God wouldn't "call him home" back in the late 80's!





(that was a joke)

[arcticpenguin]

I doubt that; that guy was in Florida. Randi specifically mentioned the $1M guy was in the northern U.S., or was it the northeast?

[darling]

I know who it is. At least, I think I do. Y'all can find out, if you look in the right place, but since Hal's message, there's not much point in my posting who it is because it's not going to be confirmed either way. But it's nobody you would have heard of.

[reprise]

Ugggghhhhh.

I really, really didn't want to get into speculation about the donor's identity, I more interested in challenging the assumption that the donor must be a skeptic just because the funds for the challenge were given to a high profile skeptic. Critical thinking reveals equally valid possibilities.

[arcticpenguin]

Originally posted by reprise
Ugggghhhhh.

I really, really didn't want to get into speculation about the donor's identity, I more interested in challenging the assumption that the donor must be a skeptic just because the funds for the challenge were given to a high profile skeptic. Critical thinking reveals equally valid possibilities.
I think you got that point across; I understood anyway.

On the other hand, if this guy is waiting for the real thing instead of believing the obvious fakes out there, then he is a skeptic, isn't he?

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Originally posted by hal bidlack
The donor is not a famous person, and wants to keep it that way. The individual is very private, and has no interest in publicity, and Mr Randi respects that.

Correct, I'm not famous. And I want to remain that way. So delete this thread.

[Brian]

Originally posted by The Central Scrutinizer
Me.
I used my powers to make you donate.

[no one in particular]

Originally posted by The Central Scrutinizer
Me.
Who’s that givin’ a million dollars to James Randi?

It’s me, it’s me.

Who’s that givin’ a million dollars to James Randi?

It’s me, it’s me.

[arcticpenguin]

Million dollar man? Not me. I'm a six million dollar man. :p

We have the technology...