No Million Dollar Challenge As Of March 6, 2010

H3LL · 4th January 2008, 12:55 AM

So the MDC is going.

My guess is that the JREF website is one of the more popular sceptical sites, but I do not have details.

My guess is also that the MDC is responsible for many of the visits and subsequent membership of these forums and the JREF itself.

I'm curious as to what is going to replace the MDC to attract people to the JREF.

Until an alternative method to attract people to the JREF is revealed I'm unimpressed with the decision to drop it, though sympathetic to the reasons.

Activity for the MDC appeared to be at such a low level following the rule changes that I'm surprised that it is still producing such a large workload to justify scrapping it.

Although widely copied, the MDC has been a core marketing tool to attract interest and without it the JREF becomes 'just another sceptical website/organisation'.

It is also sad that the JREF is so poorly funded that it needs to eat its seed-corn to continue when millions are spent on woo-woo by governments and the public.

Sadder still that industry and commerce consider enterprises such as the JREF unworthy of funding.

Your thoughts?

.

HarryKeogh · 4th January 2008, 01:09 AM

Originally Posted by H3LL

Your thoughts?

My thoughts basically echo yours.

JREF and MDC go hand in hand. It's what sets it apart from other skeptical organizations and with it gone there's nothing (aside from a great personality) differentiating it from the others.

I think this decision insures that when Randi is gone so goes JREF.

H3LL · 4th January 2008, 01:21 AM

Originally Posted by HarryKeogh

I think this decision insures that when Randi is gone so goes JREF.

This was my worry too.

I have also considered that very few organisations have a marketing tool that not only was donated to them but also generates significant income.

Surely costs of alternative marketing methods that would generate the same interest that the MDC does will be very costly.

Marketing bods can weigh-in on this one (Teek?).

.

Philip · 4th January 2008, 01:28 AM

http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=102667

H3LL · 4th January 2008, 02:31 AM

Originally Posted by Philip

http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=102667

That thread should be here and this thread should be there.

4th January 2008, 12:55 AM	#1
H3LL Illuminator Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: (ləʊˈkeɪʃən) - n. 1. a site or position; situation. Posts: 4,976	No Million Dollar Challenge As Of March 6, 2010 So the MDC is going. My guess is that the JREF website is one of the more popular sceptical sites, but I do not have details. My guess is also that the MDC is responsible for many of the visits and subsequent membership of these forums and the JREF itself. I'm curious as to what is going to replace the MDC to attract people to the JREF. Until an alternative method to attract people to the JREF is revealed I'm unimpressed with the decision to drop it, though sympathetic to the reasons. Activity for the MDC appeared to be at such a low level following the rule changes that I'm surprised that it is still producing such a large workload to justify scrapping it. Although widely copied, the MDC has been a core marketing tool to attract interest and without it the JREF becomes 'just another sceptical website/organisation'. It is also sad that the JREF is so poorly funded that it needs to eat its seed-corn to continue when millions are spent on woo-woo by governments and the public. Sadder still that industry and commerce consider enterprises such as the JREF unworthy of funding. Your thoughts? .
	__________________ "I'll be more enthusiastic about encouraging thinking outside the box when there's evidence of any thinking going on inside it". - PTerry Top 10 Reasons Why I Procrastinate: 1. Last edited by H3LL; 4th January 2008 at 01:02 AM.

4th January 2008, 01:21 AM	#3
H3LL Illuminator Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: (ləʊˈkeɪʃən) - n. 1. a site or position; situation. Posts: 4,976	Originally Posted by HarryKeogh I think this decision insures that when Randi is gone so goes JREF. This was my worry too. I have also considered that very few organisations have a marketing tool that not only was donated to them but also generates significant income. Surely costs of alternative marketing methods that would generate the same interest that the MDC does will be very costly. Marketing bods can weigh-in on this one (Teek?). .
	__________________ "I'll be more enthusiastic about encouraging thinking outside the box when there's evidence of any thinking going on inside it". - PTerry Top 10 Reasons Why I Procrastinate: 1.

4th January 2008, 01:28 AM	#4
Philip JREF Kid Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 473	http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=102667
Philip JREF Kid Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 473

4th January 2008, 02:31 AM	#5
H3LL Illuminator Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: (ləʊˈkeɪʃən) - n. 1. a site or position; situation. Posts: 4,976	Originally Posted by Philip http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=102667 That thread should be here and this thread should be there.
	__________________ "I'll be more enthusiastic about encouraging thinking outside the box when there's evidence of any thinking going on inside it". - PTerry Top 10 Reasons Why I Procrastinate: 1.

4th January 2008, 01:09 AM	#2
HarryKeogh Catholic School Survivor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: New York, NY Posts: 11,342	Originally Posted by H3LL Your thoughts? My thoughts basically echo yours. JREF and MDC go hand in hand. It's what sets it apart from other skeptical organizations and with it gone there's nothing (aside from a great personality) differentiating it from the others. I think this decision insures that when Randi is gone so goes JREF.