James Randi Challenges Graham Watkins

[p0rkch0ps]

Graham Watkins is a complete farce and a wank.

[grahamlive]

POW! There is a god. .........and his name is James Randi

[8bobthebuilder]

Interesting. First time i've seen Randi publically challenge a so-called psychic, I like how Randi walked out at the end. ehehehe; i also like his good humour.

[freeman2545]

thank god for james randi.....shame on graham walker for decieving people

[ThieleM]

The whole "I wont do it cause I dont like your methods/beliefs" thing is the ultimate cop out.

[fifimsp]

If you have real psychic powers, as you claim. Wouldn't you want a million dollars? Or maybe just the satisfaction of the world knowing you're not a fraud! I love how they always come up with fake moral reasoning. "Well it's because I don't agree with your methods or you Mr. Randi." Well that may be true, but facts are facts. Either, show us you're real or shut up. And if you feel the money was ill gained give it to fucking charity. I can think of ways 1 million could be used.

[kazearaki]

Anyone smells "chicken"?

[ZachRose88]

Man that was great; refreshing to see a real debate and not a bunch of political correctness and over-politeness. With that said, I cannot believe that this mountebank can get away with rejecting the offer of 1 million dollars simply to demonstrate what he claims to do. In every other field of endeavor, people would jump at the chance to demonstrate what they do for a living ONCE for ONE MILLION DOLLARS. It's patently obvious that these people are deluding themselves and others; Randi is the man

[brendanmcwilliams]

LOL! The "Skeptics vs. Believers Debate". Isn't this usually referred to as the "Educated vs. Uneducated Debate"?

[spinynorman1982]

@brendanmcwilliams I totally agree with your statement in "spirit" hehe.. but I think the fundamental problem is that skeptics may not be as eloquent speakers as believers (uneducated), and lose the debate but not the correct way of thinking about life. I've never seen such and intelligent or amazing person as Randi. Who could fill his shoes?

[estragon9]

Watkins is a chicken.

[cornbruiser]

James Randi for President.

[FeelOfFriction]

Both are frauds.

[lordlacolith]

@FeelOfFriction wikipedia -> Argument to moderation

[FeelOfFriction]

@lordlacolith

wikipedia -> N/A

[lordlacolith]

@FeelOfFriction It's exactly what you're doing.

Unless, of course, you care to argue why you think Randi is a fraud.

[april0293]

i would have punched him in the face how is he so patient? Randi is awesome Watkins is a total douche why do people like him exist and why is he famous? he is scum bringing down the IQ levels of people across the nation

[joeypolanski]

This video should be renamed "James Randi Challenges a Chickenshit Bitch".

[winterstellar]

Hehe, no matter how big you make the prize, no matter how many tards try to demonstrate anything "supernatural/paranormal",they will never ever manage anything, and they will never ever win the prize. Randi has had his prizes since 1963, and not a single superstitious tard or con-man has managed to demonstrate ANYTHING parasupernormal in all that time. Because there IS NOTHING supernatural out there, it's only in superstitious people's fantasies!

[shkotay]

You know, the reason for the difficulty of the challenge is twofold; first to expose the frauds who most likely will not even make it through the preliminaries; and second, if a real practitioner arrives on the scene, they will be able to prove ANY doubt that their powers are real.

If somebody can provide a demonstration repeatably and under stringent conditions and examination, how could they be false? Of COURSE the damn challenge is supposed to be hard as hell an thats why. Go Randi!

[1971ojoalparche1971]

@shkotay The tests the JREF performs aren't supposed to be hard, they just follow scientific testing protocols, and those would be agreed upon by both parties beforehand. I'm sure they would allow (and even want) external observers to study the data so it could be shared with everyone else. If anyone proved any special powers, and Randi didn't pay up, he'd get in the most serious of trouble. The fact is that there are no special powers to prove. Cheers!

[shkotay]

@1971ojoalparche1971 Yep, but I hear psychics always scream HE MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DO RANDI IS A FRAUD AND DOESNT WANT ME TO WIN from so many ppl lol! Its not impossible, and wouldnt be hard at all for somebody who could do what they claim to do. By that very admission they admit their fakeness I guess.

[visualkei72]

@1971ojoalparche1971 you mean, "none have been proven, yet."

i highly doubt they exist either on this planet, but Randi puts vids up of the actual testing process. that's why these cowards won't accept the challenge, they know they won't get the million. they can't pull one over on Randi.

but they have their own stupid reality shows and endorsements worth much more than 1 million. why would they take the Randi challenge, fail and possibly and compromise their financial peak, right?

[holdupmaster]

Watkins is a complete idiot.

[jumpoutatree]

Is this the guy from the Ghost Hunters TV show? If it is, then Randi should go pick on someone his own size. Picking on a ghost hunter TV show host is like picking on the people who make Harry Potter movies.

[Redbeardian]

Ahhhhh poor conartist .... didn't want to be exposed and have to wait ten years to weasel back into ripping people off like Popoff.

[thewindowislocked]

so what happened? did he actually take the challenge? probably not...

[mysticresistence]

A doctor Dick Bierman once accepted the Randi challenge as long as they both approved of the a neutral team of scientist...and Randi backed down. Randi always picks scientist whom he knows are in his corner and his challenge has long been exposed as a fraud just as big a Uri Geller. Randi is a fraud, just another Drone who follows the religion of empiricism. No, I do not believe in psychics, ghost or mediums, but I also do not believe this high school dropout is anything but a con man.

[firecrackerg60]

@mysticresistence your comment is unworthy of a rational reply

[mysticresistence]

@firecrackerg60 considering that I, like Dostoevsky, Kierkegaard, and Hamann have very little use for Rationalism and see it for the fascism that it is, I will take that as a complement :)

[firecrackerg60]

@mysdickresistence ok then, explain YOUR viewpoint on why you believe he is a conman and also if you are on par with great unorthodox philosophers why you even bother your "intellectual" mind with a viewpoint from a high school dropout

[jumpoutatree]

@firecrackerg60 Not to mention his name his misspelled.

[IlovemyGlock21]

@mysticresistence - "the religion of empiricism"??? WTF are you talking about.

[GermanChocolateCake]

It's very simple Watkins. Agree to an objective, scientifically sound testing protocol, and then use that protocol to demonstrate that one of your paranormal phenomena has strong quantifiable evidence for being a observable, testable, measurable physical occurrence.

If you can't do that, you're not doing science.

[pitbull103]

Watkins could demonstrate the existence of just one ghost and have $1 mill. Watkins could then donate that million to starving orphans. Hmmm.

[Magikomik]

Yes, does not accept what he decides not to accept. James Randi is a sick old person having nothing better to do, but to entertain youngsters.

[GermanChocolateCake]

@Magikomik Your wheels are spinning, but you're not going anywhere.

[mfunke]

@Magikomik

Rules are set beforehand on what would constitute scientific evidence. What Randi accepts or don't is irrelevant to the test.

[Jellogel]

thank you freethinking for post, I love living in this modern age, I gem of a clip

[MURDOCMULDOON]

I wish that james Randy lived at the same time as Jesus ... stopped the bulslhit before it started =)

[Wewk1337]

@MURDOCMULDOON Though that wouldn't work, since Jesus did not exist to begin with. Randi should have lived at the year 400 or something instead. That would have stopped the bullshit before it started ;>

[Magikomik]

@MURDOCMULDOON There were other James Randies at those times. They crucified him for being psychic, and not being able to "prove" -- which in fact shows how inhumane is this beardy guy.

[gopherbar]

Like he said, $1,000,000 if you can prove it....so far no one has!

[marcmischief]

James randi is a god among men. Although god doesn't exist.

[ilham78]

I love Randi!!!!Thanks to him my life has become so plain and simple!!!

[surgeyX]

For those of you saying Randi is egotistical; he's not. He's trying to protect ALL of us from believing in things that just aren't true and being taken advantage of.

Here's the problem though -- Even though no one will admit it, people WANT to be fooled -- that's why people hate Randi. Randi forces us to give up our illusions and fantasies and live in the "real world" -- except most people are ignorant and would rather not give up on their beliefs, no matter how foolish they are.

[XFundie]

I get criticized all the time for being argumentative. Some people tell me it is not an attractive feature to question why they believe the things they do. Some tell me to just present my beliefs and listen to theirs and then be done with it. Fuck that, I don't give a shit what people think of me. I've found that most logical, scientifically minded people hold their beliefs lightly because they realize they could be wrong. Don't just question authority, question yourself.

[surgeyX]

@XFundie

I agree, problem is most people don't...people are willing to die for their beliefs (how moronic!) -- look at all the religious wars, terrorism, etc. -- no matter how foolish they might be. People like Randi bust up their fantasy worlds and they don't like it one bit. They'd rather be fooled and feel comforted and live in fantasy than feel betrayed and empty. Me personally, I am always looking for the truth, no matter how harsh it is. I'd rather accept truth than fakery.

[MatsWindow]

Thank god there is someone like James Randi in this world. Keeping us safe from people that want to play on our feelings, health and family for money

[jwka2001]

Randi Pwned this ass clown Graham Watkins

[DAVE5551000]

no one can challenge the Amazing Randi cause he is the real men

and there is no such a thing as PSYCICH POWER, is never been and will nevere be

[rkyeun]

@DAVE5551000

Never will be might be a bit of a stretch. We've already invented telepathy! Most of us carry devices for it in our pockets, with annoying ringtones!

[BigMisterBig1]

Not to defend charlatans, but Randi is firmly entrenched in everything that's visible & scientifically proven. Very ego-based. That's probably why he's never married. Feelings of love & sexual desire aren't provable, so facing a wife every day would mean endless hours of unprovable concepts.

RANDI'S WIFE: "I love you!"

RANDI: "That's BULLSHIT! PROVE IT TO ME! SHOW ME THE SCIENTIFIC DATA!!"

LOL!

[XFundie]

Randi is not saying he only believes in things that are scientifically validated but that he is skeptical of claims of supernatural origin. Love is not supernatural, in fact there is ongoing research being done in neuroscience to figure out just what love is. I'm sure randi accepts certain ideas that are, somewhat, beyond science like love or morality. The things he is skeptical about are the extraordinary claims because those require extraordinary evidence, to paraphrase Carl Sagan.

[SteveFusionX]

@BigMisterBig1

I don't know why you got so many thumbs down. I thought your comment was really funny!

(and true)

[EartherZero]

Graham Watkins is a mental midget. Randi describes the entire process and then the guy displays a total lack of comprehension of what he just said. Dumb or dishonest ... take your pick.

[pitbull103]

So many ghosts, but they can't come up with one damn apparition with the Randi $ on the line. Hmmmm.

[jacksonwaspedo]

randy ruined the show for all those idiots on the dias they are there like idiots and randy blows their whole world of belief

[maurpine]

Randy is a real super hero! he's got frigging powers man! long live Randy, The Defender of Reality!

[fandanstan]

What does Graham Watkins claim to be able to do?

[freethinking]

Graham Watkins is a ghost hunter who, when asked a year earlier to take the JREF $1 million challenge, said "James Randi is a fraud!"

[TheStrayCross]

@freethinking Of course James Randi is a "fraud" He says so himself :D

[radioactivestd]

Watkins is a cunt.

[0xbangx0]

Randi must live forever

[rafaelhsouza]

Scared chicken! Nyen nyen nyen! X-D

[tempestx8]

Randi just Owned that guy.

[cwclemons2007]

Give 'em hell Randi!!!!!

[TheWhiteRabbit1990]

No sir, I will not offer any evidence that what i say is true.

[ozweblogs]

Why the hell would YouTube suspend the JamesRandiFoundation account?

[CMalburn]

I think it was a problem with copyright on a clip from a TV show in one of Randi's videos.

[TinkerHell1966]

Graham Watkins is a prat. He would be pathetic if any of his 'research' ever amounted to anything other than an opportunity for him to whine about grants going to 'real science'.

[pitbull103]

LIke all of them, this psychic is a fraud, charlatan, fake, phony, con artist, cheat, and swindler.

[twold4this]

Get off the fence. Stop beating around the bush and tell us what you think. I suppose he could be self-deluded, and they are perhaps even more dangerous.

[MavisRileyJunior]

Got your proof of EVP yet dumbass?! You sure do a lot of moaning.

[ScottRouse3]

Ha! Way to go Randi!  Don't let up!

[professorslimking]

Alison Smith is there!!!!!!!

[kuroshashu]

Yeah, subtitles are needed. Also, hats off to Randi; putting woo woo dipshits in their place.

[professorslimking]

The JREF MDC IS a SHAM!!!!!!

[tcashin07]

You're making absurd claims in order to justify your absurd belief system.

You probably applied to the MDC and were turned down because you had no basis for your claims and appeared to them like one of the thousands of other loons who applied.

The MDC is not the only place to get recognized if you had true abilities.

Any scientist would love the publicity and funds from discovering such a thing.

You probably turned to being a charlatan when your career as an Elvis impersonator didn't pan out.

[MavisRileyJunior]

He applied ,couldnt agree to the rules and got kicked off! Search JREF MDC forum.

[OrGaZmO666]

lol owned!

[TruthSurge]

HAHAHAHAHA  OWNED!

[upublic]

SUTBTITLE THIS, come on, pleasseee,

[myroncope]

I'm just discovering randi for myself and all i see in response to his challeneges are ad hominem attacks and nonsense arguments like this watkins presents.

[popsie163]

count me in!

I'm with randi all the way!

he is my man!

[Hellblade8]

Watkins? You got PWND.

[phildirt3]

poor randi he has to spend so much of his life around all these bullshitters

[amoergosum3]

Randi is THE MAN!

[c6gunner]

What a coward.

[edcastillomty]

You put words to my thoughts

[justxkidin]

I wish I could give this comment more than a thumb up, this is exactly how I feel. I, however could never articulate it so well.

[SergeHumphrey]

@qtip169 randi's an ass 

[AndyDMBWA61]

I only hope I'm as sharp as Randi when I'm 80! Amazing! indeed!

[datavortex]

Search YouTube for "hW1KaSSftLE" to see the same thing from a slightly different angle.

[thepacers]

Randi is the most important filter to keep such bullshit far away from science so science can concentrate on importand things. thanks mr. Randi!

[ScottishAtheist]

lol that guy was absolutely owned by Randi. He sounded like he was ready to burst in to tears.

[dgdfhfghgfhgfgffjhj]

Man, this Watkins guy is a total douchebag.