James Randi - Psychic Investigator - Part 15 of 15

[NiangoChan]

noooooooooooooooooo...now what will i watch on youtube :' (

[MrHokeykokey]

1:46 Keyser Soze!

[mooxim]

just finished watching all of these in a row. thanks for posting.

[ac1th]

Is Picture #2 Klaus Kinski?

[TraceurMeeka]

someone who wears glasses has a problem with their eyes... WOW!

[Robstrike]

does anyone think it is coincidence that most of these people with so-called "gifts" are elderly women?

[dwain1987]

wow i got it right

[SlappyGomez]

"Well, first things first." Hilarious!

[H0tkebab]

James Randi is the master of pwning, not only that, he does it with finesse.

[Forserean]

lol the photo's, i "guessed" dead dead alive alive alive... i'm better than her! 4 of 5! Worship me!

[entaroduai]

i think james randi is missing a point here

although atheists make decisions based on logic, rationality, and evidence, theists do not. according to the church, evidence is less reliable and valid guide for making decisions. people should make decision based on faith and authority, church's authority.

i think this is completely bullshit, but it seems that the church has found a way to manipulate people whilest prevent them from realizing.

[H0tkebab]

@entaroduai

I don't know about other theists, but I make a large portion of my decisions based on logic, rationality and evidence. The bible for me is a moral guide and a historical account, not a replacement for logical judgment. I'm sure there are others that think the same. However we don't place all our trust in human logic alone, thats where our faith comes in. The bible advocates in having a healthy balance between logic and faith, however I'm not so sure about the church.

[EvanJCastle]

@H0tkebab

Do you follow every law set out in the bible or do you disregard some things in there for cultural or other reasons?

If you follow every law in the bible, not only are you dangerous and violent, I think you need help.

If, however, you follow most/some of the bible, and disregard some things that you disagree with, this is proof positive that your morals existed before you read the bible. Ergo; the bible is not your moral guide, but a tool in which you can demonstrate your morals.

[H0tkebab]

@EvanJCastle

Question: Was Jesus a dangerous and violent man?

[EvanJCastle]

@H0tkebab

No idea. There's barely any recollection of the man at all, apart from writings that were done many MANY years after he died by people who hadn't even met him.

If he was note-worthy, someone would have documented his life as it were happening and I'd be able to answer your question. However, he was not that note-worthy, so no one documented his life, ergo; I cannot answer your question factually.

[EvanJCastle]

@H0tkebab

And if you're trying to ask a loaded question, think of this first. (The following should be prefaced with "According to The Bible"...)

Jesus did not follow all the laws of the Jewish Bible. Matter of fact he abolished most of the Ten Commandments and kept only what he said was important.

Between the ages of 10 and 32, even The Bible doesn't document what he got up to. I know MY OWN "dangerous/violent years" occured between the ages of 15 and 27... food for thought?

[H0tkebab]

@EvanJCastle

Read again, no where in the bible or in the course of history does it state that Jesus broke the law, in fact, if anything he came to enforce it. Youtube isn't the best place to argue over theology due to its limitations and lack of maturity, you will have to put the effort into forwarding your argument onto a Christian forum. I can't go with what I think, but only with what I know about this subject. Shortening down explanations is not the best way to answer questions.

[EvanJCastle]

@H0tkebab

"I think the bible is good and the church is bad" ?

That's like saying you like kebabs but you don't eat meat.

A kebab without meat is meaningless, as is the bible without a church.

[H0tkebab]

@EvanJCastle

Ever heard of falafel? A popular alternative to meat in kebabs and just happens to be my favorite.

[turtlefromthenorth]

James Randi himself uses techniques of the mind, he's just not very open about it. He focuses all effort to debunk any paranormal phenomenon. His methods are very dubeous, he's mainly a showman. The problem with science is that the a academic tradition has set up it's own rules for what is aknowledged as good scientific methods. Everything that is not easily measured physically have a very hard time proving it's self. However there are lots of studies showing the "paranormal" exist.

[antichrist65535]

@turtlefromthenorth Sorry, you can have 'studies' show whatever you want. A group of catholic's went a found a whole bunch of people with AIDS so they could try and 'show' that condoms increase the chance of spreading AIDS. Just saying "There are lots of studies showing blah blah exist" doesn't mean squat if you don't provide any links or evidence of any sort.

[turtlefromthenorth]

@antichrist65535

The studies are available for anyone who search, there are enormous amounts of them; on spirituality, religion, clairvoyance and more. The only thing you need is an interest for the subject and intellectually honesty.

[EvanJCastle]

@turtlefromthenorth

We have a great term for everything that cannot be measured physically. Non-existant.

[EvanJCastle]

@turtlefromthenorth

As for the claim that science unfairly sets the goals too high for paranormal abilities to be proven:

Results. Think about that. Claimed psychics ALWAYS give the EXACT SAME RESULTS as non-psychics who just guess. Can you grasp that? The exact same results, time and time again.

I'd say the bar is set quite rationally.

Imagine paying an electrician to wire a powerpoint up for you and then they say "if it doesn't zap you 70% of the time, I'd say I've done a good job".

[EvanJCastle]

@turtlefromthenorth

Oh, and just so you know, one "test" that showed that paranormal activity exists was done in Australia, and the paranormal person in question was trained by none other than James Randi to fool the panel of judges. And he did. Then later revealed the hoax. It's quite a funny story as told by Randi, especially the part where he was almost "outed" by a member of the press as he left the plane haha

[turtlefromthenorth]

@EvanJCastle

Yes, I know very well. I used to hang on to every word he said, and thought he was genuine. Years ago I used to hold him in high regard, and watched a lot of his tricks and bought a couple of his books. He is a showman, with an inflated ego. He never gives the other side a chance, far from unbiased or scientific.

[EvanJCastle]

@turtlefromthenorth

But why SHOULD he give the other side a chance? They are nothing but (at best) deluded or (at worst) complete liars. These assholes take money from people who don't know what to believe.

The Amazing Randi is far from perfect, I'll agree, but I don't believe he ever claimed to be, and people like me don't follow him like a god, we just use his lectures as a good place to start for critical thinking. (Although, it's usually his exact thoughts that we end up agreeing with)

[EvanJCastle]

@turtlefromthenorth

If you went around the world explaining that solar power was a good idea, and were continually asked to give equal time for coal producers to have their say, after the first two or three attempted to say their tech is just as planet-friendly, you wouldn't even bother giving time to any more would you?

Same thing as what Randi is doing. "Heard it before, you're a liar, piss off."

[turtlefromthenorth]

@EvanJCastle

Your reply is words from a closed mind. If you are into analogies; solar power will only get you so far. It is not about old technology but daring to take a few steps out of a mindset that splits any research in this area into opposite strictly enclosed camps. For someone like Randi who has invested 50 years of his life in this rode, it is very hard to admit the other camp knows something he doesn't. Keeping this up only inhibits the mind to go where it hasn't in the past.

[EvanJCastle]

@turtlefromthenorth

Why do you weirdos always assume a sceptical mind is a closed one?

My mind is open to any claim that can be backed by science.

My mind is NOT open to claims that rely on me believing without testable evidence. This is what a child does. I am not a child.

Why can't you people seem to grasp that?

[turtlefromthenorth]

@EvanJCastle LOL

James Randy has a close mind, I don't know about you. He is not any where close to scientific. Trouble is, science have defined themselves out of the realm where "the other camp" work, often those who think of themselves as spiritual, religious, clairvoyant, mediums. There is; at least in the media a rather strict division between these two camps, which is not at all helpful to those who really want to do something else than keep it up.

[Smithpolly]

@turtlefromthenorth He looks for proof when people make extraordinary claims. I wouldn't call that close minded. It's a sensible thing to do. Often people call sceptics close minded when they themselves will not change their belief no matter how much evidence there is against it. Many still believe that Slyvia Browne has psychic powers, for example.

[EvanJCastle]

@turtlefromthenorth

Okay. If you won't accept the JREF Challenge as proof that these people are fraudulent, then what about the Australian Skeptics AU$100,000 Challenge? Similiar setup.

These people take advantage of your good nature and rip you off. And if you cannot detect that, then so be it. But I want to join the army that stands these assholes up and counts them.

[turtlefromthenorth]

@EvanJCastle

If you let your self be devoured by the mind set of JR and his likes, you enter a form of tautolgic train of thought where the aim is to reveal fraud, deception and self delution. There is no room for discovering anything outside the skeptic frame of mind. There are unfortunately a lot of half baked clairvoyants, (or what ever we call them), but there are also those who have the ability to see things others are blocked to. If you dare look for it, it is there to be found.

[EvanJCastle]

@turtlefromthenorth

That's what you whackos always say. "You wont be open to discovering things". That's pure BS. The skeptical mindset is one of science. Science is about finding stuff out, not "blocking" or being "closed minded".

You people are closed minded in the way you accept everything that anyone "spiritual" or "psychic" says but ignore data collected about these frauds without even looking at it.

[turtlefromthenorth]

@EvanJCastle If you use half the energy you spend on the "skeptic" notion, looking for what's there, you will find a lot of interesting stuff. There are mediums who have worked with real scientists, like Dampier-Jeans, and others. Remember this is a field shunned by many, mostly out of fear than any thing else. That is why you find all kinds of people with varying degree of abilities all over the place. When up against the establishment, you really need to make your own experiences.

[EvanJCastle]

@turtlefromthenorth

What don't you people get? It's not "skeptics don't believe in psychics so they ignore their existance" but rather "when put to the test, these people display results that are less than if not equal to that of chance"

It doesn't matter what we think we know about how stuff works. That's not the problem. The problem is that their results are less than impressive. Their results are never more than chance allows.

Why would I pay to see what I can do myself by flipping a coin?

[iqwaxzi]

@turtlefromthenorth Randi (NOT Randy) IS on "the other camp"...

...he came out as a poofter in his 80's.

[khdou]

For those interested- Derren Brown's Undertaker Trick is something cool to watch. instead of psychics meaninglessly guess who's living, get someone who does know and try to subconsciously relay that information to another

[winterstellar]

Hahaa, I can never get enough up stupid hick con-men and con-ladies making fools of themselves every time they're tested. : )

[winterstellar]

@winterstellar *Of *, not "up"  : )

[BeDaChange]

I like what this dude is doing "JR"... but he is making me think twice with all the damn EYEs on the floor of the stage and showing it every lunch break...

[morro765060]

this is funny = )

[karmicide]

Being a skeptic myself I consider the last test as not transparent. The alive folks should have shown themselves on stage. Why should we trust Randi either? After all he is a trickster as well.

[007rapz]

@karmicide loll hahahahaha thats funny come on what she does is so ridicules

[BeDaChange]

@karmicide LOL .. right on

[LifeInBrunswick]

You deserve a big thank you but you don't deserve any money :P

[Baldnesz]

Psychics with strange foreign accents ...... whatever next .. gay ones ?

[pitbull103]

Ol' Agnes is highly suspect of the Rand. Check out that sideways glance. Randi's negative vibes are already squashing her "abilities." Yep.

[SweettieeGirl]

there is no 16 it says 15 of 15

[corenothing]

Randi's so diplomatic, with out holding back

[Z1Z12]

THE WRITING'S ON THE WALL

[Z1Z12]

randi said he tested 600 failures. If I threw a dart at a dartboard (or randi) 600 times would I not get one bullseye? If I bet one dollar a day on a horse for 600 days (nearly two years) would I not get one winner ? sounds fishy, but it's because the paranormal is random, abstract and unavailable on demand.

Bad radio reception sometimes cannot pick up a signal, but it IS being transmitted, it is invisible, but it IS there.

Psychic people are not ALWAYS receptive and fakes DONT apply to randi.

[sabdow]

@Z1Z12 -- Would you be willing to inject your body with AIDS and then see a "Psychic Healer" who can cure cancer? I bet not you deluded bastard.

[FailingTube]

@sabdow I give you a tick of approval sir.

[FailingTube]

@Z1Z12 You make no sense and your comment gave me a little nervous twitch of frustration.

[TheUser10110]

what i liked about this series is that every experiment was explained by statistics and all the stats were right. goes to show that everything can be explained by maths

[Z1Z12]

'Septics' think they are right. They dont realise their opinions exist because they haven't PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED psychic phenomina and if they ever did, they are so fixed in opinion they dismiss it as a coincidence.

SCEPTICS WOULD HAVE BURNED ME TO DEATH 300 YEARS AGO IF I SAID "A VOICE FROM THEvSKY GUIDES MY CAR, DOORS OPEN FOR ME, PACEMAKERS ADJUST HEART BEAT BY REMOTE CONTROL, I SPEAK TO JAPAN WITH SMALL BOX AND QUARTZ CRYSTAL SENDS OUT INVISIBLE RAYS TO KEEP A WATCH ACCURATE. AMEN.

[anonymous2635]

The word skeptic was first defined about 120 years ago. There were people who had ideologies similar to a skeptic ideology but no actual skeptics 300yrs ago, soz.

Personal experience is not an argument.

You see what you want to see, not what really is. If these paranormal event are happening in reality, they can be tested and proven. But non ever are.

And i'm not sure you know what a "skeptic" means, i just don't believe in things when theres no evidence for it.

[TheUser10110]

your arguments in caps are fuckin stupid, clearly we can understand the function of all those devices scientifically so when you make a point try to use some logic in your arguments. fuckin retard, maybe if ppl like u were burned 300 years ago the world would be much better today

[terminaldeity]

"They dont realise their opinions exist because they haven't PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED psychic phenomina"

That's such bullshit. I've experienced some strange things in my time, but how do I know it was a paranormal experience? I'm an empiricist for the most part, but problem with relying entirely on personal experience is that you have a one-dimensional view of the world. Randi has said many times that psychics may in fact exist, but most "psychics" are really cold readers or mentalists.

[iSOBigD]

@Z1Z12 No, Religious people would have burned you, you fool. (And they did - many people, if you know a bit of history.) Skeptics would have simply asked you to show them some proof, and upon seeing the proof they would have believed you and spread that knowledge.

What people call "personal experience" is simply their perception or reality, not reality itself. In part 1 of this series, James demonstrates EXACTLY that. The guy's Personal Experience was "it's magic!" but all of us saw reality.

[ilham78]

those people are sick.and those who believe them are sicker!

Randy you rock!!!

[ikvsabre]

In the last picture, one can tell from the hair style, the clothes, and the quality of the picture that it was taken LONG ago. So there were good odds that they guy was dead. Hardly a psychic prediction.

[lindafay1]

I got 4/5! :D Dang dead looking last guy.

[Nolebrab]

It doesn't seem to matter what facts there are, what proof there is, how easily it can be debunked, how much fail is involved in tests and how blatantly nonsensical rubbish it is, people will still believe bullshit scams and so on because they are deluded.

[SizZ1eR]

@Nolebrab Most adults in some ways arent different than children, at least when it comes to believe they have an invisible friend.

Prolly because it makes them feel more secure and protected from whatever theyre scared of, most likely theyre just scared of the thought of being "alone" with nothing to lean on.

A good way to get outta that is, to start building your life on solid ground rather than hearsays and make believe, thats where the true everlasting support is.

[TheFriendlyFriends]

I wish he did more shows like this. Thank you for posting them all.

[birdiejoehoaks]

goodnight

[DARRBEV]

watching these vids have brought back some goooood memories, Thanks man.

[Sutskoen]

I think there's 2 dead, without having seen it, easy to write afterwards... but just one seems too easy... I'd probably use 4 dead and one alive, hehe... but it's all guess work from me.... and delusions from her, heh

[236]

thanks for uploading this.

[henrikthedj]

Can we have part 16 please...

[FSMUnicorn]

The graphologist completely missed the point about astrology. It was about popularity and longevity meaning little when it comes to whether something is true or not.

[Geffen111]

Cheers for posting all of these, they'd be hard to track down otherwise.

[zeeslag123]

the photo of the girl looked like it was taken in the sixties and she was quite young, so there is a big chance that she's still alive today, anyone can do that.

[darimoma]

2:14-2:15 - look at the lips of the photo - IT TALKS!!! Obviously something paranormal going on.

[mercarian7]

I thought that I was seeing things. :)

[anonymees]

haha, wtf is up with that...

[kirby4blues]

I thought the guy int he last picture looked like a German from WW2, and I thought that he would be dead as well O.o

Thank you for the videos, they;'ve been great.

[JackLipnick]

thanks for posting all these - great stuff!