Rumors of James Randi's Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated

[Ian David]

This just in from Adam Savage of Mythbusters:


Note: fark.com is wrong. James Randi just emailed me to say he's NOT in fact dead. Adam out.
http://twitter.com/donttrythis/status/4850277395

[immoderate]

1. I'm expecting to see him on November 7th.

My atheist's group, FLASH is holding a Carl Sagan Day event and JREF is one of the sponsoring groups and Randi is scheduled to speak. It's being held in Ft. Lauderdale if anybody wants to come. I think Adam Savage is on the bill too.

This rumor hasn't reached us yet.

--imm

[MrModerate]

2. I am not entirely comfortable with the concept or actuality of James Randi . . .

I once participated in a debunking session he was running against some supposed telekinetic guy and while scorning the paranormal is well within the bounds of acceptable behavior, Randi was an absolute asshole about the whole thing and actually made me feel sorry for the "psychic."

Just being right is not enough.

[onager]

3. I can understand why he does that.

I've also seen Randi live, but not at a debunking. I wish I had.

Just my opinion, but I don't think he's an asshole so much as he just does not suffer fools gladly. Or suffer them at all.

I consider his attitude a valuable corrective to the idea that every Fundie, Cretinist, and woo-woo deserves RESPECT for their idiotic supernatural claims.

Most of the supernatural claimants I've run into have a very high regard for their alleged powers, and just love it when they are treated like Very Special People. See also Browne, Sylvia and Edward-John.

Randi just brings them back to our level - exactly where they belong.

Or I guess to put it another way: Randi may be an egotistical asshole, but he's dealing with assholes who are even more egotistical.

[immoderate]

4. Considering the claims that the guy was making...

...and the venue, it's hard to imagine what Randi could do.

--imm