Comments on: Those Randi 80s http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/05/those-randi-80s/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:28:59 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: JB of Brisbane http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/05/those-randi-80s/comment-page-1/#comment-139393 JB of Brisbane Mon, 08 Dec 2008 03:03:08 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/05/those-randi-80s/#comment-139393 Does anyone in North America know the story of Mr Randi's appearance on the Don Lane Show here in Oz in the late seventies/early eighties? Don Lane, a tall expat Texan who called Melbourne home used to host a twice-weekly (9:30 PM Mondays and Thursdays) national talk/variety show along the lines of Merv Griffin and similar shows in the U.S. Don was renowned for giving air to woowoos of all descriptions, and also had a semi-regular segment on weird and unusual happenings, presented by Kevin Arnett. It was with this in mind that the Australian Society of Skeptics invited Randi to visit Australia and go on the Don Lane Show, masquerading either as a magician or a psychic. So Don introduced "The Amazing Randi", who did a couple of quick stage magic or mind tricks, then he revealed his real mission as a skeptic. This took Don Lane back a bit, as his guest was not who he said he was, but then Randi mand the mistake of talking about the tricks of people such as Uri Geller or Doris Stokes. Trouble was, Don at the time was very taken with both these people; he had had Geller on the show at least once, and Doris Stokes twice. To Don, Doris Stokes was a kindly old woman with an exceptional gift, which she used to give comfort to people upset by the death of a loved one - and here was this upstart of whom he had never heard, calling her a charlatan and a liar. Well, Don hit the roof. He started yelling all sort of invictive over the top of Randi's attempted explanation, and ended the segment by saying "We're gonna take a break and you can p*** off!!!", sweeping Randi's props off the coffee table onto the floor as he got up. To Don's credit, he apologised for his behaviour on the following show, but he was unshaken in his belief about Mrs Stokes. On a more recent retrospective show, hovever, he at least hinted that he may now be sceptical of Uri Geller. Does anyone in North America know the story of Mr Randi’s appearance on the Don Lane Show here in Oz in the late seventies/early eighties? Don Lane, a tall expat Texan who called Melbourne home used to host a twice-weekly (9:30 PM Mondays and Thursdays) national talk/variety show along the lines of Merv Griffin and similar shows in the U.S. Don was renowned for giving air to woowoos of all descriptions, and also had a semi-regular segment on weird and unusual happenings, presented by Kevin Arnett. It was with this in mind that the Australian Society of Skeptics invited Randi to visit Australia and go on the Don Lane Show, masquerading either as a magician or a psychic. So Don introduced “The Amazing Randi”, who did a couple of quick stage magic or mind tricks, then he revealed his real mission as a skeptic. This took Don Lane back a bit, as his guest was not who he said he was, but then Randi mand the mistake of talking about the tricks of people such as Uri Geller or Doris Stokes. Trouble was, Don at the time was very taken with both these people; he had had Geller on the show at least once, and Doris Stokes twice. To Don, Doris Stokes was a kindly old woman with an exceptional gift, which she used to give comfort to people upset by the death of a loved one – and here was this upstart of whom he had never heard, calling her a charlatan and a liar. Well, Don hit the roof. He started yelling all sort of invictive over the top of Randi’s attempted explanation, and ended the segment by saying “We’re gonna take a break and you can p*** off!!!”, sweeping Randi’s props off the coffee table onto the floor as he got up. To Don’s credit, he apologised for his behaviour on the following show, but he was unshaken in his belief about Mrs Stokes. On a more recent retrospective show, hovever, he at least hinted that he may now be sceptical of Uri Geller.

]]> By: Thomas Siefert http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/05/those-randi-80s/comment-page-1/#comment-139306 Thomas Siefert Sun, 07 Dec 2008 08:40:01 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/05/those-randi-80s/#comment-139306 OilISMastery said: "There have been many observations since beginning of the Space Age that prove that pre-Space Age mathematical models are absolute primitive garbage." But quotes from pre-space age scientists and philosophers are valid? You also seem to admire Immanuel Velikovsky (I had a peek at your blog), my friend this is anti-science at its worst. OilISMastery said: “There have been many observations since beginning of the Space Age that prove that pre-Space Age mathematical models are absolute primitive garbage.”

But quotes from pre-space age scientists and philosophers are valid?

You also seem to admire Immanuel Velikovsky (I had a peek at your blog), my friend this is anti-science at its worst.

]]> By: Gary Ansorge http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/05/those-randi-80s/comment-page-1/#comment-139274 Gary Ansorge Sun, 07 Dec 2008 01:32:33 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/05/those-randi-80s/#comment-139274 Oills: Those are dogmatic statements. Show me evidence. I gave up on dogma 52 years ago. GAry 7 Oills:
Those are dogmatic statements. Show me evidence. I gave up on dogma 52 years ago.

GAry 7

]]> By: OilIsMastery http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/05/those-randi-80s/comment-page-1/#comment-139242 OilIsMastery Sat, 06 Dec 2008 20:47:40 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/05/those-randi-80s/#comment-139242 To Shawn S., in response to: "Even OilISMastery would have to think someone a loon if they continued to rail against the theory of relativity as ‘fad or fallacy of contemporary science’." You are absolutely correct. Anyone who accuses Einstein of being contemporary is a loon. He was first half of the 20th century and pre-Space Age. The second half of the 20th century was the beginning of the Space Age. There have been many observations since beginning of the Space Age that prove that pre-Space Age mathematical models are absolute primitive garbage. Welcome to the 21st century. To Shawn S., in response to:

“Even OilISMastery would have to think someone a loon if they continued to rail against the theory of relativity as ‘fad or fallacy of contemporary science’.”

You are absolutely correct. Anyone who accuses Einstein of being contemporary is a loon. He was first half of the 20th century and pre-Space Age. The second half of the 20th century was the beginning of the Space Age. There have been many observations since beginning of the Space Age that prove that pre-Space Age mathematical models are absolute primitive garbage. Welcome to the 21st century.

]]> By: Gary Ansorge http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/05/those-randi-80s/comment-page-1/#comment-139216 Gary Ansorge Sat, 06 Dec 2008 15:47:08 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/05/those-randi-80s/#comment-139216 AH, the Randi '80s,,, I remember them well,,, As one Randy old goat said to another, "I stink. Therefore, I ram,,,". (GRA 1998) Sorry. I just couldn't help myself,,, IVAN3MAN: It probably has something to do with the right hemisphere thing,,, GAry 7 AH, the Randi ’80s,,, I remember them well,,,

As one Randy old goat
said to another,
“I stink. Therefore,
I ram,,,”.

(GRA 1998)

Sorry. I just couldn’t help myself,,,

IVAN3MAN:
It probably has something to do with the right hemisphere thing,,,

GAry 7

]]> By: Brett http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/05/those-randi-80s/comment-page-1/#comment-139152 Brett Sat, 06 Dec 2008 14:15:07 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/05/those-randi-80s/#comment-139152 Great stuff! I just finished reading 'Flim Flam!' -- everything in it still holds true and it's sad that, despite all of the debunking he does, the silliness of psychics, astrologers, tarot card readers, dowsers, etc, still continues to this day. Great stuff! I just finished reading ‘Flim Flam!’ — everything in it still holds true and it’s sad that, despite all of the debunking he does, the silliness of psychics, astrologers, tarot card readers, dowsers, etc, still continues to this day.

]]> By: IVAN3MAN http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/05/those-randi-80s/comment-page-1/#comment-139139 IVAN3MAN Sat, 06 Dec 2008 07:23:01 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/05/those-randi-80s/#comment-139139 Has anyone noticed that it is mostly <b>men</b> who believe in UFOs/Chem-trail Conspiracies/Moon Hoax/Electric Universe crap, but mostly <b>women</b> who believe in Psychics/Astrology/Faith Healing/Supernatural crap? Has anyone noticed that it is mostly men who believe in UFOs/Chem-trail Conspiracies/Moon Hoax/Electric Universe crap, but mostly women who believe in Psychics/Astrology/Faith Healing/Supernatural crap?

]]>