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Despite its rational stance, the public may confuse these two types of extremistsfanatical followers of all things paranormal and ever-suspicious skepticsat times. For example, many of Internet sites about psychic phenomena are actually created by skeptics. They express themselves with such vehemence that you can't tell whether you're reading about ideas of rational scientists or inane parodies of the skeptic view-point. |
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At times, skeptics have done more research on a phenomenal event than someone who was present to experience it. But because the skeptics haven't experienced the phenomenal world themselves, they have no firsthand knowledge of an alternate reality. And because they are not open to experiencing it, they are very unlikely to do so. This creates a huge catch-22, which they are quick to point out. |
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Another catch-22 is that carefully monitored psi tests show that psi works best in a positive and receptive atmosphere, not a negative and suspicious one. Interestingly, while psi researchers are put in the position of proving psi does exist, the skeptics are finding they have a far more difficult task: proving that psi doesn't exist. |
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One of the best-known popular skeptics regarding the paranormal is the Amazing Randi, a.k.a. James Randi. Trained as a magician, Randi is on a personal crusade to prove that psi effects are a hoax. He has written several books on the topic and has traveled extensively to lecture on the subjects of pseudoscience and supernatural claims. |
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In some instances, Randi has even taught people how to commit fraud, and then sent them into psi labs to fool scientists. The best-known case occurred in 1979 with two teenagers, Steve Shaw and Michael Edwards. Randi taught them how to fake having PK powers, and then sent them to McDonnell Laboratory at Washington University to |
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