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Message from discussion Geller: the "after bending" effect
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Mike Hutchinson  
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 More options Jan 22 2000, 3:00 am
Newsgroups: uk.rec.psychic, alt.paranormal, sci.skeptic
From: Mike Hutchinson <m...@hutch.demon.no.rubbish.co.uk>
Date: 2000/01/22
Subject: Re: Geller: the "after bending" effect
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In article <gothic-1701001800070...@ppp103.blackbox1-mfs.netaxs.com>,
Matt Kriebel <got...@netaxs.com> writes

>At last I had heard from Randi and a few others the quote Randi gave *was*
>about his stage act.

I decided to double check with Randi. He told me a few days ago that the
quote "refers to the fact that my tests are designed in such a way that
no one can cheat.

"The skeptic, no matter how well-meaning, is confusing this with the
fact -- which I've often stated -- that we magicians always have an
"out" from not saying in advance what we're going to do in the act, thus
not having to do something which may turn out to be impossible because
of unexpected events or conditions."

So, he's said it about both.

> Rawlins took the quote and applied it rather weasley
>imply that it was about the challenge. You'll note that Rawlins never
>actually outright accuses Randi of having the room to cheat, he merely
>places the quote conveniently next to his complaint about the challenge's
>judging and lets people  draw a flase conclusion.

I am perfectly willing to accept that Dennis had recalled it as meaning
the challenge. I have no idea why he didn't either clarify it at the
time Randi said it, or write a little more on the quote in 'Fate'.
Whatever. It is something that believers have jumped on over the years
as meaning something which it doesn't. But there's nothing new there.

>Rawlins did this a *lot* in sTARBABY. He would give direct quotes from
>other people to put them in the worst light, then would only give the
>vaugest outline of what he himself was saying in the same conversations.
>These were emotional issues that I ended up avoiding outright when writing
>the sTARBABY FAQ.

Knowing many of the people involved I can agree with you. [I was going
to write that I know many of the 'players' but I know how that will be
spun by the pro-paranormal spin doctors. ;-) ]
--
Mike Hutchinson
Co-author of 'Bizarre Beliefs' (with 'Guardian' columnist Simon Hoggart)
See http://www.hutch.demon.co.uk
Please remove "no.rubbish" from reply to address

 
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