I had the enormous pleasure today of attending The Amazing Meeting (TAM), London. This conference of skeptics, scientists, rationalists and humanists has taken place annually in Las Vegas for many years now, but this is the first time it has ventured overseas. Today’s lineup of speakers was formiddable, to say the least. The names Brian Cox, Richard Wiseman, Simon Singh, Jon Ronson, Ariane Sherine, Ben Goldacre and Simon Singh are household names in certain circles. All fly the flag for evidence and rational thinking in their own way, a cause strongly allied with the scientific method.
Over the next few days, I’ll present highlights from this aptly named Amazing Meeting. To start, here’s a rough-and-ready transcript of the afternoon’s main feature – a live video link to the lack-of-godfather of skeptical thinking and namesake of the James Randi Educational Foundation.
James Randi was unable to make the trip from Florida on the advice of his doctors – he’s undergoing chemotherapy – but paricipated in a sparkling Q&A session with the TAM London audience. The following text is my best effort at noting down the discourse. Remarks in inverted commas are direct quotes, the rest is paraphrased from notes and memory. The full video should be available online soon from the conference organiser.
Of all the frauds you’ve exposed over the years, which was your favourite?
It has to be Peter Popoff. “I’ve caused Popoff a lot of anguish and I couldn’t be happier about that.”
[Popoff was a fraudulant faith healer who got a little help in his readings via a hidden earpiece – more on him later.]
What keeps you going?
The huge amount of positive correspondence from people who tell me my work has influenced them or changed their worldview. “It is gratifying and humbling”.
What do you think about the future of skepticism?
How did you feel about the James Hydrick debunking.
[Hydrick was a chap who claimed to be able to move objects with his mind. He actually blows them, as Randi exposed.]
I actually had two body guards for that show. Hydrick is a martial arts expert and considered a little volatile. The TV station were very concerned for my welfare. Exposing his method was a little sad really, after I later learned about his past. He was abused as a child and is now himself in jail for a number of offenses. I probably wouldn’t have gone after him had I known about his past.
What do you think about Derren Brown and his lottery trick?
“I’m very fond of him. We’ve never met, but I have corresponded over the years.” But I think he made an error, or a faux pas, shall we say, in promising an explanation. The explanation offered was not an explanation. It was, though, fiendishly clever. Hats off to him. “That was very, very good Derren”.
Do you have any advice for someone looking to set up their own local skeptical society?
“Well, Google knows everything. Some of the things it knows aren’t true. But do a Google search to look for your nearest local groups.” Then, correspond with them and get advice about setting your own up.
What’s the future of the million dollar challenge?
[This is the prize, offered by the JREF, for anyone who can demonstrate a psychic power under agreed-upon test conditions.]
“An excellent question! It will go on.” It was originally discontinued after we thought the money could be better applied elsewhere. But then the woo-woo brigade claimed we were backing down in the face of overwhelming evidence. So we started it up again. “In fact, it’s now in my will that it will continue after my demise – which of course is long in the future.”
Have you ever been tempted to try for it yourself? [Sardonic question from Richard Wiseman]
Ha! Now you’ve got me thinking.
And I could be the judge. We could split the prize money. [Wiseman again.]
I’ll have to think about it… [jokingly]
Which type of weird group are the most distasteful to you?
[Perhaps mis-hearing the question] Well, the most common applicants for the million dollar challenge are dowsers, about 80%. Then it would be healers and diagnosers of illness.
What do you think the future of the JREF will be after you’ve gone?
I think we’ll continue as we are. We want to have an impact on the political powers in the US. Obama is a big, big improvement on the previious regime. He still mentions God a lot, but I’d expect that from any politician.
What psychic claim do you find most plausible?
Well, they’re all rather implausible of course. But if I had to choose, I think ESP/telepathy has the most chance of being possible. The problem here is that a horse to me is not a horse to you. We perceive objects differently.
If you could live any moment from your long, illustrious career, what would it be?
It would have to be the Johnny Carson show, where I debunked Popoff [I forget the full details here, but here’s a clip.]
Randi then gave lots of thank yous to people who had helped with TAM London, and gave a special, final mention to ‘one of his heroes’ Simon Singh.
“I wish him well. We’ll all put out ‘good vibrations’ for him.”