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James Randi dead at 92.

JayUtah said:
...We can honor the memory of James Randi in no better way than debating the historic and ongoing role of religion in language and society.
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God bless you, Jay, for saying that. :)

In that case:


No, it doesn't. But it has to do with what you also said about carrying over theistic origins and concepts, often unthinkingly. Our day names follow from gods. We atheists don't care.
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I've already addressed this. Like I said:

(1) We have plenty of words in English that today carry very different meanings than their historical roots. Etymology is of interest only to the linguist, amateur or otherwise. A live phrase with live words is very different than that. Phrases like RIP and "God bless you", while used in general contexts also, clearly retain their original meaning, that IMO they've not evolved away from.

To take another example, using what another poster has tried to argue: 'Bye' (and 'Goodbye') are words that historically and etymologically are derived from 'God be with you'. Those words ('bye' and 'goodbye') do not themselves carry any theistic baggage today and so wouldn't, I think, reasonably be objected to (exactly like 'Tuesday') ; unlike the live phrase "God bless you", which -- like 'RIP' -- does carry theistic baggage, despite the fact that that it is, like RIP, also used colloquially in more general senses.


(2) I've already clearly and explicitly granted the validity of the use of platitudes like 'God forbid', and 'damn' and, yes, 'RIP' as well, provided we knowingly dismiss them, despite their religious baggage, as unimportant platitudes. What I was -- pedantically I guess -- saying is that claiming that the 'Rest' in 'RIP' is a reference to someone's body inside the coffin or their ashes, as had been claimed, is clearly a stretch, a sense that is neither accurate nor at all needed.


I wasn't clear how pointing out some word, like Tuesday, has historical etymological roots to religion -- which by the way I hadn't known, and thanks to Darat and to you for pointing/spelling that out! -- adds to what I'd already said here (unless as incidental--and interesting!--snippet/information). I'm afraid I still don't.
 
End of an era, certainly.
I wonder who if anybody, will become the new face of skepticism?

And how did a thread meant to celebrate Randi;s life become another stupid argument over semantics?
 
So you think that wondering about the term Randi would have used to describe his death is a disgrace, whereas complaining about it is much more dignified.
Randi has died.
He will be missed.
He was already missed when he stopped being active.
Now he has also stopped being alive, but no era has ended.
 
Some guy called Bill Perron is spamming on a "tribute" post by Uri Geller' on his Facebook page; something about the Million dollar challenge he was conned out of(as usual)
 
Azrael 5 said:
Some guy called Bill Perron is spamming on a "tribute" post by Uri Geller' on his Facebook page; something about the Million dollar challenge he was conned out of(as usual)
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I made the mistake of visiting Geller's Facebook page just now. I think I might be ill.
 
Just wanted to say James Randi was a great influence on me. I started reading his newsletters only recently, around 2004-5, but it was great for breaks at work. I'm sad that he is gone but also recognize that lived a long life, one that I can't imagine repeating, certainly not with his cognitive state all through it. I'm glad his legacy is still here and will be for a long time. And I thank everyone who keeps it alive.
 
I first heard of James Randi in my pre-skeptic days, in the early 70's.

Uri Geller had just finished his shtick at the Stanford Research Institute, and I was thinking "Finally some repeatable results."

Then I read an interview in (IIRC) Psychology Today with a "James Randi" who demonstrated that Uri could have been using slight of hand.

My first thought was "Rats! That IS a show-stopper! They'll have to repeat the tests with a stage magician observing."

Only they didn't.

That article introduced me to a whole new approach to skepticism.

I read Randi's book Flim-Flam and other books on skepticism, and for forty years I have subscribed to the magazine Skeptical Inquirer.

I never had the privilege of meeting James Randi. I did see his appearance on Happy Days.

James Randi - you improved my life.
 
There’s a bunch of old Randi stuff on YouTube, last night I watched this one:
https://youtu.be/SbwWL5ezA4g
Where physicists are baffled by a simple “levitate the matchbox” trick that was first shown in Martin Gardners book of basic magic tricks.
 
Bikewer said:
There’s a bunch of old Randi stuff on YouTube, last night I watched this one:
https://youtu.be/SbwWL5ezA4g
Where physicists are baffled by a simple “levitate the matchbox” trick that was first shown in Martin Gardners book of basic magic tricks.
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Just watched the YouTube video. Fan Tas Tic!

I would NEVER have figured out how Randi did it, and the trick was so simple!

I feel like carrying a matchbox around so I can amaze believers!
 
Humots said:
Just watched the YouTube video. Fan Tas Tic!

I would NEVER have figured out how Randi did it, and the trick was so simple!

I feel like carrying a matchbox around so I can amaze believers!
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Yeah, that was great. I knew of another method and looked for it but wasn't aware of this one.

I do have to quibble with the cameraperson or director, though. Cutting to a worse view at the climactic moment was just bad form.
 
Ignatius said:
I haven't logged on here in years so nobody will remember me from the old site but just heard and wanted to extend my condolences. We all owe him a great debt and I feel terrible about the news.
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Hey Iggy...at least one old timer remembers you!

I remember that James Randi actually had to be convinced to create a skeptic forum; he didn't believe there would be an interest in it.

Nineteen years later it's still going strong.
 
I just found out. I happened to check out the JREF site to see what he was up to. What a year.

Randi's work has helped me articulate and refine the skepticism that was budding when I found his site and its forum years ago during the Kramer era of the Million Dollar Challenge. Since then I've learned a lot about critical thinking and the ways people deceive others and themselves.

He'll be remembered.
 
An honest liar

I've been one of the documentary project "An honest liar" backers which is a great piece of work explaining a lot about Randi's life
 
Just noticed, face gone from masthead. Visitation over! Too bad, I was getting used to it, gave the place a certain ...tone. Oh well.
 
Beerina said:
I have skeptic books from three authors: those two, and

The Bermuda Triangle Mystery -- Solved! by Larry Kusche, who was a librarian sick of credophiles constantly coming in and asking for Bermuda Triangle. It pours over every case, delving into not just the actual known facts, suggesting mundane explanations, but goes into how book hacks exaggerate, mislead, or even lie to make the case for something odd.
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@Magrat posts obit. Can't remember member who passed, but touched by obit. Curious, look up @JPK, and am led back here. A thread I've seen, obviously, but missed this post that now caught my eye.

Didn't know the Bermuda Triangle's "solved"! This post's just a more-likely-I'll-follow-up-on-than-passive-bookmark reminder-to-self, posted hurriedly from phone, as well as invitation to anyone that wants to comment to do so.

(OT, I know, but I'm sure the patron saint of skepticism won't mind! A detailed discussion, should it happen, can always branch off.)


eta: Maybe I should have started a fresh thread. Maybe I will, later.


Posted By: zooterkin
 
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