James Randi. Self proclaimed truth seeker, unmasker of hoxers and charlatans - unless, it seems, that charlatan is his partner.

I'll be perfectly honest here; I have little liking for Mr Randi and his cohorts. I don't like the way they go about what they do, although I have no issue with the sceptical basis of their work.

This isn't new news, it's a few months old, but it's the first I've heard of it until today. It seems that Randi's longtime partner who goes by the name of Jose Alvarez has been arrested, charged with alleged identity theft and, it seems, has been doing so for decades. So, what does Randi know about this? I think the answer to that is vitally important. He has a high standing based on his anti fraud stance and this is likely to dent his credibility, in my opinion.

Can he really have lived with this man for all that time and not known the truth about him?

Love is blind?

Even for the World's best known fraud basher?

Well he is still human, irrespective of what the believers think :lol:

I know that, but you can't make your name and fortune on publicly despising something you're doing yourself, Duck. It seems increasingly likely that he's been involved in a fraud himself for years, even if he's just guilty of covering it up. Identity theft is despicable. There is a real Jose Alvarez who has suffered finacially through this as I understand it, although I'm not completely sure on that.

I shall reserve judgement until all the facts are out.

He's taken legal advice, so I imagine he's worried.

:lol: At the moment I can't respond with a printable comment :lol:

The bit that seems odd is the whole not getting a visa then citizenship legitimately? I mean surely it couldn't have been that hard given Randi's status. Which leads me to two possible positions..

Randi did not know about his illegal status

or

Randi knew about it or found out and decided to stay quiet because his partner by that point had already committed a federal crime that carries a hefty sentence, how many of us would shop the person we love because they committed a crime that as far as we know so far has had no negative effect on anyone?

Time will tell.

It did have a negative effect though.

I'd hate it if my identity was stolen!!!
http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2011-09-0...se-luis-alvarez

I didn't have that information to hand, that does put quite a negative spin on the case for his partner. Quite why he would have gotten involved with someone who claimed to be a channeler in the first place is seems odd as well, everyone may come out looking dirty in this case it would seem.

It has implications for the JREF too because 'whateverhisnameis' was a board member for years, and he also may have accepted financial support from the JREF since his studio was located in the JREF building. Anyone know whether he paid rent for that?

No idea, being a legal matter it is not being discussed on the Jref yet but you can be sure it will all come out. Jref had its critics on the forum and if there is anything underhanded going on you can be sure it'll be sceptics that lay out the facts...sceptics love facts. Much better than hear say and assumption.

People are too trusting. ;)

I'm pretty sure it's a bit more than that, Duck.

All this being said, does this undermine his work in paranormal fraud?

I don't see how it would.

I wouldn't be so sure. For a start look at the million pound offer that never really was. How could we trust a fair test if it turns out he's been dishonest in other areas of his life?

I do. Like it or not, James Randi is the cornerstone of the sceptic community. If he proves to have been committing fraud all these years, it will hurt the sceptic community as a whole, of course it will. Mud sticks. Fair? - probably not. Human nature? - definitely.

Utter nonsense Les, Randi could go down as histories greatest serial killer and it would have no bearing on the work he did as a sceptic. Those people exposed as frauds remain frauds. Perhaps you can explain how Randi's love life makes the Psychic baby whisperer any more psychic? Or Uri Gellar's spoon bending anything more than slight of hand? Or the woman who claimed she could make people pee at will more likely to succeed?

Oh come on Duck! You know as well as I do that there will be people lining up to take pot shots at the JREF after this.

He started out life as being 'dishonest', he was a magician!

Of course, but he isn't the JREF on his own.

They'd be better off practising their psychic ability to the point where it goes beyond chance, that would really show them. :rolleyes:

Sherry that is nonsense, the Million pounds was there, there simply wasn't a psychic to be found that could collect it.

James Randi Educational Foundation. It bears his name, Duck.

So does the Reeve Foundation; he's dead.

http://www.christopherreeve.org/site/c.ddJ..._Foundation.htm

I didn't say that but so what? :lol:

Duck
Sherry that is nonsense, the Million pounds was there, there simply wasn't a psychic to be found that could collect it.

Probably because he kept moving the goal posts to suit himself. That's more like it. :)



Forgot to add that it's also probably because few self respecting mediums would want to go that route.

Apologies to both. :D

Hey I thought you prided yourself on an infallible memory Sherry, we refuted that particular claim among others regarding the MDC in at least two threads, do we have to go over all this again? w-ink

I do remember actually - but that doesn't mean I agreed with it w-ink Case still open for me :lol:

Surely if, and it remains a big "if" until such time as the facts are established, Randi is found guilty of anything then it will be perverting the course of justice - not fraud!

If he is found guilty (of whatever crime) then the law will deal with it accordingly.

What it does not do is give a free pardon to all the people he has tested over the years and failed. Everyone he tests (and has tested) has agreed in full to the proposed testing protocol. No tests are ever changed without prior consent from both parties - no moving of goal posts once a protocol has been agreed and signed by both parties. The tests are designed so that the proposed claim is self-evident (needs no interpretation or mis-interpretation) - it either gives the desired result or it doesn't. It doesn't require the opinion of Randi or anyone else.

No amount of allegations would ever invalidate those tests done by either Randi himself or any one of the dozens of testers in the foundation that carries Randi's name.

It's the ultimate ad hominem! "Randi's tests are invalid because he was complicit in his partner's illegal activity". Ad hominem is a logical fallacy wherever it rears its head - although I can understand why some would be quick to use it, as pointless as it may be.