Uri Geller

[naomi24]

I’m currently reading ‘The Ghost of Flight 401’, recommended by a fellow ABer. Early on the author speaks about Uri Geller and names scientists who support his incredible claims of spoon-bending, watch-mending, etc, etc., which surprises me. I know James Randi has explained how these 'tricks' can be achieved, but I was under the impression that Uri Geller had also been ‘outed’ by science as a fraud. Has he – or is that just hearsay? I’d be interested in links to any formal papers on the subject.

[jomifl]

Naomi, this is how it works, the US defence dept. at the behest of some generals of limited understanding of the world outside warfare decides to investigate the 'paranormal' because the russians might be doing it so they want to keep up with the russians. In order to give it some credibility they fund a university dept. to oversee the research. The head of the dept. takes the money, universites love money. Simple.

[Kromovaracun]

Oh, I hadn't heard of him before.

The Project Alpha experiment does show, however, how "specially designed apparatus" is not a guarantor against fraud, and scientists really are as clueless as most people are when it comes to detecting it.

[Khandro]

jom; Quite! not unlike in WWII, knowing that Adolf H. was consulting astrologers, we consulted them too in order to try to figure out what they might be advising.

[jomifl]

Khandro, I believe that pres. Reagan took advice from his wife's astrologer during periods of international tension..loopy or what?

[naomi24]

Jom, Are you saying the US Defence Department funded Professor J G Taylor to conduct experiments on Uri Geller at King’s College?

Krom, thanks. I'll check that out. I'm astounded that this author has been able to use the names of these three scientists though without some sort of comeback.

[Kromovaracun]

James Randi explains how physicists at a respected lab were fooled by a matchbox trick worthy of the cringiest uncle:

[naomi24]

Methyl, I don't think anyone doubts he's anything other than a good 'magician'. I'm just questioning the author's bizarre claims.

[whirlyhurly]

Well I was astonished when on his advice my very old useless wind up watch suddenly started ticking again, but it didn't carry on for very long and stopped once more.

[jim360]

I wonder if the relevant papers are behind a paywall of sorts. I'll try to do some digging this week and if I find anything I'll post back.

But it looks as if the quotes are genuine but perhaps outdated, reflecting their views at the time, but since then Taylor at least retracted his support for Geller.

[grasscarp]

Hi Naomi, just to say that these two pages about Uri Geller and some Readers Digest experiments in chapter one, have no relevance to this book and are not mentioned again.

[nailit]

I havnt read The Ghost of Flight 401 but have read other works by John Fuller in the past. Cant say that I find him credible. He believes in alien abduction, mediums, and psychic surgery and (apparently) he's endorsing a fraud like Geller. Wouldnt place to much store in this book, but as ive said I havnt read it.
Would be interested to hear your thoughts about the book naomi when you have finished it.

[jomifl]

/Jom, Are you saying the US Defence Department funded Professor J G Taylor to conduct experiments on Uri Geller at King’s College? /
What I am saying is that some universities are quite happy to carry out pointless research as a teaching aid and a coffer filler.

[naomi24]

Birdie, oo-er! Maybe Uri's putting the 'fluence' on your links. ;o)

Grasscarp, I will persevere with it, although I have to say already I doubt his credibility. He doesn't seem to be writing from a critical perspective at all and I'm finding myself thinking 'why would he assume that?' or 'why doesn't he question that?'

nailit, will do. :o)

[mikey4444]

Of course he is a fraud ! He is just a clever stage conjuror.

[Khandro]

birdie; //I love cheap magic tricks - if they're presented as such.//
Have you ever come across a magician who said, "I'm now going to perform a cheap magic trick"?