Along with most rackets, the mentalist cult racket used to be dramatized and exposed often by radio and TV. The tricks were well known. When some of the mentalists are not blindfolded, cheating is 100% certain.
These media exposures seemed to dry up after a certain very large and very rich and very litigious cult started suing everyone in sight. (Admittedly this is post hoc, but it's a very large and very rich and very litigious hoc.)
In fairness to Sung, such cults often use extortion and blackmail to keep their secrets, so it's not necessarily a question of belief. Members who stop believing are not allowed to stop helping.
No argument. Recall Randi "came out", and as the doc said, Jillette lost his grip on Reality, there's no question they'd both sport Greta Thunberg t-shirts.
Along with most rackets, the mentalist cult racket used to be dramatized and exposed often by radio and TV. The tricks were well known. When some of the mentalists are not blindfolded, cheating is 100% certain.
These media exposures seemed to dry up after a certain very large and very rich and very litigious cult started suing everyone in sight. (Admittedly this is post hoc, but it's a very large and very rich and very litigious hoc.)
In fairness to Sung, such cults often use extortion and blackmail to keep their secrets, so it's not necessarily a question of belief. Members who stop believing are not allowed to stop helping.
I think you're right about what James Randi's position on trans and vaccines would have been had he still been with us.
Witness the madness of the "fierce rationalist" PennJillette :https://www.takimag.com/article/and-a-child-shall-mislead-them/
It has been horrifying to behold. A madness has gripped the world. So now we know what the "interesting times" of the Chinese curse feels like.
No argument. Recall Randi "came out", and as the doc said, Jillette lost his grip on Reality, there's no question they'd both sport Greta Thunberg t-shirts.