Is Randi dishonest?

I recently received a comment on an old post called "Allison Dubois and Oprah Winfrey in the Matrix." In that post I was summarizing my conversation with a number of believers in the fake-medium scam-twat Allison Dubois, to whom Karen Stollznow, probably in an adorable Australian accent, called a "cretin of 'psychic medium' Allison Dubois fans" (someone correct me, please, if cretin is not the collective noun for this group)." Did you notice the subtle name dropping, eh wot? Anyway, here is the comment:

Ariana said...
Good post. I agree with you about the con aspect of high profile so-called psychics who are in it for the fame and money. I have only one critique - you should try investigating Randi and his paranormal challenge also. There's a lot of dirt to be found and IMO no one who has any level of self-respect should subject themselves to this kind of fake challenge. Skeptics are thorough in researching the subjects they are skeptical of, then they get the wool pulled over their eyes by something like Randi's ridiculous challenge paid in useless bonds if at all... a total waste of time, Randi himself has been known to say that he'd make certain no one would ever win, he wouldn't be paying out the money, and so on. True psychics should stay away from this guy as well. Do the googling and you'll find the links...

Hi, Ariana. You mention the $1,000,000 challenge offered by the JREF. I would be very interested, not to mention f-ing furious if I were to find out that Randi was rigging his test, and I would be very interested in seeing you evidence that he is faking (since you have apparently already done the work, that would make it more efficient for me to follow up). Could you refer me to a specific page or resource? I would like to mention a few things, however, that give me pause about accepting your claim at face value.

The first and most important thing is that Randi's tests are designed with the claimant, and the claimant needs to agree to the terms of the test. Secondly, the people who test with Randi often go from skeptic group to skeptic group in the attempt to claim the various prizes for demonstrating the paranormal under controlled circumstances, and they fail there too. Take, for example, the Anita Ikonen tests. First she tested with IIG and then at the Amazing Meeting about 2 weeks ago. She failed both times. Thirdly, the Randi test is usually the last stage of testing. There are filter groups like IIG (Independent Investigation Group) who run preliminary tests. If the person passes that test, then they qualify to go for the $1,000,000 prize.

I will be seeing Randi in a few weeks and can ask him any question that you would like.

HJ