Connie Sonne was at TAM-7 yesterday to take a preliminary test for the $1,000,000 challenge put forth by the James Randi Educational Foundation. Connie had a 1 in 1,000 chance of passing the test, by sheer luck. I watched the test live as it was streamed. Connie didn’t pass the test matching zero out of three cards she was dowsing for.
I’m neither happy nor sad that she failed the test. The test appeared to be conducted with high integrity and that should be what matters most. The negative result doesn’t provide us with much new information we didn’t know before outside of Connie herself. To me what will be more interesting is to hear any feedback Connie has about the process and the result.
Will she claim the test wasn’t conducted fairly, despite her agreements going into the test? Will she second guess her psychic (or dowsing) abilities?
Teller, of “Penn & TEeller” was there and provided this small insight via Twitter after the test, and so far this is the only reaction I’ve seen.
The psychic failed. She said “they” (her controlling entities) made her fail for reasons she’d someday understand. She didn’t blame us.
I’m glad to hear that she didn’t blame some sort of procedural error or other loophole in the test. It seems she thought the test had integrity. That might have been the easiest way out and she didn’t take it. I’m glad to see that.
However to say that those providing her with the powers made her fail is perhaps the second easiest way out. This excuse explanation gives her an “answer” to any further type of test and basically claims that the paranormal can’t be tested.
I was very impressed at how quiet the audience was through the test– they showed a great deal of respect towards something most of them don’t believe in. Likewise Connie showed a great deal of respect by sticking with the lengthy procedures after she had failed the test. That’s something I don’t see other whackos like Slyvia Browne do– who refuses to take the test (after saying she would), and coming up with lame excuses about the all of the incorrect “readings” she has given.
