The scientists would, again, dismiss the suggestions. During the project, Banachek would write letters to Randi explaining how they would manipulate the tests Randi would then inform the scientists that they should look out for these exact methods during their experiments. The scientists dismissed the suggestions, saying that Banachek and Edwards would be unable to perform under such conditions. However, he eventually came to the realization that things weren’t necessarily black and white the scientists weren’t evil, they were just imposing their own beliefs on the trials and believing they could not be fooled.īefore the project began, James Randi sent the scientists a list of eleven caveats to follow so that they could truly test the psychic claims of Banachek and Edwards. Banachek initially went in believing it to be an “I’m against them” scenario to prove that the proper protocols were not being followed by the scientists. Project Alpha was a four-year-long hoax that involved planting Banachek and Michael Edwards in a parapsychology research project to demonstrate that it is possible to fake psychic powers in a controlled environment. He wanted them to know right from wrong–a value he still holds dear to this day. When he was raising his brothers, he would always try to instill the value of fairness in them. He was the kid in the back of the class who was afraid of being called on. This prevented him from developing his social skills alongside other children. He just knew there were psychics fooling people with tricks.īanachek, born in England before emigrating to South Africa, had a troubled childhood which saw him raising his two younger brothers. When Banachek started, he wasn’t aware that there was a subsection of magic called mentalism. Banachek is one of the world’s leading mindreaders who has helped debunk psychic claims, created effects for leading performers and is sought after by venues around the world for his performances. To start off 2019, Jonah sits down with Steve Shaw, better known as Banachek, to discuss mentalism, the ethics behind deception, and parapsychology.
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