Interesting analysis. I don't agree that "it appears [the challenge] was a hoax" and I don't agree with your blog's conclusion, which is critical of the skeptics who echoed this story. Still, you raise a bunch of great points.
This video happens to demonstrate a scene that has played out countless times before, but I am willing to consider that this might be a hoax within a hoax. Still, it really fits with the historical data that no person could "will" another person to die.
It's also the case that people have been the victims of hoaxes throughout the ages. I don't know if you read this blog much, but the Steorn forums had a great thread about the "Whip-Mag" which was probably a hoax. We covered it on RTFA. Granted, the Steorn forum is filled with "fringe scientists" but plenty of them wanted the video to be true... And a scientist is a human, and a human can be the victim of a hoax.
I think you're missing one of the Big Ideas here: as evidence comes along, it needs to be incorporated. If you ignore some data, then you're straying from the truth.
...so your claim is that this is a hoax because the Tantrik Priest didn't believe he could kill the TV guy, and neither did the TV guy - instead, you claim they were both in on the joke. Fine - that's interesting, and it's totally possible. I'll take your data into consideration.
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This video happens to demonstrate a scene that has played out countless times before, but I am willing to consider that this might be a hoax within a hoax. Still, it really fits with the historical data that no person could "will" another person to die.
It's also the case that people have been the victims of hoaxes throughout the ages. I don't know if you read this blog much, but the Steorn forums had a great thread about the "Whip-Mag" which was probably a hoax. We covered it on RTFA. Granted, the Steorn forum is filled with "fringe scientists" but plenty of them wanted the video to be true... And a scientist is a human, and a human can be the victim of a hoax.
I think you're missing one of the Big Ideas here: as evidence comes along, it needs to be incorporated. If you ignore some data, then you're straying from the truth.
...so your claim is that this is a hoax because the Tantrik Priest didn't believe he could kill the TV guy, and neither did the TV guy - instead, you claim they were both in on the joke. Fine - that's interesting, and it's totally possible. I'll take your data into consideration.
Don't get carried away, though.