Our recent debunking of the black-eyed children phenomenon has been under fire recently. Our post has garnered hundreds of thousands of page views since it was published in December, and we are deluged by angry email on a daily basis- both from believers and skeptics alike. Our response, up until now, has always been: "Show us some proof and we'll change our opinion".
In spite of replying with this message hundreds of times, we have yet to encounter anyone who can offer undeniable concrete evidence that black eyed kids (or BEKs, as they are sometimes called) exist. We have so much faith in our explanation that we are "upping the ante". JOTB will offer a $10,000 reward for concrete evidence that black eyed children exist.
Our assertion is that a natural pupillary response, mydriasis, is responsible for the blackening of the eyes (with the rare exception of those who have abnormal medical conditions, black-colored contact lenses, tattooed pupils, traumatic brain injury, and the like). It is our opinion that this is a side effect of recreational drug use, since LSD, DMT (dimethyltryptamine), mescaline, and psilocybin, Ecstacy, "bath salts", cocaine, amphetamines, atropine, and scopolamine have been shown to cause mydriasis- and the increase in "sightings" of black eyed children over the past few years is directly proportional to increases in the usage of Ecstacy and bath salts.
Of course, some people have ridiculed this explanation. One such writer, Dustin Carlsen, called us out by name in an article on Inquisitr.com:
"There’s a laughably bad Journal of the Bizarre post that claims to “debunk” the black eyed children phenomenon with pseudo-biological and pragmatic arguments that sometimes seem about as far-fetched as there being black eyed children in the first place."
Pseudo-biological? Hmm, that's funny, since our sources include Millodot's Dictionary of Optometry and Visual Science, Dorland's Medical Dictionary, and Clinical Ocular Pharmacology by renowned expert Jimmy D. Bartlett. Mr. Carlsen must be under the impression that medical dictionaries are written by pseudo-scientists.
If you really want to read something laughable, be sure to check out the Inquisitr article- especially the part in which the author states:
"Personally, I think this is some kind of viral marketing initiative for a new horror movie. I’ll do some investigating and get back to you."
In a monumental display of stupidity (the likes of which most of us will never encounter in a lifetime), the author makes the above statement after opening his article claiming that BEK sightings have been "somewhat common" since 1988. A 25-year viral marketing campaign? One that predates viral marketing itself? Amazing. That's sure to be one killer flick Hollywood is working on.
Tell you what, Dustin- you keep "investigating", and then report back to us with what you find. You just might end up winning the $10,000 reward. That is, unless you're too busy "investigating" such matters as what Kim Kardashian ate for lunch yesterday, Justin Bieber's favorite color, or where Taylor Swift goes shopping for bathing suits.
Which brings us to the heart of the matter. The reward.
Simply produce a child with black eyes. JOTB will pay all travel expenses to Danville, Pennsylvania, where the black-eyed child will be examined by the pediatric ophthalmology department of Geisinger Medical Center (consistently ranked as one of the top fifty hospitals in the country). We will pay all medical expenses.
In order to receive the $10,000 reward, the following terms will apply:
-Every part of the child's eye must be black. This includes the iris, pupil, cornea, the sclera.
-The eye color must be black. Not dark brown, not navy blue, not any other dark color. Black.
-The condition may not be produced by any unnatural means. This includes contact lenses, tattooing, dyeing, prosthetics, or any other type of body modification.
-The black eyes must not be the result of any genetic abnormalities, medical condition, or traumatic injury.
-The specimen's condition must not be the result of any type of mydriatic substance or medication usage (prescription or otherwise).
-The BEK ("black-eyed kid") must be between the ages of six and sixteen.
Other important information:
-If the BEK in question is proven to be a fraud, the perpetrator(s) will be required to reimburse Journal of the Bizarre for all travel, medical, and legal expenses.
-If the $10,000 reward is claimed, Journal of the Bizarre reserves the right to use any photographs, videos, testimony, and documentation as JOTB sees fit. Claimant of the reward shall grant JOTB worldwide exclusive rights to use claimant's image and/or likeness for perpetuity.
-Claimant of reward shall not use any of the aforementioned materials (including, but not limited to, pictures, videos, testimonials and documents) without the written consent of JOTB. Violation of this rule shall be regarded as copyright infringement.
-After the reward is claimed, JOTB will reimburse eligible parties for travel and lodging expenses, so long as the claimant furnishes receipts for all of the expenses incurred. JOTB will not reimburse parties for these expenses until after the reward has been issued.
-The reward offer will be valid for a period of one year, and will expire at noon on March 9, 2014.
-JOTB reserves the right to modify or amend these conditions as necessary.