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J.Dunaway Loyal user 241 Posts |
You're in an informal setting and you hear someone raving about their belief in their own self-ability of psychic or mystic powers. You begrudgingly challenge them with a list of tests using cards, coins, paper, pens, always making them the center of attention, never giving a hint that your sleights are the real secret of their success. No one is ever informed that you controlled every "test" to the "psychics" ability.
Is this wrong? I do it often... |
Jonathan Townsend Eternal Order Ossining, NY 27297 Posts |
Have you read G. K. Chesterton's "Club of Queer Trades"? If not, please do.
...to all the coins I've dropped here
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tanselkaya Regular user 139 Posts |
I frequently find myself debating with myself whether I should allow people to believe in the supernatural or challenge them on their non-scientific thinking. I wish I had Uri Geller's clear conscience, because his mentalism is strong and he never ever admits he is an illusionist.
By declaring that we are normal entertainers, we might be doing something "good", "ethical" or "nice", we are simply killing magic. What used to be the same as miracles has been reduced to tricks. The English words trick and magic should not be used together. It is either one or the other. Coming back to the subject I think this is a great way of acting. |
Bill Hallahan Inner circle New Hampshire 3222 Posts |
Quote:
Is this wrong? I do it often... I think it's wrong. My belief is based on several other beliefs I have, not the least of which is that providing false evidence to people about important matters, such as their own nature, is usually harmful. At the very least, it can waste someone's time. tanselkaya, Uri Geller did fool many people in the past, however, most people were not fooled, which resulted in their opinion of him as a person. The general accepted view of Geller's claims is expressed well in the revelations on page 2 of an article from March 12, 1973 in Time Magazine in an article titled The Magician And The Think Tank. Uri Geller did achieve some fame and financial success, but at a price. It's not a price I'd want to pay. I prefer that people trust me.
Humans make life so interesting. Do you know that in a universe so full of wonders, they have managed to create boredom. Quite astonishing.
- The character of ‘Death’ in the movie "Hogswatch" |
Destiny Inner circle 1429 Posts |
Those with self professed mystic powers seem to prey primarily on the most vulnerable - the bereaved, the sick, the lonely, the poor.
They hold out false hope and bleed these people of whatever they have left in this world. I never liked the scam that Uri Geller was pulling but find him easier to forgive because he was at least only providing entertainment. Unlike all the faith healers and communicaters with the dead etc who are beneath contempt. Destiny |
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