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Mark_Chandaue Inner circle Essex UK 4187 Posts |
You know I have read so many times what an unfriendly place Penny can be and how newbies can get ripped to shreds by entering this lions den and asking the simplest of questions. Well I'm going to talk about the other side of the coin. My own experience of this place has been very different from day one. Sure I got my share of ribbing from Parmenion which almost always made me smile, but I couldn't hope to find a more welcoming loveable bunch or reprobates anywhere on the planet. You have David Thiel who has an incanny way of putting what is in my heart into words, not just words but lovely poetic words. Then of course there is Mindpro who can seem a little ascerbic but always calls it as he sees it and usually talks a lot of sense, I would call him the mentalism equivalent of Bobby Bernard. Through this site I met Michael Murray who is the nicest, funniest and probably cleverest guy on the planet. Likewise Peter Turner my brother from another mother. Jan Forster who is the kind of mentalist I aspire to be, clever,funny and exudes class on just about every level. Atlas Brookings, look up integrity in the dictionary and the description says "See Atlas Brookings", Atlas is the man I aspire to be. Then of course there is uncle Bob, also known as Bob freakin' Cassidy, where else could the likes of us get to hang out with a guy like Bob (love you man hope your health returns and lasts for many years.
There are just way too many people to name, too many to thank and too many to love. This place ain't a snake pit it's a gift, the kick up the bum some of us get from our elders and betters is the greatest gift we could ever be given. The inspiration from guys like David and Jan and Bob and countless others is priceless. So whilst I sit here somewhat inebriated but totally appreciative I raise a glass (literally) to each and every one of you and say cheers, without you guys I wouldn't be half the mentalist I am today and if have no idea of the mentalist I'm striving to be. Cheers to each and every one of you and particularly the special ones, and you know who you are, and if you don't, well that humility makes you even more special. Thanks for your part in making me me, I am a better me thanks to you! Mark |
IAIN Eternal Order england 18807 Posts |
Cheers to you, mark!
I've asked to be banned
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IMAGINACIAN Special user In Your Thots 558 Posts |
Mark,
I have a serious problem with one of your statememts. You say "Michael Murray is the nicest guy on the planet" How can you make that statement until you have met me? Preposterous! So until we meet let's change it to "most of the planet" On a more serious note, you have actually resonated my own feelings. A big cheers to all here. And you Mark, in your own humble and sensible way, have big part in making this a nice and USEFUL place. Keep it going
There is no better freedom than choice and no better choice than freedom.
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Martin Pulman Inner circle London 3399 Posts |
Mark's posts are some of the most informative and enlightening here. You can tell he has done his time in the trenches and come out wiser -and kinder. And he doesn't try to push his book on us at every opportunity, which is refreshing! He is an invaluable part of the Café.
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Nerdy Wizard New user Derby 86 Posts |
As a newbie myself, I can't say that my time here has been horrible at all. Though that might be due to the fact I'm a serial lurker and am just hiding in the shadows and absorbing the knowledge of others. The few questions I've asked have been answered patiently and respectfully and I'm looking forward to the day I have enough 'worldly experience' to be able to contribute more.
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Alexxander Elite user Frankfurt, Germany 423 Posts |
I totally agree with you, Mark.
The café and its members have been very nice and kind to me and I learned A LOT from reading old threads and asking questions myself. It's great to read advice from some real professionals. Cheers to all of you! |
Mindpro Eternal Order 10587 Posts |
I think Mark's sentiments are quite nice and his appreciation shows through. I think the experience members have here in Penny is largely in part based on how they choose to perceive, understand and participate here. It is a very helpful and beneficial place but to truly get the most out of it, like any real performer, you must first know and understand the "room" and all it entails. Mark has done this, many do not. I think that can make the difference in the experience one has here.
Mark has also looked deeper than just the surface. This also makes a huge difference. He realizes we are not all the same or equal. We are not at the same levels, and looks at each person individually, as for many it creates their true offering and value here and a better understanding of one's contributions. I agree this can be a great place, and although it is not what it once was due to many of the things I just mentioned, it is still good to see Mark and I'm sure others get what they have from here. I know many of us feel very frustrated over the last several years as the magician to mentalist bandwagon and the Derren effect have rolled into town. Many here do not remember this place before that. It was much different. For those that only know its current state, and may not experience the personal frustration than many others do, you may take a different experience. I think Mark touched on some things that resonates with many here. David Thiel, not only a great writer with emotion and keen insight, but most of us remember his transition from being a full-time working magician for years, to mentalism. Not in the typical "bandwagon-jumper" wave, as he committed and took the time and made the effort to truly understand it on all levels. He quickly realized, sometimes painfully or personally painful at times, what it really means to make the transition to mentalism. Many of us enjoyed his journey. From having to let go of his old magician's thinking, some of his favorite magic tricks, and many of his well-established magic persona, to going deeper to get a true understanding of mentalism and all of its actual differences from magic. If you weren't around then, I urge you to go back and truly to follow each and every one of his posts in that journey. It alone is most helpful to many as anything here. Those that see Davis as just another poster are terribly missing a key element of Penny. That is understanding why someone is here, their value and their role in the community. Many are here just to add their thoughts and opinions to a topic. For some of us there are completely different reasons. Those that take the time to understand this seem to have an experience much more like Mark has expressed. As far newbie getting ripped to shreds, it really, more times than not, is more reflective of how one chooses to enter a community like this. There is likely a proper way and a million other ways that likely can lead to the "shreds" perception. Again, like a good performer, you need to understand the room before having expectations. Bob was ever-patient through the whole bandwagon and Derren phases of newbies just seeing Derren and wanting to know how it's done. Day after day, thread after thread Bob in his gentle bedside manner would offer both words of encouragement, the proper direction and free resources for them to stay and learn. Those that would heed the advice are likely still around today, those that didn't want to hear it and just wanted someone's professional secrets likely aren't around and were not shredded, but offered proper assistance in their quest for information and education. Also to get the same experience Mark has expressed, one must know how to separate opinion from fact, theory from experience. Again, those that do, will have a much better experience for those that simply tend to the corner of the room only with those with like-minded opinions and perceptions. This will create a very limiting experience of Penny and the community. I've always said two things - "you don't know what you don't know" and be careful who you listen to (and take advice or assistance from) as all are not equal. Knowing these things has allowed Mark to have a great experience that I only wish others would take the time to create for themselves. I have always said, for mentalists, Penny is where learning, direction, ideas and understanding is discussed, downstairs is where specifics, more in-depth and direct assistance and a collective team work can progress ideas and concepts, and Tricky Business is where all of this is put together and allows one success and profitability with their mentalism. It's been sad to see so many of the good ones leave due to the ways things are in its more recent state here, but Mark's sentiments and this topic can be a needed reminder of what a great resource Penny and its contributors can offer the community. Great post Mark! |
IAIN Eternal Order england 18807 Posts |
I think that this place, much like everywhere else - is both good and bad...
this and other sites are about people sharing their own experiences and thoughts - that's the crux of it...there are pro's out there who want to help, and there's beginners who want to tell the pro's that they are wrong - but that is not what the majority are about (i hope)...there are so many variables these days, its not like before...things have changed and either it has to be accepted that things have changed, or you can insist that things stay the same and anyone who says different (and says so) is automatically told they are ignorant, stupid and whatever else... please note, I said "says" and not "tells others"... everyone is faceless and can be whatever they say they are when online, its only through choice that names get attached to faces, from pro to amateur... one of the huge benefits of this place, is being able to search through it - you can run through anyone's posts from start to finish, you can find all of bob's, all of banachek's, all of osterlind's and more besides...we've got a huge repository to work with... things are fragmenting more and more...look at music, when everyone in the western world had pretty much half a dozen choices to listen to, then the explosion, and genre after genre were born...some terrible, some took things in interesting new directions... so if you want the blues, you might go to howlin' wolf...and howlin' wolf would tell you off that those new boys from england aint the blues...and never will be... then he goes and records an album with those guys (electric mud if you must know!)... of course there's different levels, however - speak to different pros, and you do get different/variable answers...not on all subjects, but certainly some... there's a huge amount of people to learn from, and also not...there's less and less full time working pros on here, and "out there" in general, it can't be top down sharing and learning...there's far less pros than the rest of us lot... of course we should all be polite and free to talk - I think if there's an expectation of "all be quiet - I am talking now" then that breeds a problem in and of itself...and what happens when you get conflicting advice when two pro's talk on the same subject? i think this place is (overall) a fantastic resource...and most popular forums are a reflection of the sum of the community (that contribute to it)... i've had some fantastic advice from all kinds of people on here - and made some great contacts that grew into friends...people that give you confidence, that confirm or deny something for you - that give you new directions to go, older work to look into and research...rinse and repeat... if we could all be free to just be able to talk about anything and everything, and have it understood that it is purely from our own personal experience, then that would be amazing...its only then you look at who has said it, see how their experience is different to your own and use your commmon sense... again, huge difference between sharing personal views and TELLING or insisting...
I've asked to be banned
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Mindpro Eternal Order 10587 Posts |
Funny to me the way you perceive and interpret things. Others see it completely different. As I said, this is in part part of the problem for many. I think one's perspective comes from their position within.
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IAIN Eternal Order england 18807 Posts |
You're so funny, mindpro...
who are these nameless, faceless 'others' you always bring up? (and please, lets all see the evidence and proof) part of the problem 'for many'? what's the problem, and who are 'the many'? people talk y'know... perspective and awareness are vital aren't they...
I've asked to be banned
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Mindpro Eternal Order 10587 Posts |
Like I said, know your room. Performers understand this, lol
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