Hey, does that mean Derren is the Anti-Uri?

Yes. Pure evil on a stick.

The point of Derren's show was to put society's beliefs under scrutiny, right?
So - the whole Geller thing is something the public have been conned about. Many "believed" in that! They were lied to. I was simpply pointing out how refreshing it is to have Derren Brown do these demonstrations (far better) and tell us what they are (illusions) rather than trying to sell us the psychic-beloney. THAT WAS THE THEME OF THE SHOW!!!! OUR BELIEFS!!!!!!!!!!

Who says? and more importantly, who cares? Anyone that cares about what Gellar may or may not have done 20 years ago must have a very shallow and empty life, imho.

I can't help feeling that the whole show was pretty pointless though, except for the fact that I enjoyed it, well for 30 minutes before it got repetitive.

Unless the point was to show us how gullible and foolish the people that Derren spoke to were?
Or as Drew alluded, to stimulate more bickering on places such as this between open-minded people and skeptical fanatics.

It's not as if the programme will actually make a difference to anybodys life and change their beliefs. Lastly, I thought it could have been more balanced. I would have liked to see some more mainstream religions being his target and the only christian faith illustrated was one of the ones that we brits already think is abit...shall we say, "out there"?

A "deeper" programme on the subject would have been very welcome.

I take salt and put it in a TT.
It vanishes (I say vanish because I can't spel disapeers)
I now claim that the people who are amazed are gullible and foolish.
I show them the TT.
They aren't gullible or foolish anymore.
They're like me. We're clever together.
But the others who haven't seen the TT... they are sooooo gullible and foolish, aren't they?

Instead of just reading the word "Geller" and going into an automatic response, perhaps you should offer the forum the courtesy of attempting to "get" the point before responding to it. I didn't mention what he did 20 years ago - you mentioned did.

It is tedious to have to explain again, but clearly necessary in your case:

The point of Derren's Messiah programme was to put society's beliefs under scrutiny, through apparantly miraculous demonstrations which - to the "experts" and public participants - were placed in the frame of being either psychic phenomena or spiritual. At the same time, we, the viewers, were being told that he was deliberately deceiving them, but at the same time, pulling off some absolutely stunning demonstrations. I made the point that Geller had (still has?) achieved the same thing: he has convinced a lot of people that he has psychic ability because of his impressive demonstrations.

My concluding point was to say HOW REFRESHING IT IS THAT DERREN BROWN CAN BE SO OUTSTANDING IN HIS DEMONSTRATIONS OF APPARANT PSYCHIC / SPIRITUAL PHENOMENA as he was on this show - and at the same time, be honest with the viewer about the fact that he is not a psychic, but an illusionist.

To say I have a "very shallow and empty life" because I have an opinion is, ironically, somewhat shallow, wouldn't you say?



Oh dear. Give me strength. Pointless? Are you serious?

[quote]On 2005-01-07 21:16, HypnoChris wrote:

"The point of Derren's Messiah programme was to put society's beliefs under scrutiny",

AND

"HOW REFRESHING IT IS THAT DERREN BROWN CAN BE SO OUTSTANDING IN HIS DEMONSTRATIONS OF APPARANT PSYCHIC / SPIRITUAL PHENOMENA as he was on this show - and at the same time, be honest with the viewer about the fact that he is not a psychic, but an illusionist".


The point of the programme was to construct a commercial piece of television which is entertaining.
And you really musn't go through your life thinking that DB wants to be honest with the viewer. Both DB and Geller are fantasic showmen. (and possibly lovers)

Dude, when geller done a spoon I got several spoons and had a go at being geller. I done it at 12 years old and have conned ppl ever since.
Geller is all about marketing, nuff said!

I couldn't agree with you more. Uri Geller is a conman.



That's what ALL television is about. Having worked in television for years, I know that even the news (I've worked in the BBC TV newsroom) is constructed to be a piece of television which is entertaining. At the highest level, of course. But TV programmes can also be designed to be thought-provoking, informative and interesting as well as just "entertaining". So can books, movies etc. But they're also commercial. So to dismiss the programme as just having one purpose: "to construct a commercial piece of television which is entertaining" is silly.

That is mug/lay/sucker talk
In 'Mentalist talk', he is the world's most successful Mentalist
Whether you like him or not is a different matter LOL
Cheers
TJ


This bit of dumb crambo dictated the level of the whole show
We may as well have watched Matrix (the movie) and now be arguing about it being
reality
I saw one of the 'members' of the Christian Church in the Rover's Return (bar) in Corrie (TV soap) the other night
LOL
TJ

Re earlier comment that Uri Geller is a conman. Uri is a master showman and had the world in the palm of his hand for years with clever psychology and superb management of the media. We can do nothing but learn from him instead of pointless ridicule.

It's tiresome! READ MY POINT before commenting. I am not going to repeat it again. My point about Geller was not so much about Geller as it was a comment about Derren Brown's Messiah programme, and observations I was making that were relevant. There is no pointless ridicule.