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Sealegs Inner circle The UK, Portsmouth 2596 Posts |
Having had a few days off and wanting to generally veg out I've spent far too many hours over the past few days trawling through the pages here in the Café. I have made some posts, exchanged PM's, shared some ideas and had others share their ideas with me. I've pleased to say I've generally found most people to be very friendly.
There are though a surprising number of threads in the Café that quickly turn..... how shall I put it.... somewhat unpleasent and adversarial. The thing that I noticed most about this was that, while they crop up all over the place, there seems to be a disproportionate number of this kind of post here in the 'penny for your thoughts' forum. Now I realise that (with the exception of the 'workers' forum dealing mostly with cards) there are more posts and topics made here than elsewhere. But even taking that into account it does seem that mentalists rant and !@#$% at eachother and whatever else more than everyone else. Now I'm not even a mentalist (I do a few mental effects in my shows) but I too have been guilty of this but only, I think, in this forum. (See my thread moved to 'inner thoughts' partly due I'm sure to the rather blunt approach and tone that my, and others, posts later started to take) So does something about the subject make it easier for the worst to come out in us? What do you think? (Now I sit back and count how any insults get traded in any posts that follow) Neal
Neal Austin
"The golden rule is that there are no golden rules." G.B. Shaw |
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chichi711 Inner circle 5810 Posts |
I think in the Penny for your thoughts you get a lot of "fights" because you deal with Supernatural topics. SOme people claim to have them and then..........Well you know what happens. That has to be a good 90& of the fights I would think.
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Gotama Veteran user 381 Posts |
Now you young whippersnapper, how dare you think that of us posters. I ought to wring your neck and invade your mind. LOL
I asked the boy beneath the pines.
He said, "The master's gone alone herb picking, somewhere on the mount, cloud hidden, whereabouts unknown." (Chin Tao, 777-841, trans. by Alan Watts) |
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jimtron Inner circle 2039 Posts |
The topics of psychics and supernatural powers are contentious ones. I think it's healthy when people of divergent viewpoints discuss controversial topics--as long as it's done in a calm, intelligent, respectful way. Unfortunately, that seems to be difficult here.
Neal, are those the types of threads you're referring to? |
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Sealegs Inner circle The UK, Portsmouth 2596 Posts |
Hi Jimtron,
I don't think many would disagree that it's 'healthy when people of divergent viewpoints discuss controversial topics--as long as it's done in a calm, intelligent, respectful way.' And it certainly does 'seem to be difficult here'. Regarding the the topics of psychics and supernatural powers..... Well I can certainly see that this is a potential source of cyber headbutting but to be honest I didn't really pick that up from my trawl through the threads. The strange and for me puzzling thing is that seemingly run of the mill topics about peek wallets, centre tear techniques, and book tests (am I going red?) seem to cause calm, intelligent and respectful discussions to go out the window more so than spread culls, tabled faro shuffles and reverse matrix's do. Neal.
Neal Austin
"The golden rule is that there are no golden rules." G.B. Shaw |
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jimtron Inner circle 2039 Posts |
Quote:
The strange and for me puzzling thing is that seemingly run of the mill topics about peek wallets, centre tear techniques, and book tests (am I going red?) seem to cause calm, intelligent and respectful discussions to go out the window more so than spread culls, tabled faro shuffles and reverse matrix's do. Ahh, interesting. |
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Slim King Eternal Order Orlando 18012 Posts |
Hi Neal
Contraversy is a good thing. Being "Mental" type folks, we think in many divergent paths. We seek the TRUTH, and you know how dangerous that can be! There is no real BLOOD spilt here. We mentally "Fence" with one another. Honing our argumentative skills. Some have dropped by the wayside...Too bad, but...If you cant take the heat...Yadda yadda. Sorry about the spelling and I hope this helps, but maybe it won't? Dave BTW..I've learned just about EVERYTHING that I know about Magic from "Friends and Enemies" here on the Café. (Even the bad guys aren't that bad)
THE MAN THE SKEPTICS REFUSE TO TEST FOR ONE MILLION DOLLARS.. The Worlds Foremost Authority on Houdini's Life after Death.....
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coupcoupdaddy Inner circle 2466 Posts |
I'm convinced such contention militates against future diversification of this mentalism forum into such fascinating topics as Turban Legend, Femimentalism or Hailing Dr. X!
H D X! Isso Liwok from Laconia
foreign correspondent, z and lt
inner being worker |
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kyle_freemason Elite user 409 Posts |
I think the problem is with a few people who like to cause arguments and start trouble. We all know who these people are. This is why a lot of people have left the Café and started using other forums. It is a true shame it has to be this way. I think that Penny for your thoughts could be a really informative place for everyone if we did not have such problems. So long as the owner and moderators allow for this to continue it will do just that. This is suppose to be a place to ask questions and to help others and to find information. Many times I know people are afraid to voice an opinion or ask a question for fear of being ridiculed or being attacked. As I have said these people are few and everyone knows who they are but they give the Café a terrible reputation. Mainly this is due to their wanting to be superior to everyone else. Ego often times gets in the way of productiveness. I wish the Café were back to how it use to be when everyone was here for the same purpose and that was to learn and to help others not to attack users or ridicule them. Best wishes everyone.
MM
Butler # 254 |
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Maddened Loyal user 222 Posts |
I noticed that too. Though I can't say I know exactly why this is so, I suspect that mentalists, or people into mentalism tend to be more eloquent, verbally skilled, and good with words. Combine this with the fact that while something like cards talk about techniques and a whole lot of discussion can just be based on that (I may be generalising here), mentalism discussions invariably concentrate on how you *present* your stuff.
What's more, most of the folks here are very, very well read. They have so much information in them that combined, they could very well be a living encyclopedia of mentalism in the past 300 years. And anyone who has been to university or college will be able to tell you that when you have knowledge combined with language, you get a heck lot of argument. |
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chrismatt Special user Why would you read any of my 978 Posts |
Maybe there are more lawyers here.
Seriously, the most heated discussions and debates in the U.S. involve either politics or religion. Mentalism and psychic phenomena may be closer to these very contentious areas than other branches of magic. CM
Details make perfection, but perfection is no detail.
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equivoque Special user 861 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-08-25 19:38, chichi711 wrote: Agreed! Also there are debates over whether or not it is acceptable to expose those claim to have real powers. Im my opinion, if you publicly claim to have real mojo, you are fair game! Stick to being an entertainer and keep liefe simple. |
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equivoque Special user 861 Posts |
By the way, these heated debates are widespread on almost any posting site for a hobby, interest, profession etc.
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Jim Reynolds Elite user Special Guest 431 Posts |
Psychic debates aside, it's more a lack of repect for the art that gets feelings hurt. Lets face it, many magicians come here looking for short cuts. Tuition is not cheap to becoming a good mentalist and many just don't get that. It's just another 'branch' of magic like going from cards to coins to them. And when one gets an honest answer, they often feel 'insulted'.
Imagine if this were a forum for working stand up comedians: Newbie: Hey, I'm looking to do some stand up. Anybody know some good jokes that kill? Jerry Seinfeld: Well, you should really concentrate on your persona and pay your dues first then... Newbie: No need to be so condescending Mr. Seinfeld. I'm just looking for some killer jokes. and so it goes. |
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mota Inner circle 1658 Posts |
Equivoque said:
Im my opinion, if you publicly claim to have real mojo, you are fair game! I also feel if you claim to know it all you are also fair game...trouble is when I point this out those people cry to administrators about it. A bunch of very thin-skinned know it alls. You may (or may not) have noticed I have stopped posting publicly. You can figure out stuff on hypnotism, readings, and pitching magic yourself. I pm those who I share with from now on. Your simplistic views of the world are not held by everyone. There is no essential difference between a skeptic and a religious fanatic. You both have "right man" syndrome. Now let's watch and see how long before some skeptic who considers others fair game feels insulted and gets this post pulled. Just keep patting yourselves on the back and repeat..."we are smarter than others, we are smarter than others." That's all folks... |
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jimtron Inner circle 2039 Posts |
Quote:
A bunch of very thin-skinned know it alls. ... Your simplistic views of the world are not held by everyone. There is no essential difference between a skeptic and a religious fanatic. You both have "right man" syndrome. ... Just keep patting yourselves on the back and repeat..."we are smarter than others, we are smarter than others." In my view no one is above criticism, including skeptics of course. But you're painting with a broad brush here. Would you describe Carl Sagan as the equivalent of a "religious fanatic"? |
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Lord Of The Horses Inner circle 5406 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-08-26 00:21, jimtron wrote: No, but Carl Sagan also stated (and I think I can quote him here) - "Absence of Evidence DOES NOT MEAN Evidence of Absence" - And this is something that most fellow "skepticks" (but they actually are believers in the opposite faith, nothing more) especially if linked to Csicop... don't seem to share with Sagan, one of their heroes.
Then you'll rise right before my eyes, on wings that fill the sky, like a phoenix rising!
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jimtron Inner circle 2039 Posts |
Could we take people on an individual basis, instead of painting with broad strokes? If a skeptic here on the Café has said something that someone thinks is unfair, for example, how about citing it and expressing an opinion. All skeptics are not alike, they are a divergent bunch, and no one here at the Café represents them all.
I think it's good to back up allegations with evidence. Is this thread getting "rude and insulting" like it's title? - Jimtron |
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Slim King Eternal Order Orlando 18012 Posts |
Jim Reynolds just hit the "Nail on the Head" ( Can I still say that in this PC world?)...Too many people looking for the EASY WAY. Then they get upset when they aren't SPOON FED.
THE MAN THE SKEPTICS REFUSE TO TEST FOR ONE MILLION DOLLARS.. The Worlds Foremost Authority on Houdini's Life after Death.....
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equivoque Special user 861 Posts |
Quote:
mota wrote: My simplimistic views? What reason could you have for being angry with me? |
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