There was no exposure on Randi's site this week. I think that's a good thing. Perhaps he has thought twice about it. I don't really know.

There are internet magic shops that expose dozens of magical items and principles. Should we not also be discussing them, if exposure is the issue?

- entity

The problem I have always had with him and others is the mass media exposure.

In fact I could care less about his web site and books becouse a person must go searching for that information.

It is a price to be paid.

However mass media exposure is different animal.

-Jim

My only concern about the proposed JREF website exposures was that the information might be picked up by wire services, mass media, etc.

- entity

Lets at least be honest.

You guys gripe about exposure because you feel it affects your pocket book.

Danny

Exposure does not really hurt my pocketbook. I've had people sit down with me, people with preconceived notions based on a television show, but when we get started, the looks on their faces change and we move along. I've been told by many that it was nothing like they ever expected.

Exposure does hurt some that I know though; it costs them in routines and effects. When the exposure occurs, many remove the pieces that were exposed, at least for a little while, and replace them with something else. It is inconvenient, and depending on what was exposed, it could be a costly item to replace.

I gripe about it because it is another bit of mystery that is gone. Some person wanting to make a name for himself, or make a point, spoils a mystery that could entertain. Who and what gives that person the right to decide what is good for everyone else? If I want to tell my child about the Easter Bunny, it is my decision, not some guy who didn't get his fill of peeps last year.

Tony

When you said earlier that exposure of methods doesn't really hurt any competent pro, I agreed with you. It doesn't affect me monetarily at all. My concern is that it affects those learning Magic. It makes their limited arsenal even more limited, and it gives young Magicians the impression that secrets in Magic aren't important.

As Tony mentioned above, it also takes something valuable away from the audience -- Mystery.

- entity

I meant the description I quoted. And I maintain that it is a description that fits many but will be subjectively recognized only in one's enemies, of some kind or other. Or only in the ones one is prepared to actually speak of.

I am claiming that the "skeptical" mindset often displayed here is applied unevenly by the same people to different groups in society, for various reasons.

Millard, great to read your posts. I hope you are well!

/Bamba

TT2 wrote: "Look at Randi's life, he is obsessed with Geller. Do you think Uri thinks twice about James Randi, on any given day?"

Hell yes! Ever since Randi helped expose Geller for what he really is on national television via Johnny Carson, Geller has been obsessed with Randi, sending hundreds of letters through his attorneys and initiating several lawsuits. If it weren't for Randi, there would be many more people around today who would believe that that publicity slut really bends spoons with his alleged mind.

I think if Randi's mission were to simply expose magic secrets he would just post a link to that super secret site where all magic is revealed - Youtube!

My belief is and was and always will be they were BOTH very clever marketers. They need each other.

But only one of them is being honest.

Which one? How do you define "honesty"?

Honesty:

–noun, plural -ties.
1. the quality or fact of being honest; uprightness and fairness.
2. truthfulness, sincerity, or frankness.
3. freedom from deceit or fraud.
4. Botany. a plant, Lunaria annua, of the mustard family, having clusters of purple flowers and semitransparent, satiny pods.
5. Obsolete. chastity.

I think it's pretty easy to figure out which one, TT2.

I don't...

See Danny and Scott this really had nothing to do with anything you two were going on about.

Just a simple comment.

J ack

H.O.A-X

Click here to view attached image.

"Obsolete, chastity". At least one of these "Honestly" describes the "great debunker".
That, and being "of the mustard family, having clusters of purple flowers and semitransparent".

Posted: Feb 20, 2007 7:59pm
Geller on the other hand was often accused of being just "a plant".

Chastity?

I know, funny how that got in there !