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7th_Son Elite user Australia 437 Posts 
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I was showing some acquaintances some very convincing "experiments" in mind reading and future predictions.
I neither confirmed nor denied real psychic powers. After the demonstrations, one of them asked me (in a skeptical tone) why I'm not filthy rich? After all, he said, if I could read minds and predict the future, surely I could use these powers to pick stocks and investments, win lotteries, succeed with gambling, etc. It caught me completely off guard! My fault for not being prepared. I mumbled something about these powers not being 100% accurate, but it sounded a bit lame. After all, only moments ago they worked perfectly! I was about to reply with the "I could if I want to, but I choose not to" type of answer, but that doesn't sound very convincing. Any good comebacks to this question that sounds convincing?
"Here's to our wives and girlfriends...may they never meet!" - Groucho Marx
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Brandon Regular user Florida 130 Posts
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What would be the choices for one person...ie getting rich in the stock-market or winning the lottery, etc. doesn't necessarily mean every person would do the same. Not all share the same value-system.
One must decide whether or not to play the role for real--or as an entertainer...then build that 'character' around those choices and be prepared for any question that might pop up--at least the most common, which that question is extremely common...even if you give a disclaimer. One of the best lines, comes from Larry Becker...when asked why he isn't filthy rich, etc. He says, "I am.". Done. Brandon |
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landmark Inner circle within a triangle 5015 Posts
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This has been covered in some previous threads, but basically the most convincing reply I've heard goes something like this:
" I wish I could make a million. Unfortunately mind reading is an intentional act of communication that requires efforts on both sides: the sender and the receiver. So when Bill Gates decides to send me thoughts of his next creation, I'll be ready to receive them." Jack Shalom
Click here to get Gerald Deutsch's Perverse Magic: The First Sixteen Years
All proceeds to Open Heart Magic charity. |
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psychic Veteran user 337 Posts
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"I'm working towards it, and I am not a born psychic. No one is. And I am making progress towards the better. And you have been very helpful in all our experiments too "
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BonzoTheClown Regular user 176 Posts
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How about saying with a grin:
"I am" Marc Climens |
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peng New user Malaysia 87 Posts
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So many beat me to it. I was going to say use Larry Becker's line, "I am." That was so funny, and completely shut everybody up.
Peng
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7th_Son Elite user Australia 437 Posts
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Guys,
It's a very nice line, but it's obvious to people I know that I'm not a billionare!
"Here's to our wives and girlfriends...may they never meet!" - Groucho Marx
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Roland Henning Special user Kiel, Germany 511 Posts
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Quote:
On 2003-12-15 03:37, 7th_Son wrote: "I am" doesn't mean you have a lot of money. It means you're rich. mmG Roland |
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Pekka Special user Finland 560 Posts
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Well, it is also obvious for people you know that you cannot read minds either.
What I usually do, especially when performing to people I know, I ask them to concentrate other things. Such as the wallet where the business card is in and explain that therefore I can read them and what they wrote on the back of the card. I will not state that I'm a psycic, they would never believe it. But if I play the role of the master psychologist/body reader they will be amazed on how much I have learn since the last time. And I always give them a little grin when they start asking questions. I guess they know now that it's just trickery, but they cannot be sure. |
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jlibby Inner circle 1024 Posts
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I'd advise them that they need to get out more.
See ya! Joe L. |
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M_Fortune New user 9 Posts
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"I do make billions, but I snort the lot away each night due to my out of control cocaine habit".
Mal |
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kilgourpower New user London 72 Posts
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"If I use my powers for financial gain,the evil God of time and space will make my head implode???"
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drosenbe0813 Elite user Long Island, NY 405 Posts
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To get this thread back on a more serious nature, the question of predictions and monetary gains is why I don't do any obvious predictions in my act. All of my routines involve 'reading' the thoughts of the audience, not predicting some future event. If I did do a prediction, then I would make sure that I framed it as 'sending' the appropriate thought to a spectator. I have also used Lee Earle's idea of not so vaguely predicting the pictures that appear on the front cover of a newspaper. That way, you can claim that you saw and wrote down images a week ago (e.g. Squalidly haired man examined by a doctor) that you couldn't identify until you actually saw them today(Sadam Husain)
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adolphus Loyal user 229 Posts
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"...you finish with, "And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why I never take chances or bet on events of any kind. I always have to lose, to prove that I'm honest."
Theodore Annemann from ANNEMANN'S BALLOT BOX DIVINATION Annemann's Practical Mental Effects
"Unlike the mere Conjuror, the Mentalist reaches into that space which a hat normally covers. And from there, he withdraws something more fleeting - and at times, far fuzzier - than any rabbit"
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sludge Special user milton keynes, england 529 Posts
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Because I can only predict events that happen around me.
For example I can predict what I will see in a newspaper next week. And when my numbers come up on the lottery I will know beforehand  but I don't know what numbers you will win with (I'm only human after all - I can't do everything)...
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bevbevvybev Inner circle UK 2588 Posts
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Because I keep spending it
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24273 Posts
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Quote:
On 2003-12-14 21:18, 7th_Son wrote: "The reason that I'm not filthy rich is that I really don't like being filthy." "For you, wealth is a goal, an ideal, for some others, it's a burden." "Each person has his own idea of success. Mine is being able to entertain you for just a few moments and take your mind off the poor, wretched, humdrum everyday life you lead." "I have an agreement with the government. They don't do miracles, I don't make money. So far, neither of us has violated this agreement in any way." "How do you know I'm not filthy rich. SHHH -- I'm picking up vibrations from someone in the next room, he's an IRS agent." "Because with my skills, I don't need to be filthy rich to live well. I have what I need. I leave the rest for those who have no self control."
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
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peng New user Malaysia 87 Posts
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I think the "IRS agent" gag could get people laughing and rolling on floor.
Peng
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John LeBlanc Special user Houston, TX 524 Posts
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Lee Earle has written more than once about the dangers of things like headline predictions and such. 9/11 has become quite a sticking point for "future readers."
A common thread you'll find in past and present literature deals with being right all the time. As you've probably already experienced, a few misses make the hits even stronger. The fact is the question is a good, legitimate one: if you really can read minds/predict the future/whatever, why aren't you rich? I'll admit to stealing Larry Becker's line ("I am.") but I don't anymore. These days I find just a smile is sufficient. Better to remain quiet and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt, I always say. John LeBlanc Houston, TX |
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vratkins Regular user New Orleans USA 151 Posts
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In one of Robert Heinlein's books, he made the point that the most important "power" is intellegence, knowledge of the future will do you no good unless you know what to do with it. Psychic abilities do not confer wisdom. (A line I use to avoid giving "psychic advice") This should distract them for awhile before they think "How smart do you have to be to know what to do with 7 numbers!?"
Regards, Victor |
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Posted: Dec 14, 2003 08:18 pm 
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