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The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Penny for your thoughts » » "If you really posses psychic powers, then why aren't you a billionare?" (0 Likes) Printer Friendly Version

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7th_Son
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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
Brandon
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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
landmark
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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
psychic
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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 "
BonzoTheClown
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How about saying with a grin:

"I am"

Marc Climens
peng
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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
7th_Son
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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
Roland Henning
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Quote:
On 2003-12-15 03:37, 7th_Son wrote:
Guys,

It's a very nice line, but it's pretty to people I know that I'm not a billionare!



"I am" doesn't mean you have a lot of money. It means you're rich.

mmG Roland
Pekka
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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.
jlibby
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I'd advise them that they need to get out more.

Smile

See ya!
Joe L.
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M_Fortune
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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
kilgourpower
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"If I use my powers for financial gain,the evil God of time and space will make my head implode???"
drosenbe0813
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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)
adolphus
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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"
sludge
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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 Smile but I don't know what numbers you will win with (I'm only human after all - I can't do everything)...
bevbevvybev
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Because I keep spending it
Bill Palmer
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Quote:
On 2003-12-14 21:18, 7th_Son wrote:
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?


"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
peng
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I think the "IRS agent" gag could get people laughing and rolling on floor.
Peng
John LeBlanc
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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
Escamoteurettes, my blog.

"One thought fills immensity." -- William Blake
vratkins
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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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