On Jan 14, 2018, Adrien L. wrote:

And that comment about the pocketwatch-swinging-hypnotist was just to be mean, sorry about that but I couldn't help myself

On Jan 15, 2018, Dannydoyle wrote:

Quote:

On Jan 14, 2018, Adrien L. wrote:

And that comment about the pocketwatch-swinging-hypnotist was just to be mean, sorry about that but I couldn't help myself

Do you even read your own posts? How can you be taken seriously?

On Jan 14, 2018, Mindpro wrote:
As a matter of fact, yes many do a problem with telling people you can read their minds. There are so many things you 've said in this post that are simply wrong and inaccurate.

The spectator is invited to think of a word and write it on a slip of paper. The paper is burnt and from the ashes the Mentalist reads the chosen word. (pp166)

On Jan 14, 2018, Mindpro wrote:
The next thing you have wrong, is no, we are not all magicians here. That again would be your own perception, and assumption and incorrect.

On Jan 14, 2018, Mindpro wrote:
In the end there are so many different aspects of magic available, one does not have to make a mockery or misrepresent hypnosis when there are many other options and themes to work with.

On Sep 10, 2015, Stunninger wrote:
Richard says in the trailer, at 1:05, 'Imagine being able to hypnotize someone on the spot and give them the suggestion where they can't pull their hands apart or speak their own names. I'm going to teach you how to do that in this step.'

It's stated quite clearly the buyer will be taught how to hypnotize someone in this lesson. The ad doesn't say anything about 'fake magician hypnosis' or imply the buyer will be taught some type of pseudo hypnosis. No mention of that at all.

So why would a potential buyer be left with any impression other than they are going to learn how to hypnotize others?

I practiced and taught hypnosis for many years. One persistent fact remains: there is no clear, agreed upon definition of hypnosis. There is also no universally agreed upon set of criteria for determining if a person is hypnotized or not. The debate between 'state' and 'non-state' theories has never been resolved. Read any college Psych 100 text book and you will find this to be well documented.

What is hypnosis? How do you know if a person is actually hypnotized? Theories and opinions are plentiful. Many contradict one another. There are those adamant there is no such thing as hypnosis, and that any response which may be elicited with a formal hypnotic induction can also be elicited without any induction at all. There is some evidence to support this. Read 'They Call it Hypnosis' by Robert Baker, a researcher and university professor. One passage from the book:

"Strictly speaking, every time the word 'hypnosis' is used it could be placed in quotation marks. This is because there is no such thing as hypnosis. The point and purpose of this book is to convince the reader that the phenomenon called 'hypnosis' does not exist, has never existed in the past, and will not exist in the future. What is commonly called and referred to today as 'hypnosis' is a fallacy, that is, a false and mistaken idea handed down from generation to generation..."

Kreskin has said this for years.

Martin Taylor has performed a complete show of 'Hypnotism without Hypnosis' for many years. He elicits all of the same responses from his volunteers as stage hypnotists do, but without the use of any hypnotic induction.

I know, I know, this thread is not about the debate of does hypnosis exist or not, it's about Richard Osterlind's Penguin download. The points above are made for a reason. There are those who firmly, deeply believe that to learn hypnosis requires much more than a 33 minute download from Penguin Magic, that a full course of instruction is needed, lasting many weeks or months. Well, they can, and are going to, believe what they want, of course.

However, there are many others who disagree, and believe there's really not that much to learning how to hypnotize, and are quite comfortable teaching the entire process in 30 minutes. I could easily teach one definition of hypnosis, how to do suggestibility testing, and a hypnotic induction in under 15 minutes, and then demonstrate the elicitation of 'hypnotic phenomena' for another 15. Easy.

I'm not interested in trying to change anyone's mind. Believe what you want.

I'm not interested in debating anyone. This will be my only post in this thread.

The field of hypnosis is quite controversial. There are almost as many different definitions of hypnosis as their are hypnotists. There are many different ways to explore and begin learning. Robert Baker's book would be one really good place to start.

On Jan 18, 2018, Dannydoyle wrote:
So I assume Kevin is now one of the usual suspects because he agrees with us?

On Feb 16, 2018, Dannydoyle wrote:
Like when you stalk members to other sections just to argue and insult?