magic tricks revealed

[T'ai Chi]

If we post a revealing of a magic trick here, or on this board, that is skeptically taboo.

But how about posting links to videos of the tricks being revealed?

[DJM]

And why would you want to do that?

[wahrheit]

If we post a revealing of a magic trick here, or on this board, that is skeptically taboo.

What does revealing a magic trick have to do with skepticism?

[ChristineR]

You aren't trying to come up with an excuse to report the Wiseman video are you?

Use your discretion. If there's a gray area, then the mods will quash the link and give you a warning. If there's a really gray area, ask about it.

The Wiseman video is not in a gray area. Just in case you are referring to it.

[Chupacabras]

Probably talking about japanese magicians complaining of a TV show giving away their secrets and the magicians suing. Now, where did I just read that?

ETA: I saw a full series on TV (translated to Spanish) that showed a lot, I mean a lot of tricks, some very elaborated. It was something like "the masked magician". My first impression was of astonishment that they ran the show, because I felt someone would complain. That was a couple of years ago and I have heard nothing about this particular show. Heck.

[ChristineR]

Fox TV had a series of five shows called "Breaking the Magicians' Code: Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed" that starred someone they referred to as "The Masked Magician." I guess they actually had two Masked Magicians in all. Could it be the same show?

There was a very large stink about it.

[tkingdoll]

You aren't trying to come up with an excuse to report the Wiseman video are you?

Use your discretion. If there's a gray area, then the mods will quash the link and give you a warning. If there's a really gray area, ask about it.

The Wiseman video is not in a gray area. Just in case you are referring to it.

Nah, it can't be that, for two simple reasons. 1) magicians are allowed to reveal their own methods, and 2) as the 'method' for swapping the deck is done in full view of the audience, there's actually no method to reveal. If you were going to perform a deck swap, you wouldn't do it out in the open like that. It's not actually a magic trick, it's just someone pretending to do a magic trick but in plain sight of the audience. I doubt Tai thinks that the Wiseman video is 'method revealing', it's a Psychology experiment. There's no magic in it at all.

[T'ai Chi]

Weird, some people can't let the Wiseman video go.

No, this is an 'in general' question. I was specifcally thinking about some real stinker 'tricks' that Criss Angel has done that have 'revealed!' videos on the internet.

[T'ai Chi]

What does revealing a magic trick have to do with skepticism?

Gee I dunno, Randi seems to think there is some connection.

[thaiboxerken]

In the forum index, under Conjurer's Corner it says "For a discussion of magic and magicians, NOT TO INCLUDE THE DISCLOSING OF SECRETS"

Does that clarify it for you, Whodini?

[wahrheit]

Gee I dunno, Randi seems to think there is some connection.

I was quoting you in my previous post, not James Randi.

It was not about what you think that other people think, it was about your assertion.

[Jeff Wagg]

The official word..

You may not reveal tricks here. Also, you may not embed video or images that reveal tricks. However, you can post links to revealed tricks.

The latter is simply a matter of practicality. We do strongly discourage revealing tricks, though at times there is a reason for it. Specifically we do NOT want this type of exchange:

"Hey, I saw The Great Gonzo saw a lady in half! How did he do that?"

"Oh, you get a special box that's filled with blood and a woman who can bend a whole lot to get out of the way of the saw.."

Something like this would be OK:

"Sylvia Browne knew her daughters name!! How could she know that?"

"She didn't know it. She used cold reading to get that information out of the Mom."

There is a clear difference between the two. There is a link between skepticism and conjuring, but as conjuring is a "secret" art, and one that many people depend on for their livelihood, this board shall not serve as a clearing house for how tricks are done.

[T'ai Chi]

Don't many people depend on cold reading for their livelihood? hehe, we better not reveal how that is done. ;)

Thank ya

[Mercutio]

I did see your smiley, but for others reading... of course, Wagg's example did not tell how cold reading is done. If someone asks, we could (for example) direct them to Ian Rowland's excellent book on the subject. You are quite right, a good many people depend on cold reading for [at least part of] their livelihood. Some honestly, others dishonestly. Anyone with sufficient interest to buy Rowland's book will be helping someone who uses it honestly to earn his livelihood.

Thanks for this thread, TC--I must admit, I have been curious about the Japanese lawsuit, and had wondered whether the videos in that case would be fair game to link to here (if they exist).

[thaiboxerken]

Don't many people depend on cold reading for their livelihood?

Some depend on cold-reading techniques to make an honest living, like mentalist/magicians who don't claim to have superpowers. Others depend on cold-reading techniques to make a dishonest living, like Sylvia Browne and anyone else who makes money playing psychic or medium.