Psychic Secrets

severin · 10th October 2003, 11:25 AM

There is a series on terrestrial TV in the UK at the moment called Psychic Secrets Revealed. A magician called Alastair Cook is doing all the stuff 'psychics' do and then shows us how he did it. Several of the tricks are those done by Uri Geller. He isn't giving away the tricks done by genuine magicians, just showing how the conmen do it.

The suprising thing is that when he first shows the tricks to a group of people, pretending he's doing it for real, they all fall for it, every time. So many of them say they can feel a mystical force or some such cobblers. It's depressing. These are young people too - you'd think they would have seen enough on TV to know about the scheisters, but no. The psychology of belief is fascinating.

Also, how can the pseudo-psychics continue when there are shows constantly debunking what they do? There was a very funny show about Uri Geller here recently where he constantly got things wrong. Even his own son debunked one thing he did.

Kess · 11th October 2003, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by severin
The suprising thing is that when he first shows the tricks to a group of people, pretending he's doing it for real, they all fall for it, every time. So many of them say they can feel a mystical force or some such cobblers. It's depressing.

I agree. The way the onlookers all seem so desperate to believe that psychic powers were involved is scary. No wonder Uri Geller and friends are so successful...

Abdul Alhazred · 11th October 2003, 03:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by severin
There is a series on terrestrial TV in the UK at the moment called Psychic Secrets Revealed. A magician called Alastair Cook is doing all the stuff 'psychics' do and then shows us how he did it. Several of the tricks are those done by Uri Geller. He isn't giving away the tricks done by genuine magicians, just showing how the conmen do it.

I'm guessing this is not Alastair Cook the "letter from America" guy of BBC of yore. Is he even still alive?

I was a shortwave radio enthusiast twenty years ago. Alastair Cook on BBC was one of my favorites.

Anyone remember this?

ChrisH · 11th October 2003, 05:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Abdul Alhazred

I'm guessing this is not Alastair Cook the "letter from America" guy of BBC of yore. Is he even still alive?

I was a shortwave radio enthusiast twenty years ago. Alastair Cook on BBC was one of my favorites.

Anyone remember this?

He is still at it... Letter From America is at 0845 every Sunday morning on BBC Radio 4.

With the death of Alan Keith recently, I think Mr Cook may be the oldest regular broadcaster in the UK.
(Keith presented a programme of popular classical records for many years, until he died aged well into his 90s.)

10th October 2003, 11:25 AM	#1
severin Thinker Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 147	Psychic Secrets There is a series on terrestrial TV in the UK at the moment called Psychic Secrets Revealed. A magician called Alastair Cook is doing all the stuff 'psychics' do and then shows us how he did it. Several of the tricks are those done by Uri Geller. He isn't giving away the tricks done by genuine magicians, just showing how the conmen do it. The suprising thing is that when he first shows the tricks to a group of people, pretending he's doing it for real, they all fall for it, every time. So many of them say they can feel a mystical force or some such cobblers. It's depressing. These are young people too - you'd think they would have seen enough on TV to know about the scheisters, but no. The psychology of belief is fascinating. Also, how can the pseudo-psychics continue when there are shows constantly debunking what they do? There was a very funny show about Uri Geller here recently where he constantly got things wrong. Even his own son debunked one thing he did.
severin Thinker Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 147

11th October 2003, 01:26 AM	#2
Kess Thinker Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 193	Re: Psychic Secrets Quote: Originally posted by severin The suprising thing is that when he first shows the tricks to a group of people, pretending he's doing it for real, they all fall for it, every time. So many of them say they can feel a mystical force or some such cobblers. It's depressing. I agree. The way the onlookers all seem so desperate to believe that psychic powers were involved is scary. No wonder Uri Geller and friends are so successful...
Kess Thinker Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 193

11th October 2003, 03:23 AM	#3
Abdul Alhazred Yes, that one. Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Chicago Posts: 4,503	Re: Psychic Secrets Quote: Originally posted by severin There is a series on terrestrial TV in the UK at the moment called Psychic Secrets Revealed. A magician called Alastair Cook is doing all the stuff 'psychics' do and then shows us how he did it. Several of the tricks are those done by Uri Geller. He isn't giving away the tricks done by genuine magicians, just showing how the conmen do it. I'm guessing this is not Alastair Cook the "letter from America" guy of BBC of yore. Is he even still alive? I was a shortwave radio enthusiast twenty years ago. Alastair Cook on BBC was one of my favorites. Anyone remember this?
	__________________ The lack of a rational explanation is not evidence for an irrational explanation.

11th October 2003, 05:29 AM	#4
ChrisH Thinker Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 131	Re: Re: Psychic Secrets Quote: Originally posted by Abdul Alhazred I'm guessing this is not Alastair Cook the "letter from America" guy of BBC of yore. Is he even still alive? I was a shortwave radio enthusiast twenty years ago. Alastair Cook on BBC was one of my favorites. Anyone remember this? He is still at it... Letter From America is at 0845 every Sunday morning on BBC Radio 4. With the death of Alan Keith recently, I think Mr Cook may be the oldest regular broadcaster in the UK. (Keith presented a programme of popular classical records for many years, until he died aged well into his 90s.)
ChrisH Thinker Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 131