Yabut, is it magic?

[Chas]

One can view the world in more than one way, but a major dichotomy is between the credulous and the skeptical.
Like the discussion on spirituality, we can see stage magic as either clever or mystical.


I am amazed at what these people can do, but even though I can rarely ever see how it was done and often can't even conceive how it was done, I don't immediately (or ever) conclude "Ooh, ooh, REAL MAJIK"

The argument from ignorance is lazy, but wonder and amazement are real.  One can experience the ineffable without leaping to unwarranted conclusions.


N.B. I love stage magic.

[Deesse23]

One thing pops into my mind: Copperfield once made the statue of liberty disappear.
It looked really impressive, until it was revealed that the viewers just sat on a disc-like auditorium and were simply sviveled around (at night, dark sky, they culdnt notice).

No matter how impressive some "miracle" may seem, the actual trick maybe extraordinarily simple. A clear reminder that scepticism is warranted!

[Phaedrus]

I can make money disappear from my bank account, but I wouldn't call it magic.

[Deesse23]

I can make money disappear from my bank account, but I wouldn't call it magic.

I have the same personal experience. Coinicidence? 

[airportkid]

... I can make money disappear from my bank account, but I wouldn't call it magic ...

... I have the same personal experience. Coinicidence ...?

Eerie.   

You should start a cult; expose a wider audience to sharing that experience, even at a risk of inducing the inverse of the experience yourself. 

[Dom]

Nothing beats the disappearing act of socks. Where do they go? I have to buy several identical pairs because some always escape.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Nothing beats the disappearing act of socks. Where do they go? I have to buy several identical pairs because some always escape.

Reminds me of that spin-off, "Land of the Lost Socks."

[Gwaithmir]

I can make money disappear from my bank account, but I wouldn't call it magic.

Both of my brother's ex-wives made money disappear from his bank accounts like magic. 

[Deesse23]

... I can make money disappear from my bank account, but I wouldn't call it magic ...

... I have the same personal experience. Coinicidence ...?

Eerie.   

You should start a cult; expose a wider audience to sharing that experience, even at a risk of inducing the inverse of the experience yourself. 

Hats, we need funny hats!

[brewerb]

Believers.

[SYZ]

Nothing beats the disappearing act of socks. Where do they go? I have to buy several identical pairs because some always escape.

As socks magically disappear, so do wire coat hangers magically multiply.       

[Dancefortwo]

When I was in college one of the theatre students was a sort of a magic prodigy.  He'd been doing it since he was 4 years old.  I'd sit right next to him while he'd do his card tricks and other magic things and I couldn't see the slight of hand.  It was amazing. He used to go down to Los Angeles and learn new magic tricks at the Magic Castle.    He wanted me to be his assistant, you know dress in the little skimpy outfit and stuff but I had other things to do with my life. Frankly it sounded awful.   Anyway, sometimes Curtis would come in the green room of the theatre department and do a whole hour show for anyone sitting there, usually  people were  studying for an exam or going over lines for a play.  Curtis didn't care.   It was like he was on some sort of high.  Then sometimes no one would see him for weeks on end.  Turns out he was severely bi-polar.

The last time I saw Curtis he was standing on the top of the college theatre building threatening to throw himself off.  They got him down and that was it for poor Curtis.  Someone told me that he lived in a group home and had put on 300 lbs from the medications he had to take.  It was so sad.  

So that's my one experience with a magician.

[Mark]

Nothing beats the disappearing act of socks. Where do they go? I have to buy several identical pairs because some always escape.

Same here.  Socks that run in herds are far easier to round up than those that stay in monogamous pairs.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Nothing beats the disappearing act of socks. Where do they go? I have to buy several identical pairs because some always escape.

They are sacrifices to the Sock Monster, that he may be placated and not come out of the dryer to chew our feet off.

[skyking]

sock herding.
That's my policy too it has stopped all magic in my laundry area.

[Cheerful Charlie]

Arthur Conan Doyle, was a personal acquaintance with Harry Houdini. Even though Houdini told Doyle that everything he did was trickery and illusion, skill, not magic. Doyle did not believe him. Even after his tutoring Doyle, Doyle claimed Houdini was lying and really did perform using magic. Doyle also believed in the very real existence of fairies. Duped by a teen aged girl with faked photographs.

Gullibility taken to extremes. The will to believe. There is a lesson here.

[brunumb]

... I can make money disappear from my bank account, but I wouldn't call it magic ...

... I have the same personal experience. Coinicidence ...?

Eerie.   

You should start a cult; expose a wider audience to sharing that experience, even at a risk of inducing the inverse of the experience yourself. 

If you elect me as your leader I will make it my dedicated mission to ensure that money will disappear from the bank accounts of all our members without fear or favour.  

[Chas]

Nothing beats the disappearing act of socks. Where do they go? I have to buy several identical pairs because some always escape.

As socks magically disappear, so do wire coat hangers magically multiply.        

Ah! Not magic.  You know you have paper clips, but you can't find one, right?

They are larval coat hangers.