First of all, despite my thoughts and feeling about Criss Angel, I fully back him up 100% about what he did on Phenomenon regarding Jim Callahan's performance. In the 70s, Uri Geller was claiming to be the real thing. He was saying that scientists did tests on him saying that he is the real thing. Well if anyone has truly done their research, then they will know about Project Alpha. James Randi, Steve Shaw, and Michael Edwards went to Washington University to have their "psychic abilities" tested. The game was to take it as far as they can until they were asked how they got their abilities, at which point Banachek and Michael Edwards were to admit that what they did was all magic tricks and sleight of hand. If two people can fool university scientists that they were the real thing, surely someone else can. That's exactly what Uri did.
Now in the 70s, Uri Geller was world famous for his spoon and key bending. Sure you can say he was a magician. However he didn't use the title of magician. He said he was a genuine psychic and had mental abilities to read minds, predict the future, and bend metal. And Mr. Randi was brave enough to challenge Uri (and many other frauds) regarding his abilities.
*ZOOM* Fast forward to Phenomenon
What Jim Callahan did was say that he is truly a medium. He said he can really talk to the dead. There's even a crazy ad on his website, and I quote:
Jim Callahan is seeking individuals who desire employment after death.
I am looking for individuals who would like to participate in my shows and experiments after their deaths. You will be compensated for your participation and time. Find out more here.
$1,000,000.00 Will Be Paid
Look Here
Crazy isn't it? Now this is a claim that he can really communicate with the dead. And Angel simply challenged that. If someone came up to you and said he can talk to your dead relatives, surely you'd want him to do so (and no, cold reading doesn't count).
As for Uri and the envelope, sure he was beating around the bush (I'm 19 years older than you, our birthdays are one day apart, blah blah blah), but if he really knew what was in the envelope then why didn't he just say the damn number? Why did he have to resort to cold reading? Sure Jim and Uri are great performers (better than Criss Angel definitely), but to claim yourself as the real thing when you aren't just makes them charlatans (or frauds, phonies, whatever you want to call them). They are performers and
nothing more.
But what about us? Aren't we as magicians frauds and phonies as well? Well sure, but do you really go around saying that you have REAL magic powers? Or do you say that you do sleight of hand and illusions? Just some things to think about.
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