I know I was saying I was dropping out too, but I'm sorry, it seems like this is a competition rather than a debate. And please, everyone forgive my tone. Usually I am a pretty easy-going guy, but I draw the line at people who pretend to have supernatural powers.
First off, Dude, you didn't win.
Second. Let's compare web pages, shall we?
Look at Criss' own bio
http://crissangel.com/bio
Not one word of "powers". Oh sure, there's bragging, there's "look what I did for magic", etc.
Go to his merchandise page. Not one thing of supernatural powers. There's cheap jewelry, kind of gaudy if you ask me, but not one word of "powers". Even his book is about the craft of magic, i.e. how he performs his tricks, his philosophies, nothing about having powers.
Now let's go to Jim's website.
http://www.jimclass.com/
Right on the first page is this:
What is this bull? How the hell can you read that and say "He doesn't claim to have supernatural powers".
Oh and go to the book about he's selling about numerology.
http://www.jimclass.com/Gift and conversation starter.htm
He doesn't claim it's a trick, which it is, of course, he claims it's REAL. On that page, and on a lot of pages on his website, he's got a lot of links to psychics.
Also, he's challenging Randi to prove he doesn't have any powers.
.....there is no way you can say Jim "paranormalist" Callahan is not claiming to have supernatural powers. He's using that angle to sell himself as a magician. To me, that cheapens the art, makes him a swindler and he's relying on a gimmick worse than someone who uses stooges or camera tricks.
Why? Let me explain it to you one more time:
People are gullible. They will believe what you do on stage is real. Even if you tell them, outright, that you are lieing and you're fooling them, there are a few people who will still believe you have powers. Those people you can't do anything.
Then there are people who aren't sure, and when you tell them you don't have powers, they go "Wow! He fooled me! That was fun! I don't know how he did it. That was fun!" There is no emotional exploitation. People go to be entertained, they spend their money on it and that's it. Then someday, they tell the story of how this guy, with no special powers, did this amazing thing.
But if you say you do have powers then those people will believe that you do, and then a) there's no "magic" because you've explained away the trick. In their eyes, you've given them the secret. "I can speak to the dead". "Oh, that's how you did that!" and b) Those people will come to you expecting you to do something for them that no one one Earth can. They will spend all their money on an empty promise. They will invest their deep, painful emotions into a sham. And it's done not to entertain, (despite what Jim says he's doing), but to exploit those people, and emotionally vulnerable people who are desperate.
There's a difference between fooling and exploiting.
Criss is fooling. Jim is exploiting.
Again, I am not a big Criss fan. I have more respect for him than I do for Jim, simply because Criss doesn't claim to have powers. Jim does.
And if you can't see that difference between the two of them, if you can say that Criss does claim powers and Jim is just a victim, then you deserve to be swindled by him.
Enjoy yourself being lead by the nose.
First off, Dude, you didn't win.
Second. Let's compare web pages, shall we?
Look at Criss' own bio
http://crissangel.com/bio
Not one word of "powers". Oh sure, there's bragging, there's "look what I did for magic", etc.
Go to his merchandise page. Not one thing of supernatural powers. There's cheap jewelry, kind of gaudy if you ask me, but not one word of "powers". Even his book is about the craft of magic, i.e. how he performs his tricks, his philosophies, nothing about having powers.
Now let's go to Jim's website.
http://www.jimclass.com/
Right on the first page is this:
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
What is this bull? How the hell can you read that and say "He doesn't claim to have supernatural powers".
Oh and go to the book about he's selling about numerology.
http://www.jimclass.com/Gift and conversation starter.htm
He doesn't claim it's a trick, which it is, of course, he claims it's REAL. On that page, and on a lot of pages on his website, he's got a lot of links to psychics.
Also, he's challenging Randi to prove he doesn't have any powers.
.....there is no way you can say Jim "paranormalist" Callahan is not claiming to have supernatural powers. He's using that angle to sell himself as a magician. To me, that cheapens the art, makes him a swindler and he's relying on a gimmick worse than someone who uses stooges or camera tricks.
Why? Let me explain it to you one more time:
People are gullible. They will believe what you do on stage is real. Even if you tell them, outright, that you are lieing and you're fooling them, there are a few people who will still believe you have powers. Those people you can't do anything.
Then there are people who aren't sure, and when you tell them you don't have powers, they go "Wow! He fooled me! That was fun! I don't know how he did it. That was fun!" There is no emotional exploitation. People go to be entertained, they spend their money on it and that's it. Then someday, they tell the story of how this guy, with no special powers, did this amazing thing.
But if you say you do have powers then those people will believe that you do, and then a) there's no "magic" because you've explained away the trick. In their eyes, you've given them the secret. "I can speak to the dead". "Oh, that's how you did that!" and b) Those people will come to you expecting you to do something for them that no one one Earth can. They will spend all their money on an empty promise. They will invest their deep, painful emotions into a sham. And it's done not to entertain, (despite what Jim says he's doing), but to exploit those people, and emotionally vulnerable people who are desperate.
There's a difference between fooling and exploiting.
Criss is fooling. Jim is exploiting.
Again, I am not a big Criss fan. I have more respect for him than I do for Jim, simply because Criss doesn't claim to have powers. Jim does.
And if you can't see that difference between the two of them, if you can say that Criss does claim powers and Jim is just a victim, then you deserve to be swindled by him.
Enjoy yourself being lead by the nose.