Craig taps into the infinite and gets a message from the Happy Summerland that tells him to say the following about those who disagree>>>But hey, we have a bunch of non-scientists following another non-scientist simply because none of them want to believe in anything.>>>
Reader's jibber-jabber. Assumes facts not in evidence, then provide a generalized conclusion.
Firstly, I never claimed to tap into Summerland or any such source... that's you (an obvious cynic) trying to paint me as being some sort of nut job. Of course you're saying the facts are in evidence in that you don't want to look at the facts... such as the FACT that Randi is NOT a papered and pedigreed "Scientist" nor are his tests anywhere near being legit from the scientific perspective and standards common to most of the world. But then Randi and those of his cult would quickly slander any real pedigreed scientist that don't support their agenda... Randi even threatened at least one Nobel Prize Winning Physicist with physical harm when it came to the issue of quantum physics.
Craig also writes>>> granted, this is another reason for jealousy and loathing those that don't play by the magician's rules... after all, these folks are making an exceptional living doing what most of you haven't the guts to do... >>>
Or, perhaps, the arrogance to assume that we can "help" people by pretending to have supernatural abilities?
I haven't such arrogance but rather letter upon letter of praise and appreciation from clients and years of being encouraged to do this kind of work as a vocation (vs. free of charge, which was the case for well over a decade) by noted professionals in the counseling industry, both clerical as well as psychiatric.
It's when you, and people like you, "cross over", if you will, and start "advising" people using methods employed in deception that it cecomes intolerable and, to my mind, criminal. I believe the reasons this happens are twofold..
To begin with, a huge number of the people that came into mentalism without any connections to stage magic, were those that did Readings or had dealings with Psychic type research to begin with. I was doing Readings long before I ever ventured into Mentalism. It is part of my own spiritual perspective but you would have me denounce one or the other it would seem.
Truth of the matter remains that I am not being predatory when I do Readings. I don't thing Richard Webster or any handful of others we all know and talk about, all of whom do Readings... none of whom are ardent criminals or immoral individuals by any stretch of the imagination. It's just that you, as both a cynic and magicians, detest the fact that this is part of the Mentalist's craft, that many of us embrace it and its simplicity vs. chasing the corporate gigs and club dates like all the magic hacks of the world do and more importantly, you hate the fact that we can cultivate a support network for our shows in a way that is easier and far more substantial than the typical magician is capable of doing.
Tell me, if it is so wrong and so usury, why do so many magicians want to learn how to do Readings? Why do so many of you want to use Runes and Tarot Cards in your acts now days, or do Seance shows?
Is Brother Shadow's HAVE SEANCE WILL TRAVEL a con?
It's sold as the real deal as are all three of Docc Hilford's Seance routines in THE $1,000.00 SEANCE manuscript and a handful of others I can think of.
No... magicians and cynics want their cake and eat it too. Jamie Swiss will kick you out of his club for doing a Palm Reading.. but he's turn right around and do one with some chick he wants to bed down that night... who is doing the greater harm in that case, your fellow cynic or someone like me that detests such antics and the people that do them?
I've never once taken advantage of a client and yet, I know of magicians that brag about screwing over patrons on shows and over-charging. I know magicians that "supplement" their income throwing the cards on the streets or hosting poker games and all sorts of other CONS that are far less honorable and more predatory than what I and my fellows do in this craft. So to coin a phrase, you guys may want to get your own house in order before tossing stones at those of us that are actually doing good in this world vs. ruining the image of magic and magicians by being two-faced hypocrites.
1)Most "Psychic Entertainers" can't make a living entertaining, so they use what they know to supplement their income.
2)Once they get a taste of the awe their "Readings" can provoke in people, they get addicted to the ego stroke.
Well, you obviously haven't a clue as to the kind of money most Readers actually make a year... you don't get rich from it unless you're running a razzle or doing a book promotion. Most Readers average between $25,000.00 to maybe $35,000.00 a year if they are not doing lectures, classes, etc.
I'll toss you another bone... the big names like Edward and VanPraagh are seen by most of the die-hard believers, as frauds. Not that they use trickery but that they betrayed their "calling" for the sake of fame & fortune. I've been told this by several Spiritualists and New Age types... it was a point of view that surprised me to say the least.
Why can't you respect MY beliefs? (There's no emoticon sufficient to express the depth of sarcasm in the previous sentence.)
P&L
Actually if you read what I say and what I've been saying for years now on VISIONS and other sources, I do respect what you believe to a degree. Thing is, that's a two way street and you and most other cynics act like it's a one way or no way flow.
Again, I've not met a single cynic that's put their life on the line to go after the actual criminals out there and Peter Popoff ain't what I'm talk'n here.
I have a book in the works that outlines my own exploits as well as reference to other investigations into dangerous cult groups as well as Psychic/Spiritualist type operators... stuff that makes the famed Psychic Mafia idea look like child's play... investigations where people get killed. But you won't see Randi or his minions taking on that kind of deal... that would require some genuine tenacity and BALLS along side honor.
So until I do meet someone that can match my merit and credentials on that plane, I don't think most of you have any ground to stand on in that you don't know what you're talking about when it comes to what is immoral, unethical and dangerous vs. something that's innocent and productive when it comes to the greater picture of community concern.
This one simple truth is why I so loathe most of the armchair experts that when to piss on the psychic issue. For none of you that I'm aware of have ever put your life on the line for the sake of consumer protection and actually prosecuting the real crooks. So maybe you can mull that thought over a bit vs. trying to attack me and make me look like the chump. :D