FISM Starts off with a Narcissistic Bang
- Dustin Stinett
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FISM Starts off with a Narcissistic Bang
Ive never met Derek Lever. Now I hope I never do. FISM is not about its organizer, but sadly this man has been able to make it so.
In the second paragraph of his Welcome address to FISM attendees in the conferences program, Mr. Lever attacks Craig Mitchell and Richard Kaufman (the latter being based on his own complete ignorance of facts: Mr. Lever was NEVER referred to as Hitler).
When I heard (after the event in China) that FISM was going to be in England, I was going to make it my first one ever. But then I heard that it was going to be in Blackpool, so I decided not to go. Over the last several months I was feeling some regret about having made that decision. But after reading this foulnessgarbage that has absolutely no place in a FISM programIm happy Im not there.
Dustin
In the second paragraph of his Welcome address to FISM attendees in the conferences program, Mr. Lever attacks Craig Mitchell and Richard Kaufman (the latter being based on his own complete ignorance of facts: Mr. Lever was NEVER referred to as Hitler).
When I heard (after the event in China) that FISM was going to be in England, I was going to make it my first one ever. But then I heard that it was going to be in Blackpool, so I decided not to go. Over the last several months I was feeling some regret about having made that decision. But after reading this foulnessgarbage that has absolutely no place in a FISM programIm happy Im not there.
Dustin
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Re: FISM Starts off with a Narcissistic Bang
Dustin,
Any chance you could link to a photo or web version of the offending piece.
Brendan
Any chance you could link to a photo or web version of the offending piece.
Brendan
Brendan
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- Dustin Stinett
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Re: FISM Starts off with a Narcissistic Bang
It's on Craig and Tim Ellis's Facebook pages. Here's Craig's:
https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/astonishment
https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/astonishment
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Re: FISM Starts off with a Narcissistic Bang
Thanks
Brendan
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Re: FISM Starts off with a Narcissistic Bang
Here is the 'Welcome Page' in the FISM 2012 Programme
http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/3853/photojuv.jpg
It's not even 7am here in Australia and I've already been inundated with emails from magicians who cannot believe that FISM is kicking off in such a bitter and offensive way.
Why Mr Lever has chosen to highlight the negatives is beyond human understanding, but it seems clear that his attack on Craig Mitchell is simply political. (Mr Lever is also nominated as FISM Vice President, so this seems to be his attempt to blatantly sway the voting members of FISM against Mr Mitchell).
Others have suggested it could be racially motivated as Craig is referred to as "the South African delegate". I truly hope that isn't the case, but I am sure the other South African delegates would not be happy.
Why he attacked Richard, and is so wildly inaccurate in doing so, is also a mystery.
This is not the sort of behaviour I would expect from someone hoping to be elected Vice President of FISM...
http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/3853/photojuv.jpg
It's not even 7am here in Australia and I've already been inundated with emails from magicians who cannot believe that FISM is kicking off in such a bitter and offensive way.
Why Mr Lever has chosen to highlight the negatives is beyond human understanding, but it seems clear that his attack on Craig Mitchell is simply political. (Mr Lever is also nominated as FISM Vice President, so this seems to be his attempt to blatantly sway the voting members of FISM against Mr Mitchell).
Others have suggested it could be racially motivated as Craig is referred to as "the South African delegate". I truly hope that isn't the case, but I am sure the other South African delegates would not be happy.
Why he attacked Richard, and is so wildly inaccurate in doing so, is also a mystery.
This is not the sort of behaviour I would expect from someone hoping to be elected Vice President of FISM...
Re: FISM Starts off with a Narcissistic Bang
Oh, I should mention, here in Melbourne we are currently halfway through the Melbourne Magic Festival and a lot of our press has been about our Australian entrant in FISM. I know the media are eagerly following his progress. It is very sad, but likely, that this sort of behaviour will steal the spotlight from the actual Championship and make FISM look like a petty political circus.
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Re: FISM Starts off with a Narcissistic Bang
Tim Ellis wrote:Why he attacked Richard, and is so wildly inaccurate in doing so, is also a mystery.
Isn't Richard attending? That should be interesting.
Brendan
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Re: FISM Starts off with a Narcissistic Bang
I sincerely hope that Mr Kaufman will be contacting his attorneys. Mr Lever's actions are clearly libellous and defame not only his reputation but that of Genii, too.
Such actions open FISM to enormous liability by having such a clearly vicious man as Mr Lever in charge. The prospect of Mr Lever becoming a permanent part of the FISM 'hierarchy' in the upcming AGM elections is a scary thought indeed.
Let's hope that Eric Eswin as FISM President formally apologies on behalf of the organisation and that this is in no way what FISM stands for or how it operates.
Nothing short of shameful.
Such actions open FISM to enormous liability by having such a clearly vicious man as Mr Lever in charge. The prospect of Mr Lever becoming a permanent part of the FISM 'hierarchy' in the upcming AGM elections is a scary thought indeed.
Let's hope that Eric Eswin as FISM President formally apologies on behalf of the organisation and that this is in no way what FISM stands for or how it operates.
Nothing short of shameful.
- Dustin Stinett
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Re: FISM Starts off with a Narcissistic Bang
Brendan,
Yes, Richard is there.
Yes, Richard is there.
Re: FISM Starts off with a Narcissistic Bang
It astounds me how that horrible little man is still running anything...
- Richard Kaufman
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Re: FISM Starts off with a Narcissistic Bang
Oh, yes, I'm here. :)
Subscribe today to Genii Magazine
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Re: FISM Starts off with a Narcissistic Bang
The following appears on the very first page of the FISM program, written by Derek Lever:
"A Welcome from the President of the Blackpool Magicians Club
... There have been many detractors who have vented their spleen on the choice of Blackpool ... The editor of Genii magazine openly supported vicious Hitler films shown in the internet which purported to be me as Hitler."
Not only is this false, and possibly libelous, but it's obvious that Derek Lever has never watched the YouTube videos he is writing about. If the idiot had watched them, he would have seen that Hitler is portrayed as trying to get FISM held in Berlin and is enraged that it is being held in Blackpool AND that Hitler has been banned from attending the convention Watch it yourself:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKEU8ZOHvoM
There is never any indication that Hitler is anyone but Hitler, and that Hitler is angry at Derek Lever. He refers to Derek Lever in the third person several times, so ONLY SOMEONE WHO HAS NEVER WATCHED THIS VIDEO could make the claim that I supported a film that portrayed Lever as Hitler.
This is parody, plain and simple, and protected by law, but I had nothing to do with producing the videos (there are several) and I find them very funny. Just because I find them funny does not mean I "support them"?
And to think that this baboon is running for the position of Vice President of the FISM organization is unimaginable. What an utter catastrophe it would be for FISM if Derek Lever, a person who makes libelous claims based on videos he has obviously never watched, should be elected Vice President.
"A Welcome from the President of the Blackpool Magicians Club
... There have been many detractors who have vented their spleen on the choice of Blackpool ... The editor of Genii magazine openly supported vicious Hitler films shown in the internet which purported to be me as Hitler."
Not only is this false, and possibly libelous, but it's obvious that Derek Lever has never watched the YouTube videos he is writing about. If the idiot had watched them, he would have seen that Hitler is portrayed as trying to get FISM held in Berlin and is enraged that it is being held in Blackpool AND that Hitler has been banned from attending the convention Watch it yourself:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKEU8ZOHvoM
There is never any indication that Hitler is anyone but Hitler, and that Hitler is angry at Derek Lever. He refers to Derek Lever in the third person several times, so ONLY SOMEONE WHO HAS NEVER WATCHED THIS VIDEO could make the claim that I supported a film that portrayed Lever as Hitler.
This is parody, plain and simple, and protected by law, but I had nothing to do with producing the videos (there are several) and I find them very funny. Just because I find them funny does not mean I "support them"?
And to think that this baboon is running for the position of Vice President of the FISM organization is unimaginable. What an utter catastrophe it would be for FISM if Derek Lever, a person who makes libelous claims based on videos he has obviously never watched, should be elected Vice President.
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Re: FISM Starts off with a Narcissistic Bang
That clip has been used to parody so many things. Check them out. They are funny. When the Democrats lost Ted Kennedy's seat that made the list. Harry Potter is parodied. Who knows how many more?
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Re: FISM Starts off with a Narcissistic Bang
I made one, but YouTube blocked it on copyright grounds (along with many others) after the makers of Downfall complained.
Ian Kendall Close up magician in Edinburgh and Scotland
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Re: FISM Starts off with a Narcissistic Bang
When Craig was reporting from FISM China for the Magic Newswire, and expressed his opinions on the choice of Black Pool as the host city for this one, I contacted Mr. Lever asking for him to come on the podcast to comment and defend the selection. Instead, I spent approximately 30 minutes responding to a tirade and telling him why I was not going to remove those posts from my site and why they weren't "Lies," but instead an opinion. Needless to say, he continues to show his true colors again and again. As I said in my post on this issue (http://bit.ly/LeverInsults) : I'll share my personal opinion by paraphrasing a running joke about Churches. "Magic would be great if it weren't for the magicians." A tip of the hat to you Mr. Lever for exemplifying what I see to the be worst side of the magic community.
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Re: FISM Starts off with a Narcissistic Bang
BTW... Am I remembering this incorrectly or wasn't Craig the web developer for FISM since the last competition? Also, if anyone is interested in a flash back, here is the chat that I had with Eric Eswin in 2009 in which we discussed the selection of Blackpool: http://bit.ly/cldj7h
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Re: FISM Starts off with a Narcissistic Bang
Perhaps it will end with a whimper.
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Re: FISM Starts off with a Narcissistic Bang
I've checked and Derek Lever can't possibly be Hitler:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Stars ... _Dead2.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Stars ... _Dead2.jpg
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Re: FISM Starts off with a Narcissistic Bang
Hell, I understood the parody and i'm an illusionist... and a blond!
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Re: FISM Starts off with a Narcissistic Bang
mrgoat wrote:It astounds me how that horrible little man is still running anything...
Who? Lever? Or Hitler?
Re: FISM Starts off with a Narcissistic Bang
El Mystico wrote:mrgoat wrote:It astounds me how that horrible little man is still running anything...
Who? Lever? Or Hitler?
Have you ever seen them in the same room at the same time?
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Re: FISM Starts off with a Narcissistic Bang
Does anyone have a copy of the essay "SCHISM AT FISM?" that I heard was making the rounds? This paper apparently really drills down, strips away, and dramatically exposes the tangential, distracting, disrupting, and silly shenanigans of one person who should not even be mentioned alongside the name of a respected organization and convention. Or it is just another rumor?
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Re: FISM Starts off with a Narcissistic Bang
Ah, Blackpool....
For the hilarious UNOFFICIAL FISM page check here... BRILLIANT!
www.blackpoomagic.com
For the hilarious UNOFFICIAL FISM page check here... BRILLIANT!
www.blackpoomagic.com
- MagicBilly
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Re: FISM Starts off with a Narcissistic Bang
Just read the welcome note from the FISM program. What a whiney insecure little man Derek Lever is. I'm appauled that FISM leaders allowed that defamous article to be printed in the program.
Act Happy, Feel Happy, Be Happy with no reason in the World (D. Millman)
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Re: FISM Starts off with a Narcissistic Bang
with all that, and lots more that could be said, I've seen some great magic in the competitions, and spent wonderful hours with friends old and new, includin, of course, the head Genii, Richard K. Last night was dinner with Richard, Paul Wilson and his family, and Christian Engblom. Keep your eyes peeled for Pierric Tenthory (Pierric) from Switzerland who knocked me for a loop in close-up.
Matt Field
Matt Field
Re: FISM Starts off with a Narcissistic Bang
007 and a half wrote:Ah, Blackpool....
For the hilarious UNOFFICIAL FISM page check here... BRILLIANT!
www.blackpoomagic.com
I really liked One Tamariz, Cyril Takamakaknacker and Ah! Paul Wilson
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Re: FISM Starts off with a Narcissistic Bang
Someone has way too much free time, but it is pretty funny.
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Re: FISM Starts off with a Narcissistic Bang
"Hell, I understood the parody and i'm an illusionist... and a blond!"
brilliant
brilliant
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Re: FISM Starts off with a Narcissistic Bang
I swear this thread needs video accompaniment. Perhaps Hitler running around the dealers room, or the Fawlty Towers Hitler scene, to the accompaniment of the Benny Hill theme.
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Re: FISM Starts off with a Narcissistic Bang
Is this the same Derek Lever that has a No.1 # UK hit written in his favor?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KjnkzoDYKs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KjnkzoDYKs
"Those who do not believe in magic
will never find it. " -Roald Dahl
will never find it. " -Roald Dahl
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Re: FISM Starts off with a Narcissistic Bang
"Those who do not believe in magic
will never find it. " -Roald Dahl
will never find it. " -Roald Dahl
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Re: FISM Starts off with a Narcissistic Bang
He would look more at home in hi de hi
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Re: FISM Starts off with a Narcissistic Bang
I'm so far out of EVERY loop that I have my own gravitational pull, but I thought that parody was HITLARIOUS!! I am blissfully ignorant and apathetic of the FISM suits and politics and falderol (don't know - care less). I do have a few issues though about the Heads I win / Tails you lose issue of what country is "represented" by a person who wins in a continent that he / she does not live in. If you go to a dance with someone, you leave with her - so, if FISM is a 'group of organizations,' why are nationalities the metric with regard to the award winners? Again, not overly bothered because of my motto - here abbreviated" ITE, IJAFCT! Catch me at S.A.M. for clarity. And Richard, recall the savvy words of that great man who name escapes me: I never wrestle with swine - we both get dirty and the swine likes it. No, I am NOT calling anyone a swine - it's a saying. Paul C.
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Re: FISM Starts off with a Narcissistic Bang
"I never wrestle with swine - we both get dirty and the swine likes it."
Brilliant, Paul. Just brilliant.
Brilliant, Paul. Just brilliant.
Subscribe today to Genii Magazine
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Re: FISM Starts off with a Narcissistic Bang
I just watched this - well, I watched it 14 minutes ago, and I just stopped having a laughing fit that prevented me from writing. I just cannot - WILL NOT believe that I let this once in an eternity event pass me by . . . Hmmm, I wonder if they will still take my $750 "retroactively" so that I can have the swag . . .well, watch this at your own risk. And if you DID go to the event, DO NOT watch it as life insurance policies do NOT pay for some forms of . . . passing on. . . Paul C.
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Re: FISM Starts off with a Narcissistic Bang
That was the Unofficial FISM Blackpoo parody I was watching . . . it's given in this thread somewhere. Enjoy. Paul C.