Uri Geller - What do you think?

What does that mean, exactly? How do you properly control an experiment like this? Like, I know you thought their approach of locking the drawings in a safe and requiring two signatures was silly. How would you go about properly controlling that kind of experiment? Would you not lock up the drawings? How would you ensure that they were not tampered with? Thanks!

If you think I'm going to design an experiment for Geller, you're going to be disappointed. It could be done... but it's a harder task as he's a magician, is he going to go through with a rigorous debunking experiment... probably not... so it's probably a nonstarter anyway.

If you think I'm going to design an experiment for Geller, you're going to be disappointed. It could be done... but it's a harder task as he's a magician, is he going to go through with a rigorous debunking experiment... probably not... so it's probably a nonstarter anyway.

My point was I didn't understand what the issue was you had with the double blinded experiments they did administer. Since you clearly did have an issue, I was wondering what your issue was, aside from mentioning the combination lock or the two signatures...but it doesn't appear that you want to continue this convo, so I guess we're done.

My point was I didn't understand what the issue was you had with the double blinded experiments they did administer. Since you clearly did have an issue, I was wondering what your issue was, aside from mentioning the combination lock or the two signatures...but it doesn't appear that you want to continue this convo, so I guess we're done.

If the person under study is a magician, and is therefore out to trick you, one needs to take extra special precautions during any experiment to avoid being tricked... for instance in the room temperature water inside the metal canisters trick... whose canisters were they? who was allowed access to them before the trick? how were they inspected? why was the chosen canister and lid not set aside for analysis afterwards... (i.e. Geller muddled them up at the end so they could not be identified - typical of tricks where you don't want people to inspect the item afterwards). Was any of that done? I don't know

saying something is 'double-blinded' is not some stamp of confidence... if Geller uses his own canisters, or anyone has access to them, or Geller can switch them... etc etc that's the type of magic tricks I learn't as a child, so if you want to debunk Geller, you're going to have to have incredibly strict conditions prevent all these usual magicians tricks.

Geller was mentioned in another thread but I didn't want to derail that so I thought it might be interesting to open a new thread in case anyone has studied the guy. I've been aware of him since he hit the headlines in the 70's but have vacillated between being impressed and feeling conned.

There! You had the answer all along.

[Laird]

If the person under study is a magician, and is therefore out to trick you, one needs to take extra special precautions during any experiment to avoid being tricked... for instance in the room temperature water inside the metal canisters trick... whose canisters were they? who was allowed access to them before the trick? how were they inspected? why was the chosen canister and lid not set aside for analysis afterwards... (i.e. Geller muddled them up at the end so they could not be identified - typical of tricks where you don't want people to inspect the item afterwards). Was any of that done? I don't know

saying something is 'double-blinded' is not some stamp of confidence... if Geller uses his own canisters, or anyone has access to them, or Geller can switch them... etc etc that's the type of magic tricks I learn't as a child, so if you want to debunk Geller, you're going to have to have incredibly strict conditions prevent all these usual magicians tricks.

Bear in mind that one of the two primary investigators, Russell Targ, was an (amateur) magician too. Pretty sure these guys are cannier than you give them credit for. You've done nothing more than Leuders has done - make unproven "suggestions" i.e. muddy the waters enough to introduce unwarranted doubt.

Pretty sure these guys are cannier than you give them credit for. You've done nothing more than Leuders has done - make unproven "suggestions" i.e. muddy the waters enough to introduce unwarranted doubt.

Oh dear... Geller is a magician, and a good one... and these types of tricks are well known as the type of tricks performed by magicians... Just to try and give a flavor of what is possible...

1. Jumping Signed Bill



Effect:
A spectator's bill, which he signs or marks, is placed inside a 9" silk with a rubber band. The silk, rubber band and bill are then placed inside a glass. The glass is covered with an aluminum tube. Before you can blink, the bill has jumped from one tube to the other. But even more amazing, the opening of the second glass is now covered with the 9" silk which is held on by the rubber band and the bill is inside the glass under the silk. And, yes, the spectator removes the band and the silk to discover that it is, indeed, his SIGNED Bill.


2. Little Pea Can

Effect:
A spectator is asked to select one of three items: a pea, a navy bean or a piece of popcorn. All three are put inside a small "Magic Peas" can and plugged with the cork. The spectator is asked to hold out his hand and concentrate on the item he selected. You then open up the container and state, "You were thinking of...the pea!" and pour "water" out into his hand!


3. Ultra Mini Magnetic Pan

Effect:
This is the smallest pan that Steve has ever made. The beauty of it is that once you've released the load you can show the lid and there's nothing to see. Here's hoping you enjoy the new Ickle Pickle Mini Pan.


4. Clipless Chick Pan Ickle Pickle


Effect:
Flour, bubbles, pickle powder and a popped balloon are put into the bottom of this pan. The spectator stirs the brew. A piece of Flash paper is added to the ingredients (if you choose), set afire and the lid is put on the top. When the lid is lifted, there's a pan full of bubble gum. If you'd rather crack an egg (blown) and make a baby chicken you can, the lid has airholes!



5. Hydrostatic Cup Set



A magician showed a magical cane which can jump in his hand. He told a spectator how the cane works.
After knowing the secret, the spectator can do this little trick by himself.
Later the magician brought out a steel cup filled with water, and then covered with a Poker card.
The spectator followed his steps.
The magician put it upside down. However, the water did not fall down.
You might say that you can do this,too.
Yes, the spectator can do it,too. Not a big deal.
But what more magical is when the magician removed the poker, water didn't fall down!
This trick is suitable for close-up magic and stage magic and interactive comedy performance, and also can be surrounded by spectators.
Whole product comes with two cups, two rising canes and explanation video.




Forcing Dice

Finally, there is an affordable set of normal looking force dice on the market! In the past one was lucky to find one of these dies, and even then one had to constantly force the same number. Now you can give your audience the illusion of choice!
These 7 LUCKY DICE can be used for magic effects where a die is employed and could be used to increase your odds at winning in dice games.
Normal dice abide by the rule of seven; six of these dice do not but can be casually examined and handled. These custom made elimination dice are not loaded but allow the magician to force any number one through six.
Basically you get six double-numbered dies. The seventh die is for switching out.

Imagine a spectator numbering six envelopes one through six. They are instructed to place a fake bill in five of the envelopes and their own $100 bill into the sixth envelope and to seal them all. They then roll a die and if the number two comes up, then you or they destroy the envelope marked #2 by burning it or shredding it. This procedure is done until one envelope is left. Miraculously, their $100 bill is the lone survivor. They mark the envelopes. They place their bill inside. They roll the dice. They destroy the envelopes one by one if they wish. It seems to good to be true!

These 16 mm 7 LUCKY DICE are a wonderful secret weapon to have in your arsenal for close-up, parlor or stage.


Forcing dice box...

The magician takes out 2 dices,an empty box and a piece of paper on which he has written 2 numbers of the dices.

He places the 2 dices into the box and shakes for a while.When he opens the box,

the numbers of the diceare the same as the numbers he has written on the paper!

That is cool!Then he asks a spectator to select any 2 numbers and place the 2

dices into the box again.Shaking the box for several seconds ,he opens the box
again,the numbers of the dice are the same as the one that are selected by the spectators!

Finding a way to simulate a phenomenon isn't evidence that it was actually done that way though. In fact, I'd say it's more likely that a person who was a magician would be able to make provision for it when testing.

Finding a way to simulate a phenomenon isn't evidence that it was actually done that way though. In fact, I'd say it's more likely that a person who was a magician would be able to make provision for it when testing.

I thought if I showed that some of the feats that Geller chose to perform from that video, are very similar to common magic tricks, it might cause people to pause a little, and perhaps wonder why a claimed psychic had decided to demonstrate his psychic talents using magic tricks (dice, envelopes, canister contents etc.)?

But it appears to have backfired on me... now because Targ was a scientist and an amateur magician... nobody can explain why Targ didn't spot this stuff... therefore Geller must really be psychic...

There is no point in me going on with this... it's really disappointing, and a bit upsetting actually.