talkmagic.co.uk

Tomo wrote:That's just sparked something about paranormal TV in general. Listen to the soundtrack, not the dialogue. Watch for the parts that are emphasised.; the dramatic stabs of music, the eerie ambiance. Now look at the images being used. Same thing. some of the stuff Channel 5 buy in is like that a lot.

It's almost as if there's a vested [advertising?] interest in preaching to the converted.

It's not just limited to paranormal TV either. Even current affairs programmes use subtle methods like these to get you to empathise with the production teams viewpoint.

Flash wrote:It's not just limited to paranormal TV either. Even current affairs programmes use subtle methods like these to get you to empathise with the production teams viewpoint.

Absolutely. Panorama have even started doing it. And all that wobbly camera work with random zooms isn't exciting and urban, it's just annoying to watch.

I just had to turn the Morgan programme off...so much editing..celebrity readings for people she had never met (but probably googled to the hilt)...Dawkins has had his share of attacks on all things sacred...I guess it all started with the Selfish Gene ... I do worry about people who are so sure of their convictions...maybe there are a few 'black swans' out there after all

DrTodd wrote:I just had to turn the Morgan programme off...so much editing..celebrity readings for people she had never met (but probably googled to the hilt)...Dawkins has had his share of attacks on all things sacred...I guess it all started with the Selfish Gene ... I do worry about people who are so sure of their convictions...maybe there are a few 'black swans' out there after all

He he. The exceptions always prove the general case in confirmation bias

I've not heard of this Morgan programme but it sounds dreadful.

In these times of tv having countless spiritual mediums, astrologers, whole channels devoted to God and the such like I just think it's time for some programming that uses rationality and asks people to think about what they believe in and getting those who claim to do things to prove it in a tested enviroment.

I so love the arrogance of those thinking themselves superior and more advanced Intellectually because they don't believe in anything outside of what they can touch, sniff, roll in, and gloat over. But then I also love how they explain so much away as being Coincidence, Happenstance, etc. which, as we all know, are sound "Scientific" principles as well as solid explanations.

I also love how they squirm (and tend to forget) how their fellow "debunker's" got caught red handed changing the findings in tests that lent much stronger support to certain "esoteric" situations than they wanted the public to see... or have we forgotten completely about the one and only legitimate Scientific study done by CISCOPS and how they go out of their way to avoid any other such demonstrations?

Gloat and strut to your hearts delight but remember that OUR JOB when it comes to this issue, isn't to tell the public if or not it is or is not so. As so many of you remind me, our job is but to entertain and in so doing, allow our patrons to experience the surreal.

But then a man claiming that he uses words, body language, various aspects of bio-physics, psychology and hypnosis as ways for which he accomplishes such allusion, is an even bigger braggart and lier than those suggestive of the surreal and esoteric; at least there is a truth in what they would profess where as a 20 year old individuals prieporting such a vast wealth of knowledge and skill kind of goes beyond logic and reason... more so than the idea of things spiritual and what the majority of human kind has always embraced and accredited as being "real"

No man, woman or child deserves the snears, giggles and chiding we find in this arrogant manner of the Agnostic/Atheist who puff themselves so full of vim and walk about blindly -- voluntarily ignoring even the slightest crack in their theories and assumptions, let alone their actions and verbal gymnastics.

Tis such a sad thing, seeing those that call themselves "Magicians" who have no belief whatsoever in magic itself.

Tomo wrote:8pm, Tonight, Channel 4.

I've just finished reading 'The God Delusion' and am a new Dawkins convert. I hadn't realised this was on so thanks for the heads up... I'll be tuning in too.

greedoniz wrote:I've not heard of this Morgan programme but it sounds dreadful.

It genuinely is. She has a dreadful smugness in the titles that basically sets up the premise for the show: she's always right. I'd love to see what's left behind in the edit suite.

Craig Browning wrote:Tis such a sad thing, seeing those that call themselves "Magicians" who have no belief whatsoever in magic itself.

But surely, studying magic, you get to see all the little tricks and stunts that so-called mediums have pulled over the years?
I used to believe, or should I be specify want to believe, but there are so many charlatans involved in all this 'new age' stuff that I have yet to see someone who is truly convincing.

If that person comes along, i'll take note but all there seems to be is hippie types who spout lots of meaningless drivel that surely they can't believe and lots of desperate 'followers' willing to part with their money for 'reiki' healing or someone who can tell your future and destiny with a pack of mass produced cards he bought in a shop that sell crystals and joss sticks. These people are naive beyond belief and walking goldmines for those that wish to prey on them.

Craig - doesnt your brush ever get worn out tarring us all the same?

magician + atheist does not automatically mean they are out on a witch-hunt against anything or anyone else...it just means its their belief...

when you start accepting that an atheist still has beliefs, which are just as valid and should be respected as such -as someone who believes in tarot or real psychic abilities...when we substitute an us and them attitude, for just a "difference", maybe we'll stop having these ultimately pointless, circular arguments...

dunno if you could download the programme somehow, but it was actually quite a gentle and intelligently put together show..and very fair too...the dowsing-test in particular im more than happy to adapt to a form of magic-display...

sience will eventualy explain all things god like and spiritual and we will soon all be using psychic paper.

he is right that spirituality is the enemy of reason, its not suposed to be logical, we have to remember that we are human not emotionless computers, we have an irational side that craves for the irational, the emotional.
so no mater how much sience explains things we will still hanker after faith and spirituality, it is the way we are made, diferent sides of the same coin so to speek.

Next week: Dawkins disproves Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy.

nameless wrote:Next week: Dawkins disproves Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy.

Oh, I think we all did that ourselves a long time ago

Tomo wrote:

nameless wrote:Next week: Dawkins disproves Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy.

Oh, I think we all did that ourselves a long time ago

Yeah, but it's going to show you him laughing in the face of a crying child.

nameless wrote:

Tomo wrote:

nameless wrote:Next week: Dawkins disproves Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy.

Oh, I think we all did that ourselves a long time ago

Yeah, but it's going to show you him laughing in the face of a crying child.

well..that's always worth a watch...