talkmagic.co.uk

Perhaps a Mod, or Mods, should create a stock reply for the 'gold-diggers' and we all then abide by it. Lets be honest, we can all see a 'gold-digger' post.

Maybe something on the line of Mandrake's post or, 'Please read the rules of our forum, we don't reveal magic secrets here, nor do we condone such revelation'

People will always home in searching for secrets but if we are genuine performing magicians we shouldn't let the side down, and maybe I've been guilty in the past, but we should show our proffessional side and put 'gold-diggers' in their place without rudeness or insults, and treat them all the same, with ie. a stock reply. Because, to treat people differently, depending on who makes the first reply, is also wrong.

I've also seen apparent 'gold-diggers' pointed in the dirrection of purchasing an effect, or which book to find it in. I don't think we should do that until we establish someone's genuine interest in magic.

I would be happy to act as a role model for politeness and decorum in this forum.

OK, we can generally smell a gold-digger. But on the other hand...

Even a gold-digger is showing SOME interest in magic, however slight. If they weren't interested at all, why would they bother trying to find out how a trick is done?

And who knows, maybe being blown away by a friend's ID or disappearing coin or whatever, and then learning how it's done, turns out to be the way some people begin to develop a "real" interest.

We all know that airing a TV magic show brings kids (and others) flocking into the shops. They've been entertained and intrigued, and want to find out how some of it is done. Most buy a few packet tricks, quickly lose interest, and drop away. Some stay and develop their passing interest into a hobby, even into a passion.

And as the beginners come rushing in, who are we to say which of them is worthy or unworthy of attention? Who are we to judge the point when a passing whim becomes a meritorious interest?

Even standing face to face with someone, we can never be sure what's going through his head. So how can anyone claim to KNOW beyond a doubt what someone is thinking at the other end of the internet? Just because someone makes a poor first impression (in someone else's personal opinion) doesn't make them fair game for abuse.

I'm a beginner in many fields, an expert in few (if any at all). I've stumbled over my words and made my share of bad impressions throughout my life. If nothing else, it's taught me to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. There are times when it's necessary to be firm, but it's never necessary to be rude.

Tenko wrote

I've also seen apparent 'gold-diggers' pointed in the dirrection of purchasing an effect, or which book to find it in. I don't think we should do that until we establish someone's genuine interest in magic.

I kind of agree with this....

I know that my cousins, troll forums and magic shops trying to find out how things are done as they are the sort of people who like to "get on up" on others. I know they recently saw a magician at a local restuarant and wanted to find out how his stuff was done so they could "beat" him next time. I doubt my adorable little cousins are the only orrid ones out there that do this,

But then as a newbie myself, i know how easy it is to come across wrong and be filled with such enthusiasm nothing seems to come across right.
Even though you dont mean to ask a silly question - you just cant not sometimes lol.

I suppose the question is how can you tell which poster is which? Only after a few posts i guess.

Fairie x

I didn't want to start a whole thread on this, but there is another aspect of etiquette that sometimes bothers me about forums.

Perhaps I am being old-fashioned, but if you ask for input, advice, or a review, how about saying thank you to the people who reply (at least those who reply sensibly!)?

Part-Timer wrote: Perhaps I am being old-fashioned, but if you ask for input, advice, or a review, how about saying thank you to the people who reply (at least those who reply sensibly!)?

Yes, you are being old-fashioned and yes, I agree with you completely. This comes up regularly in other forums I visit, nothing to do with magic.

Can i add though - i dont always say thank you straight away as it tends to close a thread down.

If ive got what i needed - yes i do tend to say thanks, but if its a discussion then i dont as i think it closes it down.

I have however sent Pm's to people to say thanks before now to avoid the thread dying off.

But i agree Thanks cost nothing but a few tappy taps on the keys.

Fairie x

Gary - I've just read the 'card trick on the street' thread that I guess has partly fuelled this discussion. I'm just writing to say that I fully support the points you've raised. In my opinion everyone should get a polite response even if they are fishing for information (which obviously we don't hand them on a plate ) and shouldn't be made to feel foolish. Having said all this - it was a good move to remove the name of the effect in question

I like the idea of having a good reply set out by the mods. The gold diggers would never get anything.
The one thing I do want to mention is that many times a new student who is genuenly intersted in magic will come annd say something like "I want to know how to do this" and they get attacked because they don't understand how to ask something. They could very well have meant "I want to buy this, where can I get it", but everyone is always on the attack with new users.

Hi everyone,

it's good to see that some people are in agreement. As a certain Lady of Mystery says, pink and fluffy all the way!

Also, I think Mr. Mystery has a valid point. Are we in danger of chasing away potentially valuable forum members due to miscommunications. It took me a while to get a feel for the forum and what it does. I imagine it's the same for other people, too.

Having said that, I'm not wanting to become a politeness Nazi, dictating how people relate to each other. We all have bad days, after all.

Right, I'm off to practice folding and unfolding little bits of paper before work!

All the best
Gary

While "Gold diggers" in themselves are obviously a nuisance, I have to agree with the majority of forum members here in declaring politeness as the standard greeting to any post.

In doing so we hopefully acquire and change (for the better) someone who may eventually treat magic as we do. I know that my interest for magic was sparked by the shows of "The Masked Magician" and while I'm not the best example of a practitioner I also don't see myself as one of the worst. I guess it's human nature to try and solve the unknown, but it doesn't mean that all who start on this path finish on the same track.

Worse still is we drive some of these new posters to other unscrupulous forums and websites.

Jjtee wrote:While "Gold diggers" in themselves are obviously a nuisance, I have to agree with the majority of forum members here in declaring politeness as the standard greeting to any post.

In doing so we hopefully acquire and change (for the better) someone who may eventually treat magic as we do. .

True actually and food for thought. How many Scroats come onto forums looknig for answers to ridicule or "get one up" on a mage they've seen, I certainly known some that have.
If we are rash with our words we only reinforce that desire of theirs to try and "beat" us and make them more determined perhaps.....

Hmmmmm shoot and foot ring a bell...

Fairie x

So we're in agreement to be polite to goldiggers, regardles of their intentions? (All in favor please say aye, all oppossed say nay)

Well, that's an aye from me

Hello everyone. I hope you are well, and happy.

Well, time to resurrect an old post. Thought it was better to do that than start a new one. I'm aware that by doing so I may be seen as a bit of a moaner. Really, I'm not, but...

Right then. I thought it would be good if we could adopt a sort of code of practice when it comes to communicating with each other. I'm a huge fan of harmonious communication. Such a thing is possible, even when people disagree.

I've noticed that when people want to emphasize something they use CAPITALS. The thing is is that CAPITALS on the internet denotes SHOUTING. So, I was thinking that when we feel really passionate about something and we want to emphasize that the subject at hand is very important to us that we use the italics function rather than CAPITALS. It doesn't take much effort, after all, and the extra time it takes may give us that little extra space to consider whether we really want to shout at each other.

I suggest this in the spirit of harmonious communication. I've no desire to impose my own values on others, so those of you who want to will, and those of you who don't, won't. Either is fine.

If you are reading this, I hope you don't get upset by my repeated calls for kindness in the way we communicate with each other. My intention is not to make you feel guilty or bad about yourself, nor is it to, in some way, make myself seem superior to you. Please don't take this as a personal attack, if you are reading it. It's not. I just want browsing, and communicating, on this forum to be a pleasant experience for all concerned: you and me. I hope you understand, but if you don't, well, that's fine too.

All the best
Gary