talkmagic.co.uk

How much do we really care?

What is magic to us?
Is it a hobby?
Is it a living?

Is it a staus symbol?

Just after spending a few days here i notice a trend in many of the posts of people using their knowledge for self glorification. I don't think that's the purpose of this place or any institution that brings together enthusiasts to chat about the thing they love to do.

I don't mean to cause offense. I'm just stating my observation.


Fish

Well I haven't really noticed any self glorification as such, just people trying to help others where they can.

For me magic is a hobby, I do it to amuse people where possible and do a few paid gigs when they are offered to me. Mostly I do it for my own enjoyment, I love to learn new tricks and I enjoy entertaining people.

I'd not noticed the self glorification either - just a bunch of people sharing their knowledge and unlike many other forums, doing so of their own free will and passion for the art.


Magic, to me, is a life long pursuit. From 10 years of age, when I first impressed my mum & dad with a deck of Waddingtons, Magic has become something which feeds my creative hunger.

It's not so much of a hobby anymore, either, and since meeting like minded people, I enjoy sharing the creations which I have until now only shared with friends and family.

I'm not cut out to be a performer - I don't think I ever was. But I do so enjoy performing when it suits me, and when I'm comfortable.

It's a good topic - I will be interested what others have to say.

to me it's a hobby - but is probably the hobby i put the most effort into at the moment.

many of the posts of people using their knowledge for self glorification

I've been here a little more than a few days and out of all the forums I'm on, the people here are really helpful and doing anything but using their knowlege for 'self glorification'.

I would never do that in public!!!!!
Ahhhh, glorification, sorry, misread it.

I don't feel that way about this board at all, I have to say.
I have learnt so much from being here, even made some friends that would be friends in the real world.
We have working pros, famous magis, people just starting out and others and I have found them all nothing but friendly and down to earth.
That goes for the admins and the chatters.
I'm sorry you see it that way m8, it is hard I guess when some know so much and are trying to help others to not sound aloof but that's why I am here, many people here know more than I do.
I say keep it up guys,
BaB

<sharp intake of breath> Your lucky today I am not in one of those "Soap Box" moods.

Self glorifiction? hmmmm

I suppose to extent we have to be. After all we are doing something that not everyone knows about. How many times do you hear "Well I suppose your not going to tell me how that was done? Magicians code and all that."
So I guess this can be applied to the forum. Everyone, here, likes to impart their knowledge but sometimes it has to be done in that kind of a way. Self glorification? I don't think so.

Let me read the above again......

self glorification and whats wrong with it, it pays the bill's

I'm a shameless self publisist and make no apologies for it, you should all bow down to my superior intelect and magical prowes after all I'm a working professional and you are a bunch of amatures, if your very very good i'll let you lick the crumbs of my plate of magical experience.
but only if you answer my questions three.

no dont see any of this here, ocassionaly my head gets a bit swollen when other companys ask me to consult on a trick or preview something brfore giveing it to the magicians only section or for general release, but you cant blaime me for that, ive earnt it.

most of this forum is public so we cant discuss openly tricks and magical effects like we can in the magician's only section, or discuss the merits of long term sleights over gaffed items, except in the lounge.

so all we can do is say we can do the upside down ardvark return, or dante's reversable ardvark, and hint who it may be achived, this is why we have a pm system so we can discuss with a small groupe if we wish to impart knowledge.
we are not magic secrets revealed, nor are we hogwarts only letting in experienced mages of pedigree, i think we do a fine job and maintain a balance between giveing it all away and not telling anyone, which has made us the envy of certain chat forums, i know i get e-mail.

I'm sorry you feel we are not providing you a good service pleese feel free to pm or mail me regarding how we can enrich your life further

I can only agree with what everyone else hase said. I'm on a couple of forums & this one is probably one of the least "Self glorifying" I'v come across. I'v seen posts where responses have almost been "what you mean you cant do X or Y Sleight after a weeks practise, took me 2days" or stuff to that effect, but here the guys are very down to earth & (semi-) sane

What is magic to us? Is it a hobby? Is it a living? Is it a staus symbol?

For me I'd like to say it's a just a hobby, but in fact it's much more than that as it seems to have a life of it's own. Some would say (my lovely assistant for example) that it's almost an obsession. It's certainly an addiction.

But a status symbol? No way. Am I in it for Self glorification? I certainly hope not. It's just so damn fascinating. I'm not talking about learning secrets either, I'm talking about learning the skills, learning the performance side of magic, I'm talking about watching people that can, I'm talking about watching all the different styles of presentations, all the different genres of magic. I'm talking about watching the audiences with their collective open mouths and their "No ways" and "what the hecks!"


As to

How much do we really care?

I'm not sure I understand the question.

im more curious about what is meant by "self glorification"????

Ok, first off, I didn't post the original thread to cause offense. It was simply the observation that I see as a new member here. Obviously it seems as if offending people has been unavoidable and i apologise for that.

Just to clarify, I term self glorification in this specific instance as follows. In magic it is difficult to gain much praise for your work because of the secretive nature of it. Therefore I think some people try to find that praise by showing off their magical knowledge in places such as these, where they can freely talk about all their experiences and knowledge. Now in itself sharing knowledge is not a bad thing. You can really help people by sharing your experiences with them and helping them to learn that way and to a great extent I think that is what many of the memebers here do. However it's the possible motives behind some of memebrs posts that caught my attention. It just sounds like they're always out to better themsleves. It might just be me misinterpreting their righting style, and to a point I hope it is. But there is still that niggling feeling that something isn't right that gets on my nerves.

Please don't take these comments the wrong way. They're meant to be constructive critisims not mindless nit-picking.

Again, I apologise for any offense I've caused.

i actually find TALK MAGIC the least cliquey and chest-beatingly proud magic forum!

but i know what you mean Goldfish - it can be hard to discuss magic without some element of self publicity ('look at how i do it', 'this is how i do it', 'i think this is better' etc etc)... but that's why we're all here - to discuss/debate styles and techniques of magic...

i genuinely find the atmosphere of TALK MAGIC to be very supportive and free from the 'orrible smugness and elitist attitudes of certain other sites!!!

I would glorify myself and my skill but it's difficult cos I'm cra*

apology accepted though it was'nt needed, your view is as valid as anyone elses, perhapse you could pm me specifics and i could have a word to them about there attitude.

who do you assume im talking about?