talkmagic.co.uk

Does anyone know of any invitation-only internet magic forums? Is anyone here a member of one which Paul Gordon is also a member of? There's something I've read recently that I'd like to try and verify (or not, as the case may be).

Ominous... or just curious?

I've been catching-up on my blog fix since my net absence finally ended, and I read something interesting.
But, blogs being what they are...

There are probably a ton of them out there. Used to be the Shadow network, not sure if they are still around.

I can't find any promising references to a 'Shadow' network (not one connected to magic anyway).

Well, does anyone know how accurate any of this is?

The Shadow Network is very real, though inactive I've been a member for years.

I'd touch base with Carl Bartoni via http://www.dragonskull.co.uk/main_map.htm about articles and possibly qualifying for membership... this used to be a group of rather hardcore Bizarrists with a touch a mentalism. It is a 'mailing list' styled forum vs. what we have here.

The Bizarre & Psychic Entertainment sides of magic have several closed "by invitation only" forums and even after being invited in, one must pass the muster as it were, in that several have a screening "test"... not so much as for keeping people out as it is to insure that all members can speak to one another at a common level that is "elevated" a bit above the classic E and Penguin or Magic Cafe levels of mentality.

Ah. Thanks for the info Craig, but card magic is the subject here so that group is probably not the place to be looking.

All *very* interesting.

Actually, I see that the man himself has been active here recently. I shall PM him and see what he says...

I'm sorry to hear that the Shadow network is no longer active. However I hold onto hope, no matter how false it may be that they just went deeper into hiding.

Well, he definitely read the PM yesterday evening, but I haven't had a reply. So I guess that's 'no comment'...

Actually, Paul Gordon has replied to me via PM. Suffice to say that he feels he has been/is being misrepresented, and that it's a nasty business he wants to move on from.

So am I right in thinking that Paul feels the Shadow network has misrepresented him?

No. The Shadow Network was a bum-steer as far as the original forum posts go.

The posts being referred to are in a blog linked to above where they are being quoted. Apparently they are originally from an invitation-only card magic forum and I think they're authentic as far as they go. (I think they may be from a site called The Second Deal, but I have no way of checking). PG says he was misinterpreted by people during the original forum thread and ended up in a no-win situation. One thing he did say in his PM to me was that the chief offenders were attacking him anonymously, but most of the posts seem to be attributed to either Peter Duffie or R Paul Wilson. I may have this wrong - he may be complaining about the anonymity of the blogger.

I'd reproduce PG's message in full here except that he chose to reply by PM rather than here, even though he's aware of the thread.

Dear CC,

Well, Peter Duffie and I are now friends and I have contributed to one of his books and he has contributed to one of mine. Paul Wilson and I did have a fall-out, but we both "shook hands" about 5 years ago!

The anonymous blogger was very nasty and very personal. So much so that I had my phone tapped! Anyway, it was all about 10 years ago...a long time ago.

Onward...

Best, Paul Gordon