Derren Brown's screaming stooges

lane99 said:
Sure they weren't :rolleyes:

Care to put your money where you mouth is?...

...No, I didn't think so.
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I transcribed the introduction to the video word for word. I'm curious as to what makes you think that that would mean that I hadn't watched the video recently. But, sure, I'll take you up on your offer of a bet.

I'll bet you any amount of money you like, from a minimum of £10 upwards, that this video does not contain the word "actress" and nor does it make any reference to the "young woman"'s profession.

After you've watched the video, post how much money you're going to send me (a minimum of £10, remember), and I'll PM you an address where you can send it.
 
John Albert said:
So you do get it after all. Thanks for demonstrating that you have an understanding.

Magda Rodriguez acted the part in that Derren Brown "Voodoo Doll" skit, just like Arnold did in that one movie about the robot from the future.
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Still on this one John Albert eh? Oh of course im on ignore so you cant answer(when the heat is on ignore is an easy excuse).
Can you prove she was hired? Lets start with that.

Yes or No.

Edit to add: On a nightly basis onstage he has random -yes random-people do remarkable things that seem impossible,indeed in his other Tv specials people have "robbed banks",landed "planes" etc. much more elaborate than what Magda Rodriquez did,,the voodoo mind trick is no biggie in the grand scale of things.
Why he would need an actor considering the aforementioned ? Or they all actors? A sensible answer would be great.
 
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Azrael 5 said:
Still on this one John Albert eh? Oh of course im on ignore so you cant answer(when the heat is on ignore is an easy excuse).
Can you prove she was hired? Lets start with that.

Yes or No.
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She's a professional actress in the British Actor's Union, and she appeared on his TV show. You do the math.
 
John Albert said:
She's a professional actress in the British Actor's Union, and she appeared on his TV show.
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I totally understand the mode of thought, and it's perfectly reasonable to assume that she played along.

On the other hand (and don't take this as a refutation), it's also possible that Derren didn't know that she was an actress. Not that it's very likely though.
 
John Albert said:
She's a professional actress in the British Actor's Union, and she appeared on his TV show. You do the math.
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You want to speak to forum techs about that ignore function of yours.

Can you prove she was hired as an actress.Yes or No.

You can continue stalling or you can answer.
 
Surely, if all it takes for someone to be counted as a "stooge" is for them to be playing along because they "know what's expected", then everybody in every hypnotism show is a "stooge"? Besides which, the entire point of that particular trick is that the girl is playing along with what's expected of her, rather than Derren actually doing anything to her at all, isn't it?

So, it seems that what's being said is that Derren picks people who he thinks his tricks will work on, and that this one worked. I'm not entirely sure this is damning.
 
Squeegee Beckenheim said:
Surely, if all it takes for someone to be counted as a "stooge" is for them to be playing along because they "know what's expected", then everybody in every hypnotism show is a "stooge"?
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Not necessarily "everybody in every hypnotism show," but in most cases I'd say that's a fair assessment.

Sorry, all you hypnotists. Just calling 'em as I'm seeing them. I posited a challenge to the last hypnotist I had this discussion with, to have his "hypnotic powers of suggestion" tested scientifically, and he ran off with his tail (or something) between his legs.


Squeegee Beckenheim said:
Besides which, the entire point of that particular trick is that the girl is playing along with what's expected of her, rather than Derren actually doing anything to her at all, isn't it?
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Yeah, but what he doesn't tell is that she's a professional actress performing in front of TV cameras. We're not debating whether or not it was a trick. We're debating whether or not she was in on the trick.


Squeegee Beckenheim said:
So, it seems that what's being said is that Derren picks people who he thinks his tricks will work on, and that this one worked. I'm not entirely sure this is damning.
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I'm just not quite so willing to rationalize away this blatant use of a stooge.

Anyway, as I said before:

John Albert said:
The whole argument is kind of silly, after all, when you really think about it. Who cares if a stage magician uses stooges and then lies about it? It's kind of like getting all worked up over an athlete juicing to increase his performance. We all know it happens. It's just one of those disappointing realities that you can either ignore and deny, or just accept and learn to live with.
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Some of you seem to have a problem admitting that Derren Brown would stoop to using stooges and then stoop to lying about it, when in fact his entire profession is predicated upon lying. It seems kind of silly to go to a guy specifically for the purpose of being tricked, and then complain about him using a dishonest method to trick you. But whatever.
 
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Azrael 5 said:
You want to speak to forum techs about that ignore function of yours.

Can you prove she was hired as an actress.Yes or No.

You can continue stalling or you can answer.
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There's roughly as much evidence for her being hired as there is for the existence of the Higgs boson.

How's that for an answer?
 
John Albert said:
Some of you seem to have a problem admitting that Derren Brown would stoop to using stooges and then stoop to lying about it, when in fact his entire profession is predicated upon lying. It seems kind of silly to go to a guy specifically for the purpose of being tricked, and then complain about him using a dishonest method to trick you. But whatever.
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It might not be that it's a dishonest way of tricking us. It might be more that using stooges is much easier, and therefore perceived as lazier/less smart. Sort of like a shortcut where more cunning (YMMV) could be employed.

Using stooges is perceived as insulting the intelligence of the audience, if I read the responses here correctly.
 
Bram Kaandorp said:
Using stooges is perceived as insulting the intelligence of the audience, if I read the responses here correctly.
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Yeah, but so what?

The fact that the explanation is so obvious makes people second-guess that it must be something far more complex and mystifying than it actually is.

Derren employed a stooge. You got punked. Get over it.
 
Except I'm not steamed up.

Your ad hominems and idiotic appeals to ridicule are the reason I put you on ignore in the first place. Keep it up. You'll be back in the corner muttering to yourself again in no time.
 
John Albert said:
Yeah, but so what?
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My thoughts exactly. Entertainment is the most important part. I don't watch his shows for the critical thinking tips, except when they are explicitly doing so (like with Miracles for sale).

The fact that the explanation is so obvious makes people second-guess that it must be something far more complex and mystifying than it actually is.
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I'm guessing that's Derren's intention, and I applaud him for it.

Derren employed a stooge. You got punked. Get over it.
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Couldn't have said it better.
 
John Albert said:
Yeah, but what he doesn't tell is that she's a professional actress performing in front of TV cameras. We're not debating whether or not it was a trick. We're debating whether or not she was in on the trick.
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I have, as yet, seen no evidence that she was in on it unless, again, you're going to say the same of everybody in any hypnotism show. Which you seem to agree you are.

So, then, if the same is true of anybody from any profession in any hypnotism show, how is her being an actress evidence that she's a stooge? Surely she could have any job and still fit the description of being "in on the trick" that's being employed here?

Some of you seem to have a problem admitting that Derren Brown would stoop to using stooges and then stoop to lying about it, when in fact his entire profession is predicated upon lying.
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I would "admit" it, if I were to see evidence for it. I've certainly had no problem in the past of saying when he's done crap tricks, or when I've worked out his methods and think that they were crap. I just need evidence that what he's done is crap before I'll say it is. With this particular trick I've not seen any.
 
John Albert said:
Yeah, but so what?

The fact that the explanation is so obvious makes people second-guess that it must be something far more complex and mystifying than it actually is.

Derren employed a stooge. You got punked. Get over it.
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"I cant figure out how he did it so it must be a stooge and I cant get over it"


This is from the guy with such pearls of wisdom as:
"He[DerrenBrown]is nothing like John Edward."
"He [DerrenBrown]is just as bad as John Edward"
:D
 
John Albert said:
So you do get it after all. Thanks for demonstrating that you have an understanding.
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You hear that wooshing sound? That was my point going over your head.
Magda Rodriguez acted the part in that Derren Brown "Voodoo Doll" skit, just like Arnold did in that one movie about the robot from the future.
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Prove it.
 
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