Wowbagger
The Infinitely Prolonged
This is the third post I am making, in my series of paranormal examinations, though relevance to that might not be clear until the very end. The book I am currently reading says very little about Uri Geller, and what it does say is mostly negative, which is surprising for a pro-paranormal book. I think that might be a tad unfair, and I shall build a case that even all of us skeptics should learn to appreciate Uri Geller, for once!
First of all, I know there are a lot of scumbags out there: Monsters who will rip you off, and only damage your psyche in return. But, Geller is not quite as bad as that! I do not think he ever intends to cause harm to everyone. He is only out there having a good time and acting cool and such. He may have destroyed the careers of a few scientists, here and there, but only those gullible enough to take him seriously.
Some of you might be aware of Geller's late 2007 "confession", where he said he will no longer claim he has supernatural powers. The reality of the situation is that he already made a similar confession, that of doing stage tricks, in his own autobiography, written in 1975!
So, what is the big deal?! So what if he wants to call himself a "mystifier"? So what if he wants to offer an air of legitimacy to folks like Jim Callahan? That's his business! It's all a joke! And, I feel sorry for those who just don't get it.
I understand Geller and Randi have had a long history snarling at each other. But, the fact remains that there would be no JREF without Uri Geller! When Uri felt he was cruelly defamed, and started tossing out his lawsuits, it was not CSICOP (which Randi was a member of, at the time) who took him on. No, Randi was left fending for himself, going through all that agony, to fight back. And now, it seems both Geller's and Randi's franchises still exist, and in some respects, are stronger than ever! Uri is now even willing to laugh off the "YouTube exposures", because they only gave him more publicity!
If you still don't think that's enough, I encourage you to also consider his personality, which I find to be very distinctive, enthusiastic, and earnestly convincing to those willing to follow him. In fact, most of his television programs have been a hit, all over the world, which is no small feat! How could so many folks, who tune in to watch him, be wrong?!
You might try to complain that he only does the same three tricks, over and over again, but what else would you expect, from someone who does not need to innovate his craft any further?! I don't see anyone scalding Banachek for doing the same tricks, over and over! And, I like how he always takes care to bend only the cheapest, flimsiest of spoons, so as not to waste the stronger, more expensive and elegant ones, on his most famous of routines.
And, finally, I argue that it might still be possible that he is not even doing tricks at all! Maybe Uri Geller really can tap into some source of paranormal powers! The book I am reading seems to think it is significant that students scored a full 8.8% better than chance, at predicting numbers and colors of ping-pong balls they would blindly pull from a bag, and that remote viewers tend to get some details correct, when comparing their visions to actual targets. Perhaps there are lots of other paranormal claims are that are just as reliable! Not everything Geller does can be replicated by your average birthday party magician, and certainly not all of his "tricks" can be explained by conventional, pharmacological science, either!
Paranormal research has been conducted for centuries. And, even as we enter the second quarter of 2009, it is clear that results of further research will continue piling up, and up, and up! I think it is time for all of us to grow up, and end this childish prank of pseudo-skepticism we now see on this Forum, this very day!
I will end with a quote I find frighteningly... relevant:
First of all, I know there are a lot of scumbags out there: Monsters who will rip you off, and only damage your psyche in return. But, Geller is not quite as bad as that! I do not think he ever intends to cause harm to everyone. He is only out there having a good time and acting cool and such. He may have destroyed the careers of a few scientists, here and there, but only those gullible enough to take him seriously.
Some of you might be aware of Geller's late 2007 "confession", where he said he will no longer claim he has supernatural powers. The reality of the situation is that he already made a similar confession, that of doing stage tricks, in his own autobiography, written in 1975!
So, what is the big deal?! So what if he wants to call himself a "mystifier"? So what if he wants to offer an air of legitimacy to folks like Jim Callahan? That's his business! It's all a joke! And, I feel sorry for those who just don't get it.
I understand Geller and Randi have had a long history snarling at each other. But, the fact remains that there would be no JREF without Uri Geller! When Uri felt he was cruelly defamed, and started tossing out his lawsuits, it was not CSICOP (which Randi was a member of, at the time) who took him on. No, Randi was left fending for himself, going through all that agony, to fight back. And now, it seems both Geller's and Randi's franchises still exist, and in some respects, are stronger than ever! Uri is now even willing to laugh off the "YouTube exposures", because they only gave him more publicity!
If you still don't think that's enough, I encourage you to also consider his personality, which I find to be very distinctive, enthusiastic, and earnestly convincing to those willing to follow him. In fact, most of his television programs have been a hit, all over the world, which is no small feat! How could so many folks, who tune in to watch him, be wrong?!
You might try to complain that he only does the same three tricks, over and over again, but what else would you expect, from someone who does not need to innovate his craft any further?! I don't see anyone scalding Banachek for doing the same tricks, over and over! And, I like how he always takes care to bend only the cheapest, flimsiest of spoons, so as not to waste the stronger, more expensive and elegant ones, on his most famous of routines.
And, finally, I argue that it might still be possible that he is not even doing tricks at all! Maybe Uri Geller really can tap into some source of paranormal powers! The book I am reading seems to think it is significant that students scored a full 8.8% better than chance, at predicting numbers and colors of ping-pong balls they would blindly pull from a bag, and that remote viewers tend to get some details correct, when comparing their visions to actual targets. Perhaps there are lots of other paranormal claims are that are just as reliable! Not everything Geller does can be replicated by your average birthday party magician, and certainly not all of his "tricks" can be explained by conventional, pharmacological science, either!
Paranormal research has been conducted for centuries. And, even as we enter the second quarter of 2009, it is clear that results of further research will continue piling up, and up, and up! I think it is time for all of us to grow up, and end this childish prank of pseudo-skepticism we now see on this Forum, this very day!
I will end with a quote I find frighteningly... relevant:
"If Uri is a magician, then he is the best we have ever seen, and the most famous since Houdini.
On the other hand if he is a psychic then he is the only man who can do what he does. Magician or Psychic, agree or disagree with him, either way we have to respect him for what he has done. He is truly a phenomenon."
- David Berglas
On the other hand if he is a psychic then he is the only man who can do what he does. Magician or Psychic, agree or disagree with him, either way we have to respect him for what he has done. He is truly a phenomenon."
- David Berglas
D'oh!