mark.
For me, this was useful for the opposite reason. I wanted to avoid anything that was too sensitive; I only needed to get the money while Julesâs goal was entertainment. For many âpsychicâ scammers, such information helps them to hook their victim and keep them on the line indefinitely.
Demonstrating supposed psychic powers is playing with fire. Even when performed by expert magicians or mentalists in the context of a show, people often want to believe that what theyâre seeing is real. Max Maven is one of the greatest living exponents of mentalism and a highly respected thinker and performer in the magic community. After thousands of shows, he made the observation that even if the performer were wearing a bright red nose, someone would eventually approach him after the show and ask for a personal âreading.â This âred nose theory of mentalismâ is often discussed by entertainers eager to avoid misleading the public. I think that what happens on stage should stay there and that the audience is responsible for what they believe before and after the show. Others disagree and open their performances with a disclaimer, while some skew their powers toward psychological abilities that, while easier for a modern audience to accept, are just as fantastic as any supposed psychic abilities.
For me, this was especially difficult as there was no stage and no red nose. I was playing this for real; as I read imaginary signs in the first two eggs, it was little comfort to me that the truth was going to eventually be revealed. My reading was working all too well and I could feel the power it was having over the mark. Later I would reflect on how easy it would have been to abuse that power and heartlessly manipulate someone over time. The third egg, however, changed everything.
The mark had asked me to discuss health first, and I gave a solid, positive reading, telling her there was nothing ominous on the horizon. I wanted to move quickly past matters of health and give a more personal reading regarding relationships before breaking open the egg that would supposedly reveal her financial future. When I cracked the last egg and poured the dark, bloody innards onto the plate, the reaction was visceral. She gasped and I heard the breath become trapped in her throat as her eyes widened, reflecting genuine fear. I felt like a complete jerk, but the cameras were rolling and the end was near. I told her the blood only indicated a possible problem, but that she could easily resolve this. I wanted to explain how I could bless some of her money, that she could lock it away until the danger was passed and that if she did as I instructed, everything would be fine, but all she wanted to know was, âAre my kids going to be okay?â Suckered by a well-designed set and long-proven psychology, she was convinced enough to be genuinely concerned about the bright red omen I had just spilled onto a plate. Finances be damned, all this lady cared about was the welfare of her children.
It took several minutes to completely assure her that only her money was at risk. I gave her the pitch and asked her to bring as much cash as she could so that I could cleanse it. When she left to get the money, I took a few moments to gather my thoughts and prepare for the final phase of the scam, where Alex and I would switch her money for pieces of newspaper. While we waited for her to return I contemplated just how easy it would be to take horrible advantage of somebody with this kind of scam. Had I been a real con artist, I would certainly have used the markâs fear for her children as leverage. I would probably have isolated her from her family by insisting she keep our consultations secret and then bled her dry over time rather than going for quick cash. A genuine hustler couldnât care less about psychological damage, ethics, or decency. All that matters to them is GTFM: Get The Fucking Money .
The mark returned, we
For me, this was useful for the opposite reason. I wanted to avoid anything that was too sensitive; I only needed to get the money while Julesâs goal was entertainment. For many âpsychicâ scammers, such information helps them to hook their victim and keep them on the line indefinitely.
Demonstrating supposed psychic powers is playing with fire. Even when performed by expert magicians or mentalists in the context of a show, people often want to believe that what theyâre seeing is real. Max Maven is one of the greatest living exponents of mentalism and a highly respected thinker and performer in the magic community. After thousands of shows, he made the observation that even if the performer were wearing a bright red nose, someone would eventually approach him after the show and ask for a personal âreading.â This âred nose theory of mentalismâ is often discussed by entertainers eager to avoid misleading the public. I think that what happens on stage should stay there and that the audience is responsible for what they believe before and after the show. Others disagree and open their performances with a disclaimer, while some skew their powers toward psychological abilities that, while easier for a modern audience to accept, are just as fantastic as any supposed psychic abilities.
For me, this was especially difficult as there was no stage and no red nose. I was playing this for real; as I read imaginary signs in the first two eggs, it was little comfort to me that the truth was going to eventually be revealed. My reading was working all too well and I could feel the power it was having over the mark. Later I would reflect on how easy it would have been to abuse that power and heartlessly manipulate someone over time. The third egg, however, changed everything.
The mark had asked me to discuss health first, and I gave a solid, positive reading, telling her there was nothing ominous on the horizon. I wanted to move quickly past matters of health and give a more personal reading regarding relationships before breaking open the egg that would supposedly reveal her financial future. When I cracked the last egg and poured the dark, bloody innards onto the plate, the reaction was visceral. She gasped and I heard the breath become trapped in her throat as her eyes widened, reflecting genuine fear. I felt like a complete jerk, but the cameras were rolling and the end was near. I told her the blood only indicated a possible problem, but that she could easily resolve this. I wanted to explain how I could bless some of her money, that she could lock it away until the danger was passed and that if she did as I instructed, everything would be fine, but all she wanted to know was, âAre my kids going to be okay?â Suckered by a well-designed set and long-proven psychology, she was convinced enough to be genuinely concerned about the bright red omen I had just spilled onto a plate. Finances be damned, all this lady cared about was the welfare of her children.
It took several minutes to completely assure her that only her money was at risk. I gave her the pitch and asked her to bring as much cash as she could so that I could cleanse it. When she left to get the money, I took a few moments to gather my thoughts and prepare for the final phase of the scam, where Alex and I would switch her money for pieces of newspaper. While we waited for her to return I contemplated just how easy it would be to take horrible advantage of somebody with this kind of scam. Had I been a real con artist, I would certainly have used the markâs fear for her children as leverage. I would probably have isolated her from her family by insisting she keep our consultations secret and then bled her dry over time rather than going for quick cash. A genuine hustler couldnât care less about psychological damage, ethics, or decency. All that matters to them is GTFM: Get The Fucking Money .
The mark returned, we
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