The NY Times deserves to be roundly and thoroughly roasted for this crap. One would think they were utterly unaware of the multiple and utterly valid criticisms of Geller, particularly by James Randi and Penn Gillette, both illusionists of the first water and well-acquainted with Uri Geller and his con [and yes, that's what this is, a CON job]. And this is OLD NEWS. That discussion between Johnny Carson and James Randi is decades old and well known to anyone who is aware of Uri Geller's alleged abilities.
Geller neither needs nor deserves rehabilitation. What he needs and deserves is DISMISSAL.
I used to be a big fan and reader of the NY Times, but they have gone down hill as have most of the hard news outlets in this country. It is to be expected when MBA types are put in charge of newsrooms, and not journalists. When it's all about the quarterly report, puff pieces about frauds like Geller are to be expected.
Look, at the end of the day, if the best someone can do with their 'psychic talent' is bending a f@#($*(% spoon, then it's pretty clear that such an ability is worthless anyway. Geller clearly doesn't have any of the powers he's claimed through the years, but even if he did, it's not like he's doing anything to help out anyone but himself with them.
Why the Times is bothering with an article for this guy at all I will never understand. This piece looks like something someone who just discovered Geller and his 'abilities' would write, undoubtedly encouraged by Geller himself; it reads like a complete vanity article. Do better next time, NYT.
I have read a number of first hand accounts of people hiding from either or both the Nazis and the Soviets during WW II. Living in barns, scrounging food. A detail I noticed in most of them was “peeling potatoes”. I wondered why people who don’t really have enough to eat would peel potatoes at all. Potato skins are edible and I presume have some nutritional value.
I’ve had the opportunity to put this question to two historians of the era. One shrugged his shoulders. I think he was a thoroughly urbanized person and may not have grasped the implications of my question. The other historian said, “maybe there were livestock and the peelings were their food.” Which actually made sense to me, having worked on farms in my youth.
Give me David Copperfield anytime. The man soared onstage right in front of me, but I never for one second believed he could actually fly unaided. And he didn't pretend that it was anything other than a masterful, technology-aided illusion.
With you 100%. I actually met Doug Henning back in the mid-70s and helped produce a video of a magic show he performed for us. He was just a very cool guy who was also ridiculously talented. I should mention, he was also an admirer of "The Great Randi!"
I agree with Hemant. If someone has reliable psychic powers and uses them to do parlor tricks for money, ze is a shitty human being. Ze should use them to help people or at least as the subject of experiments to find out how they work.
I noticed that one of the comments on the original article ends with that old saw "there is more blah blah blah blah blah blah in your philosophy Horatio." Pretty much had me having to decide between spitting on the floor and laughing. Although laughing hurts at the moment because I managed to do something to my back yesterday. That said, it does seem to be the go to for idiots who can't explain away the criticisms.
If, tomorrow, people started bending metal with their minds in confirmable, reproducible tests, I would *still* bet money on Geller being a con.
Because Geller being a con has nothing to do with the answer to "is magic real", it has everything to do with the answer to "do you lie to and defraud people."
Shakespeare never used a Deus Ex Machina to get people out of jams. No gods appeared to rescue anyone. This despite being a conforming member of the Church of England.
James Randi totally PWND that fraud Geller on The TONIGHT SHOW no less. Coast to coast TV got see that prick get his ass handed to him by Johnny Carson and yet he still continued. Geller had no clue that Randi had arranged with Carson and Co. to totally magician proof the set up. If Geller had furreelzie siekik powa it still shoulda been a breeze. But nope.. epic fail. And Uri just said "sumtin sumtim.. bad vibes.. sumtin sumtin"
I think this a good link .. aint watched the whole clip
Interesting how they often say "Well I'm a sceptic too!". Seems to me the rough equivalent of the religious – "I used to drink and smoke before I found Jesus." 99.999 pure bullshit.
His worst sin is that he rotted the brains of many citizens to the point where they uncritically accept all the lies of Donald J. Trump as well. That has real-life consequences for all of us.
Uri should be categorized alongside the tobacco industry lawyers and advertisers, climate change denial lobbyists, fossil fuel propagandists, antivaxxers, etc...
I can't speak to Randi's hatred, imo the above might be the reason it existed. Also NYT has spun out of control into a profit driven entertainment magazine. Well that's a little harsh. Maybe just the editorial suite and its work.
In Full Metal Jacket the DI programs the recruits saying "you will be a weapon, a minister of death praying for war." He's not far wrong. The Soldier or Marine has one sole purpose: to carry out the orders handed him/her. Those lawyers, advertisers, lobbyists had orders given to them as well: preserve my profits! We live in a deranged world.
Sweet dog, I loathe Geller. I genuinely don't understand how people can buy his nonsense... well, adults anyway. We need less of him and much more of Randi.
I think the reason the NYT wrote so complimentary about Geller and talked about Randi like he was Geller's stalker is because people want to believe. If James Randi was right then not only could psychics and religion be bs but gay people might exist too. Half the country apparently does not agree with Randi. When NYT did a similar piece on Randi* they quoted him on why he thought people needed religion and in his caustic way of speaking he said "They need it because they’re weak,” ... “And they fall for authority. They choose to believe it because it’s easy.” Was he wrong? Of course not, but the majority of the country bristled when he said something like that. Uri Geller on the other hand was charming and charismatic. He earned people's trust the way a politician does. As noted in the Randi article, after Geller failed on the Johnny Carson Show he was immediately contacted to appear on the Merv Griffin Show. They saw a showman who could invoke wonder and boost ratings.
The NY Times deserves to be roundly and thoroughly roasted for this crap. One would think they were utterly unaware of the multiple and utterly valid criticisms of Geller, particularly by James Randi and Penn Gillette, both illusionists of the first water and well-acquainted with Uri Geller and his con [and yes, that's what this is, a CON job]. And this is OLD NEWS. That discussion between Johnny Carson and James Randi is decades old and well known to anyone who is aware of Uri Geller's alleged abilities.
Geller neither needs nor deserves rehabilitation. What he needs and deserves is DISMISSAL.
I used to be a big fan and reader of the NY Times, but they have gone down hill as have most of the hard news outlets in this country. It is to be expected when MBA types are put in charge of newsrooms, and not journalists. When it's all about the quarterly report, puff pieces about frauds like Geller are to be expected.
“Skeptics couldn’t beat him. Now they’ve joined him.”*
*Sample size, n = 1.
Look, at the end of the day, if the best someone can do with their 'psychic talent' is bending a f@#($*(% spoon, then it's pretty clear that such an ability is worthless anyway. Geller clearly doesn't have any of the powers he's claimed through the years, but even if he did, it's not like he's doing anything to help out anyone but himself with them.
Why the Times is bothering with an article for this guy at all I will never understand. This piece looks like something someone who just discovered Geller and his 'abilities' would write, undoubtedly encouraged by Geller himself; it reads like a complete vanity article. Do better next time, NYT.
You'd think he could at least use his powers to grate carrots or peel potatoes or something.
He used his to extract a lot of money though. That's pretty useful..... If you lack ethics.
Carrots are ok, they're not great and I like my potatoes skins on.
A curved peeling knife would be useful but how do you clean it thoroughly ? 🤔
https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.lJ3xTeXbgs_pzNc04Fwq6gHaHa?pid=ImgDet&rs=1
Re: peeling potatoes.
I have read a number of first hand accounts of people hiding from either or both the Nazis and the Soviets during WW II. Living in barns, scrounging food. A detail I noticed in most of them was “peeling potatoes”. I wondered why people who don’t really have enough to eat would peel potatoes at all. Potato skins are edible and I presume have some nutritional value.
I’ve had the opportunity to put this question to two historians of the era. One shrugged his shoulders. I think he was a thoroughly urbanized person and may not have grasped the implications of my question. The other historian said, “maybe there were livestock and the peelings were their food.” Which actually made sense to me, having worked on farms in my youth.
But I still wonder if that is the explanation.
I grew up on Marvel Comics where costumed people had mental capabilities they used to help people.
Those fictional powers and characters still have more value than Geller and his faux bag of tricks.
Give me David Copperfield anytime. The man soared onstage right in front of me, but I never for one second believed he could actually fly unaided. And he didn't pretend that it was anything other than a masterful, technology-aided illusion.
With you 100%. I actually met Doug Henning back in the mid-70s and helped produce a video of a magic show he performed for us. He was just a very cool guy who was also ridiculously talented. I should mention, he was also an admirer of "The Great Randi!"
"Demonic figures and occult themes have disappeared from modern magic."
"Magic and new technology have always worked hand in hand --- even in the days of Robert Houdin."
-- Both quotes by David Copperfield.
He says it takes him 2 - 3 years to get a 5-minute bit of stage magic to get it to where he wants it. The flying bit took him 7 years of work.
The elephant disappeared...it just fucking disappeared.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A38YO3f2Bv4&t=217s
Relevant part at about the 3:00 minute mark.
Plus, he appeared in the Jamie Lee Curtis slasher movie Terror Train. Funny, I don't recall Geller anywhere in that movie! *smiles*
Maybe he turned himself invisible?
I agree with Hemant. If someone has reliable psychic powers and uses them to do parlor tricks for money, ze is a shitty human being. Ze should use them to help people or at least as the subject of experiments to find out how they work.
It is true, Uri Geller is a "mystifier" as in it mystifies me that someone so bad at magic can make a career of it for so long.
Just saw a magic trick. Our Geller fan just made her comment disappear.
I noticed that one of the comments on the original article ends with that old saw "there is more blah blah blah blah blah blah in your philosophy Horatio." Pretty much had me having to decide between spitting on the floor and laughing. Although laughing hurts at the moment because I managed to do something to my back yesterday. That said, it does seem to be the go to for idiots who can't explain away the criticisms.
Sorry to hear about your back. Here's to a speedy recovery.
If, tomorrow, people started bending metal with their minds in confirmable, reproducible tests, I would *still* bet money on Geller being a con.
Because Geller being a con has nothing to do with the answer to "is magic real", it has everything to do with the answer to "do you lie to and defraud people."
The Bard? Seriously?
Shakespeare never used a Deus Ex Machina to get people out of jams. No gods appeared to rescue anyone. This despite being a conforming member of the Church of England.
"My kingdom for a time machine!"-original line from Richard III that Bill S. discarded. *smiles*
Needed science and technology to do it, though.
Idk, I think it involved a mouse.
James Randi totally PWND that fraud Geller on The TONIGHT SHOW no less. Coast to coast TV got see that prick get his ass handed to him by Johnny Carson and yet he still continued. Geller had no clue that Randi had arranged with Carson and Co. to totally magician proof the set up. If Geller had furreelzie siekik powa it still shoulda been a breeze. But nope.. epic fail. And Uri just said "sumtin sumtim.. bad vibes.. sumtin sumtin"
I think this a good link .. aint watched the whole clip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zD7OgAdCObs
Yep, Carson started as a magician.
Interesting how they often say "Well I'm a sceptic too!". Seems to me the rough equivalent of the religious – "I used to drink and smoke before I found Jesus." 99.999 pure bullshit.
Heard in one "A haunting episode "We are Atheists", a few minutes later "We have a bible in every room of the house."
Started to watch. I will finish later. Red jacket's voice make me sleepy like Rammstein with Aria.
Come one, come all! It's his greatest trick yet: separating a newspaper from its journalistic integrity!
The integrity is the illusion.
If you can fake integrity you're pretty set.
Journalistic integrity? What's that? The words sound familiar, but the phrase makes no sense.
Amazing- he's even managed to make the words lose their definitions! Is there anything he can't do?!
The"Newspaper of Record" hasn't had any integrity to speak of since they published the Pentagon Papers.
James Randi STILL has far more worth than this lying grifter.
James Randi is alive, well and living in Trump Tower: https://tenor.com/view/austin-powers-mike-myers-do-i-make-you-randy-gif-4927012
His worst sin is that he rotted the brains of many citizens to the point where they uncritically accept all the lies of Donald J. Trump as well. That has real-life consequences for all of us.
"It's harmless fun!"
"He didn't mean anything bad by it!"
"He's not as bad as other people like him!"
"His critics are mean people you wouldn't like!"
I wonder how many repulsive things have been given cover by statements like these.
As far as the third one, it's no excuse, but at least he's not pretending to talk to dead relatives.
I've talked to dead relatives. They have never talked back. ; )
I've had them show up in dreams and carry on a conversation.
(I never claimed I didn't talk to myself. In some company it's the only way to have an intelligent conversation 😁)
You're right, of course.
He's only dishonest enough to give folks like that cover, not to actually do it too.
'If religion [magic] gives people comfort, what's wrong with that?'™
👏👏👏™
Thanks for teaching me that trick. Now if I could only do it on the mobile version where there is no Microsoft key.
I can only do this trick at the library. My laptop says "Uh uh. Stay in your lane."
Uri should be categorized alongside the tobacco industry lawyers and advertisers, climate change denial lobbyists, fossil fuel propagandists, antivaxxers, etc...
I can't speak to Randi's hatred, imo the above might be the reason it existed. Also NYT has spun out of control into a profit driven entertainment magazine. Well that's a little harsh. Maybe just the editorial suite and its work.
Merchants of Death. According to Aaron Eckhart. (I need to watch that movie again)
I tried to read the book. After the 3rd time I chucked it across the room in anger decided maybe I wasn't quite ready.
Fits on bumper sticker ✓
Skewers the target✓
Over the top hyperbole✓
Socially signals✓
I love it.
In Full Metal Jacket the DI programs the recruits saying "you will be a weapon, a minister of death praying for war." He's not far wrong. The Soldier or Marine has one sole purpose: to carry out the orders handed him/her. Those lawyers, advertisers, lobbyists had orders given to them as well: preserve my profits! We live in a deranged world.
Sweet dog, I loathe Geller. I genuinely don't understand how people can buy his nonsense... well, adults anyway. We need less of him and much more of Randi.
I think the reason the NYT wrote so complimentary about Geller and talked about Randi like he was Geller's stalker is because people want to believe. If James Randi was right then not only could psychics and religion be bs but gay people might exist too. Half the country apparently does not agree with Randi. When NYT did a similar piece on Randi* they quoted him on why he thought people needed religion and in his caustic way of speaking he said "They need it because they’re weak,” ... “And they fall for authority. They choose to believe it because it’s easy.” Was he wrong? Of course not, but the majority of the country bristled when he said something like that. Uri Geller on the other hand was charming and charismatic. He earned people's trust the way a politician does. As noted in the Randi article, after Geller failed on the Johnny Carson Show he was immediately contacted to appear on the Merv Griffin Show. They saw a showman who could invoke wonder and boost ratings.
*(https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/09/magazine/the-unbelievable-skepticism-of-the-amazing-randi.html)
"It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it."
~Upon Sinclair
C'est-à-dire, they wrote this because they seek profit.
https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.nED5GEUWyF3yom6P6KQxxAHaDf?pid=ImgDet&w=850&h=400&rs=1
👍