tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13638090.post124393975714114555..comments2023-10-28T03:20:59.400-06:00Comments on What Silence: Derren BrownJeremy Ricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12256074521855601742noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13638090.post-90766546425294920192009-09-13T18:31:44.914-06:002009-09-13T18:31:44.914-06:00So, it's past Friday. What turned out to be th...So, it's past Friday. What turned out to be the secret?rbbergstromhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04642655645136452700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13638090.post-76916068070387607482009-09-12T07:00:33.284-06:002009-09-12T07:00:33.284-06:00I would bet dollars to donuts it's an illusion...I would bet dollars to donuts it's an illusion. A superlatively good one, but an illusion.<br /><br />If he could have really predicted the numbers, he could have proven it easily: for example, encrypt the string containing the numbers with a strong encryption, publicize the crypt-text an hour in advance, and then publicize the decryption key once the numbers are announced.<br /><br />Actually <b>proving</b> that he predicted it would be easy; but instead he went for a setting which gives him a chance, however subtle, for manipulation.Victorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17964804781965361460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13638090.post-594822174240062852009-09-10T07:35:28.706-06:002009-09-10T07:35:28.706-06:00Well, honestly, I was just being dramatic and gush...Well, honestly, I was just being dramatic and gushing a bit. He's clearly pulled off a pretty amazing stunt. But here's my thinking on it.<br /><br />It was either an illusion, which is entirely possible, or he actually found some maths to predict what numbers would come up with remarkable certainty.<br /><br />If it was an illusion, it changes things in the world of magic in more subtle ways... he's certainly raised the bar. However, I suspect this wasn't the case, based on two things: 1) his promise to reveal the secret, and 2) his personal lead-up to the stunt. ...Rather, if it /was/ simply illusion, he's done a really wonderful job of "lying" about the effort he's put into to preparing, which also changes things in the respect that he's made magic more personal and long-term by blogging and twittering and what-not as a lead up to build tension.<br /><br />If it was statistical, which I actually believe at the moment (perhaps unreasonably, but I do), then he's very likely changed the nature of lotteries, period. Meaning: he may have spoiled them entirely.<br /><br />Either way, since he's promised to reveal how he did it on Friday night... that certainly changes things, too... we'll just have a better idea of how, at that point. :)<br /><br />This is the guy, recall, who convinced three of four relatively "normal" people to commit armed robbery; predicting lottery numbers may top that, if it was in fact "genuine", in the sense of mathematical or perhaps behavioral induction.<br /><br />Perhaps what I really meant by "this changes things" was the effect of the stunt (which he is calling an "Event"): rather than being "wowed" by some joker walking through a wall or making the statue of liberty disappear, I'm *still* on the edge of my seat, even after the event. He's changed what it means to be a magician from one of "a person who performs tricks" to "a person to watch".<br /><br />Honestly, I feel like Derren Brown has a better understanding of humanity than any one other person who has ever lived. He's a walking "event".<br /><br /></fanboy>Jeremy Ricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12256074521855601742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13638090.post-7443587019612459662009-09-09T18:23:37.492-06:002009-09-09T18:23:37.492-06:00Okay, so I found and read an article about this ev...Okay, so I found and read an article about this event, and read the wikipedia page about him.<br /><br />You said "this changes things". How so? What am I not getting?rbbergstromhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04642655645136452700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13638090.post-12139623503697948342009-09-09T17:00:19.851-06:002009-09-09T17:00:19.851-06:00Can you post a summary, or link me to one? I'v...Can you post a summary, or link me to one? I've only got the vaguest notion who Derren Brown is. I thought he was a hypnotist?rbbergstromhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04642655645136452700noreply@blogger.com