Bozo Erectus
Master Baker
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2003
- Messages
- 22,389
I have no problem with real hypnotism. When used correctly, it can help lots of people deal with all sorts of problems. For example, a former coworker of mine used it successfully to quit smoking. What really pisses me off and disgusts the hell out of me is show business hypnotism. You know, where a guy snaps his fingers and people supposedly think theyve been turned into a hamster or something. Lately Ive been watching this buttwipe on TV:
This guys show drives me insane. He does stuff like snap his fingers in peoples face, and then Im expected to believe they cant see people who are standing right in front of them, or they dont know that theyre going through a carwash with all the windows open and getting soaked, or that they get turned by washing machines and start humping it. Then he snaps his fingers again, and suddenly they realize whats been going on
Youre probably thinking, so whats the big deal? Its just harmless entertainment. My problem with it is that Im finding that lots of otherwise intelligent people actually believe that nonsense on TV is real. That those people are in the complete control of that jackass, and by snapping his fingers, he can make them do, see, or believe anything he wants. People who do whatever a stage hypnotist tells them to do are willing participants in the show. They know exactly what is going on the entire time, who they are, where they are and their reality isnt under the control of anybody. Theyre pretending and happily going along with all of that because they want to, theyre having fun. Thats it.
Get 500 people together in a large room. Tell them that in a moment, a world renowned hypnotist will enter the room and start performing amazing feats with 'receptive' subjects. He comes in, gives them his usual routine, and then begins sifting through the group until he finds the most 'receptive', and before too long, he'll have maybe five people who for God knows what reasons, are willing to make complete jackasses of themselves in front of an audience, and will do just about anything he says. Because they want to.
So thats what stage hypnotism is all about. Its based on the simple premise that theres a sucker born every minute. In any moderate sized group of people, there will always be a certain number of people who want to be the center of attention, and go along with the gag. The stage hypnotist knows it, the 'receptive' subjects know it.
In real hypnotism, just like in stage hypnotism, the subject is also in complete control, a willing participant. It helps people very much in the same way that a belief in Voodoo can help people with all sorts of problems, or Western 'faith healing'. What it does is provide a framework for the subject, where he or she feels comfortable and positive enough to go ahead and do what he/she has wanted to do all along, like quit smoking, or gambling, or lose weight, or get in touch with difficult feelings or memories that are otherwise blocked out as a defensive measure. The former coworker who went to a hypnotist to quit smoking had been wanting to do it for years, but he couldnt on his own. He needed the support of a ritual to suddenly 'find' the strength to take control of himself. Thats fine, I have no problem with that whatsoever. Even though I personally detest Voodoo, if that works for some people, then thats great, too. What Im saying is that, just like the Voodoo witch doctor isnt performing actual magic and banishing evil spirits and his 'patient' is only really healing himself, the same exact principle applies in hypnotism. Humans have an instinctive need for ritual and are very responsive to it. What hypnotism does is fulfill that need in a non mystical, non spiritual way. Its perfectly suited to the modern age.
Phew. Ok I think Im done now. [/rant]
This guys show drives me insane. He does stuff like snap his fingers in peoples face, and then Im expected to believe they cant see people who are standing right in front of them, or they dont know that theyre going through a carwash with all the windows open and getting soaked, or that they get turned by washing machines and start humping it. Then he snaps his fingers again, and suddenly they realize whats been going on
Youre probably thinking, so whats the big deal? Its just harmless entertainment. My problem with it is that Im finding that lots of otherwise intelligent people actually believe that nonsense on TV is real. That those people are in the complete control of that jackass, and by snapping his fingers, he can make them do, see, or believe anything he wants. People who do whatever a stage hypnotist tells them to do are willing participants in the show. They know exactly what is going on the entire time, who they are, where they are and their reality isnt under the control of anybody. Theyre pretending and happily going along with all of that because they want to, theyre having fun. Thats it.
Get 500 people together in a large room. Tell them that in a moment, a world renowned hypnotist will enter the room and start performing amazing feats with 'receptive' subjects. He comes in, gives them his usual routine, and then begins sifting through the group until he finds the most 'receptive', and before too long, he'll have maybe five people who for God knows what reasons, are willing to make complete jackasses of themselves in front of an audience, and will do just about anything he says. Because they want to.
So thats what stage hypnotism is all about. Its based on the simple premise that theres a sucker born every minute. In any moderate sized group of people, there will always be a certain number of people who want to be the center of attention, and go along with the gag. The stage hypnotist knows it, the 'receptive' subjects know it.
In real hypnotism, just like in stage hypnotism, the subject is also in complete control, a willing participant. It helps people very much in the same way that a belief in Voodoo can help people with all sorts of problems, or Western 'faith healing'. What it does is provide a framework for the subject, where he or she feels comfortable and positive enough to go ahead and do what he/she has wanted to do all along, like quit smoking, or gambling, or lose weight, or get in touch with difficult feelings or memories that are otherwise blocked out as a defensive measure. The former coworker who went to a hypnotist to quit smoking had been wanting to do it for years, but he couldnt on his own. He needed the support of a ritual to suddenly 'find' the strength to take control of himself. Thats fine, I have no problem with that whatsoever. Even though I personally detest Voodoo, if that works for some people, then thats great, too. What Im saying is that, just like the Voodoo witch doctor isnt performing actual magic and banishing evil spirits and his 'patient' is only really healing himself, the same exact principle applies in hypnotism. Humans have an instinctive need for ritual and are very responsive to it. What hypnotism does is fulfill that need in a non mystical, non spiritual way. Its perfectly suited to the modern age.
Phew. Ok I think Im done now. [/rant]
![[pimp]](/images/smilies/pimp.gif "Pimp [pimp]")
I tend to despise these sorts of people as well (and the picture in the OP doesn't help 
