# Creepy case: "Hypno-Lawyer" **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 27, 2015, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-case-hypno-lawyer/729116 "2015-08-27T23:32:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WF\_Tomba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d9b06d/32.png) [@WF\_Tomba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WF_Tomba)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-case-hypno-lawyer/729116/1 "2015-08-27T23:32:37Z")
Lawyer accused of hypnotizing his female clients (without their consent) for perverted purposes. > **[Alleged Hypno-Lawyer Disbarred](https://www.loweringthebar.net/2015/08/alleged-hypno-lawyer-disbarred.html)** > > You are getting very sleepy … and when you awaken, my billable rate will seem reasonable. > [@](#): > > Both women claim that after they hired the lawyer and began meeting with him, they began to suspect something other than privileged conversation was going on. They couldn’t remember large parts of the meetings, and one said she also started to notice certain physical symptoms and disheveled clothing afterward. That one went to the police, and also started recording her conversations with the lawyer. > … > They wired her with a microphone and a camera, which they monitored from outside the building. So there is apparently a video of this guy putting his client into a trance and suggesting all manner of things, a video that an expert reviewed and said appeared to be a legitimate example of hypnosis. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-case-hypno-lawyer/729116/2 "2015-08-27T23:53:32Z")
I admit i’m no expert, but a couple of people in my extended family have used hypnosis to help them do stuff like stop smoking, and they told me that their hypnotist told them that you basically can’t hypnotize someone against their will. It’s not like the movies where they can put you into a trance without your knowledge, and then make you do stuff, or do stuff to you that you would not otherwise allow. Anyone have more expertise or knowledge of the extent to which this sort of thing is possible? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-case-hypno-lawyer/729116/3 "2015-08-28T00:03:43Z")
I can’t decide which is the weirder part of this story, that someone would try it, or that it seems to have worked. ---
**Author:** ![WF\_Tomba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d9b06d/32.png) [@WF\_Tomba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WF_Tomba)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-case-hypno-lawyer/729116/4 "2015-08-28T00:25:48Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > I admit i’m no expert, but a couple of people in my extended family have used hypnosis to help them do stuff like stop smoking, and they told me that their hypnotist told them that you basically can’t hypnotize someone against their will. That’s what I’ve heard too, but it might just be something hypnotists say to reassure the public that they aren’t Svengalis. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-case-hypno-lawyer/729116/5 "2015-08-28T01:43:50Z")
I’ve heard of tax code putting people to sleep, but Hypnosis??? That’s Diabolical…! ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-case-hypno-lawyer/729116/6 "2015-08-28T04:14:13Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > I admit i’m no expert, but a couple of people in my extended family have used hypnosis to help them do stuff like stop smoking, and they told me that their hypnotist told them that you basically can’t hypnotize someone against their will. From what I’ve read, one of the things that happens when you try to hypnotise someone against there will is, … the subject goes to the police. There are a range of behaviours that people display when you try to get them to do something against there will. This includes situations where hypnosis is used. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-case-hypno-lawyer/729116/7 "2015-08-28T04:33:53Z")
Being hypnotized without knowing it (if it is possible) is not the same as being hypnotized against your will. People have varying degrees of susceptibility to hypnosis, some people could be induced to enter what ever the hell a hypnotic state is without being aware of it. Or maybe they’d just say they weren’t aware of it. So whatever hypnosis is, the story could be accurate. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-case-hypno-lawyer/729116/8 "2015-08-28T12:50:47Z")
I have nothing to add to this thread. I just feel obligated to make an appearance. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-case-hypno-lawyer/729116/9 "2015-08-28T12:55:18Z")
Maybe the barrister is a graduate of **The Bill Cosby School of Hypnosis**. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-case-hypno-lawyer/729116/10 "2015-08-28T15:00:02Z")
IIRC, this happens in Tim Dorsey’s novel The Stingray Shuffle. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2015, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-case-hypno-lawyer/729116/11 "2015-08-29T07:48:47Z")
It’s not that you can’t put someone in hypnosis unknowingly. It’s that you can’t get them to do something they don’t want to do. The problem is, the subconscious wants a lot of things. For example, your subconscious enjoys being turned on, and is missing the filter that would tell you it would be inappropriate. Or, at least, that’s the only way I’ve been able to make sense of all of it. It’s not as if raunchy hypnotists only use exhibitionists in their shows. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2015, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-case-hypno-lawyer/729116/12 "2015-08-29T08:51:30Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Or, at least, that’s the only way I’ve been able to make sense of all of it. It’s not as if raunchy hypnotists only use exhibitionists in their shows. Yes they do. Stage hypnosis subjects are heavily prescreened. It’s an act. Hypnosis as it is generally presented in the media is a myth. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2015, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-case-hypno-lawyer/729116/13 "2015-08-29T12:23:02Z")
No, they’re not prescreened, at least not before they go up on stage. The hypnotist does the screening on stage in front of the audience, by observing who’s playing along. Most if not all of those hypnotized on stage are pretending. In addition those who aren’t willing to pretend don’t volunteer. ---
**Author:** ![WF\_Tomba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d9b06d/32.png) [@WF\_Tomba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WF_Tomba)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2015, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-case-hypno-lawyer/729116/14 "2015-08-29T14:51:34Z")
I got “hypnotized” onstage at a show in college. I was definitely playing along on purpose, and I assumed the other people participating were doing the same. The hypnotist used a very simple trick to gauge who was game: she invited a whole crowd of us up on the stage, then told us that our right hands were weightless, floating up into the air like a helium balloon. Everybody who was playing along raised their hands. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2015, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-case-hypno-lawyer/729116/15 "2015-08-29T15:24:55Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > No, they’re not prescreened, at least not before they go up on stage. The hypnotist does the screening on stage in front of the audience, by observing who’s playing along. Most if not all of those hypnotized on stage are pretending. In addition those who aren’t willing to pretend don’t volunteer. Sometimes they are pre-screened, sometimes they aren’t. I’ve seen hypnotists on TV twice where they stated the subjects were pre-screened. That gives the chance to pick out the subjects who will be most cooperative, for whatever it is that’s going on. Makes sense on TV where they only have a minute or two to operate on air. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2015, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-case-hypno-lawyer/729116/16 "2015-08-29T17:40:04Z")
Just think, this guy doesn’t even make the _Honorable Mention_ section of the list of _Sleazy Lawyers._ ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2015, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-case-hypno-lawyer/729116/17 "2015-08-29T23:55:19Z")
Wait … you mean those Hypno-Coins in the back of comic books actually worked?! ---
**Author:** ![4d3fect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/4d3fect/32/9728_2.png) [@4d3fect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/4d3fect)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-case-hypno-lawyer/729116/18 "2015-08-30T06:51:48Z")
“Constantinople.” ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-case-hypno-lawyer/729116/19 "2015-08-30T13:44:19Z")
“brie cheese” ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-case-hypno-lawyer/729116/20 "2015-08-30T13:51:21Z")
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