How did Uri Geller (psychic) divine pictures people had written?

I’m not just ‘saying it.’ I’m showing the contributing factors which makes a lie a damned lie: refusal to ever acknowledge it’s a lie (until it’s too late); and profit from the lie. That makes a wrong a grave wrong.

Most ethicists would disagree with you, and they’re in a better position to know.

Oh look, some more ‘naughty’ (1st article only)

The views of magicians are now the authority on what is and is not fraud? On degrees of “naughty”? Who knew?

And perhaps someone’s already asked you for this but I call “cite” on your “most magicians” claim.

Naughty? Apparently most magicians disagree with you.

[Quote=from that link]
In rare cases the HIV virus has apparently vanished from an infected patient - could this be Mindpower at its incredible best?
[/quote]

Clearly, he’s Just Asking Questions.

Slightly naughty?
Slightly naughty??
Saying that Uri Geller is slightly naughty is like saying the Titanic is slightly dented. Petey, don’t you think you’re carrying this “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” thing just a tiny bit too far? I can just imagine what you would be posting now if J.R. had written a book opposing the Holocaust.

Since this thread has long ago left the factual realm and is now mainly a discussion of ethics, let’s move it over to IMHO.

Colibri
General Questions Moderator

If my air conditioning breaks I hope PM can come over. All this hand waving will keep the entire house cool.

This is what happens when one’s claims are negative.

Poster 1: A is B.
Poster 2: A is not B.
Poster 1: Then what is A?
Poster 2: It’s not B.
Poster 1: Well, here’s some evidence I found that A is indeed B, but if A isn’t B, what is A?
Poster 2: It’s not B, that’s for sure. I’m an amateur B-keeper, and that A sure isn’t B.

How about this earlier post

cite?

So you don’t know what the majority of magicians think of Uri’s selling “magic crystals” then, I take it?

Once I saw that he was charging money for “Uri Geller’s Quartz Crystal Pendulum and Diving Rods”, I lost all respect for him, and anyone defending him.

Seeing that, especially with the cheesy photo of Uri on the back of the box, “unlocking the powers of your mind” with his “magic” crystal, any rational person would put him in the “claiming to have paranormal abilities” category. And the “being a fraud” category.

Notice I said “rational” person…

It shows that magicians think he puts on a decent stage show…but it does absolutely nothing for his reputation off-stage when he is defrauding people and lying about his background.
What about those “magic crystals”, btw? Is conning people out of their money “slightly naughty”?

PM, I don’t have a dog in this fight, but can you tell me why you so vehemently defend Geller?
I don’t mean just a thread on the SDMB. If you were having a conversation at a bar/whatever and this came up, are you the same way? Just curious.

I mean, many of us have passionate beliefs, but does this come up for you in real life and if so, how does that go? IOW, you seem to be so narrow-minded and downright pedantic about this it blows my mind.

Or is it just a board thing and you wake up in the morning with a chuckle?

Because the purpose of the board is to fight ignorance.

A lot of the stuff the Geller-haters say is based in ignorence. Some parts are factually wrong. Others are logically wrong. Mostly they are just copying what other people have said about him. Some have directly refused even to watch Uri perform his act, because they KNOW he’s a fraud, and don’t need to see it.

For example

Thank you. I would ask one more question. Do you believe that it is possible that a human being is capable of psychic powers (as generally defined, such as precognition, clairvoyance, psychokinesis, telepathy and other psychic abilities) as is purported to be true by many individuals over the course of history?

Peter’s background regarding the issue is discussed here

Well understood, and I have read all relevant threads. I am just looking for a broader, "non-SDMB"centric possible explanation for his beliefs, of which I may not agree with, but am certainly not going to be against the rules type disrespectful of.