# My theory about David Blaine Drowned Alive **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 4, 2006, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-theory-about-david-blaine-drowned-alive/355410 "2006-05-04T16:43:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2006, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-theory-about-david-blaine-drowned-alive/355410/61 "2006-05-07T20:52:03Z")
First of all, I apologise to both **Exapno Mapcase** and **Dr Deth** for anything I’ve posted on this – or any other ‘magic’ related thread – that they found annoying or exasperating. Not my intention. I was just trying to provide some factual input that might clear up some misunderstandings. That’s all. [QUOTE=DrDeth] If his replies had been helpful or beleiveable … All he said is that is was done that way, but then again, we really can’t believe him either. [/quote] It is difficult to reconcile this ‘summary’ of my first post with what I _actually_ wrote, and the _five separate points_ I actually responded to. > [@](#): > > But read his post- he does nothing of the sort. First he says “that not how he did trick A”- but if Blaine really did do it that way, would a professional magicial reveal as much? Please re-read what I actually wrote, and the points I was responding to. For example, someone suggested that Blaine’s ‘holding his breath’ stunt might have something in common with an old Penn & Teller trick in which Teller was submerged in a water tank. This isn’t the case, and I felt it might be useful to just point this out. Someone else suggested that all of Blaine’s magic tricks relied on, or might rely on, camera trickery and editing. This isn’t the case. I have already acknowledged that it was true with regard to the levitation stunt. But I also know that Blaine has some genuine skill and aptitude, and does not rely on camera tricks. For example, in his first show he performed a card trick called ‘Dr Daley’s Last Trick’. This is a ‘standard’ of the close-up repertoire. It calls for some sleight of hand and good timing. Not camera tricks. In another special, he performed a trick in which a disposed-of soda can became like new again. You can go online and buy this trick if you want. It’s called ‘Healed and Sealed’, and it calls for some preparation and a modest amount of presentational skill. No camera tricks. So you see, all I was doing was offering some factual corrections in the spirit of fighting ignorance. If **Exapno Mapcase** and others are unhappy because I don’t reveal more about how the tricks are done, that’s because I belong to a club called the Magic Circle, and the club has rules about how much information I can give out about how magic tricks are done. > [@](#): > > The “nameless magician” went on TV a few years ago, and revealed exactly how many tricks had been done. Before that, I remember Pro magicians denying that that was how the trick was performed. This is a reference to the ‘Masked Magician’ series of TV specials, featuring a professional illusionist called Valentino. I don’t know which professional magicians Dr Deth is citing, nor am I sure what the words ‘the trick’ refer to, given that the series covered a great many. For anyone who’s interested in the facts, a _small_ number of the illusions featured in that series were ones actually used by contemporary magicians, and the methods explained were accurate. However, in the _majority_ of cases, the illusions were ones that no contemporary pro is actually using or _would_ use, and the methods were special made-for-TV methods that no-one is actually employing in real life magic acts. This was no accident. There was an extensive interview with Valentino in one of the leading magic magazinbes (either Genii or Magic, I would have to look it up). He explained how the series came to be made, how his own involvement came about, why he took part and what he was trying to achieve. In part, he was trying to conduct a damage limitation exercise (the series was going to be made anyway, and he felt he could at least limit the amount of ‘genuine’ info given away). He was also trying to walk the line between enthusing people, especially young people, about the world of magic and trickery without doing too much damage to the livelihood of working professional magicians. > [@](#): > > Next, on the other tricks, **ianzin** trys and tell us “it wuz no tick, it was a real feat of endurance”- and that is equivilant of a “Pro” saying 'It wasn’t\* stage \*magic, it was actual sorcery!" No, it isn’t. In the context of David Blaine’s _endurance stunts_ (as opposed to _magic tricks_), my point was not that there was ‘real sorcery’ involved, and it’s unhelpful to mis-represent my words in this way. My point was that these were genuine feats of endurance. It is perfectly possible, as has been suggested here, that in the case of each stunt, Blaine was not in as much danger as the hype suggested; that his ‘training’ was neither as extensive nor as esoteric as he might have claimed; and that he was taking some covert steps to make himself more comfortable than the publicity might have conveyed. Yes, all these things are possible. But I stand by my basic point that there was genuine physical endurance involved, causing genuine stress on his body and making considerable demands on his physical and mental stamina. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-theory-about-david-blaine-drowned-alive/355410/62 "2006-05-08T00:17:44Z")
[QUOTE=ianzin] So you see, all I was doing was offering some factual corrections in the spirit of fighting ignorance. If **Exapno Mapcase** and others are unhappy because I don’t reveal more about how the tricks are done, that’s because I belong to a club called the Magic Circle, and the club has rules about how much information I can give out about how magic tricks are done. [/quote] You misunderstand me and, if I am reading him correctly, **DrDeth**. While it would be nice for you to simply state how the trick is done, I don’t really expect that of you. What I find offensive is the dancing-around-the-issue statements of how the trick is not done. I have to assume that these sentences are carefully parsed in what you say and don’t say. I can’t, therefore, trust anything you have to say on the subject. A careful denial may really be a feint to divert us away from the true workings of the trick. > [@](#): > > This is a reference to the ‘Masked Magician’ series of TV specials, featuring a professional illusionist called Valentino. I don’t know which professional magicians Dr Deth is citing, nor am I sure what the words ‘the trick’ refer to, given that the series covered a great many. For anyone who’s interested in the facts, a _small_ number of the illusions featured in that series were ones actually used by contemporary magicians, and the methods explained were accurate. This quote is in direct contradiction to your earlier statements on the subject, as in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=116778). You’ve also said that Criss Angel does not use stooges, in reference to the walking through a window trick, one in which nobody on camera _isn’t_ a stooge. You have stopped being believable on the subject of what the mechanics of a magic trick are. Again, I am not asking you to reveal any secrets. I know why you don’t want to. I get it. Frankly, I don’t care. I’ve probably read more on magic and its history than anyone on the Dope who’s not a professional magician. A presentation of magic doesn’t impress me. The workings of the trick are of interest, though. What I don’t want is your coming in and giving misleading information. Or telling us that we wouldn’t enjoy magic as much if we knew the truth, or any other sanctimonious patronizing nonsense. Your behavior would not be acceptable if applied to any other subject asked in GQ. Either give a proper GQ answer or allow the rest of us to stumble through the darkness in our own way. ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-theory-about-david-blaine-drowned-alive/355410/63 "2006-05-08T01:04:14Z")
[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase] You’ve also said that Criss Angel does not use stooges, in reference to the walking through a window trick, one in which nobody on camera _isn’t_ a stooge. [/quote] Thank you for replying, and for clarifying what it is about my posts that have annoyed you. I think I’m beginning to get the point! Can you help me with something? I recall where I said that Criss Angel doesn’t rely on stooges, but I don’t think I ever posted specifically about him doing a ‘walking through a window’ trick. Can you help me find where I said this, specifically referring to this ‘walking through a window’ trick? I’ve searched but I wasn’t able to find it. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-theory-about-david-blaine-drowned-alive/355410/64 "2006-05-08T01:30:36Z")
[QUOTE=muldoonthief] They actually talk about that in one of their books _Cruel Tricks for Dear Friends_. There was definitely a trick (though they didn’t tell us what it was). However, it didn’t work quite as well as expected, so Teller was seconds away from giving the “I’m really about to drown, please get me out now” signal when Penn released him. [/QUOTE] When I saw them do the trick it was the last part of the first act. The trick ended with Teller dead in the tank. He was still floating there when everyone got up for intermission. There was no need for a signal because he is never in any real danger. Penn was in the lobby of the theater during intermission and assured everyone that Teller was indeed dead. Of course when act two started, there was Teller. Back to David Blaine, it seems that it is a real endurance feat. I saw him interviewed on the news tonight. The skin on his hands is peeling off and it looks disgusting and painful. ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-theory-about-david-blaine-drowned-alive/355410/65 "2006-05-08T01:46:14Z")
[QUOTE=ianzin] Someone may say that since I’m a magician, and since magicians lie and deceive, I can’t be trusted. This is flawed reasoning. A magician only ‘lies and deceives’ when performing, and only within a framework of understanding that exists between performer and audience. [/QUOTE] Like John Edward never decieves? Or Uri Gellar never decieves? But I can see what’s coming next: a True Scotsmen. Those men aren’t _true_ magicians, even though they use all the standard magician’s tricks. And we know they aren’t _true_ magicians because a true magician only ‘lies and deceives’ when performing, and those men lie and decieve constantly. This is nonsense of the highest order. Magicians are just as prepared to lie and decieve to make a fraudulent buck as lawyers, maids or bartenders. The idea that somehow learning a set of skills of a magician makes a person somehow above reproach is just plain silly. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-theory-about-david-blaine-drowned-alive/355410/66 "2006-05-08T02:27:31Z")
That and **ianzin** does this in EVERY thread about magic, telling us how if we knew how it was done, we wouldn’t enjoy it, and no true magician tells, yada yada yada. Bullshit. Personally, I find magic shows boring. I find it more interesting to know the secrets behind the tricks. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-theory-about-david-blaine-drowned-alive/355410/67 "2006-05-08T02:34:50Z")
[QUOTE=ianzin] First of all, I apologise to both **Exapno Mapcase** and **Dr Deth** for anything I’ve posted on this – or any other ‘magic’ related thread – that they found annoying or exasperating. . [/QUOTE] Thank you for your apology and your clarification. 🙂 **I** apologize for\* my\* needlessly hostile tone. :smack: However; I hope you don’t mind if I get out the saltshaker for any of your prestidigation related replies? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-theory-about-david-blaine-drowned-alive/355410/68 "2006-05-08T02:37:24Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] Back to David Blaine, it seems that it is a real endurance feat. I saw him interviewed on the news tonight. The skin on his hands is peeling off and it looks disgusting and painful. [/QUOTE] Maybe, but damn you can do some great stuff with Special effects makeup. If he was a stuntman rather than a stage magician I might buy it, but although I admire his theactrics, I am still looking for the wires anyway. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-theory-about-david-blaine-drowned-alive/355410/69 "2006-05-08T02:43:40Z")
[QUOTE=Guinastasia] That and **ianzin** does this in EVERY thread about magic, telling us how if we knew how it was done, we wouldn’t enjoy it, and no true magician tells, yada yada yada. Bullshit. Personally, I find magic shows boring. I find it more interesting to know the secrets behind the tricks. [/QUOTE] **Guin** If you bother to read the thread, you’d find that you just repeated almost word for word posts by **Exapno** As I told **Exapno** , the internet’s a big place. Go, seek out sites that will reveal the secrets behind the tricks. But not here. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-theory-about-david-blaine-drowned-alive/355410/70 "2006-05-08T02:48:13Z")
[QUOTE=Guinastasia] Bullshit. Personally, I find magic shows boring. I find it more interesting to know the secrets behind the tricks. [/QUOTE] Then that seems to be _your problem_. Do us all a favor and don’t watch magic shows, then. Just stop being such whiners. I hate dealing with your type all the time- ungracious, crude, whining, spoil sports. No sense of decorum or joy. You’re worse than the worst sort of obnoxious hecklers. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-theory-about-david-blaine-drowned-alive/355410/71 "2006-05-08T02:54:36Z")
[QUOTE=devilsknew] Then that seems to be _your problem_. Do us all a favor and don’t watch magic shows, then. Just stop being such whiners. I hate dealing with your type all the time- ungracious, crude, whining, spoil sports. No sense of decorum or joy. You’re worse than the worst sort of obnoxious hecklers. [/QUOTE] I _don’t_ watch magic shows. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-theory-about-david-blaine-drowned-alive/355410/72 "2006-05-08T03:47:32Z")
[QUOTE=ianzin] Thank you for replying, and for clarifying what it is about my posts that have annoyed you. I think I’m beginning to get the point! Can you help me with something? I recall where I said that Criss Angel doesn’t rely on stooges, but I don’t think I ever posted specifically about him doing a ‘walking through a window’ trick. Can you help me find where I said this, specifically referring to this ‘walking through a window’ trick? I’ve searched but I wasn’t able to find it. [/QUOTE] You’re correct and I was conflating two threads in memory. Your comment about him was in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=331415), which is only generally about Angel. My apologies. However, you did say: > [@](#): > > Hi. I’m a professional magician and I know at least one of the key members of the team that puts together the Criss Angel TV shows. > > Statement of fact: he does not rely on stooges/actors or on camera tricks. The Snopes article states directly that the clip was from his TV show. No stooges? Seriously? > [@samclem](#): > > As I told Exapno, the internet’s a big place. Go, seek out sites that will reveal the secrets behind the tricks. But not here. Not acceptable. Non-magician dopers have every right to unveil any trick that they can, and the discussion of the Angel trick in earlier threads does exactly that. And properly so. All I’m asking is that people stop interfering with the legitimate discussion and especially that they do not post deliberately misleading information. Doing so would not be allowed for any other subject\*; magic has no special privilege that enables Dopers to spread ignorance about it. - Except possible true national security issues. I can’t think of any real-life example that would qualify, however. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-theory-about-david-blaine-drowned-alive/355410/73 "2006-05-08T05:15:49Z")
[QUOTE=DrDeth] Maybe, but damn you can do some great stuff with Special effects makeup. If he was a stuntman rather than a stage magician I might buy it, but although I admire his theactrics, I am still looking for the wires anyway. 😛 [/QUOTE] I don’t know how it is out there in Cali but on the New York stations the newscrews are in front of the fishbowl all day long. It’s NY, the city that never sleeps. He is never not being watched. He’s been under water the whole time. There is no trick to that. It can’t be good for you. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-theory-about-david-blaine-drowned-alive/355410/74 "2006-05-08T06:11:39Z")
[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase] Not acceptable. Non-magician dopers have every right to unveil any trick that they can, and the discussion of the Angel trick in earlier threads does exactly that. And properly so. All I’m asking is that people stop interfering with the legitimate discussion and especially that they do not post deliberately misleading information. Doing so would not be allowed for any other subject\*; magic has no special privilege that enables Dopers to spread ignorance about it. - Except possible true national security issues. I can’t think of any real-life example that would qualify, however. [/QUOTE] Fine, then try to unveil any trick you can. But what you are asking for is confirmation from someone who is bound by his ethics and professionalism. That, Ianzin practices discretion is his right and has nothing to do with ignorance. The outrage is just ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-theory-about-david-blaine-drowned-alive/355410/75 "2006-05-08T09:55:12Z")
[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase] You’re correct and I was conflating two threads in memory. [/quote] That’s what I thought, but I felt it was best to check with you first! I believe that what I prevously wrote about Criss Angel and stooges was true at the time I wrote it (or, if you really want me to hedge, was true to the best of my ability to ascertain the truth). At that time, I’d seen his live show in Times Square (which not many people from the UK had done), I’d seen the first of his TV specials as broadcast, I’d seen short clips and snippets from his yet-to-be-broadcast work, I’d talked to at least one of my friends in the trade who had acted as a consultant to him, and I’d kept abreast of the general chat within the community. I hadn’t seen Criss do anything that looked like a ‘stooge’ effect or for which the ‘stooge’ explanation was either necessary or the most likely. However, it’s _possible_ that in some of the work he has done _since_ then, and _after_ I wrote what I wrote, he has used stooge effects. I just don’t know. I can’t comment on specific effects that I haven’t seen, and I haven’t seen him walk through a window. Another factor to bear in mind is that sometimes stuff that gets broadcast in the US doesn’t get broadcast over here in the UK; sometimes it does get broadcast but not until much later; and sometimes it gets broadcast in a re-packaged or re-edited form. Obviously, I can only give my honest opinion based on what I know, and equally obviously nobody’s knowledge is perfect or perfectly complete. > [@](#): > > All I’m asking is that people … do not post deliberately misleading information. I have never sought to mislead or obstruct. All I’ve tried to do in the ‘magic’ threads is clear up some misunderstandings and provide some relevant facts. I know (or at least I can guess) that you don’t believe me, and you can probably find instances where I’ve made mistakes. But my aim and intention has always been as stated, and I don’t think it’s helpful to suggest otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Auntbeast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Auntbeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Auntbeast)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-theory-about-david-blaine-drowned-alive/355410/76 "2006-05-08T13:30:49Z")
People know magigicians are doing tricks. We expect them to operate within the framework they create to do the trick. David Blaine disparages that. When you do a show called “Street Magic” We expect to see street magic, magic that he can do in front of anyone. Regardless of the other tricks he did, the levitation was complete and utter bullshit, it disrespected the audience. It was so obviously NOT street magic that it offended me. Surround your illusions with all the poofy, mystical bullshit you want. But if you call it street magic, then freakin’ do street magic. Cris Angel gives me the willies. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-theory-about-david-blaine-drowned-alive/355410/77 "2006-05-08T14:20:32Z")
[QUOTE=Blake] Like John Edward never decieves? Or Uri Gellar never decieves? But I can see what’s coming next: a True Scotsmen. Those men aren’t _true_ magicians, even though they use all the standard magician’s tricks. And we know they aren’t _true_ magicians because a true magician only ‘lies and deceives’ when performing, and those men lie and decieve constantly. [/QUOTE] It’s not a True Scotsman to point out that those two are not magicians, because they do not sell themselves as magicians. They sell themselves as people with actual supernatural powers. Do you see the difference? They are not magicians by trade; they are con artists by trade that use magicians’ tricks. And neither their believing audience nor they themselves call them magicians. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-theory-about-david-blaine-drowned-alive/355410/78 "2006-05-08T14:26:24Z")
[QUOTE=samclem] [. Go, seek out sites that will reveal the secrets behind the tricks. But not here. [/QUOTE] Why _not_ here? It’s the \*Straight Dope \* Message board, dedicated to _stamping out ignorance_, not dedicated to keeping stage magicians secrets. 😕 We do act within the law, but there is nothing illegal at all about revealing the “secret” behind a “trick”. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-theory-about-david-blaine-drowned-alive/355410/79 "2006-05-08T14:28:26Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] I don’t know how it is out there in Cali but on the New York stations the newscrews are in front of the fishbowl all day long. It’s NY, the city that never sleeps. He is never not being watched. He’s been under water the whole time. There is no trick to that. It can’t be good for you. [/QUOTE] And, in the standard stage magic, the “box the lady is in” is in full sight of an entire audience watching closely- still she manages to escape, neh? ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-theory-about-david-blaine-drowned-alive/355410/80 "2006-05-08T14:39:40Z")
[QUOTE=DrDeth] Why _not_ here? It’s the \*Straight Dope \* Message board, dedicated to _stamping out ignorance_, not dedicated to keeping stage magicians secrets. 😕 We do act within the law, but there is nothing illegal at all about revealing the “secret” behind a “trick”. [/QUOTE] I agree. It’s just silly to say we can’t discuss magic tricks here and how they’re done because they are intellectual property and you need to purchase the trick if you really want to know. That would be the same thing as saying we can’t discuss “Who killed Dumbledore?” because it’s the intellectual property of J.K.Rowling and if you really want to know you will have to go buy the book. Or if you want to know the plot of Mission Impossible:III you can’t ask here, go see the movie if you want to know. So what makes magic tricks so taboo? No, we can’t reproduce published things here (articles and books in whole, song lyrics in whole, copyrighted things) but explaining a movie plot, a book spoiler, or even a trick in your own words is not off limits. If someone want’s to say how they think it’s done, or even knows how it’s done, then I say go for it. If you don’t want the mystery or illusion ruined for you then stay out of these threads. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-theory-about-david-blaine-drowned-alive/355410.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-theory-about-david-blaine-drowned-alive/355410.md?page=5)