# Uri Geller and spoons? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 16, 2016, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uri-geller-and-spoons/754892 "2016-05-16T04:27:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uri-geller-and-spoons/754892/81 "2016-05-17T13:25:33Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Did something change, or are we not supposed to discuss certain topics and people with a certain person in this thread because he’s a bit obsessive? I just found the [ruling in question](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=16083471&postcount=27). ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uri-geller-and-spoons/754892/82 "2016-05-17T13:55:44Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > Just read dropzone’s post. I thought that rule had been lifted, since a certain person in this thread wasn’t supposed to discuss Randi at all and we weren’t supposed to bait/encourage him. > > Mods, can you clarify so we can respond? What’s the problem? I never mentioned him. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uri-geller-and-spoons/754892/83 "2016-05-17T17:34:27Z")
Let’s put to rest once and for all this silly notion that Geller is putting himself out there as merely a performer. [Here is his official biography from his official website,](http://www.urigeller.com/uri-gellers-full-biography-2/) filled with his official claims of psychic abilities and events. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uri-geller-and-spoons/754892/84 "2016-05-17T18:37:08Z")
See earlier comments about wrestlers not breaking character, even when questioned by police. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uri-geller-and-spoons/754892/85 "2016-05-17T18:51:02Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > See earlier comments about wrestlers not breaking character, even when questioned by police. My ghod, that’s a nice wall you’ve built around him, isn’t it? There is nothing he can do or say, no action of his that can be disproved by others, no defrauding of scientists in pursuit of knowledge-there is _absolutely NOTHING_ that can be presented to you that you won’t pass of as “just a performance”, is there? ---
**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 17, 2016, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uri-geller-and-spoons/754892/86 "2016-05-17T19:07:09Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > That information that originally was quoted from the Wiki article: came from a book by Jeffrey Mishlove titled “The Roots Of Consciousness”, according to the attached footnote that was there for all to see. So that answers that question. But I’m not quite getting Peter’s point. So either Geller is telling the truth and is making large sums of money for his fraudulent dowsing or he is lying about charging millions for dowsing and is using his lies to make money selling a useless book on his method of dowsing. Which one doesn’t make him a conman? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uri-geller-and-spoons/754892/87 "2016-05-17T19:11:11Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > So that answers that question. > > But I’m not quite getting Peter’s point. So either Geller is telling the truth and is making large sums of money for his fraudulent dowsing or he is lying about charging millions for dowsing and is using his lies to make money selling a useless book on his method of dowsing. Which one doesn’t make him a conman? According to Peter, Geller doesn’t ever lie, cheat or con people-he “performs” for them. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uri-geller-and-spoons/754892/88 "2016-05-17T19:26:22Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > My ghod, that’s a nice wall you’ve built around him, isn’t it? There is nothing he can do or say, no action of his that can be disproved by others, no defrauding of scientists in pursuit of knowledge-there is _absolutely NOTHING_ that can be presented to you that you won’t pass of as “just a performance”, is there? Maybe Geller us like Andy Kaufman - committed to the bit even to the point of potentially unhealthy excess. Or just that his performances routinely include him performing speeches about how he’s not performing, like a method actor who’s insecure. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uri-geller-and-spoons/754892/89 "2016-05-17T19:31:39Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Maybe Geller us like Andy Kaufman - committed to the bit even to the point of potentially unhealthy excess. > > Or just that his performances routinely include him performing speeches about how he’s not performing, like a method actor who’s insecure. Or maybe he’s just been blessed with enablers willing to excuse anything he does when he gets caught as a “performance”. As long as the scam is successful, he’s the “real deal”, but once he gets caught it _retroactively_ becomes “just a performance”. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uri-geller-and-spoons/754892/90 "2016-05-17T22:15:19Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > My ghod, that’s a nice wall you’ve built around him, isn’t it? There is nothing he can do or say, no action of his that can be disproved by others, no defrauding of scientists in pursuit of knowledge-there is _absolutely NOTHING_ that can be presented to you that you won’t pass of as “just a performance”, is there? Sorry, but the facts don’t match the view you have of him. The fact is, he is held in high regard by \*most \*professional magicians. He performs his act, magicians [give him awards](http://www.magicconventionguide.com/2008/uri-geller-recieves-the-berglas-foundation-services-to-promotion-of-magic-award/), then queue up to meet him and express their admiration. Only one magician, Ali Bongo (he was very famous in Britain) objected initially, but was then won over when he actually saw the show. The award was given by [David Berglas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Berglas), who is skeptical thinker and CSICOP consultant as well as an expert magician. He has on occsion been involved in testing claimed psychic powers. [Magicpedia](http://www.geniimagazine.com/magicpedia/Uri_Geller), the magicians’ wiki, describes him as a performer, with no allegations of fraud. Participants on magic forum [comment on the award](http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=286715&forum=15): Lots of other skeptics also applaud Uri Geller’s performance. - " I dunno…he’s just a very engaging and entertaining character. Like a good actor - he draws you into his world." - “Uri’s enthusiastic dedication to his ‘performance’ is ultimately entertaining in the best way we all strive to be” -“Finally, the world’s best magician is awarded for his huge contribution to the world of magic” The vast, the overwhelmingly vast majority of informed opinion by professionals in the field, and by people who know what they are talking about, says that Uri Geller is just a performer. YOU, Czarcasm, are very much in the minority. Almost all the experts disagree with you. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uri-geller-and-spoons/754892/91 "2016-05-17T22:48:10Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > According to Peter, Geller doesn’t ever lie, cheat or con people-he “performs” for them. What about Randi’s book where he shows Geller for the fraudulent, disgusting con-artist he is, and demonstrates how Geller gives a black eye to real magicians by doing stage-magic badly under the pretense it’s real. I consider that pretty firm proof that he lies, cheats and steals. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uri-geller-and-spoons/754892/92 "2016-05-17T23:16:09Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > I just found the [ruling in question](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=16083471&postcount=27). Then I guess we can carry on! Thanks for the clarification. **Peter** , on other topics I usually agree with you, but Geller is a bucket of sleaze. Not even GOOD sleaze. No stage presence, no entertainment value, he just spouts his bullshit and bends spoons. He should get another trick. Yeesh, Criswell was more fun. No, wait, Criswell was TONS o’ fun. Kreskin? No, but for phony-baloney stage swamis, how about…no, I’m at a loss. Nobody is more boring than Uri Geller. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uri-geller-and-spoons/754892/93 "2016-05-17T23:18:56Z")
This thread has strayed pretty far from it’s Cafe Society start, about something viewed on television. It’s become GD material, so I am moving it over there. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uri-geller-and-spoons/754892/94 "2016-05-17T23:33:26Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > No stage presence, no entertainment value, he just spouts his bullshit and bends spoons. You are entitled to your opinion, but a lot of professional magicians disagree with you. As noted in my previous post, he has received a prestigious magic award from the Berglas foundation. They don’t give that to performers with “no entertainment value” > [@](#): > > He should get another trick. . [try this one](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sh1hsdzVdkE) ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2016, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uri-geller-and-spoons/754892/95 "2016-05-18T00:12:30Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > The fact is, he is held in high regard by \*most \*professional magicians. He performs his act, magicians [give him awards](http://www.magicconventionguide.com/2008/uri-geller-recieves-the-berglas-foundation-services-to-promotion-of-magic-award/) Per that link, Geller says “for the last years I’ve fooled the journalists, the scientists, my family, my friends… You… If I managed to fool them, I must be the greatest…?” In other words: “I’m a liar. Even to the people I love. I have always and consistently presented myself falsely. Thanks for the plastic award, rubes.” ---
**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:** [May 18, 2016, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uri-geller-and-spoons/754892/96 "2016-05-18T00:22:13Z")
We all know he’s a performer. We’re talking about what else he is. The wrestling analogy doesn’t hold up. Geller can stay in character all he wants, but he goes beyond his performance character when he claims to be educating people on the reality of psychic abilities, and defending other psychics who he knows are frauds. I don’t know of any wrestler who has gone to that extent, and I’d openly call them frauds if they did. I saw Geller on TV many times in the 70s, I saw him do this. I don’t care if stupid people give him money to see him do his lame tricks (and they are lame), those people deserve to lose their money. But he aided and abetted fake psychics which makes him a shill for other con artists, the kind that steal peoples money, and that makes him just as responsible as they are. ---
**Author:** ![ric62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@ric62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ric62)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2016, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uri-geller-and-spoons/754892/97 "2016-05-18T03:56:07Z")
I did not know that my original post was going to stir up so much. I guess we can realistically add another special power to Uri- that by mentioning his name he can open a can of worms.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disgruntled_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2016, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uri-geller-and-spoons/754892/98 "2016-05-18T04:00:27Z")
> [@ric62](#): > > I did not know that my original post was going to stir up so much. I guess we can realistically add another special power to Uri- that by mentioning his name he can open a can of worms.😃 After he finds them with his mad divining skills. ---
**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:** [May 18, 2016, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uri-geller-and-spoons/754892/99 "2016-05-18T04:02:10Z")
Uri Geller declaws cats, doesn’t tip, and hangs the toilet paper the wrong way. ---
**Author:** ![Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disgruntled_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2016, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uri-geller-and-spoons/754892/100 "2016-05-18T04:11:45Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Uri Geller declaws cats, doesn’t tip, and hangs the toilet paper the wrong way. Of course, but tell me, does he use the handicapped stalls in the bathroom? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uri-geller-and-spoons/754892.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uri-geller-and-spoons/754892.md?page=6)