# Which episode in Michael Palin's travelogues? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 12, 2008, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-episode-in-michael-palins-travelogues/445002 "2008-04-12T04:27:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![mylittleba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/49beb7/32.png) [@mylittleba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mylittleba)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-episode-in-michael-palins-travelogues/445002/41 "2008-04-18T09:03:30Z")
[QUOTE=Satyagrahi] Yes, that’s what I was remembering! No Michael Palin, of course, but a British tourist with a film crew…and that’s the footage that stuck in my memory. Thanks, **devilsknew**! [/QUOTE] yeah, that’s what in my mind ---
**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:** [April 18, 2008, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-episode-in-michael-palins-travelogues/445002/42 "2008-04-18T14:24:56Z")
paging \*\*Ianzin \*\*… ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-episode-in-michael-palins-travelogues/445002/43 "2008-04-18T14:44:12Z")
[QUOTE=Peter Morris] paging \*\*Ianzin \*\*… [/QUOTE] That’s exactly what I was thinking. (I expect him to say “It’s a really obvious trick, but nobody in this thread is anywhere close”) ---
**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:** [April 18, 2008, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-episode-in-michael-palins-travelogues/445002/44 "2008-04-18T14:52:43Z")
I’ve PM’d him, hopefully he’ll be along soon to explain. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-episode-in-michael-palins-travelogues/445002/45 "2008-04-19T01:45:39Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] That’s exactly what I was thinking. (I expect him to say “It’s a really obvious trick, but nobody in this thread is anywhere close”) [/QUOTE] Well, to be perfectly honest all that Ianzin can offer is educated speculation as to how it’s done based on an incomplete bit of cut shot and edited video evidence. That’s really all I, you or anyone can do. John Chang is the only one who knows for sure. My speculation is based on 16 years experience as an amateur, close-up, magician… and I am not speaking in absolutes, just offering one possibility to how it is done… or probably more accurately, how I would do it. ---
**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:** [April 19, 2008, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-episode-in-michael-palins-travelogues/445002/46 "2008-04-19T03:59:52Z")
Well, I’m an amateur magician too. But Ianzin is a professional, and he’s written books on cold reading, so he has a specialized knowledge of psychic trickery. I think I’ll valur his opinion more than yours, or any guess that I’d make. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-episode-in-michael-palins-travelogues/445002/47 "2008-04-19T06:53:03Z")
I believe the aecondary mechanism was coiled tungsten filament. His first is stored energy. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-episode-in-michael-palins-travelogues/445002/48 "2008-04-19T07:42:22Z")
[QUOTE=Peter Morris] Well, I’m an amateur magician too. But Ianzin is a professional, and he’s written books on cold reading, so he has a specialized knowledge of psychic trickery. I think I’ll valur his opinion more than yours, or any guess that I’d make. [/QUOTE] Oooh.. all bow before Pete M and Ianzin! The absolutes. You’re just afraid of innovation. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-episode-in-michael-palins-travelogues/445002/49 "2008-04-19T07:47:34Z")
Hey, aren’t you on the wtrong board? Why are you off the JREF forum. DENIZENS OF THE skEPTIKS FOLLOW Mr IN A HERETICAL CAMPAIGN. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-episode-in-michael-palins-travelogues/445002/50 "2008-04-19T08:28:51Z")
What I wanna know from the management of these boards- please tell me why these hostile invasions and prejudiced tones from the JREF board are tolerated? Shouldn’t this fall under the Board War jurisprudence? Or wait…maybe some of the SAB are fanatic skeptikal sycophants of Randii… could it be? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2008, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-episode-in-michael-palins-travelogues/445002/51 "2008-04-23T21:24:14Z")
To be fair, I think you kind of invited it when you appeared to be entertaining the possibility that the man has electricity-generating organs. And it’s deeply, deeply ironic that you class **Peter Morris** as a JREF Denizen. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-episode-in-michael-palins-travelogues/445002/52 "2008-04-24T00:28:43Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] To be fair, I think you kind of invited it when you appeared to be entertaining the possibility that the man has electricity-generating organs. And it’s deeply, deeply ironic that you class **Peter Morris** as a JREF Denizen. [/QUOTE] I never entertained the idea that he might have electric organs. My statements implied that there are other precedents for this phenomenon in nature and that there is a possibility, however slight, that his is a genuine ability. Unlike some others, I never dismiss any possibilities, no matter how improbable or seemingly impossible-- I try to keep an open mind. And, mostly I was trying to generate some discussion. Yea, I was thinking of somebody else there… I always confuse **Peter Morris** with another JREF guy. Sorry Peter, my mistake. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-episode-in-michael-palins-travelogues/445002/53 "2008-04-24T07:17:41Z")
[QUOTE=devilsknew] I never entertained the idea that he might have electric organs. [/QUOTE] I honestly have no idea what ideas you entertained - I can’t see inside your head - all I can go by is your words on the screen, which do make it _appear_ that you were entertaining the possibility. And anyway: > [@](#): > > My statements implied that there are other precedents for this phenomenon in nature and that there is a possibility, however slight, that his is a genuine ability. That _is_ called _entertaining the possibility_. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-episode-in-michael-palins-travelogues/445002/54 "2008-04-24T07:30:50Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] To be fair, I think you kind of invited it when you appeared to be entertaining the possibility that the man has **electricity-generating organs**. [/QUOTE] I never once imply anywhere that he has some extra electricity-generating organ. I didn’t entertain this thought, that’s what you inferred. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-episode-in-michael-palins-travelogues/445002/55 "2008-04-24T12:45:02Z")
[QUOTE=devilsknew] I never once imply anywhere that he has some extra electricity-generating organ. I didn’t entertain this thought, that’s what you inferred. [/QUOTE] Firstly, you can’t tell what I’m inferring, because inference is a logical process, occuring (or not) in my mind. I think you mean _implied_ Secondly, I did not imply that you’re entertaining this or that _thought_, in fact, I’m not implying anything - i’m stating it outright - here it is again: **You appeared to be entertaining the possibility that the man has electricity-generating organs.** Please don’t bother to reply to anything other than _what I have actually said_. ---
**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:** [April 24, 2008, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-episode-in-michael-palins-travelogues/445002/56 "2008-04-24T15:20:34Z")
No, he meant inferred. You’re right that we don’t know your thoughts, we can only judge from your words. But your words certainly imply that you inferred that. From such implication I infer that you inferred that which he never meant to imply. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-episode-in-michael-palins-travelogues/445002/57 "2008-04-24T15:42:48Z")
Except I didn’t infer it. I was very, very careful to say that he _ **appeared to be** _ entertaining the possibility. This is not a weasel-term either. I’m trying to explain why the ‘hostile invasions and prejudiced tones’ were happening - that they were perhaps invited by what _appeared to be credulity_. - in the same way that people might run from what _appears to be_ a tiger (regardless whether or not it really is one). ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-episode-in-michael-palins-travelogues/445002/58 "2008-04-24T23:25:21Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] - in the same way that people might run from what _appears to be_ a tiger (regardless whether or not it really is one). [/QUOTE] - I think a better analogy would be, that it’s more like a delusional person, that thinks every animal that they see is a tiger, so they’re stuck high in a tree for the rest of their lives. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-episode-in-michael-palins-travelogues/445002/59 "2008-04-24T23:35:23Z")
I have no idea what you mean by that. I’ve been trying to explain why I think you got a response that you found hostile and prejudiced. Not what I personally think of you or your beliefs. Clearly not working. I shall waste my time no further. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2008, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-episode-in-michael-palins-travelogues/445002/60 "2008-04-25T00:28:03Z")
Look, I’m sorry. But this is just the kind of lazy, bigoted, thought process that Randi and his ilk promote with prejudiced inference, and baseless assumptions which they employ in unfair and belligerent, internet, ad hominem attacks. You drew an inference in both the transitive and intransitive that I somehow support this electric organ theory, whichy I have never stated nor implied. My tiger analogy is a general analogy, it is not directed at you. I just believe that the so called skeptikal mindset that JREF promotes is prejudiced and confining. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-episode-in-michael-palins-travelogues/445002.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-episode-in-michael-palins-travelogues/445002.md?page=4)