Get Ready for Problems. Thanks, CSI

[Don]

There is an entertainer in the U.K., one Darren Brown, who talks about hypnosis, NLP, etc. to disguise (i.e., misdirect) what he is actually doing--magic tricks.

So one of the tricks he did on UK tv is that he went into a store, asked for change, and received back far more in change than he should have.

Okay. It's a magic trick. He claims it's hypnosis, but it's just a trick.

Unfortunately, the writers of CSI didn't know that. They didn't know magick or hypnosis. So last night, 17th of October 2008, they did a show with an evil hypnotist(!) who convinces people to give her lots of money in change (among other evil things) and her reason for this "because I can."

So get ready for people to ask you to rob banks and convince people to commit suicide.

<sigh> :eek:

Don Mottin said that every time there's a news report that hypnosis doesn't work for something, his clinic gets an increase in business for people who want to use hypnosis for that issue. I don't think that's going to happen here.

[Poodle]

LOVES to combine magic, hypnosis and NLP. If hypnosis were really that simple, we all would be very, very rich with no need to work.

I do think that NLP could be used to get more than the correct change back. I have actually known certain trainers that make their students get "free" airline tickets as part of the course. Store workers do not know how to count money now and what the computer says goes. Unfortunately for the stores and sometimes us, many times the "computer" is very wrong as it is only as good as the person that programmed it. Will GIGO ever die?

I'll have to catch Mr. Brown in reruns.

[Connie]

When did this show air again? The other day I had a client ask me about the power of the "evil hypnotist." Coincidence?

I'd already given him the pretalk, you're in control, you won't do anything contrary to your morals/ethics/values, yada yada... http://privatehypnosisclub.com/members/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif Then he asks this question: what's the real potential damage and harm, physically, and emotionally, and to his psyche, that a hypnotist can do, a hypnotist with evil intent?

I didn't know what to say, really. Here's what I did say:

1. I don't know any such--evil hypnotists. That hypnotherapy is a healing art, and therefore those drawn to it as a profession are people with positive intentions for helping. (I don't know if that's absolutely true or not, to use a technical term, there are lunatics in every profession.)

I remember (vaguely) a post here about hypnotists being able to trick people into hurting themselves, such as believing the edge of a skyscraper is a grassy field, and they might walk off the edge?...

2. I told him his unconscious mind will work to protect him, and he has the freedom and ability to accept or reject suggestions. Like in a movie theater, if he doesn't like what's being presented on screen, just leave! His mind can say: No way, Jose, huhn uh!

3. Then I talked about positive intention. That when I have that positive intent for someone, their unconscious recognizes that and responds to it. Likewise, if I don't, it won't. So, if someone does not have that positive intention they will be less successful as a hypnotherapist, and won't remain in business for long.

I told him the worst possible outcome from an evil (or inept) hypnotist would be that the changework doesn't "take." That it doesn't "work." Or that they might evoke strong negative emotions and not know how to handle that or help him out of it.

Apparently, my answer satisfied him, and we continued with the session. Any other ideas anyone on what to say if asked this question again?

I'm hoping the question is not a trend...that's all we need, more myths out there.

[Don]

I do think that NLP could be used to get more than the correct change back.

COULD be, yes. But that's not how Brown does it.

However, I was actually talking about the TV show "CSI" which based their "evil hypnotist" on what Brown does.

[Terry]

First of all, Brown or no Brown, never show weakness, or allow someone to think that the "evil hypnotist" can do anything you cannot do. My client will know that I can do anything including miracles. If this were not so, how would I be able to effect a recovery from Cancer, Heart attack etc? If I can do such wonderful things, how is it possible that I could not also do harmfull things, and fact is I can. I do not, and never have aproved of therapists telling the client something which is not completely true, and to say they will do nothing against their concience is only a partial truth, since a skilled practitioner can circumvent this easily......
To my client I say, if you don't trust me to do the best I can for you, go elsewere, I happen to be one of the best, and will not be insulted by having my honesty questioned. I don;t believe that I will lose a client by doing this, but if I do they will not be missed by me, but they will regret their own lack of faith. All therapy is faith healing, and without faith in the practitioner, the client will not achieve his or her goal, which is the measure of my ability as a practitioner......DB does it by trickery, so what, I can do it for real, and will not since I have a concience and believe in the code of "Do no harm".... Connie, put up a large sign with those words, "Do no harm", and if ever questions again, point to it and say "I can do anything if I choose", then offer them the opportunity to leave since they show lack of trust. I am betting you will have a very cooperative client from then on, and you will have shown that "the evil one" is not more capable than you, only lacking in concience.....:)

[Connie]

Thank you, Terry! :)

Here's the way I saw it! This client wasn't really questioning ME and my intent, it was a general question about the power of hypnosis--can it be used for evil. But I like your suggested answer, and I'll use it in future.

[Poodle]

telling them what happened and to please take care of it. I believe that is one of the reasons they exist. It's almost 2009 and Holly-weird is still in the 1930's regarding hypnosis. Monday I'll check with Candace (ABH) and find out of Tad is around. He'll give it to them but good and I would not be the least bit surprised if Dr. Matt becomes aware of it and "lands" on them too. Perhaps a boycott of their sponsors by every practicing hypnotist and hypnotherapist in the world would make them interested in checking facts before airing junk.

Pood :mad:

[Connie]

Hey, I just watched the episode online...

In my opinion, no one would take it seriously, it was so stupid and campy and a joke. I don't think it's worth getting up in arms about. As someone else pointed out to me, the real hypnotists out in the world acting as a force for good balance out the equation.

[Mentalius]

A few weeks ago Danish TV sent a program, in which they did the following experiment: a hypnotist was to try to make a couple of people rob a bank, with a pistol. This was based on a real-life incident form the 50´ies (the Bjørn Schouw Nielsen-case)

To the hypnotists (and my) surprise, 2 out of 3 actually did it. As this was an experiment in a controlled environment and a one-time event, it´s not really representative. None the less...rather intriguing.

Bjørn Schouw Nielsen is one of 2 danish hypnotist who has been imprisoned for "evil-hypnotism".

Oh, and BTW - I just love Derren Brown, and some of what he does is definetely NLP and hypnosis. I suppose some of it is magick, though I don´t have the skills to know which parts.

[Connie]

I enjoy Derren Brown, as well. That's entertainment!

[Don]

In my opinion, no one would take it seriously, it was so stupid and campy and a joke.

"No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public."
—H.L. Mencken

[Don]

Oh, and BTW - I just love Derren Brown, and some of what he does is definetely NLP and hypnosis. I suppose some of it is magick, though I don´t have the skills to know which parts.


I like Brown, too. He's a great entertainer. He definitely uses the claim of NLP and hypnosis, as well as imitations of them as covers (misdirection) for the tricks he does.

Respectfully, saying you think some of what he does might be magic but don't have the skill to say which parts is like saying you'll eat some food even though you know some of it is poison, you just don't know which bites will kill you. :eek:

[Poodle]

I wonder just how many of us have planned great bank robberies and actually "done" them when children. Do little kids play "cops and robbers", "cowboys and Indians", etc. on the other side of the pond? Do little boys and girls play with toy guns/pistols?

Pood ;)

[The Length]

on the other side of the pond? Do little boys and girls play with toy guns/pistols?

Pood ;)

not real ones so much as they do over there!

anyone know of whcih DB this is, any of it online?