Magical Musings: Inaugural Issue

I thank the Academy of Magic for the opportunity to share my thoughts on magic, communication, and related subjects through Vismayam Magic News (VMN).

The day after the tsunami, there was this magician in UK who had predicted the tsunami. As usual, the envelope was opened a day late.

Asked how he did it, he said: "I can't say. I am sorry it is such a sad and tragic story." The poor soul.

We magicians have to owe moral responsibility for actions we carry out. A prediction of this nature defeats the very purpose of staging a “prediction”. The one question all will ask is: “Why predict a disaster, AFTER lives have been lost?”

The simple answer: Because it is a magic effect, and NOT precognition.

This kind of prediction fails logic, and loses ALL magical properties. Worse, it can be seen as being sick and sadistic.

Does that mean we should stop performing headline predictions? For you NEVER know when disaster is going to strike... unless you are a 'real' psychic!

No. We can still use this excellent publicity gimmick. Only, in such calamities, we HAVE TO AVOID including that event as the prediction. "Predict" some other headline... not the bad one. Stick with some good news....

At least that way you have an "out" that this was what you saw... and did not "foresee" the other (calamity). That way, at least you will NOT have lynch mobs looking for you.

Just a thought. And I may be wrong.

Published in VMN: March 15, 2005