Do you think that entertainers like Uri Geller who's act relies on people believing that they have special...

Question

....powers and can defy the laws of nature are harmless and fun or irresponsible and no better that any common fraudster?

And did you ever try and bend a teaspoon after watching his show, I'm pretty sure I did - (hangs head in shame).

Answer 1

This is the true answer ...

Answer 2

If everyone had a 'normal' I.Q., he could be called an entertainer. Because there are actually people out there that believe that malarkey and act on it, that's where the fraud/deception enters in.

For the protection of those misguided souls, and to spare the rest of us our intelligence being insulted, some sort of curbs should be placed on such entertainment. "Warning: what you are about to see is not true science--entertainment only!"

Answer 3

I guess he's harmless in the sense that really caveat emptor seems to apply here. Generally speaking, If people are gullible enough to go to a "for entertainment only" psychic and pay them for their services, or buy their books or videos, then it's their fault. It may be dishonest of the fraudulent psychic, but in certain cases dishonest practices may not be illegal ones although there certainly is a moral argument to be made.

Answer 4

While I believe they are fraudsters.I have a hard time working up any sympathy for their"marks".The information is out there.Are these con men causing the problem?Or,are they just taking advantage.The need some people have for mystical/magical thinking seems ingrained.Uri Gellar,a proved phony,still has a following.

Even with magicians like Criss Angel(who many think is supernatural)exposing hucksters.It still seems to be a growing industry.

Answer 5

People like Uri Geller are only slightly harmful. That, however, only applies to SOME of the people like that. People like Sylvia Browne are EXTREMELY harmful. She takes huge amounts of money so she can lie to grieving families. Not only does she do immoral things like that, but she often misleads the police with "psychic" tips on their cases which can be downright DANGEROUS. What if she sends them off wasting their time in some place while the kidnapped child their searching for is being tortured somewhere else?

People like Uri Geller are just sort of sad, but people like Sylvia are the ones you should consider dangerous.

Answer 6

Up front, I have no idea who Uri Geller is or what his act is.  The issue with people believing in nonsense (and by extension those who propagate these beliefs) is that if you can attribute everything to magic or unknown forces there is no reason to pursue science, which improves the lives of everyone.  Superstition has been used throughout civilization to keep the masses ignorant and scared.  It hampers the advancement of the human species.

Answer 7

Uri Geller is a phony, just ask The Amazing Kreskin.