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He is truely one of the best showman you can see. I’ve been to 3 of his shows, been called up on stage as well. Left every show mind blown. Even if the tricks are old, I don’t care, his showmanship is unmatched.

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Your article mirrors my thoughts exactly when it comes to Derren Brown. His craft is selling the audience an explanation that is plausible and far more impressive than the real mechanics behind the trick.

With this in mind you can sometimes spot the actual trick as it’s happening. Sometimes I concentrate on this so I can congratulate myself on how clever I am. Other times I let myself be swept away in the narrative and enjoy the entertainment as it’s meant to be.

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The System did beautifully show how your own experiences with chance can lead you to incredible conclusions. Although, like you I suspect that the explanation was also a ruse. And, like “standpoint epistemology”, it was not anything new, just the oldest trick in the book dressed up in a new way.

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