Dan Trommater - Newsletter Archive - Seeing is Deceiving

Thinking Like a Magician

"Seeing is Deceiving" - May 2008

"Seeing is deceiving." That's the first sentence in the seminal 1922 book 'Visual Illusions' by Matthew Luckiesh. What a powerful statement. We're taught from a very early age that seeing is believing, but my experience as a professional magician has taught me that seeing something does not necessarily mean it is 'true' and to think so is a very dangerous trap. We see the magician perform the impossible and we gasp, smile, and soon accept this alteration of reality as a momentary flight of fancy, then get on with our lives in 'the real world'. There's no harm in that - in fact, that momentary lapse of reality can be a welcome diversion. The problems arise when we don't realize that similar deceptions are happening all around us every day. We assume a lot about the world and people around us. Take this example:

Most people see a white triangle resting on three black circles. In fact, there are actually no circles or triangles in that image. It's only three semi-circles, or 'Pac Men' (am I dating myself?) We create the triangle in our minds.
What else are you assuming about your world? Stop for a moment and really think about the assumptions you make on a daily basis and you'll be surprised at how you're being limited by your own thoughts about 'reality'.

Trick of the Month - Seeing is Deceiving

If you're dying for a high quality version of this video, you can see a QuickTime version here. Music: Kevin McLeod

"The least questioned assumptions are often the most questionable."
- Paul Broca

If you haven't already signed up for Dan's monthly newsletter "Thinking Like a Magician", please do so here. And please forward this to all your friends and associates who might enjoy it.

You can see the archive of past issues of Thinking Like A Magician here www.trommater.com/totmarchive



		Thinking Like a Magician "Seeing is Deceiving" - May 2008 "Seeing is deceiving." That's the first sentence in the seminal 1922 book 'Visual Illusions' by Matthew Luckiesh. What a powerful statement. We're taught from a very early age that seeing is believing, but my experience as a professional magician has taught me that seeing something does not necessarily mean it is 'true' and to think so is a very dangerous trap. We see the magician perform the impossible and we gasp, smile, and soon accept this alteration of reality as a momentary flight of fancy, then get on with our lives in 'the real world'. There's no harm in that - in fact, that momentary lapse of reality can be a welcome diversion. The problems arise when we don't realize that similar deceptions are happening all around us every day. We assume a lot about the world and people around us. Take this example: Most people see a white triangle resting on three black circles. In fact, there are actually no circles or triangles in that image. It's only three semi-circles, or 'Pac Men' (am I dating myself?) We create the triangle in our minds. What else are you assuming about your world? Stop for a moment and really think about the assumptions you make on a daily basis and you'll be surprised at how you're being limited by your own thoughts about 'reality'. Trick of the Month - Seeing is Deceiving If you're dying for a high quality version of this video, you can see a QuickTime version here. Music: Kevin McLeod "The least questioned assumptions are often the most questionable." - Paul Broca If you haven't already signed up for Dan's monthly newsletter "Thinking Like a Magician", please do so here. And please forward this to all your friends and associates who might enjoy it. You can see the archive of past issues of Thinking Like A Magician here www.trommater.com/totmarchive