Josh,

I had nothing to do with the title of the effect and certainly had no idea that Ted K had a book test with the same name.I don't know where you'd get the idea that "you personally know that I knew that." Quite simply not true! As I've said before on another thread here I was simply employed to write the instructions for the test and did so with as many credits as I could find on the methodology of the test. Had I known of the other test with the same name I would have insisted on it being changed.

As for it being sold on Amazon I really have no thoughts either way. Lot's of magic stuff is sold there, just as it is in magic shops and other web sites. That's just business whether we like it or not.

People share files, effects and even xerox copies of books. Heck, even some of my products, from other dealers, can be found on Amazon and in file sharing sites (no permission asked for on the file sharing sites I may add)! I've been told that my books are even being offered free on some of them! Perhaps some of the knockers on the Café find it OK to do this. I've personally spoken to young magicians who see nothing wrong with this at all. So where should the line be drawn in the sand? I'm not saying that two wrongs make a right, just that some folks might want to consider the full picture here. Business will go on, the internet will, no doubt, become ever more invasive but that's not something I'm in control of so I just move on and try to do the best work that I can.

All I "argued" with Bill was that MM may well have done some shady things but that it was rather unfair to pick them out without naming the others who have done similar things. I'm sure that Bill is fully aware of at least one other dealer who has been banned from advertising the Linking Ring for these very "crimes." Of course it hasn't stopped other magazines taking his ads ... again, I guess, that's just business.

I can only speak for myself in that I always try to do the right thing. I always try to be ethical. Of course we all make mistakes but then we move on. To quote from Batman Begins, "Why do we fall, sir? So we may learn to pick ourselves up." Let's all hope to follow this premise. Nobody is perfect but we can at least decide to never stop learning.

Bill, I hope you continue to enjoy my DVD projects. I'll look forward to seeing you again soon!

Very best wishes to all,

Simon

Funny that Simon wants to start drawing lines in the sand when he's the one that's getting ripped off; but Ted getting ripped off is "just business whether we like it or not". I knew there was a reason, other than making fun of cripples from the safety of the stage, that I didn't care for Simon.

Thank you Lance

Magicians? are strange toys.

Heck I have been pretty close to cripple before and if the cat made fun of me you can bet I could still knock him to the ground and make him reconsider his position.
(Being a chicken neck close to snapping under my heal).

But we have to give him some slack coz magicians are not used to dealing with an ethical code that was once theirs but is now ours.

J ack

H.O.A-X


J ack

H.O.A-X

Bitterman,

I didn't say it was about my products ... goodness knows I've been ripped off more times than I care to remember. I was merely saying that we all need to clean our own house, all of us, before throwing stones at others. I still just count it as business when its my products. It happens whether anybody likes it or not. I wasn't drawing any lines in any sand, just asking WHERE they should be drawn with regards to everybody. I didn't say it was right, I simply pointed out, that regardless, it is business ... not my business, but the way business is.

To repeat for one last time ... I haven't ripped anybody off ... I was simply asked to write a set of instructions and did so giving credit as best as I could.

If by making fun of cripples you are talking about my plastic hip gag then let me assure you that my dad has two plastic hips and loves the gag. Next year I may be getting one myself and will still use the gag. I don't count having a plastic hip as being a cripple. I can't think of any other gag you could be referring to so, maybe, you might want to re-think your definition of the, somewhat un PC word, cripple. My father plays golf every day and is certainly not handicapped by the procedure to cure him of pain at all. Your implication that I would make fun of cripples is nothing to do with the thread here and, in my humble opinion, is just a cheap shot.

As for you not caring for me that's fine. You can't please all the people all the time, nor would I wish to be so bland as to be able to.

I wish you very best wishes,

Simon

I liked the music in the DVD. Very nice.

Simon,

Well done.

Good response and if ChiChi likes the music it must be good.

J ack

H.O.A-X

It did make me dance Jim. I also started speaking with a British accent for a few days.

I do that when I rent porn just so they know I am only buying it for the artistic content.

-Jim

To write instructions and "give credits" on a mentalism book test ... and NOT know about the MOABT is like writing a book about home run hitters ... and not know about Babe Ruth.


Chuck Hickok

I say Chuck has hit one out of the PARK!

-Jim

Thanks guys! I didn't chose the music but I am glad you liked it!

As for the response I really am not trying start wars or insuations or knives in the back here. Just trying to give a reasoned response based on my thoughts. Some may agree, some may not ... but reasoned argument is a good thing in my opinion!

Very best wishes,

Simon

That one gave me a laugh.

By the way Ted K is credited in the instructions as one who has used this principle. Sadly I apparently mis-spelled his name for which I apologize unreservedly.

Very best wishes,

Simon

Well said Chuck. Simon, I don't know you or really anything you have done so please don't take this as a personal attack on you. I just find it very hard to believe that you had never heard of Ted's MOAB when you wrote those instructions. If you did know about it then how could you in good conscience be a part of something that is ethicaly wrong? You say it's not Ted's idea, but Simon it is Ted's idea of how it was applied and Rob's version is a direct copy of that idea.

In this field we only have ethics as our concrete foundation. Sure it isn't illegal what Rob did, but the community will see him for what he did and remember him for such.

Rob Stiff is laughing right now because he doesn't care about performers and people who love this art. You, it seems do somewhat care as you're posting your thoughts and are being civil about it. Now please be smart about it and look at what's really going on.

Josh

Simon,

I have never seen your plastic hip gag, but I am sure it is a laugh riot. And I'm sure some of your best friends are crippled, so you are totally off the hook on that account. Personally, I keep several black and jewish friends, just so I'm covered in case I make a joke about their people too.

No, I was talking about making fun (calling names) of cripple in the small crowd at your show from the stage and not giving them a chance to verbally defend themselves. As I recall, you were bombing at the time and might have just been lashing out. Totally understandable.

But keep up the good work.

I don't understand why everyone is getting on Simon. He did not write the book. If you want to go after someone that someone is Rob Stiff. He is the one who is guilty. He is the one that makes these knockoffs and he will continue doing it because there are magicians out there buying his crap. If you believe that what Magic Makers is doing is wrong then do something about it!!!! Go to your local magic shop and look on their shelves. If they carry Magic Makers products stop doing business with them and tell the owner of the shop why. The same goes for internet sites that sell knockoffs. If magicians were to pull together and stop dealers from carrying these products it will put a stop to this problem.
Next time you are at your local magic club and someone gets up and performs a Magic Makers knockoff or someone elses explain to them why buying from these companies is bad for magic. We need to educate the magic community and make them aware of these knockoffs. That money should go to the people who create the magic.
Most of the magic magazines no longer carry these companies ads because enough people spoke out. Although I have been to a number of magic conventions and seen dealers that carry knockoff products. We not only need to let the dealers know but, also the people who put the conventions together. Let them know that you will not support a convention that allows dealers in their dealer rooms that sell knockoffs. It is time that the magic community takes and stand and drives these unethical people out.

Just curious, but would that include refusing to write instructions or introductions for such knock-off items?

Just curious as I, personally, don't own MOAB (or any gaffed book test) and wouldn't know whether one is a rip-off of another one (though I might ask here first, I suppose).

-Carlos

No man you do not get it.

They bought Simon for his name and either he was not clever enough to know that or did not care.

But his not denouncing the crap-deluxe give me a clue does it not you?

Lots of guys are paid to write the how to for things.
Our boy Simon wanted his name on this peice 'O' crap.

J ack

H.O.A-X

I really did learn everything I ever need to know in pre-K:

Simple Simon met a pieman,
Selling poisoned pied.
Said Simple Simon to the pieman,
"I can sell your lies."
Said the pieman unto Simon,
"Won‘t that hurt your pride?"
Said Simple Simon to the pieman,
"Oh, I’ve tossed that aside”