This is the chain and ring that gets tied onto the chain when you drop it (Ickle Pickle).

I have been carrying it around the office just fidgeting until someone asks "what is that?"
The answer is that it is my emotion and fear devination device. "Your what?"
Well, it helps me learn about peoples fears and emotions.

For example, do you have a fear of heights? No? Ok, how about _you_? Yes, ok well for (you #1) since you have no fear of heights, you have no need for a safety net when you are in a high place, so if I run this ring up the chain and drop it, it will just fall right off. Let person 1 hold the chain, drop the ring, it falls off. But if you have a fear of heights (pass the chain to the other person) you need a safety net. Now it's important that you think about your fear, so that you can transfer some of your emotional energy to the chain. Drop the ring, and it is caught by the chain. Usually followed by "What the....?"

I have three of my own safety nets built in to this.
1. In the event (this on has yet to happen except once when I wanted to play with someone a bit) that the ring gets caught by the chain for the person with no fear, I just raise an eyebrow and say 'no fear of heights huh?"

2. And if I get the release wrong for the person who is afraid of heights the ring hits the floor and I tell them the REALLY need to think about the fear "Imagine yourself on the observation deck of the empire stat building looking down, feeling vertigo....release, the ring is caught. "WOW!"

3. If I can't find someone who is afraid of hieghts, I "induce the fear" with the empire state bulding talk and some "power of suggestion."


This week, I performed this one for 5 or six coworkers and about 60 students of the 90 or so we have running around right now. The results have been pretty good. Only a couple of smart aleks have said "I know how you did it." I handed them the chain & ring and they could not reproduce the effect. In fact one girl it still trying every time I see her. I guess I am running a risk here, but it's fun anyway.

Any thoughts?

Jim

I just caught this post. Having just got this trick, I really connected with your presentation. Been struggling with a reason for walking around with this, other than "it's my version of bling!"

Thanks

Excellent presentation!

Wow, that was a long time ago! I still like the effect, and I haven't really changed the presentation of it at all. It seems to work well enough for me.

Best,
Jim

Are you still using this presentation? I just bought "Chained" from Ickle Pickle and I'm looking for different presentations that I can use.

"Chained" is an old Boy Scout rope trick. I just do it in my rope and ring routine. It gets a nice response.

I forgot to mention that when I drop the ring and it "ties itself" onto the rope, I immediately drop one of the ends of the rope. To me, it looks better.

I was surprised to see this advertised! It has been "around" for a long time.