Payne, I'm not directing this at you, but using your post as a launching pad for mine.

Tricking, fooling or mystifying doesn't have to be the central focus, but IMO it is a REQUIREMENT if one claims to be doing magic... perhaps not as critical for audiences of other magicians, as it is for the general public. I've been hollering about that for years.

Regarding the lay audience... I think all of us (well, most of us) are guilty of letting that requirement slide on occasion for the sake of entertainment. Attention to what degree is an entirely different thing. I argue with myself constantly if I find myself considering this. If a routine is entertaining, but doesn't fool anyone, I can't rightfully consider it magic... a parody of magic perhaps, but not magic.

But, I shake my head and roll my eyes whenever it is apparent that a "magician" is leaning on the E-word as a crutch to justify what I feel is laziness and a lack of respect for the magic moment.

Regarding all of this for the fellow magician, some are doing it for egotistical motives, but I think there are perfectly good reasons for fooling your fellow magician. One example might be to gain an edge in competition. This motive can go beyond bragging rights, and be more of a career path builder.

There is also the high probability that magicians (at least some) are actually entertained by being fooled, as much as by the peripheral presentational components. As esoteric as this approach may be, this is simply knowing ones audience.

Regarding any attempt to fool other magicians so completely that they are not able to work out a method soon thereafter... that's a pretty tall order for ANY magician. It is quite possible to fool them in the moment, but magicians in general have all the tools and lots of experience at their disposal, all specifically designed to help them deconstruct and "method out" almost any trick or effect.

Laymen, as a rule, do not. They can easily be left in the lurch forever.

Also, IMHO, fooling the heck out of someone who knows that you are tricking them is so much better for both parties involved. It makes it a challenge to both and makes the magic more meaningful- when you know how something is done and someone STILL fools you (E.G. Cardini) then it becomes just beautiful.
Just my two cents.

Well, I think you're talking about two things. Roughly, if I turn over the top card, show it, put it back on the deck, then on the table, rub it, and show it's changed, you'll think "DL." Now, if you think DL only *after* I did the trick, I'm happy enough, because you didn't suspect the DL when I did it. Now, you could believe that I did a scoop change instead. That'd make me happy as well. We can (more often that we may wish) reconstruct a trick. Not that I want to reach a point where people reconstruct it differently from what I did, but I want the magic to never raise that little 'here's a move!" flag in my audience's head. I want the magic to be as fair as possible, for all audiences. I want to cause suspension of disbelief, and let other magicians relax and enjoy. Just like you may say "oh, the special effects of thiis movie were good!" but never think of computers during the actual watching of the movie.


P!

There is nothing "wrong" about your choice. As there is nothing "wrong" if others choose not to invest in trying to fool magicians. It is simply a choice, not unlike choosing to do magic shows for kids or only performing for adults.