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davidpaul$ Inner circle Georgetown, South Carolina 3086 Posts |
This is starting to become more and more of a challenge as a restaurant worker.
"Smart Phones" It is an OBSESSION for many. They are being used as babysitters for the young ones. When entertaing a family the parents tried to take the phone from thier 8 year old to see some magic. You would have thought they were torturing him. It wasn't going to happen. I was entertaing a group of adults, one person while making it look like they were involved was secretly texting below the table. Families instead of talking to each other are all on their phones. I'm able most times to engage with effects that are hard hitting and engaging in a fun way, but it is becoming more challenging. Once the younger people who are addicted to their devices grow up, I wonder what the world will be like.
Guilt will betray you before technique betrays you!
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peppermeat2000 Elite user 428 Posts |
I'm guilty of overusing technology when it comes to magic. My intent is always to crack open a new book, practice a few routines, or simply browse through my magic collection. Instead I always find myself skimming through posts on The Magic Café, or similar sites and checking up on latest reviews of newly released magic on YouTube.
It's an addiction for sure... |
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Dollarbill Inner circle Colorado 1005 Posts |
Quote:
On Apr 6, 2019, peppermeat2000 wrote: I get caught up in that same predicament. Im working 3 things now 2 are going well w/ no distraction. 🙂 As to the OP, I barch about crappy parents all of the time. not magic related but in general. Todays parents FAIL to understand that THEY themselves are the parents AND the child does not run the show. Its sad. Children are running the show in almost every family I know. Its amazing what a good butt whoopen will do to a kids behavior. not a beating but a good whoopin'. If you take their phone away you'll have to hear from your kid whether its screaming fit or a child to parent scolding. Time for parents to man back up! tru dat! Anybody here that wants to argue my opinion can save it. You might be part of the problem. Think about it. word. 👌👈 |
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funsway Inner circle old things in new ways - new things in old ways 9981 Posts |
Quote:
On Apr 6, 2019, davidpaul$ wrote: Sadly, there is indications that they never will grow up. Check out the evaluation test for Sensory Precessing Disorder for children and teens. It reads like a description of what is considered "normal" social media obsession. As children these folks were never encouraged or allowed to develop use of free time, imagination or "being alone" - all vital to personality development and the ability to sort valid perceptions from believed things (superstition). The teen who mast sleep with their smartphone for fear of "missing out" is no different from the terrible-two who must have a teddy bear to ward off the demon under the bed. How will these "kids" grow up when they have a stultified perception of perceptions itself? Yes, one problem is parenting by those who buy into the superstitions of marketers and politicians. How dare a parent spend an hour putting on makeup and have no time to sit on the floor playing blocks with their child. It used to be "keeping up wit the Jones's." Now it is "reducing yourself to the Jones's based on fraudulent surveys and data mining of drivel. Amazing, performance can be a solution in tweeking a kid's sense of what is real, impossible, fantasy or fact. If even one person at the table is encouraged to think rather than respond it is a good thing. "The trouble with today is that tomorrow isn't what it used to be." Paul Valery 1892
"the more one pretends at magic, the more awe and wonder will be found in real life." Arnold Furst
eBooks at https://www.lybrary.com/ken-muller-m-579928.html questions at ken@eversway.com |
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aligator Inner circle Canada 2044 Posts |
Have to say that I agree with most of the sentiment being expressed here. Wish I had an answer to the problem, but sadly I don't.
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MeetMagicMike Inner circle Gainesville Fl 3501 Posts |
Some times it is the adults who are addicted to their phones. It makes me sad when I see a child and an adult at a table and the adult never takes their eyes off the phone. When I do approach and offer magic the adult looks up and say "sure show him" and then goes back to the phone. It's so amazing when adults and kids participate but they will never know.
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GlennLawrence Veteran user Randolph NJ 319 Posts |
It is truly sad and does make me wonder what kind of world it is going to become. We have a rule in our house and when we're out, no phones at the dining table for anyone, adults too. All the time I see kids unfortunately taking after their ill-mannered parents who are ignoring everyone and everything except their phone. It is a real pet peeve of mine. It is up to adults to be good role models and they are failing miserably! And don't even get me started on the idiots texting while driving......
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Yea and all those darn kids on your lawn too.
You could encourage them to video the performance, this taking the phone out of the equation. Or you can keep lamenting progress.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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funsway Inner circle old things in new ways - new things in old ways 9981 Posts |
Quote:
On Apr 9, 2019, Dannydoyle wrote: or, recognize that "change" does not always mean "progress" and find joy in exploring the difference. but, you are correct in suggesting that one should learn how to take advantage of the change in customer attention/courtesy.
"the more one pretends at magic, the more awe and wonder will be found in real life." Arnold Furst
eBooks at https://www.lybrary.com/ken-muller-m-579928.html questions at ken@eversway.com |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Oh no you can just lament it and complain about how much better things "used to be".
Change is progress whether you want to recognize it or not. You may not like it but it is how things go.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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davidpaul$ Inner circle Georgetown, South Carolina 3086 Posts |
Quote:
On Apr 9, 2019, Dannydoyle wrote: When progress eliminates or substitutes real human interaction it's a curse and should be lamented for what it is. When I encounter people on their devices I'll say in a humorous way " Are you texting me?" This often times gets a smile and I engage with my aporoach. My interuption must be worth their while to gain their attention and allow me into their personal space. As I said it is becoming more of a challenge to compete with such an all-consuming device, but it is achievable. There was a young boy, just the other day, that was told by his dad to put aside his phone to watch me. He did, but he kept on looking at it until he saw my empty hand that suddenly had a golden coin in it. That caught his attention and he watched me with interest the rest of my time at their table. Sure he probably went back to his phone after I left, but at least we had some success.
Guilt will betray you before technique betrays you!
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Quote:
On Apr 9, 2019, davidpaul$ wrote: BINGO. And WAY too often this is simply not the case. (I do NOT mean "your" interruption is not worth the time, I mean magicians in general.) This is why I work the way I do. The percentage of people who do these things to you after they have invited you to the table is very close to zero.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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funsway Inner circle old things in new ways - new things in old ways 9981 Posts |
Quote:
On Apr 9, 2019, Dannydoyle wrote: Fortunately for the universe, your opinion is not in charge of changing the meaning of words in the English language. For me, many of the changes in out culture and environment in recent decades are the opposite of progress, and that we are worse off for the changes. If you really believe that "change" and "progress" are the same it explains a lot. Do not project your apparent life weariness onto my opinions as being "lamenting" or any other emotion. If I appear to place value on concepts like good grammar and vocabulary, it is not any desire to return to any previous time, but a hope for a better tomorrow in which folks happily converse about ideas without projection or assumptions. Yesterday I received a text, "Wanna $ sum hey, bails maybe?" Please show me the progress.
"the more one pretends at magic, the more awe and wonder will be found in real life." Arnold Furst
eBooks at https://www.lybrary.com/ken-muller-m-579928.html questions at ken@eversway.com |
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Kaliix Inner circle Connecticut 1984 Posts |
Cell phones, particularly smart phones are undoubtedly an example of progress. There are so many ways in which the smartphone has shifted the technology paradigm, that there is no doubt that it represents progress.
Like with anything, there are pluses and minuses/pro's and con's to smartphones. With all the advances smartphones bring, there are difficulties as well. I deal with this issue constantly as a middle school teacher. Policing the use of these electronic devices can be demanding. End of the day though, smartphones bring with them many more pro's than con's, though clearly there are issues that need to be addressed and solved. I have no doubt our society will eventually find solutions, but until then, there will be challenges associated with the technology.
The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance; it is the illusion of knowledge.
~Daniel J. Boorstin |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Quote:
On Apr 10, 2019, Kaliix wrote: Thank you sir. To look at one part of cell phone tech and claim because it happens they are not progress is ridiculous. Again it amounts to "get off my lawn".
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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funsway Inner circle old things in new ways - new things in old ways 9981 Posts |
Quote:
On Apr 10, 2019, Kaliix wrote: Thanks for a reasoned presentation of opinion. Such evaluations are subjective, of course. My list of con's far outreaches the pro's both in number and impact on culture and our future. No matter, though it could be an interesting discussion. Start with, "What will happen if the cell grid goes down for a week?" The question of the OP (for my view) is how the use of some technology is impacting the success of performance magic in restaurants, and perhaps the future of magic as a performing art. Any theoretical advantage of a smartphone in another setting is irrelevant, The problem is not the device, but the use of it in possibly inappropriate ways. There is nothing in the device that makes people act the way they do. There are many studies available on the adverse impact of technology addiction or dependance. One of interest is the increase of Sensory Processing Disorder from over-reliance on vicarious experience. Since performance magic provides a real experience that can challenge belief-based certainty, it is a possible solution of some of the negatives. But, astonishment can only occur if their is some measure of attention. I do not see any progress in the changes in restaurant behavior because of misuse of technology. and, no lawn in sight.
"the more one pretends at magic, the more awe and wonder will be found in real life." Arnold Furst
eBooks at https://www.lybrary.com/ken-muller-m-579928.html questions at ken@eversway.com |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
If you can not capture attention, that is a you issue. NOT the fault of progress. Sorry.
Your complaint seems to be based upon not being able to compete with tech for attention. OK as I said I have no such issues. So our experience is different in the same world. But again if you have trouble with competing for attention then look inward because the world is not going to refuse to change for you. This is the main point. IT IS HAPPENING and there is zero you can do about it. Adapt or quit are how things work.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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Kaliix Inner circle Connecticut 1984 Posts |
You couldn't have thought long about that question. I could ask you the same question about electricity (what if you lost it for a week). The answer to both questions would be the same but if you are then telling me that electricity is not progress, then I would say you need to rethink your argument. The smartphones lists of advantages FAR outweigh the negatives. That is not to downplay the negatives, but they are dwarfed by all the possibilities that a smartphone brings.
I've also seen bratty misbehaved children in restaurants, acting out, making noise and disturbing other patrons. If that same child can entertained by a device, kept quiet and engaged (possibly with an app that also promotes learning), I'd say that is progress. It may be two steps forward and one step back, but it is progress. Quote: On Apr 10, 2019, funsway wrote:
The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance; it is the illusion of knowledge.
~Daniel J. Boorstin |
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funsway Inner circle old things in new ways - new things in old ways 9981 Posts |
Well Kaliix, it seems you did not actually read my posts before judging how long I have considered the problem of change vs progress.
I never said that smartphones as a device is not an advancement in technology or that it is not progress when compared with earlier telephony technology. My comments were all about the cultural impact of reliance on this technology. Technological progress - not necessarily social progress. "electricity" is not progress or even change. It is a form of energy. The uses of electricity have lead to change in culture - some of it progress, but not all. People have demonstrated the ability to live without electricity for long periods even though they loose the imagined advantages. My question is what would happen if those now dependent on cellphone access would loose the communications ability. The phone would still be able to provide the other "features" and claimed advantages. So, your analogy (not an answer) does not equate. But, you have repeated, "The smartphones lists of advantages FAR outweigh the negatives." In the context of cultural impact - please show me. First off, "advantages" again do not equate to cultural progress. The first advantage on many lists of pro's and con's is "text messaging, call, video chat, and apps that allow people to instantly communicate to everyone across the globe." Please show me where these claimed advantages have lead to progress in peace, eliminating hunger/poverty, functional education, decision making or the reduction of crime. .... but, I might agree with your statement of "the possibilities" of use of this tool. Unfortunately, there is every indication of the decline in cultural growth with the current levels of use and dependance. Your example of keeping the child quiet is an advantage to patrons - true. But progress? There is every indication that early use of an electronic screen in this manner will have unfortunate psychological and physical consequences including the ability to learn. But, as Danny notes, this change is with us, and a performer must learn to accept or adapt to the fact. In a sense the performer must change how he/she interacts with patrons and the changes in courtesy, attention and distraction levels. Let us not pretend that this is progress in either the quality of magic or the number of restaurants seeking magicians. a stated earlier, I would be happy to continue such a discussion off-list - but here the focus should be on helping magicians deal with the problems - real or imagined. You can send your massive list of cultural advantages to the address on my sig line. Any that actually indicate cultural progress will be happily notes and explored. I am changing some of my books in progress to address this issue. So, thanks for your contribution. I ma not making much progress because of all the changes
"the more one pretends at magic, the more awe and wonder will be found in real life." Arnold Furst
eBooks at https://www.lybrary.com/ken-muller-m-579928.html questions at ken@eversway.com |
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Kaliix Inner circle Connecticut 1984 Posts |
You need to rethink your argument.
"electricity is not progress or even change." I can't believe you even wrote that. If I have to explain to you the "perceived advantages" of smartphone technology, it is not worth continuing this discussion due to your lack of knowledge. Quote: On Apr 10, 2019, funsway wrote:
The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance; it is the illusion of knowledge.
~Daniel J. Boorstin |
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