for several reasons. Penn and Teller present
a case for Hypnosis being "Bullsh*t." It
seems that they certainly had a lot of "fun"
creating the show, but at what cost?
I suggest that you view it, and then proceed
with the remainder of this entry to best
understand my comments.
Before going any further, I'd like to say
that I believe that Penn, in my opinion,
cares a great deal for people. If he didn't,
I don't think he would despise what he thinks
is someone taking advantage of another, or in
some perceived way jeopardizing someone's life
so much.
For that, I think it is good that he attempts
to "expose" what he believes Hypnosis to be.
However, there are things to take issue with
in this video, and I am going to cover a few.
First, since Wendi Friesen seems to be a
major target, you should know what she says
about her time on the show. You can see some
info here and on Wendi's Blog.
Point #1
"Eccentric Scientist" Mesmer
Great way to bias the listening of someone
watching. How many people will respect
someone called "eccentric?" And if they
don't respect one of the "fathers" of Hypnosis,
it shades the subject itself.
Point #2
*Hypnosis is one person talking to another person,
and is going along with it.
*Hypnosis is an agreement between Operator and
Subject to fantasize together.
*The Subject is in control of his own mind, and
voluntarily going along with what the Hypnotist
is suggesting.
Perhaps in a stage show this is what happens.
Perhaps in therapeutic Hypnosis this is what
happens. Perhaps in Erotic Hypnosis this is
what happens. At least, at first. However
there are ways to manipulate a person's mind,
and there may be a part of the mind that
"voluntarily" goes along with a suggestion,
but it is manipulated by either the suggestion
of pain, or a lack of pleasure. I cannot tell
you how many incidents I have known about where
the mind was at odds with the actions of the
body and voice. If it's for fun, that's one
thing, but that ability that allows for the
"fun" is the same ability that can create the
pain. (See previous blog entry Never Do
Anything Against Your Will?)
Point #3
Hypnosis is a person "bullsh*tting" themselves.
To a point, a person might be doing just that,
but if it works for the benefit of the person,
so what? Sometimes we all need to do that from
time to time.
Point #4
Hypnosis & Hypnotists are charging money for
something someone can do on their own.
Yes. and No. If we could all do things on our
own, we would be doing them. The unconscious
mind is very powerful...more in control than
anyone would ever like to know consciously. If
the unconscious part of us believes that it is
in our best interest to do something (even if it
is harmful for us in some way) it will make it
very difficult to overcome these beliefs
consciously. Is it possible? Yes. But it
can be very difficult to do.
Most people spend money on a night out that
they'll never see again, and buy clothes they'll
possibly never wear again. Is there something
wrong with the store for selling the clothes,
or the restaurant or bar for selling their food
or drinks that may be of questionable quality
benefit, or use?
I have definite opinions about what recordings
are capable of doing, and quite frankly, I am
of the mind that for a pretty good percentage
of people, it may not be much when independently
processed. However, I do not believe that it
means that people shouldn't take a chance on it,
if it is something that they are desirous to
change. You never know what is possible.
(See a previous blog on recordings v. live
sessions - it's about Erotic Hypnosis, however
I believe it could apply to ANY Hypnosis).
In addition, you pay to have your car worked
on, your taxes done, your hair to be cut, and
many other things, things you could do yourself.
They also make claims, and make implications
about what their services could do for you.
Does that mean that those people and services
are questionable, too?
Point #5
Hypnosis v. Medical Treatment
This point seems to have been carved out to suit
the perspective of the show. Any Hypnotist that
is aware of what they are doing, and is being
responsible to the people they are doing it with
would likely never suggest Hypnosis in place of
medical treatment. Most people I would imagine
would be very cautious, if for no other reason,
the legalities and potential problems from such
a suggestion.
Having said that, there have been stories (and to
Penn's point, they are "stories") about people who
have been helped through techniques like visualization
and Hypnosis. If we continue to limit ourselves to
what we know, then we continue to limit ourselves.
In the time of Christopher Columbus, there was a
belief the world was flat. He chose to look past
that, and take a chance, and a whole new world
opened up. There is a whole world of the mind
and body that has yet to be explored, and people
who flatly state that things just "ARE" the way
they are are limiting us to what those beliefs say.
We can choose to accept them, or we can choose to
question them. Questioning them does not necessarily
mean abandoning these "knowns," but you gotta start
somewhere.
These are just a few points that I picked out of
the bunch for discussion. Wondering what you think,
and what questions you have? Your thoughts?
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