Begging for a skeptic point of view

Tonight I went to a holiday perty with who had a "mentalist" or whatever as the entertainment. He pulled some tricks, some worked some didn't. But one trick had me stunned.

Here's some background. This morning, mu office manager gave me an envelope and told me not to let it leave my side until tonight's party. I did as she asked, thinking that it was a document that needed to go to someone or something. I kept it by me the entire day, and even dressed for the party with it on my bed. I had no idea what was inside.

Tonight, for the grand finale of his act, this mystic asked me to come onstage and read the contents of the envelope. In the letter written (which had apparently been sent two weeks prior, he made predictions about various things, including the alcohol content of Diana's driver's blood and the weather for this evening.

The final straw was the last line in the letter that was inside the envelope. It said

"This prediction will be read by a person who is wearing a sweater that matches his hair."

I wore a black wool sweater tonight, and I have black dreadlocks. I might add, I was the only one wearing a sweater tonight (I lost the invitation and missed the dress code. I was supposed to wear a jacket and tie). I also only decided on the sweater after choosing not to wear a bright red "Christmasey"sweater.

Any thoughts on how he did this?

1) Your office manager was in on it
2) How do you know the envelope was sealed 2 weeks prior? Someone wrote or edited the contents on the same day you recieved it.
3) Do you always wear dark sweaters? Any trends with your clothing?


Either way, sounds like a cool trick

[edit on 13/12/2006 by SportyMB]

Originally posted by SportyMB
1) Your office manager was in on it

Very possible. So far the most logical option, but then it's a matter of what I was wearing that night.

2) How do you know the envelope was sealed 2 weeks prior? Someone wrote or edited the contents on the same day you recieved it.

Possible, but unlikely. This was a FedEx sealed envelope with the date of delivery posted on it.

3) Do you always wear dark sweaters? Any trends with your clothing?

I usually wear button downs. I actually never wear sweaters. I suppose there is a dark trend to my clothing (I don't do light or flashy colors), but the invitation said something like jacket and tie, or formal. I lost the invite, and wore a sweater on a whim. I wouldn't think twice if the thing said Jacket and tie, but this was totally off. When I find a copy of the invitation I'll scan it for what lttle evidence of this I can provide.

The odd thing was that other tricks were easy to pick out. For instance, another prediction in his envelope said (someone will read this wearing the same color as the golf tee he picks out of a bag. He stood in the middle of the audience and spun around until I told him to stop. He did this three times until he found a suitable audience member (someone wearing orange). When he didn't get one, he'd make up an arbitrary reason not to use them., like they didn't like to gamble, or had a bad vibe. He finally spun until someone with an orange tie. He got to pick from the bag.

The bag had dozens of tees in it with various colors in the front, and only orange in the back, away from the audience. He had Fred (the guy onstage) pick a tee. THe first one he said was pactice. The second he didn't like. And the third was the charm. Of course the third was orange, after all the odds were in that favor.

Then he wowed the audience with

"as it was written"

I mean at this point I almost called BS on stage, but I maintained, telling myself I'd inform people after the show, as to not be a $@#% on stage.

But then the first prediction came up. I know this guy is a phony because of the cheap trick he pulled just before me. But how did he pull the one on me?

Either way, sounds like a cool trick

It certainly does.

I don't want to give this guy credit where none is due. Any thoughts on this?

Sounds like a switcheroo on the envelope at the party. After you arrived at the party, was the envelope ever out of your sight? Did it lay on the table where someone with fast hands could have switched it as they walked by? Did anyone hug you? You know how those guys are that do the pickpocket tricks or take someone's watch without them noticing...

Sounds like fun, though.

Edit: It's not hard to believe that there could have been a second envelope made to look like it was a sealed Fed Ex stamped with the date 2 weeks prior.

[edit on 14-12-2006 by Benevolent Heretic]

The envelope was a cardboard fedex document envelope. I never put it down, as I was instructed, and never handed it to anyone. It was mine. I even opened the thing on stage. There wasn't really time for a switcheroo. Plus, the only ones who knew that I had the envelope was my office manager and my GF. The predictions were typed and printed on a very specific card, which I doubt they had the facilities to reproduce at the hanger, where we had the party.

No time for a switcheroo.

Maybe your boss was asked to give the letter to someone with black hair. I suggest this because you say it was meant to be a jacket and tie event and it was most likely you'd wear a black jacket. Also weather is predicted months in advance.

Originally posted by byhiniur
Maybe your boss was asked to give the letter to someone with black hair. I suggest this because you say it was meant to be a jacket and tie event and it was most likely you'd wear a black jacket. Also weather is predicted months in advance.

Yeah, but The letter said sweater, I was the only one wearing a sweater.

It was a switch, I have no doubt. Magicians do it all the time right in front of your eyes. Three card monte or the ball under the cup....You only need to be distracted for a blink of the eye...

Don't believe me? Check it out...



[edit on 14-12-2006 by mrwupy]

He picked you to read the predictions because your sweater matched your hair.

As for the rest of the predictions, if you had more details as to the exact questions asked and the results, I could shed more light.

Originally posted by HankMcCoy
He picked you to read the predictions because your sweater matched your hair.

He was given the envelope the previous morning, before he got dressed for the event.

Wupy, that was great!

[edit on 14-12-2006 by Benevolent Heretic]

Originally posted by Benevolent Heretic

Originally posted by HankMcCoy
He picked you to read the predictions because your sweater matched your hair.

He was given the envelope the previous morning, before he got dressed for the event.

Wupy, that was great!

[edit on 14-12-2006 by Benevolent Heretic]

Yeah, I know. The mentalist went back in time and gave him the envelope after he saw the sweater. It's easily if you look at it 4th demensionally.

Originally posted by HankMcCoy
The mentalist went back in time and gave him the envelope after he saw the sweater.

Ahhhh...

It's easily if you look at it 4th demensionally.

Is that you, Steve?

Who else knew what you would be wearing, besides yourself???

Maybe he used hypnotic suggestion which caused you to wear what you did. How did he know you had that sweater, most people answer stuff all the time sub conscientiously.

I am not sure how its done, but it�s a variation on a illusion called the Utopian Prediction.

I�ll let you pay the $20 to find out how it works though�