Wasafan
05-27-2006, 08:23 AM
The Manners show was all over the board. Unlike their shows in the past about life coaches where they took a side and made it very clear, I didn't get the manners show at all.
I was like "Are they saying having manners is bad? or that people who teach manners are wasting our time? or what?"
Naturally, they presented themselves to adapt at a party. I dont' think any of the manners experts would say that is a bad thing. you have to judge your audience.
Also, the fact that you are a MAGICIAN, would mean that you probably SHOULD do tricks at a dinner party.
I want to tell you all that while I have found a lot of Penn and Teller's experiements and shows interesting and enlightening, I am now convinced that for the sake of "Good TV" they always have need to sacrifice a 'bad guy'.
They may be taking others out of context and editing them.
They may have had some legitimate whack jobs in the past, but I think they may have also flushed a few reasonable human beings in the process.
Here is an email to Gloria Starr that I wrote.
==
Hello Gloria,
You may remember me from West Palm Beach. You were a huge influence on me. I went to Charlotte and became a Consultant.
I ended up getting so bogged down with work and raising a child, that I lost touch with you. However, I eventually became a Vice President at a Bank.
I never forgot the things you taught me. It was unfortunate that business casual became the norm, because I still have about 70 great silk ties and a wardrobe of suits that I seldom get the chance to wear.
I recently saw you on "Bullshit" by Penn and Teller. I am sure you have seen what they did.
I am convinced they are masters of taking things out of context and editing. While I have agreed with some of their past shows, the one on manners left me dismayed.
Obviously, you were teaching a class on cocktail/dinner manners, and I am not sure what they expected you to teach, other than how to act or eat.
What they failed to show was how absolutely brilliant you can be. You showed me how to dress, and to act, but more importantly gave me some confidence to proceed to a new level in my career and
my life. For that, I thank you.
It was not with hints about how to eat a sandwich though, and I wish that I could find a way to show the people and audience at Bullshit what you were really about. I may try to find a way to post
this email on their forums at bullshit.com.
They failed to show that you teach how to sell, how to influence. The manners are a small part of that.
I wasn't even sure what Penn and Teller's point was in that show. I am sure if they had asked you "If you are at a party and need to adapt to a different audience...can you tell a joke" you probably would have answered YES.
If they had the courage to sit down and talk with you, and said "Hey, if you are a famous magician, rather than have pleasant manners, can you do a trick with your bread" you would have said YES, that is what people expect.
So their point was really mooted. Naturally, they also lumped you with someone who was presented as an angry mid-life crisis guy. That was also unfair. It would be like taking you and saying and presenting you alongside some insane person. I was really upset about the episode. It was very unfair.
One of the most important things you ever told me was this;
We were talking about something and I said "Well its just my nature to be that way"
your response was "Well its your nature...change it"
That is a very powerful statement.
If you do not like something about yourself, it is your responsibility to change it.
If you ever write a book, that would make a good title.
I am sure you will keep your chin up. I just wanted to say that as someone who knew you, they were very unfair for the sake of 'good television'.
I was like "Are they saying having manners is bad? or that people who teach manners are wasting our time? or what?"
Naturally, they presented themselves to adapt at a party. I dont' think any of the manners experts would say that is a bad thing. you have to judge your audience.
Also, the fact that you are a MAGICIAN, would mean that you probably SHOULD do tricks at a dinner party.
I want to tell you all that while I have found a lot of Penn and Teller's experiements and shows interesting and enlightening, I am now convinced that for the sake of "Good TV" they always have need to sacrifice a 'bad guy'.
They may be taking others out of context and editing them.
They may have had some legitimate whack jobs in the past, but I think they may have also flushed a few reasonable human beings in the process.
Here is an email to Gloria Starr that I wrote.
==
Hello Gloria,
You may remember me from West Palm Beach. You were a huge influence on me. I went to Charlotte and became a Consultant.
I ended up getting so bogged down with work and raising a child, that I lost touch with you. However, I eventually became a Vice President at a Bank.
I never forgot the things you taught me. It was unfortunate that business casual became the norm, because I still have about 70 great silk ties and a wardrobe of suits that I seldom get the chance to wear.
I recently saw you on "Bullshit" by Penn and Teller. I am sure you have seen what they did.
I am convinced they are masters of taking things out of context and editing. While I have agreed with some of their past shows, the one on manners left me dismayed.
Obviously, you were teaching a class on cocktail/dinner manners, and I am not sure what they expected you to teach, other than how to act or eat.
What they failed to show was how absolutely brilliant you can be. You showed me how to dress, and to act, but more importantly gave me some confidence to proceed to a new level in my career and
my life. For that, I thank you.
It was not with hints about how to eat a sandwich though, and I wish that I could find a way to show the people and audience at Bullshit what you were really about. I may try to find a way to post
this email on their forums at bullshit.com.
They failed to show that you teach how to sell, how to influence. The manners are a small part of that.
I wasn't even sure what Penn and Teller's point was in that show. I am sure if they had asked you "If you are at a party and need to adapt to a different audience...can you tell a joke" you probably would have answered YES.
If they had the courage to sit down and talk with you, and said "Hey, if you are a famous magician, rather than have pleasant manners, can you do a trick with your bread" you would have said YES, that is what people expect.
So their point was really mooted. Naturally, they also lumped you with someone who was presented as an angry mid-life crisis guy. That was also unfair. It would be like taking you and saying and presenting you alongside some insane person. I was really upset about the episode. It was very unfair.
One of the most important things you ever told me was this;
We were talking about something and I said "Well its just my nature to be that way"
your response was "Well its your nature...change it"
That is a very powerful statement.
If you do not like something about yourself, it is your responsibility to change it.
If you ever write a book, that would make a good title.
I am sure you will keep your chin up. I just wanted to say that as someone who knew you, they were very unfair for the sake of 'good television'.