The Latest and Greatest

[jprace]

Hey guys,

I was wondering what you thought about The Latest and Greatest section on the Magic Café. I really enjoy reading what the Café has to offer, but this section is not something I agree with. In many topics, particularly Tagged, a lot of exposure is taking place. Myself and other magicians reported the posts that contained exposure in respect to Richard Sanders. I later got a PM saying:

The topic is in the Latest and Greatest forum which is specifically for discussing POSSIBLE methods. Note the difference. The effect is not released yet so any comments as to the method are speculation, even if they are correct. Once the effect is released, then the method will be known and any discussion of or about it would then need to be made in the secrets area. Until that time, the forum is being used exactly as it was meant to be used.

I personally feel that the The Latest and Greatest section is becoming closer to an exposure site. I do not think it is okay to discuss possible methods. I have a few items coming out in the future, and I worked really hard to create them and make them the best they can be. I would hate if anyone was discussing the "possible" methods to my effect, and I would not accept their excuses.

The thread is meant to be about speculation, but I feel that the speculation of the method is not fair to the creator. The topic says it's to:

Speculate about the obvious hyperbole surrounding many of the upcoming products that are released into magicdom.

I do not think that is the same as speculating the method. I think this means you are able to speculate about the exaggerations made in the ad-copy. Speculation of the method is unfair. For example, in the topic Tagged, people are blatantly exposing what they think the method is. And with all of the possible exposure posts, more than one can be the correct method.

What are your thoughts on this?

 

[GusEds]

Hum...I'm not a member of the café, but I wouldn't go as far as to say it's going to be an exposure site. Many of the greatest magicians nowadays hava an avid account and participate on those forums, and there are many Magic Castle users.

Concerning the idea of the Latest and the Greatest - I agree with you. If you want to speculate, speculate to yourself, save youself a few bucks - no noe can stop you, but posting it on a public forums is wrong. To me.


GW

 

[jprace]

I'm definitly not saying the whole thing promotes exposure, and I too have an account their, and have talked to some of the greatest magicians there. I think that that particular topic is like an exposure site. Exposure is allowed.l I got a Private Message verifying it.

 

[jprace]

His response to me:

Jeff, I understand your concern, however, again, unless someone comes out and says "this is how the effect is done" and explains the method, it is only speculation and that is what the forum is about. It can be to discuss possible methods or possible presentation or anything about the effect. If you know how the effect is done, then an opinion stated might appear to be exposure but only to you. Up till that point, it is opinion by others.

As I said, once the effect is released and the magic public knows for sure how it's accomplished, then discussions resolving around methods would need to be done in the secrets area.

My response back:

The effect is now released.

The topic is said to be a place to:

Speculate about the obvious hyperbole surrounding many of the upcoming products that are released into magicdom.

I do not see anything that says you are allowed to speculate method. Can you explain where you see this information?

His response back:

Don't take this the wrong way as I don't mean to sound arrogant but I don't have to see the information to know what a forum is intended to be used for and what can and cannot be posted there.

We can't make a definition to cover every situation in every topic so it's up to the staff to keep the forums in line. It's not necessarily the letter of the law but more of the intent of the law.

I thankyou for the information that the effect is now released. I did not get that from the topic. Now that it's released, the latest and greatest topic will be locked and legimate reviews may be made in the appropriate review forum. In those forums, methods absolutely cannot be discussed. Posts doing that will either be deleted or cause the topic to be moved to the secrets area.

His last post seemed to be very defending. I really think he is wrong, and he should realize that exposure doesn't fit into that category.

 

[jprace]

I private messaged Steve Brooks about the situation and am eager to hear his response.