Derren Brown: Archive
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From: Barry
Date: Mon Mar 10, 2003 12:23pm
Subject: Re: Sunday Telegraph 9/03/03 Can this man read minds? - Complete Version
..and though Mr Holmes was supposedly unerringly logical, many of his
deductions were 'chancey'. In Baskervilles for example, when
analysing the stick left by Dr Mortimer, Holmes deduces that the
engraving 'Friends of CCH' means Charing Cross Hospital. Of course,
this turns out to be true, and perfectly feasible for a Doctor, but
how certain could he be? I suppose it could be described as well-
honed Cold Reading ?
Barry
--- In a previous message mjm710 wrote:
> Hmmmm ... all his brilliant deductions are when he is outside the
cab
> where they can't be verified. The interviewer can't check
> these "facts". Db even admits the betting shop is a guess.
>
> I think db likes to take risks and if they come off then he can
> embellish it with his Sherlock Holmes bit. If they don't they get
> quickly forgotten. If the taxi driver had said he didn't go into
that
> betting shop would the interviewer even remember the comment had
been
> made?
>
> We'll never really know.....unless the taxi driver was impressed
> enough by db to join this group!
>
> /mike --- In a previous message Barry wrote:
> > That taxi driver bit is pure Sherlock Holmes stuff and we're all
> the
> > astounded Dr Watsons!
> >
> > 'You know my methods Watson - apply them!'
> >
> > Barry
> >
> > --- In a previous message killerb_0187 wrote:
> > > I don't know about you guys, but the last bit in this article
> > really
> > > had an overwhelming effect on me. I started feeling my heart
> > beating
> > > quite heavily.
> > >
> > > It really goes to show how much we really can learn about
people
> by
> > > simply watching them.
> > >
> > > What I want to know is why Derren even sat in the front seat in
> the
> > > first place. I mean he must have dedected something from the
cab-
> > > driver from the start. Simply amazing, that's all I can say.
> > >
> > >
> > > --- In a previous message uberman_21 wrote:
> > > > Almost complete version. This is the remainder picking up
from
> > the
> > > > sentence the previous post left off...
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > "I'm not particularly dark you know," he says at one point. I
> am
> > > not
> > > > so sure about this. Behind Brown's carefully erected 'winning
> > > > manner', there's something eerily detached about him. But
then
> he
> > > > does lead a strange life: both seeing through people and
> bending
> > > > them to his will. That must be pretty isolating. It also
hints
> at
> > a
> > > > wish - or compulsion - to make others do his bidding.
> > > >
> > > > When i ask Brown if he is a very controlling person, he bends
> and
> > > > writhes his neck and steeples his fingers. "I like things
> around
> > me
> > > > to be just how i like them. That doesn't, i hope, extend to
> > making
> > > > people behave in a certain way. Not when i'm not performing
> > anyway.
> > > > It's more about having my own little corner."
> > > >
> > > > "On the other hand, last night I went to the theatre - alone -
> > and
> > > > there was someone behind me who was having a banal
conversation
> > > with
> > > > his wife. Also he was breathing quite heavily. Stuff like
that
> > > > irritates the hell out of me. I suppose I really must be a
> > control
> > > > freak if it bugs me that much. You see, what i really would
> have
> > > > loved was my own provate performance - that would have been
> > > perfect."
> > > >
> > > > He pauses, then says abruptly and with real passion. "More
than
> > > > anything else, I hate mediocrity. Just loathe it."
> > > >
> > > > Although single at the moment, Brown has had girlfriends in
the
> > > > past - and will again soon, he hopes. I imagine that he'd be
> > quite
> > > a
> > > > handful. After asking for the cheese trolley to be moved -
> > because
> > > > the smell is affecting his enjoyment of the pudding - he
talks
> > > > fondly about one ex-girlfriend, but then says that what
really
> > > > united them was that she was even more solitary than he is.
> > > >
> > > > Afterwards, we get into another mini-cab. Brown sits in front
> > with
> > > > the driver, which i think is a little strange, but perhaps
he's
> > > just
> > > > being friendly. Or else i'm giving off a cheesy aroma.
> > > >
> > > > "So, how lucky are you in that betting shop?" he asks the
> > > > driver. "Eh? How do you know that" says the driver
> understandably
> > > > startled. "Because i've seen you coming out of
> it." "Ah...right."
> > > > The driver gives a rueful laugh. "Well, not that lucky,
> frankly."
> > > >
> > > > When we get out of the cab, Brown says, "For the record i've
> > never
> > > > seen that man coming out of a betting shop." "How did you
know
> > > > then?" "Just a guess. His general demeanour. Also, he's
> recently
> > > > been divorced." "Hold on, How the bloody......"
> > > >
> > > > "Because there was a mark on his wedding finger where a ring
> had
> > > > been. He's been trying to smarten himself up, too. That's why
> > he's
> > > > been on a diet - his belt had been taken in by two notches.
> > > >
> > > > "So you see," he says, "some of it is just about keeping your
> > eyes
> > > > open."
> > > >
> > > > End of article.
