"Here comes the science bit. Concentrate."
Reviewing tv shows is not really my thing. But the implications of this show are quite interesting.
Predicting the lottery numbers was amazing, right? The explanation not so much. However, what the explanation says about us is what is interesting.
'The Events ' website is carrying out a poll asking you to vote on how he did it.
When I voted (I voted for the third option, 'fixing the machine') 34% believed he used 'the wisdom of the crowds' and a disappointing gap of 7% separated them from the 41% who believed he had fixed the machine, not to mention the 24% who believed his study of numerology and probability were the deciding factors in his success.
I'm not siding with the 41%+ who believe Derren Brown has completely 'copped out' with his explanation (them shaking their heads while triumphantly patting themselves on the back).
Rather, the convoluted and contradictory explanation is decidedly too absurd to believe, and that to be convinced of its sincerity is a feat as shocking as the conjuring of all six numbers (all six yeah?).
I'm hoping there is a healthy, rational skepticism in the viewing public, otherwise his work of alerting us to our irrational superstitions has suffered a set back and this 'Event' may be his greatest failure, not for its outrageous claims but for the percent of you that vote for anything other than a fixed machine.
Also, to the 34% of you, automatic writing? Are you taking the piss?
P.S. If the machine was fixed then surely the results of the draw should be null and void for fear of 'cheats'?
Pss I'll be explicit and say I believe he purposely made that explanation ridiculous and crammed it with the pseudoscience he usually takes apart. For what reason I can't be certain.
