Hypnotism?
 

This weekend there's a hypnotist/comedian coming to perform at the Comedy Zone. Mr. AXiD670 and I have discussed going to see the show.

I'm curious if anyone here 1-believes that it is possible for someone to be hypnotized, and 2-if they have ever been hypnotized. From what I understand, you have to volunteer to be called up on the stage, so I'm not afraid of being called up there or whatever, but I don't know that I believe it's real.

Anyone have any funny stories to share?

Actually we had a hypnotist at convention for one night's entertainment and it was really funny. If I remember right he took volunteers on the stage at the beginning to hypnotize them and a few other people who were hypnotized when they followed his instructions from the audience. If seemed to be legit b/c it worked on several collegiates and alums. Even if you're not convinced it was pretty fun to watch.

Re: Hypnotism?
 

Well, to answer this one - hypnosis actually is a real phenomenon, but not in the way it's often portrayed. Essentially, hypnosis is a sort of relaxation - people often say they feel they feel like they got 8 hours of sleep afterward - and it opens people to a bit of suggestion. The effectiveness of this, however, is often exaggerated.

It happens to work great in a comedy show, because people actively want to participate. You'll only get crazy if you want to play along. Also, many people will 'fake it'.

For things like smoking and weight loss, they're attempting to abuse the same phenomenon, and the results are predictably similar - it only 'works' if you're willing to play along. There's no sort of 'office space' action that's possible.

Go get drunk and laugh at everyone, it'll be a blast.

I've been on stage twice for hypnotists. Rob is right, it's very relaxing. And when I'm relaxed, I'm more susceptible to suggestion and apt to do things I wouldn't normally do -- like throw my shoe at the hypnotist or tell some random guy I want to marry him and have his babies (both things I've done while 'hypnotized.') The same thing goes for drinking - I have a tendency to be a bit more outgoing and less self-conscious after a few relaxing drinks. Huh. Imagine that.

I've always been somewhat aware of what I'm doing on stage, but it just seems easier to go along with the suggestions the hypnotist says than to consciously go against them. And I want to do them, which is what really matters.

They're fun. I agree, go, have a few and laugh at everyone on stage.

At Southeast Missouri State University, we had a few nights on the weekend of move-in, called "Ice Breakers" and included an ice cream social, block party and other events.

Of course we all wore our letters and "circled" the parties and met all kinds of potential recruits...

But anyway, one year we had a hypnotist. It was sooo funny. He got the director of student affairs to start undressing! *lol* She had bra showing before he could get her to stop.... hahahahahha I don't know if it was real or not but it was hysterical. :-)

The way I've always understood it is that if you believe in it and basically want to be hypnotized you can be. If you think it's a crock, then you won't be.

Re: Re: Hypnotism?
 

I have been hypnotized several times, it is very relaxing. The first time I was very tired, woke up about 45minutes later-- I was dso full of energy it was unreal.
I can also self hynotize (taught by a hynotist). It has been awhile since I have done it--you have to have a clear mind and be relaxed in order ot pull yourself in and out--but it is very relaxing.

I was hypnotized when one of those hypnotist/comedian guys went to my school my freshman year. It was weird because when I "woke up" I felt like I had slept for a long time... like I woke up and my eyelids were heavy.. it was weird.

Hypnotists have tried to hypnotize me three different times, and I never went under. I guess I'm a nonbeliever.

I've known several women who were hypnotized during childbirth and felt no pain. Sounds great and I would've loved it, but THEY all had six-pounders and mine were all eight and nine plus....I bet it wouldn't have worked on me!

When I graduated from high school, we had a hypnotist come to the grad night at our school (grad night=big party for grads). He hypnotized groups of 10 or so people at a time, though you could tell about half the people weren't getting hypnotized at all while the other half were completely in to it. A friend of mine was in one of the groups, and was hypnotized to think that he was Shania Twain. They put a ton of makeup on him and a wig and a little skirt and he lip synched "Man! I Feel Like a Woman"--it was priceless! :D Afterward I asked him about it and he said he could still conciously think (like "wait...what am I doing?") but it was more like it was in the back of his head and the hypnotist's suggestions were way more dominant.

My dad is a certified hypnotist...I'm glad that so many people are open-minded about it. And, just about everyone has hit on a major point and that is, if you want to be hypnotized, you most likely will...if you don't, you won't! However, I disagree with the comment about helping to lose weight or quit smoking. My dad has done both for his clients...he has a few female clients that are seeing him for weight lose and they are losing weight. He also helped my 72 year-old grandmother to quit smoking...she has been doing it since she was like 17. I have been hypnotized once and I felt completely rested, but didn't remember a thing!

My mother in-law got hypnotised to stop smoking about 7 years ago and she has not even picked up a cigarette since. Actually, now she can't even stand to be around it so in my mind it works.

I think all KSig RC was trying to show, as with any lifestyle change, unless you actively want to lose weight or stop smoking, then hypnotizing isn't really going to work. You even said yourself, if you want to be hypnotized, you will; if you won't, you won't. That's great it's worked for some of your father's clients, but that doesn't mean it will work for all of them.

They brought a hypnotist to my high school, and I was one of the volunteers. It's funny, because I believe in hypnotism, but it wouldn't work on me.