Derren Brown - The Push

[Wanderabout]

100% worth watching.

Also showing to anyone caught up in mass groupthink.

TBF Derren Brown scares the shit out of me.

I like him, have read one of his earlier books too.

But it's still doesn't take the fear away of what he could be capable of, if he so chose to. Likewise anyone else with the same knowledge.

His showmanship is a great way of making people aware of the manipulation that goes on around us, or how susceptible we are.

Unfortunately I don't think knowing about it, instantly makes you immune to it.

Is it on Netflix?

I found that show incredibly uncomfortable to watch, and wanted to believe that I wouldn't have fallen for it.

But sadly, I probably would have. I don't think I would have gone as far as attempted murder but maybe my "push points" are just different.

It's very chilling to consider such things.

I haven't seen the programme, but have seen him live. Amazingly skilled and smart man.
Am also v glad he seems to be good and decent human. Imagine if he was evil!

He scares me as well.

I saw a show once where he attempted to stick viewers to their seats by hypnosis through the TV. I was extremely disappointed that it didn't work for me...or maybe I should be pleased. Does anyone remember the "Don't kill the cat" one. Frightening.

Can I recommend a book called "The art of thinking clearly" really good. A pp is right...knowing about these things doesn't necessarily make you immune!

It’s on 4oD. It’s fantastic, the level of preparation.
I’ve met him twice. He’s utterly charming and was delightful to my 12 year old son. :-)

I saw him perform as a (post grad I think) student at our halls of residence back in the early 90s (we were at Bristol uni at the same time).

He made one student fall in love with a broom and be jealous of anyone else wanting to use the broom. It was hilarious and scary in equal measures.

I’m not susceptible but am a psychologist so perhaps too aware of techniques!

I was goggling near the start of The Push when he persuaded someone involved in PR to mislabel food.
I'd be interested to see if being involved with the program has affected his career or reputation.

Is it pathetic im to nervy to watch Derrrn Brown ? I'd rather live in ignorance than know how easy it is for people to manipulated on mass.

Is it possible for local authorities/services to have been mind controlled by the powers that be? Seems to be a lot of corruption about nowadays, allegedly.

He was also utterly charming to my DC.

My DS ended up on stage with him during his Miracle tour. I have never been so terrified.

He’s very clever.

I was agog throughout the whole show. I couldn't actually believe some of the things that the main guy was convinced to do - I thought it must be a set up!! And when he showed the three other contestants at the end, and what they actually did do that the main guy didn't, I was appalled!! I'm not sure how much to say as don't want to spoil but the thing that the other three did on the stairs that the main guy wouldn't was mind blowing - who in their right mind in such a short space of time would be convinced to do that!?

Terrifying is right, but also incredibly fascinating!

It was amazing- and actually made me question whether those three who did it should have been prosecuted, or made to realise that they would have been prosecuted, for their part in what they thought was happening. How will they live with themselves now? I agree, when Derren turns evil, we've had it.

I was shocked by that too, WhereTheFuck.

But I confess I was even raging about the “veggie” sausage rolls!

Social contagion is frightening, but then I guess many women on the Mumsnet feminist boards must be used to being social outcasts and going against societal expectations. Pretty sure I wouldn’t have got through the chair assessment right at the start because I’m naturally lazy as well as bloody minded. If nobody was telling me to stand up, I wouldn’t bother.

Watched it, thanks to this thread. What an intelligent and fascinating person Derren is! I don’t think I would have got through the first test either. I find it fascinating though, and terrifying!

I've seen the chair thing before, so I wouldn't have passed his first test anyway. I'd like to think I'm immune to social contagion but that's a lie - the threads here about takeaways can attest to my susceptibility...

I'll be honest, I'd probably have passed the 'ding chair' test with flying colours because I'm very anxious and don't like to stand out.

I wasn't actually too surprised (although disappointed) with the food thing, as Ive known so many people cunts who are dismissive and ignorant of vegetarians I'm looking at you BIL who fed FIL beef burgers and told him it was quorn and as he'd never eaten meat didn't know, but the rest of it was mind boggling.