The truth is, I don't have an opinion either way about magic or magicians - I've been entertained by them but I don't know if I'd pay to see one. On the whole, it takes quite a bit for me to actively dislike something. But some people hate magicians.
There's that David Cross bit where he describes the magician mural at some airport - is it the Seattle airport? - & his other joke with the punchline, "Yeah, that's my card. Can I go now?" That seems more my style - not anger or anything, just kind of weariness, especially with run-of-the-mill types.
Maybe it's because I never learned magic as a kid. No one ever bought me one of those kits, or one of those books. I never even learned how to shuffle cards properly.
But I have a friend who despises magicians. His blood pressure gets up to stroke-worthy levels when he's just near one. He will cross the street rather than have to walk by a street magician & possibly get roped into one of their tricks.
& there was one time, at a trendy Austin brunch place, we were enjoying our meal & there was a magician there (for some reason)* & he was making the rounds, doing card tricks from table-to-table. I couldn't see him - my back was to most of the cafe - but my friend obviously could see him & he was unable to carry on a conversation because he was steeling himself for the moment when this itinerant conjurer found his way to our corner table.
But he eventually did, & when he stopped & got our attention & started to ask, "Would anyone like to see...?" my friend exploded like the pressure cooker he was & said, loud enough to be heard back in the kitchen, "NO!!!!!!"
The magician, possibly used to such hate, smiled & went on his way, but I couldn't help bursting out in laughter. Even if my friend had been molested by some perverted prestidigitator in his youth**, the reaction was so overblown as to be comical.
You know, I keep meaning to get him a magician for his birthday one year. Well. There's always next year!
* My friend also hates the musicians that play soothing guitar or whatever at restaurants. He hates feeling obligated to tip them.
** He wasn't.
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