Ethics in Magic

Is it an oxymoron or what?

This will probably be the most unused page on the Web. The title alone will be enough to put the fear of Houdini into most magicians, and thus the ones who need it the most will simply never get here.

Those of you who have seen me lecture know I start by saying I claim credit for inventing nothing! Given the last three thousand years or so of the recorded history of magic, I think it to be the height of arrogance to claim to be the first to invent a new linking ring move. Coming up with it independently is something else altogether.

Granted, every circumstance is different, but let's take cards for example. Given the number of card magicians, both pro and amateur, in recent history alone (say the last 100 years), can anyone say with any degree of certainty that they were the first to invent a move? Although some cases are clearly defined, concurrent or independent development account for a lot of the petty bickering among magicians. Which brings me to :
 

This is why I never claim originality for anything (even though I've received a couple of awards in that catagory). This is also the reason you will rarely see my name in print associated with an effect, and even then I do try to give credit where credit is due.

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This document prepared by Terry Lunceford

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