Is Hypoticism Real? (Another Top Gear Video)

[Hack&Lube]

We have the Top Gear video of the Lada in another thread but I remember reading about the hilarious episode where the presenter was hypotized on the show and various insane things start to happen. This is the most hilarious thing I've seen.

In the first instance, he's hyponotized into completely forgetting how to drive, much less start the car to his utter confusion and humiliation. In the next, he's convinced a little pedal car is a real Porsche 911 and when he drives it, he has to make the sound it makes.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...693&q=Top+Gear


Do you think this hypnoticism was real or a performance? Hammond is certainly red in the studio and that's probably indicative of real embarassment.

-edit
Below is a great video where they can't destroy a Toyota nomatter what they try

[Incinerator]

I've seen the folks getting hypnotized on stage before and it seems pretty real to me...although I'd imagine it probably won't work if you don't voluntarily want to be hypnotized.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Incinerator

I've seen the folks getting hypnotized on stage before and it seems pretty real to me...although I'd imagine it probably won't work if you don't voluntarily want to be hypnotized.

That's crazy, if this guy can be hypnotized into completely forgetting what everything in a car is (the steering wheel is the "big control thing" and he thinks the shifter is a joystick for changing direction)...and then thinking a pedal car is his own real car...

I wish I could be hypnotized to forget a few bad traumas and some annoying habits I have.

[Bobblehead]

That is hilarious. I'm going to have to start watching this show.

Does anyone know if these type of bit s are typical?

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

That is hilarious. I'm going to have to start watching this show.

Does anyone know if these type of bit s are typical?

Yep, Top Gear is the world's most popular motoring show and has some of the highest ratings in the UK. It also won an Emmy for a foreign program but it's not really broadcast here (Discovery Channel?)

The host, Jeremy Clarkson is an absolutely hilarious guy that's a major celebrity for his obnoxious but loved views on machoness and vehicles and social issues. Greenpeace hates him. He has a column in the Times
http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/sec...,12529,00.html
which has opinions on news and society and not just cars.

The actual show usually features reviews of cars with beautiful photography, great soundtrack, and usually great doses of humor. Every episode, they have a guest like on a talk show, but instead of just the interview, they make them drive around their track in "a reasonably priced car" which is basically the ugliest and slowest Suzuki you can get in a competition to see which celebrity is the fastest. They also have great episodes where they have big races across Europe, etc. Usually Jeremy is driving something like a ridiculous 1000HP car while the other two hosts are racing by plane or boat or something, trying to prove that a car is technically faster than anything else for getting to any destination.

They also have lots of stunts and other destructive fun (like strapping cars to a catapault and launching them into a quarry).

The most popular segment was probably where they argued that it seemed like all the 3rd world country rebel fighters and terrorists in all the news shots seem to be driving Toyota Pickup Trucks and they went to prove that it's the toughest vehicle by buying a 20-year-old Toyota truck and smashing into walls, trees, drowning in the ocean, crashing through houses, had trailer dropped on it from 10 feet, hit by wrecking balls, set on fire, and then put on the roof of a 23-story apartment building which was then demolished with dynamite charges.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...op+Gear+Toyota

[I-Hate-Hulse]

How on earth does the BBC let so many Top Gear episodes get broadcast on Google Video?

Man Google Video is killing my productivity here at work...so many Top Gears to watch....

That Truck smashing one was great. I'm sure Toyota loved that. Makes those CHevy "Like a Rock" commercials look like a Val Bure exercise video.

[FlamesAddiction]

Back in my first year in university, I agreed to go on stage to be hypnotized. I faked the whole thing because I didn't want to embarass the guy - and I was paired up with a hot chick.

Some of the people swear they were actually hypnotized though. I just think I personally wasn't in the right state of mind at the time.

[Incinerator]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

The most popular segment was probably where they argued that it seemed like all the 3rd world country rebel fighters and terrorists in all the news shots seem to be driving Toyota Pickup Trucks and they went to prove that it's the toughest vehicle by buying a 20-year-old Toyota truck and smashing into walls, trees, drowning in the ocean, crashing through houses, had trailer dropped on it from 10 feet, hit by wrecking balls, set on fire, and then put on the roof of a 23-story apartment building which was then demolished with dynamite charges.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...op+Gear+Toyota

I'm sold, if I ever buy a pickup it'll be one of these

[Thunderball]

If I remember from APSY class, 20% of the population can be put into a deep state of hypnosis... 60-70% can be put into a slight state of suggestion, and the remaining 10-20% cannot be hypotized at all.

[ernie]

You can get Top Gear every week on BBC Canada. The episodes tend to be 18 months old or so but still a good hour of television.

[troutman]

http://skepdic.com/hypnosis.html

Hypnosis is a process involving a hypnotist and a subject who agrees to be hypnotized. Being hypnotized is usually characterized by (a) intense concentration, (b) extreme relaxation, and (c) high suggestibility

If hypnosis is not an altered state or gateway to a mystical and occult unconscious mind, then what is it? Why do so many people, including those who write psychology textbooks, or dictionary and encyclopedia entries, continue to perpetuate the mythical view of hypnosis as if it were established scientific fact? For one thing, the mass media perpetuates this myth in countless movies, books, television shows, etc., and there is an entrenched tradition of hypnotherapists who have faith in the myth, make a good living from it, and see many effects from their sessions which, from their point of view, can only be called “successes.” They even have a number of scientific studies to support their views.

In short, what is called hypnosis is an act of social conformity rather than a unique state of consciousness. The subject acts in accordance with expectations of the hypnotist and hypnotic situation and behaves as he or she thinks one is supposed to behave while hypnotized. The hypnotist acts in accordance with expectations of the subject (and/or audience) and the hypnotic situation, and behaves as he or she thinks one is supposed to behave while playing the role of hypnotist.

Deep down, however, hypnotism, mesmerism, hysteria, and demonic possession share the common ground of being social constructs engineered mainly by enthusiastic therapists, showmen, and priests on the one side, and suggestible, imaginative, willing, fantasy-prone players with deep emotional needs or abilities on the other.