Amega Bracelet Scam
Amega Bracelet Scam and Childhood Party Games
The more I look into these purported health bracelets and hologram decals, I keep noticing a very disturbing trend:
All of these products are being sold using what I remember being childhood party games, which are now being used to trick people into believing there is actually some actual biological result from the wearing of these hokie devices, vs just placebo effect or the tester producing the desired result.
Latest Case In Point:
Amega Bio Magnetic Bracelet Scam
A friend just introduced me to this product. Remarkable how yet another bracelet product promises the exact same results as the EFX scam. What struck me was that they were using the EXACT SAME hoax I remember as a kid at sleepovers and birthday parties. Known as "Party Levitation", or "Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board", it was always performed the same way. I had a magic book I was given as a 2nd grader that described this very trick:
One kid sits on a chair. Four others stand around him. Each placed their two index fingers together, and depending on where they are standing, places those fingers together under the armpits or behind the knees of the person in the chair.
The "magician" or the person leading the trick delivers the "patter" - "Using only two fingers, it is IMPOSSIBLE to lift this person out of the chair without struggling." The expectation is set that it is too difficult. On three, everyone tries, and SURPRISE, they fail, or barely move the person.
Next, the "magician" has everyone place their hands on the persons head and press lightly down, saying "Light as a feather, stiff as a board".
Next, they repeat the trick, and WALLAH, the person seems to rise easily out of the chair on just the fingertips.
Even the kids magic book I had explained it as being a matter of everyone believing the person was too heavy because of your 'patter', then when you give them the explanation that pressing down and chanting makes the person lighter, they really try and the person rises easily .
Apparently Amega is using this as part of their "sales" pitch -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9R66uKfc8b8
I remembered this same trick when someone was doing the hokey EFX Bracelet demonstration, and was surprised EFX had not included it in their parlor game / junior high school sleepover trick repetoire.
A group getting the exact same result without the use of any bogus Amega Bio Magnetic Bracelet Scam
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-979873598052158228#
Are people really becoming this gullible? REALLY?
Think about the physiology involved. A one gallon jug of milk weights almost ten pounds. Can you lift that easily with one finger through the handle? If you put two fingers together, how much do you think you can lift?
If an average adult weights 180 lbs, can each person lift 22.5 lbs per finger?
As a test, I tried to pick up a 25 lb barbell weight by putting my finger through the hole for the bar. The most difficult part was keeping the weight balanced, most definitely not lifting. With one finger.
When this 'party trick' is initially done, the effort is uncoordinated. When it is done the second time, after everyone has been psyched up, there is usually a countdown and its a smooth coordinated effort.
There is no magic in the Amega Bio Magnetic Bracelet. If there were, this could be tested on a resistance machine or solo with weights, not using the lame "Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board" party trick that's been around forever.
