HypnotismFollow

I went to a hypnotism show my sophomore year in college. I apparently have control freak issues and so was unable to go under, but I watched this guy do his act and then tried it on fellow collegians when I went back to the dorm. It was surprisingly easy to make happen, and people who you wouldn't think would let themselves be under the control of someone else would get hyponotized in less than 30 seconds.

All the usual stuff worked-- post-hypnotic suggestions, foolish behavior, demonstrations of strength or loss of muscle control.

The process is simple. Get a flashlight, candle, or use a lamp, make the rest of the room dark, and have the ummm, victim stare intently at the flame/bulb. Explain that you are going to count backwards from 100 and you want them to repeat the number you say. Tell them that as you pass 90 they will feel relaxed and that at 80 they'll be sleeping. Modulate your voice so that as you get closer to 90 and then 80, etc you slow your speech down, and lower the volume and timber so that you are at a rumbling whisper by around 75.

You'll be able to tell they are close to being under by their breathing cadence and how relaxed their facial expression is. Once you believe they are fully relaxed, tell them they are to go to sleep, but will hear your voice clearly.

At this point you can pretty much have them do anything they would be willing to do if they were, say, very drunk. Since hyponotism is just a state of being hyper-receptive to suggestions, people won't do things that they wouldn't otherwise do like murder, have sex with animals (sorry, Aegis!), etc etc.

Not that I didn't get people to try... ok, not really, but if a girl is slutty, for instance, she'll act slutty. If she's virginal, she won't go out and sleep with the football team just because you tell her to do so. Hypnotism, contrary to myth, cannot cause someone to turn into a zombie permanently if you startle them awake or remember things from their childhood that isn't readily available in a normal wakeful state. In the absence of a memory, a person will make stuff up just to please the hypnotist.

When it's time to end the fun and games, tell them at the count of 5 they'll wake up. Interestingly, however, because they are so willing to go under you can do something like snap your fingers and say, "Sleep!" and *boom* they'll be back under.

One additional tip-- most people are much easier to hypnotize after they've have 2 or 3 beers. It lowers their resistance. Give it a try at your next drunk-fest. It's a hoot. Let us know how it turns out.

Totem

Or wang her in the back of the head with a wrench.

I'm glad someone thought it was funny.
/rubs head