I know something you don't know.
Why am I so very interested in stage magicians, snipers, jugglers, ninjas, techno-geeks, con men, spies, and cryptographers? Look at that list. These are all people who know things you probably don't. I am addicted to esoteric knowledge.
I'm curious about conspiracy theories, but not enough to buy into them. Similarly, I take faith too seriously to give much credence to religious quackery. But scams, stealth, sleight of hand, misdirection, mind hacks, sword lore, obscure slang, alternate uses of household objects, cryptozoology, and the like are cognitive catnip.
This doesn't make me feel superior to the uninitiated, merely alternately equipped. If anything, knowing how easily perception can be bypassed or manipulated is very humbling, a constant reminder of human fallibility. I can't carry on a useful discussion of any sporting event and I run screaming from the minutiae of personal finance, but I CAN levitate a playing card, thwart pickpockets, and win every game of hide and seek in my house because I've already mapped spots in which your mind will tell you I shouldn't be able to fit. Can you?
I'm curious about conspiracy theories, but not enough to buy into them. Similarly, I take faith too seriously to give much credence to religious quackery. But scams, stealth, sleight of hand, misdirection, mind hacks, sword lore, obscure slang, alternate uses of household objects, cryptozoology, and the like are cognitive catnip.
This doesn't make me feel superior to the uninitiated, merely alternately equipped. If anything, knowing how easily perception can be bypassed or manipulated is very humbling, a constant reminder of human fallibility. I can't carry on a useful discussion of any sporting event and I run screaming from the minutiae of personal finance, but I CAN levitate a playing card, thwart pickpockets, and win every game of hide and seek in my house because I've already mapped spots in which your mind will tell you I shouldn't be able to fit. Can you?