Those are pretty cruel words, but it's not the first time I hear something like this. I already know that many magicians think like you do, but nevertheless you can't claim to speak for
everyone in the magic community- nobody can. I could name at least 2 other magicians here in the penguin community who would be contrary to your last sentence, and you think you know the opinion of every single magician all over the world?
However, with the other things you said, I don't call you a liar, but facts are that I will probably never have the possibility to find out what's true and what's not when it comes to statements like this. They may be true or not, and even if they are I'd still have enough reasons to stay a Loyal. So, a long time ago I asked myself the question what I want to believe and what consequences each decision would have on my life. And I came to the conclusion that it doesn't harm me to believe in Criss. In contrast, it pushes me forward in many aspects of my life. There are so many things I will always be grateful for and that have to do with Criss' influence on my life, and that's what is most important for me. When you believe in something and this belief has a very positive influence on you, who cares if it's the truth or just a big illusion? And I just love what he does, his illusions, stunts and so on, and also his music. When I look up to an artist, primarily
I look up to the art before I even start to care about the personality of the artist, and that was also the case when I became a Loyal. There are Loyals who want to make a saint out of him, I just accept him as a man with strengths and weaknesses, with skills and faults like everybody else. Without his huge ego, he wouldn't be the performer he is. For me he's somebody special, for others not- doesn't make sense to argue about personal opinions.
I think that is kind of judging things at face value, and then seeing through those eyes the person you want to see on the inside.