Why Folks Fear Hypnotists

Hi all who are wondering about folks response to hypnosis demonstrations... I wonder if we could ask these folks that turn us down what their true concerns are (you know, without being defensive), with a real and true desire to figure things out.

I know that in my new community, I don't get the response that I'm used to when I tell folks what I do for a living. The usual (when I lived in San Diego and Maryland) was either "Wow, how neat! Does that stuff work? If I feel like I've created enough rapport, I tell them (with a smile and a wink) "No, my whole life is a lie!" ; - ) Or the other was, "Oh, that's so cool. I know somebody who quit smoking using hypnosis (or something equally wonderful)!" But for the most part (95% of the time, I'd say), people had a favorable response. Here, in Fremont, California, I get more of a response such as, "Oh, that's interesting" (but you can tell the person is really not very interested at all. The only things I can come up with are that either folks are more conservative here, or as one gal from the Chamber of Commerce said, they've heard it all before" and are not very impressed.

I'm going to make it my business to find out by being sincerely interested. I wonder if you could do that same with your turn downs in your various states. When we really know what we're dealing with, we can deal with it. And hopefully World Hypnotism Day will help, too.