‘Circus Freak’: Scientists Say Croatian ‘Magnetic Boy’ Is a Fake
- Posted on May 14, 2011 at 9:28am by
Scott Baker
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Sipa Press/Rex Features
A six-year-old boy from Croatia dubbed “magnetic boy,” is attracting curiosity from his family and friends because of his – you guessed it right – magnetic attraction.
Reports said that Ivan Stoiljkovic has the ability to stick metallic objects to his body, including spoons, mobile phones, frying pans, or anything that has metallic content.
The boy, who lives with his family in a remote village near Koprivnica, is reportedly able to carry up to 25kg of metal stuck to his torso at a time.
Ivan showcased his unusual ability to a group of local journalists when he took off his shirt and stuck metallic objects, including cutlery, a frying pan and two dumbbells to his body. Surprisingly, all the objects stuck.
According to his family, Ivan has also used his ‘healing’ hands to alleviate stomach pains for his grandfather Ivo and is credited with soothing the pain of a neighbour who hurt his leg in a tractor accident.
Ivo said that when his grandson laid his hands on his stomach, they became extremely hot and the pain simply went away.
Sipa Press/Rex Features
A group of experts and sceptics have banded together on Facebook to prove that the Croatian boy who has harnessed worldwide fame for his supposed “magnetism” has no supernatural abilities.
The news about 6-year-old Ivan Stoiljkovic’s abilities to attract metal objects brought a lot of publicity to the Koprivnica-based family, prompting objections from some Croatians critical of “unscientific” representation of the phenomenon. The Facebook group “We are all Magneto Boy” shows photographs of various people with metal objects sticking to parts of their bodies, something of which, experts say, each human is capable. All that is necessary is placing a metal object onto smooth, hair-free parts of the body.
Psychologist Igor Miklousic from “Ivo Pilar” Institute in Zagreb is critical of the motives behind Stoiljkovic’s sudden popularity.
“We believe that it is inappropriate to use a 6-year-old boy as a “circus freak,” he says.
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Comments (119)
JoeDu
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 11:02amMost silverware is not even magnetic in the first place.
Report Post »Broncobuster
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 10:56amThe Teflon coated aluminum frying pan must have been stuck on with Gorilla glue . Aluminum is non-magnetic.
Report Post »epmonroe
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 10:45amI guess magnetic means fat and sweaty in Croatian.
Report Post »independentvoteril
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 10:40amOK I hate to make fun of people but doesn’t that guy in the picture look like the cave man in the commercial on television?? I forgot which one it was think it was capital one..
Report Post »Rickfromillinois
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 10:29amIt looks like what sticks to him the most is fat food.
Report Post »vtxphantom
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 10:18amAttach him to the power grid, feed him happy meals and we are set for life.
Report Post »eat-more-bacon-USA
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 10:16amGee, this is the first time I have seen plastic and aluminum objects being drawn to a “magnet”; Apparently, Croatians don’t know much about magnetism. Perhaps this fat little child is just sticky and in need of a bath.
Report Post »Hawt'n'secksie
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 6:46pmBest comment of the day.
Report Post »jujulyly
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 10:16amThis is why fridge magnets should never be in the shape of food. I think he ate them all.
Report Post »Exile
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 10:14amWhen his fifteen minutes of fame are up, he can always go back to his old job as Janet Napolitano’s body double.
Report Post »capecodsully
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 10:14amI‘m guessing there are McDonald’s restaurants in Croatia. Blast those Happy Meals.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 10:09amLooking at that family, I can see where Hitler got the idea of breeding a better race for Europe.
Report Post »Hawt'n'secksie
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 6:47pmWorst comment of the day.
Report Post »Tankertony
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 10:07amIsn’t that guy in the blue shirt standing next to the lady holding the baby the coach of the San Jose Sharks?
Report Post »piper60
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 10:03amDiet, definitely. Also, does anybody other than me think that his appearing to lean back a bit is significant?
Report Post »randy
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 9:58amAnyone who believes this has to be an Obama Voter……. And Geeeeesh, someone put that kid on a diet!
Report Post »Hephzibah
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 9:55amAnother family who “needs” Moochelle’s interference.
Report Post »satotbs
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 9:55amWhen was the last time you used a magnet to pick up a coin, silverware or any other non ferrous material? Maybe Croat coins are made from iron.
Report Post »chips1
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 1:29pmTherefore; He’s a witch.
Report Post »donh2
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 9:46amThis is just fall out effects from Chernobyl . How many children in Japan will be able to fry bacon on their stomachs like a microwave oven ?
Report Post »V-Forge
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 9:44amWOW. one chubby kid some cutlery and 15 minutes = Fame? I don‘t see a single thing that isn’t there because it’s balanced on him. The friction of the metal on his skin keeps it in place. This is not just fake it’s proof that those around him are really stupid people. Dangerously stupid. These people will be in the news burning a witch next week. It might be him.
Report Post »BonnieBlueFlag
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 10:24am@V-Forge
*Best post
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 11:46amSir Bedevere: There are ways of telling whether she is a witch.
Report Post »Peasant 1: Are there? Oh well, tell us.
Sir Bedevere: Tell me. What do you do with witches?
Peasant 1: Burn them.
Sir Bedevere: And what do you burn, apart from witches?
Peasant 1: More witches.
Peasant 2: Wood.
Sir Bedevere: Good. Now, why do witches burn?
Peasant 3: …because they’re made of… wood?
Sir Bedevere: Good. So how do you tell whether she is made of wood?
Peasant 1: Build a bridge out of her.
Sir Bedevere: But can you not also build bridges out of stone?
Peasant 1: Oh yeah.
Sir Bedevere: Does wood sink in water?
Peasant 1: No, no, it floats!… It floats! Throw her into the pond!
Sir Bedevere: No, no. What else floats in water?
Peasant 1: Bread.
Peasant 2: Apples.
Peasant 3: Very small rocks.
Peasant 1: Cider.
Peasant 2: Gravy.
Peasant 3: Cherries.
Peasant 1: Mud.
Peasant 2: Churches.
Peasant 3: Lead! Lead!
King Arthur: A Duck.
Sir Bedevere: …Exactly. So, logically…
Peasant 1: If she weighed the same as a duck… she’s made of wood.
Sir Bedevere: And therefore…
Peasant 2: …A witch!
dscon
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 5:54pmV-Forge
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 9:44am
WOW. one chubby kid some cutlery and 15 minutes = Fame? I don‘t see a single thing that isn’t there because it’s balanced on him. The friction of the metal on his skin keeps it in place. This is not just fake it’s proof that those around him are really stupid people. Dangerously stupid. These people will be in the news burning a witch next week. It might be him”
my crazy dago sibs and i used to hang spoons on our noses at the after dinner table!
Report Post »just add a spoon, some slighly oily skin and lean back just a few degrees and………voila
the idiots are impressed!
papa2thdoc
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 9:41amNot supprised to find no comments. What a waste!
Report Post »searching for the Truth
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 9:41amIt would probably be smart to stay far away from a television set.
Report Post »searching for the Truth
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 10:31amCorrection – cathode ray tube.
Report Post »glennisright.com
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 9:39amPut this kid on a diet.
Report Post »Dale
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 10:18amI was wondering where moochele is. She should be dispatched immediately to lecture the family regarding the fast food dangers. Oh wait, how does barry (odumbo big ears) do it? Oh yes he smokes. Perhaps he should trade one bad habit for another more acceptable one.
Report Post »Hula Calhoun
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 5:49pmI didn’t know Eric Cartman lived in Croatia. I thought he still lived in South Park.
Report Post »Arminianism
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 9:38amApparently they are eating well in Croatia
Report Post »alexw3086
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 9:37amFirst!!
Report Post »GdHUs
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 3:07pmNot!
Report Post »fatjack
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 9:36amI’m a believer!
Report Post »OLDBIKEFIXER
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 11:54amSeems to me that after the kid ate everything in the fridge, he went on to eat everything ON the fridge, including the 187 magnets stuck to the front door. Or…
it’s The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet! (Sorry, Zappa, but I just had to…)
Report Post »sissykatz
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 1:01pmHas anyone tried this? I guess I am doing something wrong because I can’t get anything to stick to me !!!
Report Post »Just sayin ….
crackerone
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 2:42pm@SISS
I’m afraid they will delete my answer :(
Report Post »crackerone
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 2:48pmCan tell you you it is a type of bird.
Report Post »GdHUs
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 3:05pm@OLDBIKEFIXER
You hit it out of the park with that one. I needed a good laugh, thanks.
Report Post »JP4JOY
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 9:35amThere’s a sucker born every minute.
Report Post »stifroc
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 9:47amIf there was some way we could harness his ability, we could use it for green energy…
Report Post »Marengo Ohio Patriot
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 9:48amWell, if this doesn’t pan out, maybe he can find a career in sumo wrestling.
Report Post »mwhaley
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 9:50amAnd proof, why you do not marry your hillbilly sister.
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 10:01amit looks better than Barry’s BC
Report Post »or Bin Laden videos
mycomet123
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 10:09amWhat is this? The national enquirer section of the Blaze??. The only reason I’m commenting on this is to tell The Blaze to not help the liberal media exploit children. Come on Blaze–you’re better than this! (You already know how people on this website are going to respond to this). MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND !!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
Report Post »Cemoto78
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 10:23amSomewhere in this families house there has got to be a number of banjos.
Report Post »BuckOfama
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 10:46amHe’s probally just sticky……
Report Post »right-wing-waco
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 10:53amI agree about the sucker born every minute. That is how we got BHO. This kid needs to go on a diet before he get heart problems. I also guess that Croatians don’t need our food assistance.
Report Post »Lost in the Flyover
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 11:39amCover a chucky kid with a light adhesive be it a sugar solution or spray mount, throw kitchen utensils at him then post the video on YouTube and get the world talking…. Hey at least they are spending quality family time together.
Report Post »John 1776
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 12:29pmThe thing is, only ferrous metals (iron and steel) “stick” due to magnetism. Although induction can create magnetism in anything that conducts, that would push the already pushed limits of belief. Very hard to toss a coin made of copper, nickle, or silver, and have it stick to anything due to magnetism.
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 12:30pm@Cemoto78
Report Post »I resemble that remark…I’ve got 3 hanging on the wall and enjoy picking everyday. PLINK PLINK
ecurbyy
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 12:41pmYeah, and just for clicking on this story we’re all suckers. The Blaze is reminding me of an ancient saying. Goes something like (a wise man speaks because he has something to say, a fool speaks just to be saying something). Starting to think this site is the fool.
Report Post »gotta light
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 1:22pmif the boy is a circus sideshow freak (he he) then its not about if the act is real or not! its all about the show…
so we’re you entertained?
hey bud gotta light?
Report Post »Live_Free_orDie
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 2:15pmLooks like food sticks to him too! Call Michele maybe we can send her over to Croatia w/ Barry.
Report Post »Rational Man
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 5:13pmAn unwashed fatboy is pretty sticky!
Report Post »Devil Dog 7175
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 7:26pmThe real thing that sticks to him it looks like is calories…
Report Post »jzs
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 9:57pmBoring. I already saw this two years in the line at the Supermarket.
Report Post »rgranger
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 11:29pmBurn him, Burn him! He may burn forever giving free energy for the city, we won’t know until someone tries… that and he is obviously a witch…
Report Post »mycomet123
Posted on May 15, 2011 at 10:13amI feel the need to comment on this again to see if anyone at the Blaze has any morales?????. If I see any more of this TRASH on your website that HELPS EXPLOIT CHILDREN ===It’s time for me to leave!.
Report Post »Kansas Mom
Posted on May 15, 2011 at 2:47pmSomeone call Michelle Obama …….this kid needs her “Let’s move” program.
Report Post »