The basis of magic tricks is.. to trick. To deceive in a way that makes something that is completely possible (even though it may take years of practice to perfect) seem impossible and appear amazing when it's done.

And it's not like the person watching doesn't know that it's a trick. No one calls the cops when the assistant gets cut in half. Instead everyone cheers and claps. "Yay! He pretended to kill his assistant!" … It's a bizarre form of entertainment.

Instead of watching magicians, people should do something much more fun. Like eating strawberry-rhubarb pie.