About 30 years ago I used to dabble in closeup magic
after a few corporate gigs where I had women saying "you're really good! do you do palm reading?" So I did a bit of research, learned enough to blag a convincing reading - it's really not hard to throw out a few platitudes and barnum statements... and the readings went OK.
Then a friend suggested "stop the reading, pretend you've seen something bad and refuse to go further"
I tried it, and omg it amplified the results 100x - suddenly I was an absolute psychic wizard and was being asked if I did private readings etc.
It scared the crap out of me that such a simple trick would hook a punter in that convincingly, and I stopped giving readings.
It's such an easy scam to work
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LP, Wed 9 Sep 2026, 14:44,
Reply)
I have no issue taking money away from stupid people.
It limits what they can do in the world, so that I might carry on my Good Deeds unhindered.
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Dave Trouser ; the people's choice - 75% agree, Wed 9 Sep 2026, 14:55,
Reply)
My problem is that
while it's fine if the fool can afford it, it's not fine if they can't
and it's impossible to reliably tell who can/can't afford it, or who will fall down the rabbit hole and drain their kids savings or go without food etc.
My dabbling was at the thin end of the wedge, and while it's all fun while you're getting drunk at the work christmas party - I have no way of knowing who I might be pushing over the edge
But "taking money from stupid people" describes much of my IT career so...
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LP, Wed 9 Sep 2026, 15:19,
Reply)
We're all stupid now and again
the problem is that even the most wily, cynical and streetwise of us can be manipulated when we're at our most vulnerable. The best con artists can identify, exploit and even manufacture the weaknesses each and every one of us has.
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garold you're on mute I SAID YOU'RE ON MUTE, Thu 10 Sep 2026, 9:14,
Reply)