> Who wants to take bets on how long until a con artist reality 
> show is developed?  It'd be an easy trip from American 
> Inventor/Apprentice to American Con Artist.  14 con artists 
> attempt to trick several judges into giving them the prize 
> while also foiling their competitors.  The judges are also 
> reality contestants who believe they are on the "average joe 
> venture capitalist" reality show and are attempting to select 
> the best investment available and get the best return on 
> investment compared to their competitors.  They'll be 
> fighting over the best con artists, who will be fighting over 
> the best venture capitalists.
> 
> I wonder why the sky suddenly darkened...
> 
> -Adam

I would watch that and very much recommend it to my friends. Imagine the
humor: Watching a show about cons which is paid for by advertisements... 

The con is under-appreciated as an educational medium. I always enjoy a good
con and (at least try to) take the attitude that what ever I've been con'd
out of was worth less than the education I received from the experience.

After all, if someone doesn't part the fools from their money...

...then the fools use the money foolishly. 

Oh wait, we have that already: Consumerism. What ever happened to "Buyer
beware?" Or buying from someone you know instead of from the faceless mill
of underpaid employees at Mall Wart? Is it really worth paying a little bit
less so you can over fill your stomach with "food" that was produced with no
goal other than profit? I mean, the purpose of a corporation is to... What?
Anyone? Right! Turn a profit. And then there is a period. Nothing after it.
So food from factory farms is: Profitable for them and good for you?
Healthy? Safe?

No matter what you do to "protect the consumer" someone is going to find a
way to sell the fools on junk they don't need: Lottery, Twinkies, Hummers,
Big Macs, Bottled Water (for pete sake), Reality TV, hormone injected meat,
sugar soda, preservative salad, etc...

Think of con artistry as "trickle UP economics." The money, power, fame,
will  be in the hands of the smartest, most influential, best con. And if
you look around at who has the most money, that was most likely the best con
artist. Gates sold us Windows, Buffet sells us Coke and insurance, Dell
sells cheap computers, Adelson sells us the gamblers fallacy, Ellison sells
Oracle. Most of us have (not?) learned a lesson in con artistry from them.
http://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/10/Worth_1.html

Of course, part of being a good con involves leaving the mark happy, and a
lot of them don't. Think: former Rep: Cunningham (R) California. 

If this coil guy has, in fact, been able to go on for years and years
without somebody shooting him, then he must be a true master.

---
James.
 

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