HOW TO CHEAT AT EVERYTHING | More Intelligent Life - 5 views
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A con man is essentially a salesman--a remarkably good one--who excels at making people feel special and understood. A con man validates the victim's desire to believe he has an edge on other people.
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Joette Carini on 28 Sep 11My question for this article was based off of this quote-- I think that a con man is simply someone who is a master of manipulation. This is a good thing sometimes and a bad thing at others, but conning is simply about making people feel like you really know them and then manipulating them. Do you think that this is something that just anyone can do?
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Matt Nolan on 29 Sep 11The best way to con someone is to make sure they feel comfortable with and feel like they can trust you like Joette stated. You could also say that someone who is a good con is also a good salesperson, because they want you to you buy into their ideas and beliefs. No, i do not believe everyone can be a con some people are blessed with gifts and some people are blessed with being a con. Being a con artist is frowned upon yet it is still a gift to be able to make people believe anything you want.
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Kaitlyn Guilbeaux on 29 Sep 11Perhaps everyone has the potential to be a con. Anyone could be taught the techniques of how to manipulate people. However, I do believe that some people are naturally better at it than others because they were born with certain traits; charismatic, a good lyer, etc.
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Felecia Russell on 29 Sep 11Well this is true. To be a con man, one has to be without compassion, because if he/she has compassion, they wont be able to do their job. It is a little thing called onscience, and that is essentially what a con man does not have. They are not concerned with consequences for the victim, ultimately, it is just a profit for their self benefit.
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Jonathan Omokawa on 29 Sep 11I don't think that everyone is cut out to be a con man. There are certain character aspects of con men or grifters that make them so good at what they do. There is no doubt, that you can train to be a grifter, but you will lack the "talent" of someone with that natural ability. The question in my opinion is asking if anyone could be a used car salesman. The general belief is that used car salesmen are some of the best con men because they are able to sell a POS. So by that logic, I would say that no, not everyone can be a con man.
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Valencia Hamilto on 29 Sep 11Yes I do believe that conning is a task that just about anyone can do. Some maybe naturally better at conning than others but it is a task anyone can do. It just takes the effort to learn all the techniques of a con artist. It is a job in itself that tasks patience, time, and the will to manipulate people. You have to know how to be charismatic polite and convincing while being deceitful at the same time. Once you are able to master those skills you can become a con artist.
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Xochitl Cruz on 30 Sep 11In order to be a con man I think first of all, you have to be able to speak and "woo" people. If people naturally gravitate towards you it is part of your personality, because it radiates to others around you. So a con man uses this to his.her advantage to manipulate others.
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steve santos on 30 Sep 11Readily yes I do think charisma is the how to cheat at everything card that just about anyone can play. Understanding the stakes that other people have in things is the key to see that the way we think is often in relation to where we come from and where we have been raised. Often times what you say or the way you say it is what draws the line between knowing something, questioning it and empathizing with it. Often times people will want all the above at different times. Putting things up to a notion of pure faith that the right people will come into your life at the right time is a beautiful religious notion for those that believe it but for me my ace in the hole against that argument is free will. Predestination makes will invalid so I believe that in reacting to the reactions of people to gain favored results is the true con man way of thinking. Make people feel the way you want to gain the desired results from them. If one carries themselves in that sense than they play the blank slate card where people jump into the sense of reliance in this person that they are the canvas they can emulate deep personal feelings with drawing the connection the con man or woman can act upon
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Ryan Brown on 30 Sep 11I would love to have not only the swagger and abilities of a con man but the confidence that comes with being able to have that big of an impact on people. Though i might use those abilites for something a little more benefical to society, i am in complete admiration for their skills. This article was interesting! I couldnt believe that someone who can manipulte people that well for that long can all of a sudden have a moment where they realize all the harm they have done to people. I can barely tell a lie.
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anonymous on 30 Sep 11Charisma is a very large factor in the successes and talents of con men. Charismatic people can essentially get people to do anything for them with little to nothing in return, and the art of charisma is sometimes difficult to master. Con men are naturally very stealthy and smart with their time and investments, and much is required from them in terms of a constant rapport to upkeep their status and position.
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It's an amazing paradox--a con man has incredible emotional insight, but without the burden of compassion.
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I interpreted this quote as it would be used for politics. In order to come to an agreement for policies and laws, morality has to be set aside. Once morality and emotions are involved the decision is biased due to the comprimising situation one is now in. So in order to be good at a job, in this case a con man, he has to exclude compassion or else guilt will override his decision to con anyone.
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From a political perspective it is very helpful, and maybe necessary, to be able to detach your own feelings when making laws, policies, etc. because there will almost always be a "loser" and if every politician walked around and felt truly and deeply sorry about everything, nothing would really go forward. But, feelings aside, they can show compassion and try to make the best decision for the society as a whole.
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I think that not having compassion would be a burden. Sure, they can do their work well, whether it be conning someone or making laws and policies but without compassion you'll only really be good at your job. You won't be able to connect with people because you won't have compassion for anyone. Maybe the world needs people without compassion to make laws and policies but I don't think it's necessary. Compassion can be helpful when making decisions that affect lots of people.
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"If you feel sorry you are dead in the water," he warns.
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is it possible that these con-men actually have some kind of psychological problems? naturally humans "inherit" this feeling of compassion, just like morals, and to be able to completely disengage with something like caring about people and the damage you do to them, that's something very worthy to take note of.
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But he still had compassion. It just took him a while to realize it. So maybe they do have some psychological problems or something that blocks that compassion, that guilty feeling but at least in this case eventually the human nature to feel guilt and compassion appeared.
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"You must have an encyclopaedic knowledge of odd bits of trivia and use these facts to win people over. "
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Eric's exact thoughts were what went through my mind reading this. I feel like it is a unique gift to "win people over" through these means
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I would love this as well. I was thinking how an encyclopedic knowledge effects framing, and I feel as if having access to a vast array of information allows you to most accurately bring your audience to the desired side of your issue. If you know all the information about your audience, this was gone over in the film, you could more easily prime them to see only one side of your policy issue.
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this made me laugh out loud. the fact that people, because of their own ignorance, laugh at those who getted tricked and conned and think they are in on the whole scheme when in reality they are just as ignorant if not more ignorant because they are so diluted with the idea that they arent among the the tricked.in turn it seems that they are actually conning themselves into thinking they are in on it all.
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It's funny yes, but mostly I just find it sad. The ease at which people can be conned. I mean, if placed in the shoes of one of these people, would all of us really be able to see through the con?
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"I could sell shit at an anti-scat party," he says, "you have to figure out someone's wants and needs and convince them what you have will fill their emotional void."
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I read the same concept in Aristophanes' play Knights, and the theme was the same. One of the characters is a sausage seller in Ancient times, which is as close to selling poop as you can get. It is truly an art and takes a special kind of person to read a person and be able to make them believe they need something. The play is a political satire and it is a very appropriate take on public policy and politics in general. As a politician you have to be able to figure out what you are going to have to do to be the best and win, and further your agenda.
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He must take an intense interest in other people, complete strangers, and work to understand them, yet remain detached and uninvested. That the plan is to cheat these people and ultimately confirm many of their fears cannot be of concern.
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Although in this article is speaking to the techniques of a con man, the same characteristics can be used for anyone who wants to influence another or a group of individuals to believe or accept something that will benefit them. Perfect example is when presidential candidates promise the world to "the polis". They are merely working to understand them,"showing them" that they can put there fears at ease in order to gain their vote. The ability to persuade others give one the ability to influence decision making.
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Once, when he visited a victim the day after to "apologise", he found the man crying about his mortgage, wife and kids.
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In order to be successful at "conning" individuals you must be emotionally detached, this gives you the ability to excel because you do not see the repercussions of the damaged you have caused or can cause. Being indifferent is key, being aware of the consequences leads to the guilt that can ultimately stop one for continuing in this act as we saw with Mr. Lovell.
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It is interesting to see how Mr. Lovell justifies his acts to himself. He feels that by returning the money that he (in a sense) stole, he no longer has to feel guilty for his actions, even though it was only a small portion of what he took. While this is a weakness it seems to also be a strength- as long as he no longer feels sorry he will not be "dead in the water".
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interest he takes in others.
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I guess with practice, anyone can achieve this, yet some people may have a more natural ability to be able to con than others. Conning can be considered a trade skill just like a carpenter etc. because it is effectively useful in the sales industry. Therefore, it can easily be considered a learned skill. While this may be true, I definitely do not agree with the actual act of conning because it is deceptive and the victim normally does not receive 100% accurate information.