Inara: So. Would you like to lecture me on the wickedness of my ways? Book: I brought you some supper, but if you'd prefer a lecture, I've a few very catchy ones prepped. Sin and hellfire... one has lepers.

'Serenity'


Natter 67: Overriding Vetoes  

Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, nail polish, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.


smonster - Jan 25, 2011 4:30:12 pm PST #18993 of 30001
We won’t stop until everyone is gay.

So sorry, shrift. And best of luck with the herding.


DavidS - Jan 25, 2011 4:32:08 pm PST #18994 of 30001
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."

Reading up on the "confidence tricks" listings in Wikipedia where they break down a lot of the cons they go into the Spanish Prisoner, which lives on as the Advance Fee Scam or Nigerian spam scam. But they note:

Key features of the Spanish Prisoner trick are the emphasis on secrecy and the trust the confidence trickster supposedly reposes in the mark not to reveal the prisoner's identity or situation. The confidence trickster will typically claim to have chosen the mark carefully, based on his reputation for honesty and straight dealing, and may appear to structure the deal so that the confidence trickster's ultimate share of the reward will be distributed voluntarily by the mark.

And going back to confidence tricks in general...

A greedy or dishonest mark may attempt to out-cheat the con artist, only to discover that he or she has been manipulated into losing from the very beginning. This is such a general principle in confidence tricks that there is a saying among con men that "you can't cheat an honest man."[3]

So I think part of the trick, or the use of the word "confidence" actually relates to trust, or taking somebody into your confidence. The notion being that you set up a situation where you're seemingly vulnerable and dependent on the mark, and when the mark tries to exploit that to their advantage then you are able to take their money.

In that instance, you can't con an honest man. Because he won't try to exploit your vulnerable situation.


sarameg - Jan 25, 2011 4:32:55 pm PST #18995 of 30001

Uhg, bon. I'd guess you'd want some sort of tent cause the idea of putting a mask on a cat would be kinda problematic. Repurpose a cat cube or something?


aurelia - Jan 25, 2011 4:34:32 pm PST #18996 of 30001
All sorrows can be borne if you put them into a story. Tell me a story.

I'm sorry, Shrift. I hope people will exceed your expectations in a good way.


quester - Jan 25, 2011 4:36:40 pm PST #18997 of 30001
Danger is my middle name, only I spell it R. u. t. h. - Tina Belcher.

Senators Kerry and McCain are sitting together.


quester - Jan 25, 2011 4:40:55 pm PST #18998 of 30001
Danger is my middle name, only I spell it R. u. t. h. - Tina Belcher.

Does anyone know what the ribbons everyone in congress is wearing mean?


§ ita § - Jan 25, 2011 4:42:43 pm PST #18999 of 30001
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.

Or wouldn't he more likely say to her "hey, did you know that's really valuable? If you're in dire straights it might be a way out. You should take it to a jeweler."

Unless it's someone who wants a pretty and valuable watch. There's nothing inherently dishonest about that.

And perhaps the degree to which it is ever true is fictional, I don't know.

I think it totally is. It's probably easier to con a dishonest person, but seriously. I'm sure honest people get conned all the time. Otherwise Hec wouldn't have "dishonest mark" in his post.


sarameg - Jan 25, 2011 4:42:48 pm PST #19000 of 30001

They're for Gabrielle Giffords.


bon bon - Jan 25, 2011 4:43:00 pm PST #19001 of 30001
It's five thousand for kissing, ten thousand for snuggling... End of list.

Uhg, bon. I'd guess you'd want some sort of tent cause the idea of putting a mask on a cat would be kinda problematic. Repurpose a cat cube or something?

They have [link] for it; I haven't used it on him yet but it might be well-tolerated.


Cass - Jan 25, 2011 4:43:53 pm PST #19002 of 30001
Bob's learned to live with tragedy, but he knows that this tragedy is one that won't ever leave him or get better.

Has anyone dealt with an asthmatic cat? We're looking into getting an inhaler/flovent for Kripkat and are looking for an Rx place online, plus just some general advice if appropriate.

My ex did. Email my profile and I would be happy to pass on info and hook you guys up.

Damn! SotU! Need to record.