Get Conned

"If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is," the Moon tried to express her views, when she came to visit, after saying Basmalah and Salaam. "We may perceive in those splendid advertisements of quacks, who pretend to possess all knowledge, and to perform miracles; that by their false pretences, gain the property, or destroy the health of those simple readers. Most of us get fooled or conned on a regular basis, by some people or businesses, piliticians or even a regime—I’m not saying they’re all crooked or criminals, but they’re trying to sell you on a story—using certain techniques, to get you to buy into their narrative and to do what they want.

Many tactics being used by these Conmens, among others, misdirection, time pressure to make you make mistakes, to make you like something for nothing, social compliance and social proof, and many more.

And I found three cases, while visiting a country called Bhumi Mosam. On the first set, my attention paid on the following,

A waggish idle fellow in a country town, being desirous of playing a trick on the simplicity of his neighbours, and at the same time to put a little money in his pocket at their cost. So, he went to a place where they often gathered, and joined in. After a long discussion about what is being discussed, he advertised that he would, on a certain day, show a wheel carriage that should be so contrived as to go without horses.

'Really!' one folk commented. 'Nonsense! There is no wheel carriage can run without a horse!' said another folk, 'I can show you!' said our fellow. 'Then show us!' all of them challenging. 'But first as usual, show me your money, because no money, no show!'

By silly curiosity the rustics were taken in, and each succeeding group who came out from the show were ashamed to confess to their neighbours that they had seen nothing but 'a wheel-barrow.'

And everyone who came out of the exhibition, when asked, just singing with wry smile,

Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high

There's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby

Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue

And the dreams that you dare to dream

Really do come true *)

It is mortifying to see, by what artful knavery, one half of the world impose on the folly of the other who are deluded by their specious cant, and who find out when it is too late, that the wretch in whom they trusted, knew no more than themselves, and that instead of being endowed with superior knowledge, was only their superior in knavish art.

On the second set, listen to this, if you allow men to use you for your own purposes, they will use you for theirs.

A quarrel had arisen between the Horse and the Stag, so the Horse came to a Hunter to ask his help to take revenge on the Stag. The Hunter agreed, but said, 'If you desire to conquer the Stag, you must permit me to place this piece of iron between your jaws, so that I may guide you with these reins, and allow this saddle to be placed upon your back so that I may keep steady upon you as we follow after the enemy.'

The Horse agreed to the conditions, and the Hunter soon saddled and bridled him. Then with the aid of the Hunter the Horse soon overcame the Stag, and said to the Hunter, 'Now, get off, and remove those things from my mouth and back.'

'Not so fast, friend,' said the Hunter. 'I have now got you under bit and spur, and prefer to keep you as you are at present.'

The Stag who lost the battle, noticed, and said to himself, 'I'm saved!' and with a sway, he turned toward the mountain, humming,

Someday I'll wish upon a star

And wake up where the clouds are far behind me

Where troubles melt like lemon drops

Away above the chimney tops

That's where you'll find me *)

On the third set, hear this, it sometimes happens that one man has all the toil, and another all the profit.

The Fox came over the dead body of a Fawn that had been recently shot. But his steps were stopped by the Lions and the Bears, on his right and left. The two jungle superpowers wanted it too. The fox, who was not a shrimp, tries to steal the Fawn, in his own way, not even concerned losing self-respect. Then he said, 'I do not see, that both of you, the strongest.' The Lion was angry and roared, 'I am the strongest!' Not to be outdone, the bear, argued, 'I am the strongest!'

A fierce battle ensued, and as each animal was in the prime of his age and strength, the combat was long and furious. At last they lay stretched on the ground panting, bleeding, and exhausted, each unable to lift a paw against the other.

By at the time, the impudent Fox, stepped in and carried off before their eyes the prey on account of which they had both suffered so much.

The Lion and the Bear saw him, but not being able to get up, said, 'Woe be to us, that we should have fought and belabored ourselves only to serve the turn of a Fox.'

Carrying each other, this puny superpowers duo, limping along, and singing regrets,

Somewhere over the rainbow, bluebirds fly

Birds fly over the rainbow

Why then, oh why, can't I?

If happy little bluebirds fly

Beyond the rainbow

Why, oh why, can't I? *)

Before leaving, the Moon said, 'So, be careful when you feel emotionally moved by a narration, and be even more careful when you agree with the narrative or when it makes you happy, because that’s when you need to watch out. And Allah knows best."

Citations & References:
- Alexis Conran, The Superpower of the Conman, Tedx Berlin
- James Northcote, RA, One Hundred Fables, Originals and Selected, J. Johnson
- Josep Jacobs, The Fables of Aesop, Macmillan & Co
- J.B. Rundell, Aesop's Fables, Cassell, Petter and Galpin
*) "Over the Rainbow" written by Edgar Yipsel Harburg & Harold Arlen

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