Being a con man in old-time Phoenix


I've always known that I would have made a good confidence man. That is, someone who steals from people by making them trust him. In a long life I've known a lot of people like that, but it was never for me. I found my life jogged along quite nicely by being who I was, an honest, if somewhat innocent, person from the Midwest. I've done just fine that way, and plan on continuing to be that man for as long as I can.

From Artful Dodgers to people who do "the Sting", you know that they're out there. People who will look you right in the eye and lie, and cheat, and steal. And many times these people prey on people's best instincts, to be kind, to help others. I'm sure you know what I mean.

I grew up in a very protected world, in Minneapolis, and then threw myself into the great big world once I graduated from high school. I've lived in places with petty thieves, and even serious criminals. When I moved to California my eyes really opened to these people, and I started to get a little paranoid. Yes, I have trust issues. Just because someone is well-dressed, and has an open, honest face doesn't mean that I will hand them my wallet.

That being said, I often wonder what it would have been like to live in a world with none of these people, you know, like Phoenix "back in the day". But of course they were there, too.

It's Christmastime as I write this, which seems to bring out the con men (and women!) in droves. My email is always filled with things that are obvious cons, maybe someone who says that they're a friend of mine and just needs me to send money through Western Union to some country I've never heard of, so they can get home. I'm sure you've seen that.

But I don't want to live in a world of distrust, and fear. I know that the vast majority of people out there are good and honest. I don't hold someone's personal appearance against them, even if they have an honest, open face. They really can't help looking suspicious!

I've spent a lot of time walking around Phoenix, both IRL (In Real Life) and in my imagination. And I see people who could be figuring out a way to hurt me, or people who would rush to my help if I needed it. And I choose to see the latter, even though I always keep an eye on my wallet!
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Comments

  1. kirkdooleyDecember 11, 2019 at 3:20 PM

    Sadly, the first thing I learned after moving to Phoenix to go to school at DeVry Tech (an experience that I could write a book about, except nobody would believe it) is TRUST NO ONE, not even your mother. (ESPECIALLY your mother.)

    No matter how cynical you may be, in Arizona, it's dammed hard to keep up.

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