Nov. 21st, 2009

fawk dat

Nov. 21st, 2009 04:38 pm
vicarz: (Default)
Well I had one thing I had to do, and two things I wanted to do today. The had to do is done, but rather than 2-3 hours it took 5-6 hours for me to create yet another internal memo for people more important than me. I would liked to have spent more time on it, but I can't just keep knocking my head on these special reports - especially as they don't seem to result in any action other than requests for additional TPS reports. I don't know if I finished or just stopped working on it.

I was going to get replacement headlight bulbs for my car since after 10 years one light went out (_after_ state inspection, thank you car!) However, with the sun going down at 4:30 and me confined to ie for browsing, I got so fed up with trying to find an auto parts store I decided I'd rather put off the task than try to find a place using this god-awful browser. Chrome has me so spoiled - seems such an intuitive thing to give user requests higher priority in the processor than "waiting for website to respond" but no, both firefox and ie worst of all lock up your entire damn system trying to prevent you from working while some random site, or even ad linked by the site, waits before responding to what information it thinks you need to see.

Similarly working out is out for today. I could go running, I could see if I can get into Gold's of B'more, but with just a couple hours before Janna gets here I'd rather just make sure I'm showered and club-ready in general. I wouldn't mind a night in the club where my back and legs weren't exhausted.

Do normal people enjoy leading on scammers or am I odd in that regard? I love to read junk mail which pretends to be real, I hold telemarketers on the line when they don't make it clear what they're doing, and I engage in internet scammers (small-time ones, not Nigeria or the Russian mafia ones) solely for entertainment. I feel I'm doing good by making their lives difficult - every minute with me they're _not_ robbing someone's grandmother, but I also take some enjoyment out of trying to see what they are doing to try and read, lead, and seduce me. I want to know the games they play to try and sucker me out of cash - or even just time.

On a related but not at all note - max the mercenary psychic at spellbound is just cool. I've had a couple readings directly and vicariously, and just like with the scammers I watch and listen to try and find out what cues they seek, elicit, and use. I'm not hostile to readers - I used to think they were all disingenuous, but then when I was still following the "Skeptical Enquirer," http://www.csicop.org/si I ran into an interest study by someone who wasn't just a scientist - but honestly used to not only believe in astrology but studied it and did readings. He was challenged by his friends to break out of his vague statements and give the opposite of what his readings were telling him - he did this, and found that the "predictions" were just as well received and "accurate." This led him to conduct studies to utterly mythbust astrology.
One of my favorite in-house psyc jokes was "Psychoanalysis is to Psychology what Astrology is to Astronomy
So I don't believe in astrology, but I find it fun to do - even if I'm just trying to read the reader who is trying to read me. I also watch and wonder if they're honestly trying to predict and "read," or if they're just opportunistic scam artists.
So Max, uh I think that's his name, sticks out from my few experiences. For one, he's clearly not in it for the money as he changes a tiny fraction what the average reader does. Hint - most readers don't give the option of "Pay in guiness." I've even tried to give him extra on occasion and been kindly rebuffed. Now that I've engaged and viewed other readers (both appearing honestly and shyster-esque) he sticks out as very likely honest. He gives bad news when he sees it, and doesn't stretch to make predictions fit when they appear off base. Whatever you believe in or are entertained by, he's awfully nice and entertaining for the price of a drink.

Pointless post yes indeedy.

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