Sounds like Trouble

The first of the three incidents of my 'crime history'. All occurred while I was fairly young. Even with the first instance I knew I was morally in the wrong from the word go. I wanted something, I didn't have the finance for. We children never seemed to, until we found any part-time work. However, I believe the first significant incident where I knowingly and in a premeditated act committed an error of moral behaviour for truly personal gain (and I am not talking about snuffling an extra potato at dinner), was when I was about 7 years of age. Our town put on a annual 'street fair' on the street just off the main thoroughfare. Where stall holders and many of the wonderful crafts people of New Zealand would set up to sell their work. Of course with these crafts people came the various 'showies' who would visit the town to draw on some of the good will and especially the cash reserves of the community.

Lets admit it. We like having those slightly reprehensible, shady, even grubby, characters of the 'show circuit' visit the community. They bring a certain bravado to anyone wanting to compete against them in their 'games of chance'. Trust me, having worked with many of them over the years, at various levels both internationally and locally. There's a lot more scientific and mathematical application than there is 'chance' to the various events, games of skill (supposedly) and pure fun, they promote, and the competitions they challenge the participants to. Remember, they have spent years aquiring the understanding of the public. It's many foibles, idiosynchrisies and specifically it's weaknesses. They know their market. They know how to gain credit (or prey on) for the personally held convictions of their clients (nee suckers). And we encourage them. 

They understand the young man, who, on taking up the personal and difficult challenge to invite a girl he admires, to join him, at a public event, such as the local show, fair, or that most splendid of titles, a 'Carnival'. Will make innumerable attempts to compete successfully (sometimes recklessly regardless of his true financial ability), to win a cheap straw-filled (today read polystyrene or capoc) toy, which privately, he could have had commissioned to be handmade with his 'fair ladies' name embroidered on, for half of what he had paid to compete. But then she would not have seen his demonstration of the deep psychologically based genetic memory driven ability as a 'hunter-gatherer'. These showies know this. They rely on it. Consequently, while they may appear to be down-trodden, hard luck life driven and generally from the lower end of the spectrum of the social ladder. Have you ever noticed it's the same ones coming back each year, with just a few fresh faces. They know why they come back, and they know why you do as well. The bright lights are not just to attract, they also serve to distract. The old magicians trick of drawing you one way, while something else is happening the other. And we love it. Even, if all we older ones do now, is just stand at the edges and watch. Vicariously enjoying the experience of the young as they now attempt to outwit the well-experienced masters of the con.
(Continued tomorrow)