Do old people deserve to get conned?

[catintheoven]

I was watching TV today and had a lolfest at an old man who gave 'landscape gardeners' (con men) £18,000 over 4 months because 'they pressured him' and he was 'trusting', all they did was steal his fence and sprinkle some gravel to compliment his weeds. He seemed in no way senile just extremely stupid.

I'm not saying all old people are stupid because they aren't but it makes me laugh when they say "oh its disgusting how they target old people" when I think its pretty obvious they make up the majority of the stupid people who would fall for these sort of things. What was this old man doing with £18,000 and how did he justify to himself spending it?

They are always on the news falling for something, do they deserve it for being so thick?

*EDIT*

By deserve I do not mean 'go forth my flying monkeys and con them till they have nothing because they are so stupid they deserve it'

its more in the spirit of, 'oh no grandma you gave £20,000 of your life savings to another gardener to de-weed your front garden, why am I not shocked, stop moaning so much that your a victim, it was your fault'

not that they should be maliciously sought out and conned, but they hold a lot of responsibility for giving away their money in ridiculous circumstances

[Yosemite]

only intentionally stupid people deserve to be conned

[Ojf]

Haha I think I was watching the same show, was it on about 2 hours ago on BB1?

[Rich86]

To be fair - it's more than a tad harsh to say that people who are stupid and get conned deserved to be conned. These people after all did not decide to be stupid, and I'm sure given the chance would love to be a bit more intelligent.

If someone far smarter than yourself conned you (and for a moment, let's ignore any oh well I'm far too savvy to be conned! objections - just assume they are so good at it that you don't doubt for a moment that they are genuine) - would you feel you deserved it?

[basics]

catintheoven,

Oh, I'm sure it goes a lot deeper than being stupid. For example, I am now an invalid where once I was the fittest of men, but as I age and time makes me more infirm, my confidence to protect myself wanes. Put aside that I am a Christian and consider me just another person and perhaps you can begin to see how most elderly people think.

They are not as they once were and in many cases consider themselves because of that an easy target, one that when confronted by strangers much stronger and younger, are not worth getting into an argument with, and so it is easy that they get what they want. Of course the elderly say that they trusted them, what else can they do once persuaded?

Fear plays it's part, probably the main part, because the conman knows this and therefore utilises it as his or her main weapon. Now it may not be that way at the beginning but when the old person is confronted by this will happen or that may happen if you don't act now, that is fear being installed in the mind.

And as the discussion goes on the fear builds because by that time the conman has total control of the conversation and therefore can address it to wherever and whatever he or she wants, the old person becoming an agreeable bystander. It then becomes a matter of time till the elderly person bereft of any excuse to say no, spills out the yes word.

So were they stupid? I am not so sure.

[Viking Prince]

I am glad that you enjoyed your video show. Now perhaps you would be so kind as to explain why it was funny. You can start with why conning someone lacking the ability to give legal consent is funny.

You can then progress up to why it might be even funnier to beat the old people senseless with a large bat. Heck they are old, weak, and maybe a bit confused. Anything goes for entertainment.

Very sad.

[black-dragon]

beat the old people senseless with a large bat.

Depends what kind of bat. A fruit bat maybe?

[Barry Goldwater]

Only utter idiots deserve to get conned.



But seriously, obviously nobody deserves to get it.

[catintheoven]

@ Ojf yeah it was the day time tv crime watch program

I am glad that you enjoyed your video show. Now perhaps you would be so kind as to explain why it was funny. You can start with why conning someone lacking the ability to give legal consent is funny.

You can then progress up to why it might be even funnier to beat the old people senseless with a large bat. Heck they are old, weak, and maybe a bit confused. Anything goes for entertainment.

Very sad.

The ridiculousness of it all amuses me and that they never learn when theres so many programs out there about con men and they still fall for it. He was not senile he had the legal consent he was just too stupid to use it wisely, he could have bolted the door and called the police at any point in this 4 month period instead of paying £18,000!!!!!! did alarm bells not ring when a simple gardening jobs went into more than one or two hundred pounds? I laugh every time I see these sort of things, paying for jobs not asked for or replying to Nigerian lotteries, theres a point where naivety just reaches an indefensible level of stupidity

[Chaigidel]

nobody deserves to be conned-- it will happen to the unwary; but it shouldnt be viewed as any more justifiable.

[C-Rob]

I think genuinely stupid people should be taken advantage of. But the old can grow complacent through long life, and it's a dick move. Stealing what someone has worked for eighty years to attain and maintain, deserves a bullet. It's despicable. Though really, the nursing home will just take it all anyway legally and without fight. Those things are evil.

[Djûn]

I think genuinely stupid people should be taken advantage of.

Really? You think it's justified that people who are stupid should be exempt from the protection of the Law?

[Ishoss]

My general observation is that old people don't feel as strongly for money as the younger generations. For example my grand-uncle knew he got to little money from his pension for 30 years, but he didn't care. So 2 years ago or so another person who had been "cheated" (in the lack of a better word, it wasn't an intentional cheat) of his money reported it to the authorities and they gave everyone their money. Suddenly he got a lot of money... So he bought a nice television to watch sport, and fixed some problems with his house.

He's a stalinist though so his way of thinking is a bit messed up.

[C-Rob]

Really? You think it's justified that people who are stupid should be exempt from the protection of the Law?

Did I say that? NO. It would be really nice if you didn't put words in my mouth, pretending to start up a debate when I agree with you. I said," STUPID PEOPLE SHOULD BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF" not, "STUPID PEOPLE SHOULDN'T HAVE POLICE PROTECTION OF LIFE AND PROPERTY" Big difference.

I said should, not deserve, as well. Just in case you missed that.

[Visna]

Why would anyone "deserve" to get conned?

[Djûn]

Did I say that? NO. It would be really nice if you didn't put words in my mouth, pretending to start up a debate when I agree with you. I said," STUPID PEOPLE SHOULD BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF" not, "STUPID PEOPLE SHOULDN'T HAVE POLICE PROTECTION OF LIFE AND PROPERTY" Big difference.

You didn't say that, but it is evidently implied as one necessarily leads to the other. If you believe that stupid people should be taken advantage of, then claims of things such as Unjust Enrichment should not apply, particularly to them. Equally any kind of fraud or deceit shouldn't used to protect them because they should know better. It's a ridiculous outlook. Yes, a stupid person will very probably be taken advantage of in a commercial environment, and that is simply the manner in which the market works. In this example though, it is entirely the malicious actons of some people preying on the trust of an innocent party. I cannot see how it can be justified in any manner.

What you seemed to be implying is that were it not for this man's age, then the conmen's actions were entirely justified.

[C-Rob]

You didn't say that, but it is evidently implied as one necessarily leads to the other. If you believe that stupid people should be taken advantage of, then claims of things such as Unjust Enrichment should not apply, particularly to them. Equally any kind of fraud or deceit shouldn't used to protect them because they should know better. It's a ridiculous outlook. Yes, a stupid person will very probably be taken advantage of in a commercial environment, and that is simply the manner in which the market works. In this example though, it is entirely the malicious actons of some people preying on the trust of an innocent party. I cannot see how it can be justified in any manner.

No it actually doesn't necessarily lead to another. IT is not a continuous line. I say, take the candy from the baby if you can, but be prepared for the mother to beat you with a cane.

Why should stupid people be taken advantage of?

Cause it's easier?

That, and smart people should have success above the stupid people.

[gambit]

Why should stupid people be taken advantage of?

Cause it's easier?

[gambit]

Thats as base and animalistic as "might makes right"

I like it, im kind of turned on right now

*uncomfortable stare*

[gambit]

The "getting ahead" system is the entire reason the human race is so .