Well, I thought it was fairly funny for the most part, but it wasn’t my personal toes getting stepped on.
One Eliezerish aspect which I don’t think was mentioned in the comments is the serious possible effects of what seem like small lies.
The rabbi was one of the funniest bits, but he’s also terrifying if you think about him seriously—he’s able to con the vast majority of people he talks to, and he takes serious risks with their lives.
I think the usual reaction to that sort of story is to think that the people who were conned were fools, but there are always going to be people who are more convincing than most, and people with above average gullibility—it’s worth it to have a society where the gullible aren’t taken advantage of just as it’s worth it to have a society where the physically weak aren’t automatic victims.
Well, I thought it was fairly funny for the most part, but it wasn’t my personal toes getting stepped on.
One Eliezerish aspect which I don’t think was mentioned in the comments is the serious possible effects of what seem like small lies.
The rabbi was one of the funniest bits, but he’s also terrifying if you think about him seriously—he’s able to con the vast majority of people he talks to, and he takes serious risks with their lives.
I think the usual reaction to that sort of story is to think that the people who were conned were fools, but there are always going to be people who are more convincing than most, and people with above average gullibility—it’s worth it to have a society where the gullible aren’t taken advantage of just as it’s worth it to have a society where the physically weak aren’t automatic victims.