On Sun, 02 Dec 2007 08:23:53 -0500, John H.
wrote:



Fixing those problems before the fact is called 'Human Factors
Engineering'. I took a course in it at USC, and found it very interesting.
The examples of poor HFE were often hilarious.

Sounds like an interesting course. I think magicians and scam artists
take that course too.
I used to go the racetrack and I had a strict limit on how much I
would let myself lose. Just that kept me from getting scammed a
couple times, because every time I took an action I would look in my
wallet to remind myself if I could afford a beer.
Walked away from the ticket window once, counted the money in my
wallet to see if it was time for a beer. and I *knew* I was short ten
bucks. I never saw it happen, just knew it did. All I knew was that
the guy was friendlier than most, and engaged me in a bit of
conversation and I was ten bucks short.
I was lucky to find the same ticket window, because I already almost
forgot what the guy looked like, and there was a lot of traffic at the
windows. I picked what looked like the right one, got in line and
when it was my turn told the guy, "Hey, you shorted me ten bucks."
He innocently says, "Whaddaya talkin' about?"
I says, "You got me talking about the daily double, and shorted me ten
bucks."
He said, "Hey, you walked away."
I said, sort of like Arnie, "Yeah, and now I'm back."
He slipped ten across the counter.
Another time at the rush getting into the track I give the admissions
guy in the booth a 10 for the 2 buck grandstand admission, then he
simultaneously releases the turnstyle lock and slides my change to me.
I pick it up, my hip is hitting the turnstyle bar, and I look at the
money. It's 3 crumpled singles, 5 bucks short. But he saw me looking
at my change instead of stuffing it my pocket or wallet and already
has the five sliding across the counter. I never missed a step, but
it was like slow motion in my mind and I saw exactly how they work it.
I call it "The Hesitation." Be careful when a cashier talks to you
while giving you change.
The question is, how many times did I miss it before I caught on?
We all get scammed, and don't even know it happened.
Good sound fueling and wallet procedures are a vital need.

--Vic