counterfeit counterintuitive

“It’s easier to fool people than to convince them they’ve been fooled.” —Mark Twain

And boy was I fooled. I had several hundred dollar bills to pay a local, moving man. At the last minute, I decided to cash one so that I would have some smaller bills to give him a tip. When I handed it to the cashier, she paused, gave me an odd look and said, “I’ll be right back.” In seconds, she returned with the manager.

“I’m sorry,” he said, “but this is counterfeit.”

“You’re kidding, right?” I laughed.

Patiently, he pointed out all the irregularities which I hadn’t even noticed. Then he placed a real bill next to mine. I was shocked. They weren’t even close! How could I have thought mine was real? How did I get it in the first place? I apologized profusely on my way out of the store. The manager actually handed me back the counterfeit. (That is how obviously phony it was).

It’s scary to realize that I can look straight at something—or someone—and be unequivocally fooled. When I handed that bill to the cashier, I was certain it was real. Of course, paper money is only a minor dupe. If you’ve been blindsided by people the trauma of that betrayal lasts far longer. Years ago, my girlfriend’s husband took her to Greece to celebrate their 40th. Upon their return, he handed her divorce papers, took a pre-packed suitcase from the hall closet and walked out.

Science says that what we see is not just a function of ‘what is out there’, but by what is going on in our minds. I believed it was real, so my eyes saw it as real. It’s the same thing that occurs when people fall for scams, romantic or otherwise. I’ve had clients who want love so badly that they cling to abusive partners, often to their peril. You cannot convince them otherwise and it is futile to try.

Sometimes we delude ourselves out of ignorance but most often it’s because our minds are fixed. So, how do we keep them open and flexible? Several friends have suggested I try shrooms, but unleashing the Grand Canyon into my cerebral cortex might prove harrowing. Perhaps the solution is to question everything or nothing at all. Heck, I’d have better odds playing poker. So, um, here’s my $100 for the ante.