*“It’s as if someone were out there making up pointless jobs just for the sake of keeping us all working.”*
—David Graeber, *Bullshit Jobs: A Theory*

David Graeber argued that millions of people waste their lives doing jobs that even they secretly believe shouldn’t exist. But what if the problem isn’t just jobs? What if whole industries are built on illusion, performance, and ritual: designed not to solve problems, but to sustain themselves?
What if the real economy isn’t just inefficient, it’s a beautifully orchestrated scam?

In this special Socrates Café session, we’ll explore the radical idea that many pillars of modern life e.g., education, wellness, work, even love aren’t broken systems. They’re **functioning scams**: selling hope, meaning, and status, while delivering stress, debt, and self-doubt.

Not just Ponzi schemes and cults. We're talking legal scams. Emotional rackets. Cultural grifts. The ones we willingly buy into again and again because they scratch itches we can’t stop scratching.

**How It Works: The Scam Carousel**

1. **Pick Your Poison**
In groups, you'll choose one of the following sectors (or alternative of your choice) to investigate as a scam:
* 🎓 Education
* 🏥 Healthcare
* 💼 Work & Hustle Culture
* 🧘‍♀️ Wellness & Self-Help
* 💌 Love, Relationships and dating apps
* 🗳️ Democracy
* ☸️ Expert Financial Advice and consumer debt
* 🌱 Sustainability & Recycling
* 🪑 Furniture & Home Décor
* 🍽️ Food & Dining
* 👗 Fashion & Clothing
* ✈️ Travel & Tourism
2. **Build the Case**
Act as a **Scam Tribunal**. Use this format to build your prosecution:
* What’s the **bait**? (The promise)
* What’s the **hook**? (How people get pulled in)
* What’s the **inertia**? (Why they stay)
* Who **benefits**?
* Why do we **believe**?
3. **Pitch It**
Deliver a short, sharp takedown to the whole group. Be bold. Be funny. Be unforgiving. Bonus points for absurd slogans or viral-sounding scams.
4. **Debrief & Debate**
As a whole group, we’ll ask:
* Is this really a scam? Or just flawed? Or even a virtue?
* Would we invent this system today if it didn’t exist?
5. **Redemption Round**
Flip the frame. Each group now picks *one* thing that **deserves to survive**.
Defend it against accusations of being a scam. Why is it *real*? Can it be saved?
6. **Whole Group Discussion Questions**
* What separates a genuine institution from a beautifully packaged scam?
* Is it still a scam if both sides benefit?
* Are we wired to fall for systems that flatter, soothe, or scare us?
* What - if anything - deserves our trust?

**Optional Reading:**
David Graeber – Bullshit Jobs a Theory: [https://strikemag.org/bullshit-jobs/](https://strikemag.org/bullshit-jobs/)
Time Magazine – The Golden Age of [Criminal] Scams: [The Age of Scams | TIME](https://time.com/7021745/the-age-of-scams-2/)
James Carrier - Soul Sucking Jobs that Add Little Value - [B](https://people-shift.com/articles/bullshit-jobs-soul-sucking-jobs-that-add-little-value/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)[ullshit Jobs - Soul sucking jobs that add little value - PeopleShift %](https://people-shift.com/articles/bullshit-jobs-soul-sucking-jobs-that-add-little-value/)
Wikipedia – Racketeering: [Racketeering - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racketeering)

Arran

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Is Everything a Scam? A Live Interrogation of Modern Life

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Is Everything a Scam? A Live Interrogation of Modern Life

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