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Who said “There is a sucker born every minute.” Or worse to that effect? It turns out that several people have said it but it is usually attributed to P.T. Barnum. Religion is a prime birthing place. Some are fighting it. [bbc.com]

ToolGuy 9 June 2
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14 comments

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Many are. In fact, atheism is the #1 fastest growing segment of religion in the world today, according to studies.

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I don’t think many of the respondents here have read the article!

I don’t know how the televangelist crisis can be addressed other than by education. But the part where they got the woman’s money back just for her to redonate is sad. Can’t counter that one😔

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*words

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Tell the government you have read much about this and have biased conclusions.

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Fight as we might we are all human and, it seems, destined to be a sucker on more occasions than we prefer.

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Reminds me of WC Field Movie 'Never Give a Sucker and Even Break', written and staring Fields:

"If we should ever separate, my little plum, I want to give you just one bit of fatherly advice: Never give a sucker an even break!"

cava Level 7 June 2, 2019

he was a true comic genius.

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this from wikipedia: Barnum's biographer Arthur H. Saxon tried to track down when Barnum had uttered this phrase but was unable to verify it. According to Saxon, "There's no contemporary account of it, or even any suggestion that the word 'sucker' was used in the derogatory sense in his day. Barnum was just not the type to disparage his patrons." Some sources claim that it is most likely from famous con-man Joseph ("Paper Collar Joe" ) Bessimer, and other sources say that it was actually uttered by David Hannum in reference to Barnum's part in the Cardiff Giant hoax.Hannum was exhibiting the "original" giant and had unsuccessfully sued Barnum for exhibiting a copy and claiming that it was the original. Crowds continued to pay to see Barnum's exhibit, even after both it and the original had been proven to be fakes.
Another source credits late 1860s Chicago saloon owner Michael Cassius McDonald as the originator of the aphorism. According to the book Gem of the Prairie: Chicago Underworld (1940) by Herbert Asbury, McDonald was equipping his gambling house known as The Store when his partner expressed concern over the large number of roulette wheels and faro tables being installed and their ability to get enough players. McDonald then allegedly said, "Don't worry about that, there's a sucker born every minute."

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I like this one too:

Mark Twain — 'Religion was invented when the first con man met the first fool.'

JimG Level 8 June 2, 2019
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Luther protested against the Catholic Church for its sale of indulgences. Little has changed over the centuries except most of the religions still do it but under a different name. People think (or want to think) they can buy their way into salvation. Maybe that's why atheist are so hated because we tell them they are throwing their money away (which they are).

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There is a sucker born every minute and when they reach voting age they register as an R and then vote for Trump. We got a lotta suckers in this country.

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P.T. Barnum

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No shit

bobwjr Level 10 June 2, 2019
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they are absolutely nothing more than modern day snake oil salesmen like we see in the old west movies. thats what religion promotes when it says to rely on faith ... it allows the naive to fall victim to unscrupulous humans who make money by taking advantage of that faith.

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In the 21st century we need to fight even harder as religion wants to rule us. Religion is the suppressor of freedom and innovation.

Get them young before questions that can't be answered arise.

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