I don't think I really understand the takeaway of this article... the case wasn't really made ever that Eddie, let alone most grifters, are particularly nice. If anything, I think the takeaway is that grifters will always grift, because it's in their nature to find cracks in society they can use to their advantage. It's not about right or wrong, it's about seeing the world in a different way than most people do.
And, since we're on HN, I think it's fascinating that many of us have the same mentality, except with computers/systems rather than people/money. (One of YC's application questions is how you hacked a system to your advantage.)
That being said, I did find the dialogue to be quite beautiful. "I spent it on sweet, stupid things that make life an appropriate journey. Little things with some elegance attached."
> Of course I spent it. Why else take it? Money taken like that should not be spent on necessities of life but on luxuries of life. Necessities of life are the proper destination of grim jobs with little men working at little desks.
The is a deeper truth to this statement that you are letting your resentment get in the way of.
Most of us live grim lives and little desks, when there is so much in the world to offer. We are the ones being wronged, not because we shouldn't do the work, but because they will never offer us enough to experience the other side.
No, that's pretty much exactly where I am with this as well. There are two classes of people in this world, those who sell their labor to live and those who live off the labor of others, neither because of their ingenuity or efficiency or lack thereof but the circumstances of their birth. The latter gets to enjoy all that the world has to offer at a baseline, and the former gets a taste of it when the latter deems it appropriate. This goes far beyond embezzlers and embezzlees, it's baked into the social contract itself.
And, since we're on HN, I think it's fascinating that many of us have the same mentality, except with computers/systems rather than people/money. (One of YC's application questions is how you hacked a system to your advantage.)
That being said, I did find the dialogue to be quite beautiful. "I spent it on sweet, stupid things that make life an appropriate journey. Little things with some elegance attached."