have a quiz for you. An important one, even though it has only one question. But your answer to that one question will give you some idea of whether or not you're easy to con. And if you are, you've got a problem. Because it means that other people are running your life. Not you.

Ready? Here we go.

Picture a debate on TV. The subject is something you know nothing about. Now I repeat: The subject is something you know nothing about.

One of the antagonists is tall, slender. He's wearing a suit, has a neatly trimmed beard, wears horn-rimmed glasses, and has graying hair. His posture is excellent.

His opponent is short and pudgy. He's wearing a T-shirt, jeans, and sandals. No socks. His hair is matted, and he needs a shave.

All through the contest, the former, looking smilingly into the camera, expresses himself in flowing tones. He uses big words that sound as though they were stitched together perfectly. The latter, on the other hand, continually looks down at his feet, all the while mumbling in ordinary English.

Which of the two would you say knows what he's talking about?

If your answer is the first one, then you may be very easy to con.

I say that because you're apparently influenced more by form than by substance, more by delivery than by content, more by visual impression than by understanding.

Now that's only an inference on my part. And I could be 180 degrees away from the truth. But just in case I'm not, I've got a bridge that I would like to sell you. Very cheap.

Oh, by the way, the short, pudgy guy may not know what he's talking about, either.

Think about it.