On Pyramid Schemes, Abortions And Drugs
We as humans are moral beings with the freedom to do good or bad, bearing the consquences of our choices. Through law, society makes decisons about what is legal or illegal. The problem is you can't legislate morality. Make all the laws you want prohibiting something, people will still do it. The Temperance movement in America succeeded in banning the sale of alchohol. That amendment didn't last long. Laws prohibiting abortions didn't work, so know there is Roe vs Wade and legal abortion, which is murder as I see it. At present we are engaged in the futile "War On Drugs" that enriches the drug cartels of Mexico. All points that demonstrate you can't legislate morality. People are going to do what they do, regardless of the law. In my opinion, moral persuasion works much better than laws. Moral people showing others the dangers of drugs, abortions, and pyramid schemes would deter more people than prohibitive laws, which are ineffective any way.
In online marketing there is a proliferation of illegal pyramid schemes. The FTC can never prosecute all or even most of them. Pyramid schemes are not just a legal issue but a moral one as well because of the loss of money that most will suffer because of being involved with a pyramid scheme. Where the law fails to stop pyramid shcemes, we can succeed with tactful and considerate moral persuasion.
A previous APSense article of mine highlights the work of the APSense Admins in fighting pyramid schemes here on this site, though they use the more perjurative word "scams". However on other social sites there is no attempt to stop real or potential pyramid schemes. Shoud we stay away from such sites? That's a personal decison left to each of us. I will promote my legal programs and Biz-Ops wherever I can because I cannot control what other's do, only what I do. We all have to live with the consequences of our actions, whether legal or illegal. That's Life!
Comments (35)
Zhangl Zhangl
4
http://www.oneaf.com
Maybe something is important than money!
Roosevelt Evans III
10
Home Business Entrepreneur
Like I said, Bill. Thanks for your comments.
Bj aka Bill Brown
14
Hosting and Backup Service provider
If you think anyone with any intelligence is going to help promote your support for scammers by giving this post a like you got to be joking.
Cheryl Baumgartner
12
Medical Billing/Coding/Insurance
Wrong Roosevelt. All you have to do is look at the FTC definition and look at the scam I did not say Gray area because of some scam calling itself legitimate I said gray area because you have to look at the site and see how it fits as a membership program since there different types of membership set ups and those have nothing to do with scams or any remote resemblance to scams. Corey I did post the complete article now
Corey Blackmur
8
Blackmur Global
Thanks Cheryl, in Canada we have Costco which is similar to Sam's Club (I believe Costco is in the US as well??) - I guess our lives are quite often full of those "grey areas", so then referring back to my original post - "we are 100% responsible as individuals for the choices, decisions and results in our life."
Due diligence becomes an important aspect of what we have to do in order to make the correct choices. In saying that, - we are human and that being the case there is still margin
Roosevelt Evans III
10
Home Business Entrepreneur
Cheryl, you make a good point about "gray areas". Life is never just "black and white". There are always "gray areas", even within the law. There are and will be progams out there that you can't say defintively whether they are a pyramid scheme or not, even using FTC guidelines. That's why we should be careful before we call something a "scam", in my opinion.
Cheryl Baumgartner
12
Medical Billing/Coding/Insurance
Corey I started to add the answer here but It is far to long to post as a comment I will post an article instead.
Corey Blackmur
8
Blackmur Global
@Cheryl, just referencing your following statement:
"It becomes a Pyramid/Ponzi when the service/product comes with a string attached-namely having to become a part of the corporate structure "
So how does a person rate a "membership" situation whereby you become a member of an organization in order to take part in the benefits/information offered by the membership. In these situations you typically pay a yearly or monthly membership fee in order to be part of the "structure" and in some cases
Roosevelt Evans III
10
Home Business Entrepreneur
Hey, all you people commenting on my article, I would apprciate if you hit the "like" button because I think we have had a good dialogue on the subject of "scams" or illegal pyramid schmes. Even if you don't "like" this article I appreciate all your comments.
Paula van Dun
16
Retired
Yeah, you have a point there Dave
Dave Gilbert
7
Web Entreprenuer
Paula true Newbies are not scammers they may be promoting a scam unawares that it is a scam but they are rarely the principle scammer, however just because someone is new to a network doesn't mean they are not experienced or capable of running an elaborate scam, Generally a pm will have little effect however a comment explaining that they are promoting a scam and what makes it a scam educates not only the necomer but also everyone who visits the page the scam is promoted on.
Roosevelt Evans III
10
Home Business Entrepreneur
Paula, that sounds like a very reasonable and considerate way to protect both the newbies and APSense. Why can't I stop visualizing you playing your sax? LOL!
Roosevelt Evans III
10
Home Business Entrepreneur
Hey, Dave how did you know , though I am sixty years old, that I am still "a little boy, at heart"? You are indeed a good judge of character but so am I. I will keep my assessment of your character to myself. Love you, Man!
Paula van Dun
16
Retired
Yes, they do need to be exposed but I do have some consideration for newbies. So those I pm in private first to give them the opportunity to read tos and rules and to correct them selves. If they don't comply I go public.
Dave Gilbert
7
Web Entreprenuer
Roosevelt that shows your immaturity there is nothing funny about scams or the effects they have on their victims i may be a hard ass but at least i support those that most need it in case you missed the sign on the door this is a Business Network not a social club and there is nothing funny about business
Cheryl Baumgartner
12
Medical Billing/Coding/Insurance
There is another very good reason that scams need to be publicly exposed. To warn the next person looking at joining. If a site is a scam these people not only need to know, but have every right to know that before they join up and become a victim of it.
Dave Gilbert
7
Web Entreprenuer
telling a scammer in private that he's a crook achieves what roosevelt... gives him a chuckle maybe ? exposing him publically and shaming him into stopping his anti-social behaviour is the only way Scams need to be publically denounced to prevent people being sucked into it and becoming a victim
Roosevelt Evans III
10
Home Business Entrepreneur
Hey, Dave and Cheryl, you guys really have a sense of humor! I am laughing my head off right now! You are not somber and serious all the time,are you? Thanks for your comments. (Hard Asses!)
Roosevelt Evans III
10
Home Business Entrepreneur
"Soft docters make smelly stinking wounds". I'll have to think about that Paula! LOL! But now that you mention it, using the private message link is much better when you need to discipline or reproach someone than doing it openly in public, as I see it.
Cheryl Baumgartner
12
Medical Billing/Coding/Insurance
Sorry Roosevelt 12 years experience working in a police dept tells me that the soft approach accomplishes nothing. A slap on the wrist accomplishes nothing unless it is a first offense. After that they have proven that they will not respond unless you throw the book at them. They are called repeat offenders and the only thing that gets through to them is sitting in a jail cell next to Bubba. And believe me there is nothing tactful or mild about Bubba, but he sure can straighten a lot of peop