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)
Dave Gilbert
7
Web Entreprenuer
Well roosevelt i can only say one thing if they flip me the bird that'll be one less finger they have to pick their noses i don't need a good cop bad cop scenario have done enough interrogation during my military service to get them to see my point of view
Roosevelt Evans III
10
Home Business Entrepreneur
Bill, I don't remove no comments on my articles because it is too hard to get comments, especially good ones. You cuss a little too much but your comments are always good. LOL! Bill, I have never got the impression that you are a religious man but people do repent. A program that I had faith in and promoted heavily has proven to be a "scam" as you like to call it, and after familiarizing myself with FTC guidelines concerning pyramid schemes, I now see Just2BucksAmonth as a pyramid scheme. I have
Paula van Dun
16
Retired
Soft doctors make smelly stinking wounds is a saying in Holland. I am in general in favor to wording things tactful in a pm first but in a way that is perfectly clear i want it removed. unless it is already commented as a scam on apsense in various places. If they don't cooperate i will call a spade a spade
Roosevelt Evans III
10
Home Business Entrepreneur
Hey, Dave how did you know I was a Black hippy? Jemi Hendrix Forever! LOL! Believe me the Marine Corps about knocked all the "hippy" out of me! But you know David, in the interrogation of criminals there is always " the good cop and the bad cop". In fighting pyramid schemes within online marketing I'll be the "good cop" and you be the "bad cop". I think it takes both approaches. Some will be intimidated by your heavy handed approach most will give you "the finger". More will respond positively
Bj aka Bill Brown
14
Hosting and Backup Service provider
I have read this post and your previous post and I have to say you really are two faced. You attack the admins for trying to stop scams, you rip us apart at every opportunity and as son as we are prover right you stat playing mind games and making out you are opposed to scams as well when everyone that has read your recent posts knows you were supporting them use a few days ago. I know you will probably remove this but i will have the satisfaction that you have read it.
Paula van Dun
16
Retired
I think you can not write one article condemning scam on one place and defend a person how promotes scam somwhere else in a comment. You are against scam or you are not. There is no middle way
Dave Gilbert
7
Web Entreprenuer
and if you do nothing to the law breaker they will continue and escalate their law breaking, how many schoolyard bullies went on to be wife beaters or murderers you need positive intervention and penalties that make the law breakers think twice about re-offending
Malok Mading
8
Writer and Blogger.
I am saying that the little things people do which become habits are hard to break than the laws because changing a law-breaker who is used to breaking the laws is hard.
Dave Gilbert
7
Web Entreprenuer
@Roosevelt the problem with your approach to the problem of scams is one of i'm alright jack and thats all i really care about, being passive or neutral in your handling of a known scam just allows for more victims, the only way to stop scams is to be pro-active in reporting them calling them for what they are and exposing the scammers for the evil they represent, Moral persuasion is a cop out that allows you to say "well i tried...peace" when what is really need is affirmative action that state
Roosevelt Evans III
10
Home Business Entrepreneur
Cheryl, thank you for those clarifications. Malok, you are saying in somewhat poetic fashion that you can't legislate morality. Thanks for sharing.
Malok Mading
8
Writer and Blogger.
Laws are never effective more than the chains of habits says someone.People need to take actions by starting with themselves.
Cheryl Baumgartner
12
Medical Billing/Coding/Insurance
Pyramids and Ponzis are illegal because the because victims of the schemes are deprived of their property (Money) through fraudulent means. Theft by fraud or any other means is a crime and punishable under the Criminal Code of the U.S. and each of the 50 states. It is not more widely prosecuted because the victims fail to report it usually because they are embarrassed to have been taken for a ride, or they think the amount they were taken for was too small to warrant the effort.
Cheryl Baumgartner
12
Medical Billing/Coding/Insurance
The Key is in the availability of the product Corey. PPLSI Is a service available to anyone irregardless of whether they are or are not an associate. In fact most members of PPL are not associates and have nothing to do with the corporate structure. They can be classed as customers. It becomes a Pyramid/Ponzi when the service/product comes with a string attached-namely having to become a part of the corporate structure to have it available for purchase, there are no customers to generate inc
Roosevelt Evans III
10
Home Business Entrepreneur
Corey, pyramid schemes use products or services as a "cover". The thing to ask is would this product have value to me outside of this program? If the product has value to you outside the program then the program is not a pyramid scheme. Take PrePaid Legal Services. Does the product or service offered by PPLS have value without becoming an associate and the answer would be yes, thus PrePaid Legal is not a pyramid scheme. In SuccessQUIK, does the $6.95 ad package have value apart from being in the
Corey Blackmur
8
Blackmur Global
Hi Roosevelt; we are all 100% responsible for our choices; our actions based on those choices and the results received by those actions. We (and I mean ALL people) make mistakes or misjudgements throughout our lives, but as long as we learn from those situations - all is good.
As far as business opportunities or programs that are "scams", ponzi or pyramid - I agree with you; it is a legal as well as a moral issue as far as getting involved with them.
I have never read through the "entir