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How to Run a Ponzi Scheme for Tech People

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11–20 of 265 posts

Re: How to Run a Ponzi Scheme for Tech People

#11
I found that the road to success is very different for everyone and for all circumstances. It can't be taught because everyone has different skills and is in a different situation. Only very general tools can be taught.

Even if person X is successful and writes down every step, it will be very hard for anyone to repeat it.

Re: How to Run a Ponzi Scheme for Tech People

#12
post #6

This article is fantastic. I think "get rich quick" schemes are so much worse when it comes to my generation and beyond (millennials/gen-z). People have been endlessly screwed over: graduated college during the 2008 economic bust, lived with parents until their 30s, fired/laid off during the 2020 pandemic -- so I fundamentally understand the mirage of Instagram fame and endless sacks of money for doing basically noth…

People want to believe in get-rick-quick schemes, and will go by the flimsiest evidence they can find.

I think the trick is to realize those glamorous selfies are mostly a mirage. If you were having the best day of your life on the beach, maybe, just maybe, you wouldn't be on your phone trying to get the perfect selfie.

Re: How to Run a Ponzi Scheme for Tech People

#13
post #6

This article is fantastic. I think "get rich quick" schemes are so much worse when it comes to my generation and beyond (millennials/gen-z). People have been endlessly screwed over: graduated college during the 2008 economic bust, lived with parents until their 30s, fired/laid off during the 2020 pandemic -- so I fundamentally understand the mirage of Instagram fame and endless sacks of money for doing basically noth…

> For a classic example, just look at /r/wallstreetbets -- young people are frustrated because there's no end to this tunnel That's a bad example. By many measures retail investors have outperformed institutional investors since March. The simple reason is that options have a built in exit strategy, the thing that's missing when most people lose in scams - including Ponzi schemes! On the flip side, why then do they o…

> That's a bad example

I don't think it's a bad example, because if you spend some time on that subreddit, you'll quickly realize people are literally gambling with their life savings. In no small part due to disillusionment and cynicism with the current economic realities -- we can no longer work at a stable company, marry a pretty wife, have a couple of kids, retire 40 years later, and live off of a plump 401k.

Re: How to Run a Ponzi Scheme for Tech People

#14
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> For a classic example, just look at /r/wallstreetbets -- young people are frustrated because there's no end to this tunnel That's a bad example. By many measures retail investors have outperformed institutional investors since March. The simple reason is that options have a built in exit strategy, the thing that's missing when most people lose in scams - including Ponzi schemes! On the flip side, why then do they o…

> That's a bad example I don't think it's a bad example, because if you spend some time on that subreddit, you'll quickly realize people are literally gambling with their life savings. In no small part due to disillusionment and cynicism with the current economic realities -- we can no longer work at a stable company, marry a pretty wife, have a couple of kids, retire 40 years later, and live off of a plump 401k.

> you'll quickly realize people are literally gambling with their life savings

Gambling, yes. But the stock market is not a ponzi scheme.

Re: How to Run a Ponzi Scheme for Tech People

#15
post #6

This article is fantastic. I think "get rich quick" schemes are so much worse when it comes to my generation and beyond (millennials/gen-z). People have been endlessly screwed over: graduated college during the 2008 economic bust, lived with parents until their 30s, fired/laid off during the 2020 pandemic -- so I fundamentally understand the mirage of Instagram fame and endless sacks of money for doing basically noth…

People want to believe in get-rick-quick schemes, and will go by the flimsiest evidence they can find. I think the trick is to realize those glamorous selfies are mostly a mirage. If you were having the best day of your life on the beach, maybe, just maybe, you wouldn't be on your phone trying to get the perfect selfie.

> I think the trick is to realize those glamorous selfies are mostly a mirage. If you were having the best day of your life on the beach, maybe, just maybe, you wouldn't be on your phone trying to get the perfect selfie.

Well said, but the optics are still there. The selfie is bound to get more hits on social media, more coverage, etc.

Re: How to Run a Ponzi Scheme for Tech People

#16
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> For a classic example, just look at /r/wallstreetbets -- young people are frustrated because there's no end to this tunnel That's a bad example. By many measures retail investors have outperformed institutional investors since March. The simple reason is that options have a built in exit strategy, the thing that's missing when most people lose in scams - including Ponzi schemes! On the flip side, why then do they o…

> That's a bad example I don't think it's a bad example, because if you spend some time on that subreddit, you'll quickly realize people are literally gambling with their life savings. In no small part due to disillusionment and cynicism with the current economic realities -- we can no longer work at a stable company, marry a pretty wife, have a couple of kids, retire 40 years later, and live off of a plump 401k.

Come on. WSB is people goofing with real or fake money for fun and lulz. It's not for desperate people trying to survive.

Re: How to Run a Ponzi Scheme for Tech People

#17
post #6

This article is fantastic. I think "get rich quick" schemes are so much worse when it comes to my generation and beyond (millennials/gen-z). People have been endlessly screwed over: graduated college during the 2008 economic bust, lived with parents until their 30s, fired/laid off during the 2020 pandemic -- so I fundamentally understand the mirage of Instagram fame and endless sacks of money for doing basically noth…

> For a classic example, just look at /r/wallstreetbets -- young people are frustrated because there's no end to this tunnel That's a bad example. By many measures retail investors have outperformed institutional investors since March. The simple reason is that options have a built in exit strategy, the thing that's missing when most people lose in scams - including Ponzi schemes! On the flip side, why then do they o…

It's hard to believe that OTM options are wildly underpriced. Institutional investors might be unable to trade them but there are plenty of hedge funds with no such restrictions. 0

Re: How to Run a Ponzi Scheme for Tech People

#18
I think one of the biggest issues is that tech people are "know it alls".

They make lots of money, they must be smart right? So when a friend disagrees the person doesn't consider it.

And unlike their Engineering counterparts they won't search for proof. If you need to see real world examples, look at who buys brand name. It's telling.

Re: How to Run a Ponzi Scheme for Tech People

#19
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> That's a bad example I don't think it's a bad example, because if you spend some time on that subreddit, you'll quickly realize people are literally gambling with their life savings. In no small part due to disillusionment and cynicism with the current economic realities -- we can no longer work at a stable company, marry a pretty wife, have a couple of kids, retire 40 years later, and live off of a plump 401k.

Come on. WSB is people goofing with real or fake money for fun and lulz. It's not for desperate people trying to survive.

I think that's debatable, but it's most definitely people being cynical about the current state of the economic realities we face. It's all fun and games, until someone commits suicide[1]

[1] https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/18/young-trader-dies-by-suicide...

Re: How to Run a Ponzi Scheme for Tech People

#20
The "nomad" posts always bugged me, especially when it's someone traveling around the world by working odd jobs and relying on the kindness of strangers. They're always presented in a way to make you feel bad about having a steady 9-5 working for "the man" when you could be seeing the world and being free. They conveniently leave out the fact that their lifestyle is completely dependent on the majority of people working steady jobs, and if everyone was a nomad like them, they'd have no picturesque villages to visit, roads to hitchhike on, or restaurants willing to give you food in exchange for washing some dishes.
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