Dave Kinchlea <security@kinch.ark.com> writes:
On Sun, 10 Nov 1996, Dr.Dimitri Vulis KOTM wrote:
I think the following would be a worthwhile cypherpunks project: design the anonymous infrastructure to allow those who wants to participate in MMF-like pyramid schemes on the Internet to do so without bothering anyone.
It seems to me that any such scheme is doomed to failure, unless I misunderstand what people are talking about here. While I believe that there really is a `sucker born every minute', and it is that which makes pyramid schemes work, I don't believe that too many people would jump on board unless they see real, verifiable names linked with the schemes.
Methinks, you underestimate the stupidity of the average American. :-)
Isn't it just common sense to say that if people are hiding their identity while offering to `make money fast' then there is something seriously shady going on? Aren't people *less* likely to join in under such circumstances? Sure, it allows such schemes to work in theory but in practice, how do you get people to join in? Who would/how could you *trust* such a scheme?
Well - I definitely would not trust such a scheme and wouldn't take part in it. I suppose if a scheme like this were actually implemented, some people would be dumb enough to take is seriously and lose some (digital) money; therefore someone would gain whatever money they've lost, as it happens in all zero-sum games. However I've been talking about designing a scheme, not implementing it. If there are students on this mailing list in need of an interesting crypto project, this is one good idea, IMO. --- Dr.Dimitri Vulis KOTM Brighton Beach Boardwalk BBS, Forest Hills, N.Y.: +1-718-261-2013, 14.4Kbps