On Sun, 10 Nov 1996, Clay Olbon II wrote:
Pyramid schemes could be a growth market in a crypto-anarchic world. It is yet another market such as gambling, or the lottery, that could be conducted with anonymity. And it appears to be much more widespread on the internet
How is it like gambling? If I get a pyramid letter instructing me to send money to five people on the list, add my name to the bottom, send to 5 people, or whatever, there's nothing stopping me from removing all the names, adding my name and those of four friends, and passing the letter along. With an anonymous system, I could easily be all five people, without even the bother of getting five different post office boxes. There's no gambling involved; only blantant stupidity. The "airplane" game was an interesting slant, though. Because of the in-person "airplane" parties, people were able to make contacts and network while participating. It was still the same old trick, but some may have found the ability to "buy" (and "sell") face time worth the price of admission (Some of the "airplane" games going around were to the tune of $2500, rather than the usual $5). Your anonymous slant on this removes the only economically viable excuse for participating, though - I don't even get to meet the head of the umptysquat dept. in return for getting fleeced. The "airplane game" was big around Washington about a year ago, and involved a number of highly placed people who aught to have been able to recognize a Ponzi scheme when it bit them in the ass. Makes me wonder how many people are stupid enough to "play" these games. -r.w.