"It is beneath the station of those those with the power to define, describe, and profile the world to pick the pocket of some poor black man in Africa, while encouraging him to pose for funny pictures that will be laughed at on some comfortably well off white person's web site." I gotta admit that made me a little uncomfortable. Made me think twice about pulling a few thou out if it were possible. But then again, it's arguable that if this dude spent more time trying to DO something productive he might make more than the beating he's taking perpetuating his pathetic scam. Actually, among all the African groups I've encountered in the US so far, Nigerians seem to have a lot more drive than other groups, and they seem to excel at technical subjects. So maybe this dude needs a beating or two to set him straight. -TD

From: Eric Cordian <emc@artifact.psychedelic.net> To: cypherpunks@minder.net Subject: Reverse Scamming 419ers Date: Fri, 11 Jun 2004 10:31:07 -0700 (PDT)

I visited that 419eaters site, and I must say I have really mixed feelings about what the people are doing there.

It's certainly unethical for Nigerians to try and make a living by bilking foreigners with elaborate schemes that promise vast riches in return for an advance fee.

But Nigeria is a very poor country, with high unemployment, where people are forced by economic circumstances to do almost anything to try and feed their families. I see no reason to be proud of reverse-scamming a Nigerian out of $80 when it might be his entire family's food money for the month.

Only idiots fall for Nigerian Spam. (well, aside from that lady who worked at a bank, and sent some Nigerian $1.3 million of the bank's money)

It seems to me the relationship between affluent Americans and poor Nigerians is an example of a dominant class/subordinate class structure, and in such a structure, the subordinate class has rights, and the dominant class has responsibilities.

It is beneath the station of those those with the power to define, describe, and profile the world to pick the pocket of some poor black man in Africa, while encouraging him to pose for funny pictures that will be laughed at on some comfortably well off white person's web site.

-- Eric Michael Cordian 0+ O:.T:.O:. Mathematical Munitions Division "Do What Thou Wilt Shall Be The Whole Of The Law"

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