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Topic: Is it OK to join a pyramid scheme if you're in early? - page 2. (Read 3008 times)

newbie
Activity: 7
Merit: 0
Seems immoral to me since you know the people at the bottom are going to get burned!
legendary
Activity: 1204
Merit: 1000
"Early" is relative.  Yes, there's a sucker born every minute, but not all of them will go for your pyramid.

If you're the proprietor of a pyramid scheme, you're considered a crook in many jurisdictions.
newbie
Activity: 17
Merit: 0
As long as you tell the true pros. and cons. to the people below you.
full member
Activity: 140
Merit: 100

Is it morally right to play the game if you get in early, even when you know it's designed to eventually fail?


What counts as early?

I tossed in something. I'll consider I got in early if I get my 2x, and that I got in late if I don't.

I don't see anything immoral in it, assuming it continues on as stated and the originator doesn't skip halfway through. It's a gamble, fairly risky but then it's a double your money within a day. Or two. Or a week. Or a month. Or. . . ? We'll have to see.
hero member
Activity: 630
Merit: 500
I suppose since it has predetermined "collapse" conditions, it's less of a pyramid scheme: everyone knows when the pyramid will come crashing down and can choose to invest accordingly. That said, it's a dumb investment to make IMHO.
legendary
Activity: 1106
Merit: 1004
Or is it immoral to participate in an activity that is guaranteed to enrich a relative few at the expense of the relative many?

Are lotteries and bingo immoral? What about sports competition with prizes?

Just let people spend their money the way they want...
newbie
Activity: 28
Merit: 0
Isn't capitalism just one big pyramid scheme? Pic: https://i.imgur.com/5IPZ4.jpg
sr. member
Activity: 294
Merit: 250
Is it morally right to play the game if you get in early, even when you know it's designed to eventually fail?

Doesn't it fall upon the person who claims that it is morally wrong to show that it is so?
newbie
Activity: 33
Merit: 0
Everyone knows that the suckers on the bottom of the pyramid lose when it collapses, enriching those on the top.

And even when it's spelled out that way, and there's no trickery or deceit, people still choose to play.

This particular game won't stop until there have been no transactions at all for seven days.  It could go on for a long time.

Is it morally right to play the game if you get in early, even when you know it's designed to eventually fail?
full member
Activity: 174
Merit: 100
Of course, if you're on top, you make massive amounts of profit. And the creator makes the most. Pyramid schemes are basically paying people to pay you. ^^
sr. member
Activity: 322
Merit: 251
You know what they say, it's always good to be on top.
legendary
Activity: 1400
Merit: 1005
In the US, at least, pyramid schemes are generally illegal whether everyone knows it or not.  Whether a charge would have any traction with BTC, I dunno...but people have been charged under postal laws, wire fraud and tax evasion for the old "send $1 to the first 5 people on this list and..." schemes.
Again, the US Government trying to protect people from their own stupidity.

If people are stupid, let them be stupid and suffer the consequences.  Then maybe they'll learn something and no longer be stupid.
newbie
Activity: 14
Merit: 0
In the US, at least, pyramid schemes are generally illegal whether everyone knows it or not.  Whether a charge would have any traction with BTC, I dunno...but people have been charged under postal laws, wire fraud and tax evasion for the old "send $1 to the first 5 people on this list and..." schemes.
legendary
Activity: 1400
Merit: 1005
I don't see anything immoral about it.

If you don't TELL people it's a pyramid game beforehand, then I would consider it to be so.  But otherwise, play away.  With full disclosure, there's nothing to be guilty about - everyone knows the risks and rewards.
newbie
Activity: 33
Merit: 0
There's a fun new game where you can double your bitcoins:

http://forum.bitcoin.org/index.php?topic=20087.0

The operator is very open about how it works:

  • New players pay off old players x2
  • The game ends after nobody plays for a week
  • The operator keeps the btc left in the pot at the end of the game

There's even a Google Spreadsheet showing all the contributions, fees and the payouts.  Kudos to Jordoss for running such an open and transparent game!

Since it's no secret that those at the bottom of the pyramid will lose their bitcoins, is it moral to play if you get in early?

Or is it immoral to participate in an activity that is guaranteed to enrich a relative few at the expense of the relative many?

Full disclosure -- my greed won out, and I bought in!  It's only been running for a day, so chances are people who join now will get a double!

And it's all in fun, right?
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