3rd Shot [Text]

[carrythesin]

What is a 'pyramid scheme'?

[Short and simple folks. Least she hopes.]

Comments

[Text]

[youfool]

[What's that? Someone in need of useless trivia? Ted's on it like a bonnet!]

A pyramid scheme is an ethically awful business venture, whereupon the one at the top, metaphorically speaking, promises riches and rewards to two or more dupes, or investors. He encourages said investors to find investors of their own and perform the same operation. So it goes, exponentially and almost endlessly, until the pyramid has gone as far down as it can, and the pool of potential investors is run dry.

By that time the one who started the whole thing is likely to have taken their cut and run, leaving the rest with the bill and unrealized ambitions.

[voice]

[vicious_slice]

Probably when a mad scientist constructs a fortress that's pyramid shaped.

[Metal never had much reason to brush up on human financial matters...]

text

[trivialization]

A business where the major activity is selling positions in the business conferring the right to do the same.

It's really little different from other forms of investment in commodities with no intrinsic value; it makes early adopters wealthy at the expense of those who come on late and only experience the crash. The innovation lies in realizing that humans are so foolish you don't always need to hide the profit mechanism to entice them. The whiff of opportunity is enough to draw people in.

Text

[unbridledtiger]

I think you have enough answers but you really shouldn't worry about rumors.

Re: [Text]

[carrythesin]

[Just as planned.]

That's it?

[text]

[carrythesin]

[That... almost made her believe. For a moment.]

Why would he want to do that?

Re: text

[carrythesin]

They're promised with something, but really they're lies then.

Re: Text

[carrythesin]

I was curious.

[trivialization]

Some lie, but it works without lying. After all, the buyer only has to believe that they can do to others what's being done to them - sell an opportunity built on nothing.

[voice]

[vicious_slice]

In most cases? Because it looks cool.

Text

[unbridledtiger]

Was your question answered?

Re: [Text]

[youfool]

Well, there's often needless product pushing involved. Something that might've been useful if sold with more modest means and amounts becomes overblown to the point of vanity.

Re: [Text]

[carrythesin]

Oh, thank you.

[text]

[carrythesin]

Cool?

[carrythesin]

But it's still a lie.

Re: Text

[carrythesin]

I think so.
-Did I do something to start it?

Text

[unbridledtiger]

No, these sort of things just start on their own.

[text]

[vicious_slice]

You know, like... people'd look at it and think it's impressive or scary or interesting, I guess.

[text]

[carrythesin]

So it's for just show then.

[Someone doesn't read comics/manga.]

Text

[carrythesin]

Ah.

[video]

[vicious_slice]

Basically.

It's the same reason why I have a buzzsaw on my head.

Text

[unbridledtiger]

If you have any other questions, you are welcome to text me.

Text

[carrythesin]

[If only Seth knew how many she'd ask.]

Okay, thank you.

[text]

[carrythesin]

And that's cool.

[She probably should ask 'why' first.]

[video]

[vicious_slice]

[He mistakes this for them agreeing with him.] Why thank you...!

text.

[carrythesin]

You're welcome?

[She has no idea what just happened.]

[video]

[vicious_slice]

[He's just going to go off and be smug for the rest of the day now.]

You have an excellent day, kid.