a ponzi scheme is a scam in that with each layer or generation added, the expected future expectations and promises increase faster than the influx of "real" valuehttps://twitter.com/a_yawning_cat/status/1401524274200862721 …
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however faith based hierarchical layers like communities and religious groups also grow in a pyramid fashion they are not scams when the growth feeds the utility of the group via networks effects++ they *are* "scams" when only the inner circle of the group has access to utility
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if someone wants you to believe in sth b/c they think u would make a a great lieutenant dog to Spread the Word that's feels scammy vs "hey this line of thought is interesting feel free to believe in it as you please but only if it makes sense to you"
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a mlm feels cultlike b/c as you rise towards the top your ability to broadcast to a larger audience increases the promised utility is marketing opportunity and it only becomes profitable pass a certain threshold
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literal cults often have trouble monetizing this since instead of using that increased marketing to sell vitamins you can only sell... increased marketing opportunity... the promises never resolve into Real Stuffhttps://twitter.com/a_yawning_cat/status/1341269410686726144 …
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it's like diligently climbing the social or corporate ladder and knowing people to know people to know people and eventually get a meeting with a Big Important and you realize you've fucked up b/c you have nothing to talk about to utilize the relationship
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ponzi scams are difficult to distinguish the same way kickstarters who spend 80% of their budget on marketing and don't deliver are. there usually is at least some real intent to deliver. (and perhaps the marketing was even a necessity in some way)
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in terms of personal application of this philosophy, i like analogies and metaphors that *click* vs "believe in this and eventually Magic will happen, you just have to Believe"
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while the distinction is clear from my own pov, depending on overlap of life experience the analogy may just sound like bs/magic or not make sense this is exacerbated by the presence of individuals who *do* gobble up all sorts of magical explanations
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this is kinda awkward since it feels mean to slap away individuals so are so obviously "supporting" you in a way. however unlike a dog, i do not enjoy my anus being licked
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also, b/c the analogy is for personal understanding, mistakes and inaccuracies are not a big deal just like making mistakes while practicing piano are not a big deal. there is not a particularly strong desire to clarify or expand post-expression
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there are also additional difficulties since the models build on old models. e.g. it is very difficult to get across the nuanced distinction between personal usage of the words god/God/"god"/"God" there is tradeoff between misunderstanding/offending and personal intuition
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