Greer, "Having said all that, I now deem AdlandPro to be too risky to be involved with, because as a federal employyee, all it takes is public criticism, especially in writing like this, justified or not, and I've got a serious problem to contend with." That's just absolutely ridiculous, in MY OPINION. An opinion I am quite FREE to express, just as Linda & Peter are FREE to express their OPINIONS and share their knowledge with us.

Are we painting all auto-surf programs with the same brush? Surely there are some that are backed by investments or some form of income other than new investments from new members. Just to add to the conversation here is what 12daily advertises: -------------------------------------- In order to insure the long term success and sustainability of 12daily Pro: 1) member upgrade earnings are financed by multiple income streams including advertising, and off-site investments; 2) we require that all members upgrade within the first seven days of joining; and 3) we provide our members with superior customer service and consistent communication. --------------------------------------- I sure wish I knew what the investments are. With the returns they pay I wouldn't need to work. :-) I have seen others that advertise they are backed by Forex investments. I have also seen one of those shut down. (Bad investments?) Actually my point here is that if they are backed by other investments they are no longer pyramids. Wouldn't that be correct Peter? Now don't get me wrong here. They don't work for me to advertise my sites and are too risky as an investment. I am not defending them just asking a question to hopefully clear up an issue. BTW: Greer, I just noticed your link to an auction site. Thank you. I am always looking for new auctions and this looks like a good one.

Hi Heather, Actually, in a roundabout way I can see where Greer is coming from. The chances that "information" gathered from postings at this website could be used to affect a person's employment in a deleterious way are remote. However, we all know the way that lawyers have the ability to dig up all sorts of things then twist them into tangled licorice. Having said that, most of the discussion here is opinion and we are all entitled to our own opinions. But I can see the tenuous line. Let's say that an employer was looking for a reason to give somebody the boot. He or she may find something published anywhere to do that - a newspaper letter to the editor for instance, maybe an email. I have written many letters to my local newspaper and some have been highly critical of the Government. Now, would I do that if I were a Government employee? No. Because they would find a way to attack me with it - even though we are supposed to have the right of free speech. It just wouldn't be intelligent of me to do that if I were in such a position. So, I can see the line of thought Greer is using. But to leave would be sad. Greer made a post that was quite helpful to a lady called Sue, I think, on another thread. Rather than leave outright maybe it would just be better to have a final proof read before hitting the "post" button and remove anything that may possibly be used against oneself by an employer. We are supposed to be protected with our rights to free speech but in this ever-sensitive anti-terrorist controlled world all our rights are being stripped back one by one. Now that is sad. Greer, if you choose to leave "au revoir" my friend. Gary Simpson

Hi Arthur, It might be that funding comes from elsewhere but if you recall in a post previous to this where it stated; Ponzi and pyramid schemes may also be characterized by: - Reliance on funds from new investors to pay returns, commissions or bonuses to old investors; - Need for an inexhaustible supply of new investors; and - Absences of a profitable product or efforts to make profits through productive work. One thing I find curious and I don't know if we will ever get the answer to this but if these schemes can actually continue paying out the rates as claimed, why are the banks not beating a path to these and making more money for the deposits they have?

LOL, good point Peter! The banks would beat us to this and find a way to keep us out. I also see part of your point. ======================================= - Absences of a profitable product or efforts to make profits through productive work. ======================================= However you also say "they may be characterized by:" If there are 4 points and they fit 3 does that make them a pyramid? How about if they just fit 1 of the points? Do you see where I am going here? Where do we draw the line?