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Kate,
The behavior you describe is maybe a bit more overt than what goes on here, but you've hit the nail on the head. I can't get over all the people who post in one thread the virtues of their 'opportunities' and in another how broke they are! It's simply amazing to me that they don't see the inconsistency in that, but at least we can draw our own conclusions.
As far as it being akin to gambling, well, I suppose. But most gamblers expect to lose, even while hoping to win. Internet newbies that are caught in these scams fully expect to win. It would be more like a new gambler getting into a game with a professional card shark who cheats.
Not to mention the fact that it's illegal, at least here in the US. So, they're involved in a game with a professional card shark who cheats, AND they have the potential to be arrested for being in an illegal game to begin with. The people at the bottom of the chain always get hurt!
Even if I had a good run myself, I couldn't feel good about it--you know those people at the bottom who would have provided the good run for me and lost themselves? Their money is just as important to them as mine is to me. I disagree with a few friends on this score, and am still friends with them. This may seem inconsistent, too, so I'll explain here that those friends who advocate some of these activities and with whom I'm still friends, at least have the grace to state very clearly that what they advocate is a gamble. At least they are honest!
We could very well get into a discussion here about the ethics of posting something as true that one hasn't checked out, experienced or in any other way determined to be true. But, better authorities than I, including Dave Cottrell and Linda Caroll, have posted in that vein before, so I'll refer you to their forums. It's worth the read.
Cheri
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