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reading through reply tweets of pro-crypto ppl, it's amazing how some parts of the "crypto community" view shameless grifting and scams as a valid hustle for mo

by ausbah 4y ago

reading through reply tweets of pro-crypto ppl, it's amazing how some parts of the "crypto community" view shameless grifting and scams as a valid hustle for money

AlexandrB 4y ago
I think integrity in business has been steadily devalued by various crises and scandals (Enron, 2008, Worldcom) to the point that it sometimes seems quaint to even expect it anymore. Something similar seems to have happened with sponsored content - both influencers and celebrities have few qualms about using their name to sell the most questionable shit. Maybe it was always like this, but I don't recall there being so many celebrity ads when I was a teenager.
- the_biot 4y ago
  This, so much. There are a few Youtube channels I used to follow, that over time degraded into shameless shilling for completely irrelevant (to the channel) crap, and sometimes outright infomercials. I've tried engaging with the channel owners on this, and they literally don't understand what you're talking about. These people started out passionately showing stuff they do in their garage, and now don't understand the concept of NOT doing everything 100% for the money. Shilling, scamming, it's all the new normal to these people.
  - ElevenLathe 4y ago
    More likely they now face a choice between shilling for shady VPN companies while doing fun stuff in their garage or doing less fun stuff in their garage while they work a real job to support it. Easy choice, IMO.
- svnt 4y ago
  You were probably a teenager during Youtube’s (and every other online video service’s) extensive loss-leading period where they didn’t show ads. It’s a standard practice for VC viral growth. It really was a golden age for online video.
pbhjpbhj 4y ago
In the UK the incumbent government ministers scammed taxpayers with what is effectively almost a fake invoice scam for PPE to the tune of £8.7Billion (that's the amount written off with a wave of the hand and 'these are not the scammers you're looking for'). That's our lead. No unconnected person is going to ever reach that level of financial immorality and the supreme legislator says "this is fine". USA'a Trump is a massive grifter, also countenanced by the legislature. Why would you be moral if the most politically powerful and financial successful people are modelling success through immorality.
- ausbah 4y ago
  governments all over the globe have and continue to do much worse things than scam taxpayers, would you use the same justification for other crimes?
  - pbhjpbhj 4y ago
    I wouldn't, but it's a logically consistent moral position IMO.
- TomSwirly 4y ago
  "Everyone else does it" is not really a moral justification for a scam.
hi5eyes 4y ago
what was nkla's peak valuation on the nasdaq?
dylan604 4y ago
that kind of describes a lot of startup ethos as well though. buying "users" to pad the numbers before fund raising, click farms, etc. crypto just seems to be the darling of "okay to shit all over" because, well, it's crypto.
wnevets 4y ago
if they had an integrity they wouldn't be in the cryptocurrency game

by ausbah 4y ago

reading through reply tweets of pro-crypto ppl, it's amazing how some parts of the "crypto community" view shameless grifting and scams as a valid hustle for money

AlexandrB 4y ago

I think integrity in business has been steadily devalued by various crises and scandals (Enron, 2008, Worldcom) to the point that it sometimes seems quaint to even expect it anymore. Something similar seems to have happened with sponsored content - both influencers and celebrities have few qualms about using their name to sell the most questionable shit. Maybe it was always like this, but I don't recall there being so many celebrity ads when I was a teenager.

the_biot 4y ago
This, so much. There are a few Youtube channels I used to follow, that over time degraded into shameless shilling for completely irrelevant (to the channel) crap, and sometimes outright infomercials. I've tried engaging with the channel owners on this, and they literally don't understand what you're talking about. These people started out passionately showing stuff they do in their garage, and now don't understand the concept of NOT doing everything 100% for the money. Shilling, scamming, it's all the new normal to these people.
- ElevenLathe 4y ago
  More likely they now face a choice between shilling for shady VPN companies while doing fun stuff in their garage or doing less fun stuff in their garage while they work a real job to support it. Easy choice, IMO.
svnt 4y ago
You were probably a teenager during Youtube’s (and every other online video service’s) extensive loss-leading period where they didn’t show ads. It’s a standard practice for VC viral growth. It really was a golden age for online video.

pbhjpbhj 4y ago

In the UK the incumbent government ministers scammed taxpayers with what is effectively almost a fake invoice scam for PPE to the tune of £8.7Billion (that's the amount written off with a wave of the hand and 'these are not the scammers you're looking for'). That's our lead. No unconnected person is going to ever reach that level of financial immorality and the supreme legislator says "this is fine". USA'a Trump is a massive grifter, also countenanced by the legislature. Why would you be moral if the most politically powerful and financial successful people are modelling success through immorality.

ausbah 4y ago
governments all over the globe have and continue to do much worse things than scam taxpayers, would you use the same justification for other crimes?
- pbhjpbhj 4y ago
  I wouldn't, but it's a logically consistent moral position IMO.
TomSwirly 4y ago
"Everyone else does it" is not really a moral justification for a scam.

hi5eyes 4y ago

what was nkla's peak valuation on the nasdaq?

dylan604 4y ago

that kind of describes a lot of startup ethos as well though. buying "users" to pad the numbers before fund raising, click farms, etc. crypto just seems to be the darling of "okay to shit all over" because, well, it's crypto.

wnevets 4y ago

if they had an integrity they wouldn't be in the cryptocurrency game