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Just wanted to chime in and say thank you for sharing. If everyone was too ashamed of sharing past stupidness we would have no guideposts at all for gauging our

Just wanted to chime in and say thank you for sharing. If everyone was too ashamed of sharing past stupidness we would have no guideposts at all for gauging our own inevitable stupidness.

tombert 3y ago
Yeah, honestly I don't particularly care what the people on HN think of me [1], but I think it's important to come out to say that even relatively educated people like me can be duped. I might very well be an idiot, but at least nominally I'm in the "educated" demographic: I have a yuppie job, a college degree, some graduate education, and until Gemini Earn was generally considered somewhat financially responsible. I don't gamble, I don't drink, I don't go out to eat very often, any large purchases are planned out for weeks (if not months), and I try and put at least 30% of my paycheck into some form long-term savings (either something low risk/long-term like an index fund or something super-low-risk like a treasury bill). I feel like if something like this can happen to me, it can happen to nearly anyone else. If anyone was thinking about "investing" in cryptocurrencies, just try and remember that it's largely-unregulated funny money, and you're probably not going to save the world while simultaneously getting rich from it. I'm hoping that other people can learn from my mistake the age-old adage: if it looks too good to true, it probably is. [1] (well, most of the time, admittedly I'm subject to vanity like anyone else)
- lightfield1002 3y ago
  > if it looks too good to true, it probably is. And everybody told you, all the time, and you chose not to listen. That's your choice, no worries. But threatening physical harm to the con man you fell for is just not ok.
  - tombert 3y ago
    Sorry, “everybody” told me? “All the time”? That’s news to me; lots of people seem to get suckered by Gemini Earn. Yes there were a few comments we can look back at in hindsight, but its not like anyone in my friend group told me anything. Also, it’s hardly a “threat”; it was a bit of hyperbole, which nearly everyone here seems to understand (including you, I think), but let’s just pretend my statement was 100% sincere; what danger am I causing exactly? I very clearly say that I do not want to meet him. What kind of cartoon-like circumstances are going to lead to me meeting this guy if I am not seeking him out?
  - Frondo 3y ago
    Actually, threatening physical harm to a con man has a long and storied tradition in this country; but more than that if SBF had mugged this guy I don't think anyone would call a physical response a bad thing, but because he mugged him with words you're going to posture about this is "just not ok"? Come on.

Just wanted to chime in and say thank you for sharing. If everyone was too ashamed of sharing past stupidness we would have no guideposts at all for gauging our own inevitable stupidness.

tombert 3y ago

Yeah, honestly I don't particularly care what the people on HN think of me [1], but I think it's important to come out to say that even relatively educated people like me can be duped. I might very well be an idiot, but at least nominally I'm in the "educated" demographic: I have a yuppie job, a college degree, some graduate education, and until Gemini Earn was generally considered somewhat financially responsible. I don't gamble, I don't drink, I don't go out to eat very often, any large purchases are planned out for weeks (if not months), and I try and put at least 30% of my paycheck into some form long-term savings (either something low risk/long-term like an index fund or something super-low-risk like a treasury bill). I feel like if something like this can happen to me, it can happen to nearly anyone else. If anyone was thinking about "investing" in cryptocurrencies, just try and remember that it's largely-unregulated funny money, and you're probably not going to save the world while simultaneously getting rich from it. I'm hoping that other people can learn from my mistake the age-old adage: if it looks too good to true, it probably is. [1] (well, most of the time, admittedly I'm subject to vanity like anyone else)

lightfield1002 3y ago
> if it looks too good to true, it probably is. And everybody told you, all the time, and you chose not to listen. That's your choice, no worries. But threatening physical harm to the con man you fell for is just not ok.
- tombert 3y ago
  Sorry, “everybody” told me? “All the time”? That’s news to me; lots of people seem to get suckered by Gemini Earn. Yes there were a few comments we can look back at in hindsight, but its not like anyone in my friend group told me anything. Also, it’s hardly a “threat”; it was a bit of hyperbole, which nearly everyone here seems to understand (including you, I think), but let’s just pretend my statement was 100% sincere; what danger am I causing exactly? I very clearly say that I do not want to meet him. What kind of cartoon-like circumstances are going to lead to me meeting this guy if I am not seeking him out?
- Frondo 3y ago
  Actually, threatening physical harm to a con man has a long and storied tradition in this country; but more than that if SBF had mugged this guy I don't think anyone would call a physical response a bad thing, but because he mugged him with words you're going to posture about this is "just not ok"? Come on.