Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!aplcen!samsung!usc!apple!fox!portal!cup.portal.com!Howard_Reed_Johnson
From: Howard_Reed_Johnson@cup.portal.com
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems
Subject: Re: EASYMONEYII (flame on!)
Message-ID: <24440@cup.portal.com>
Date: 24 Nov 89 07:48:47 GMT
References: <18570@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu>
Distribution: na
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
Lines: 22

I would like to protest the exploitation of private and/or tax-
supported resources for commercial gain as evidenced by the article
<18570@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu> by Kale Kudlacek (KUDLACEK@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu>.

This is a subtle twist on the familiar pyramid schemes many are familiar
with.  In essence, one receives a list of ten names and is asked to mail
one dollar to each of the first five names on the list for the "privilege"
of being included on a mailing list.

For starters, distributing such a list (with the expectation of about
$50,000 in 4-6 weeks) can legitimately be called a business, and as such,
requires a license to do business, tax liabilities, etc. etc.

Second, distributing such lists over BBS's, etc. constitutes commercial
advertising: something which is often restricted or forbidden by the
organizations with the resources used to distribute this advertising.

Finally, I wouldn't want to make my home address made available to 50,000+
recipients for reasons of privacy.  Most of the businesses which have my
address have something to lose should they broadcast personal information
to every shark with something to sell.  This pyramid scheme can give me
no such assurance.