Post by "Pop" Stran on Jul 17, 2003 1:16:54 GMT -5
Scam Alert Messageboards, or SAM, was created by J.B. "Pop" Stran.
Hello, and Welcome.
While I've been on the Web for a dozen years now, I actually had my first computer back when the idea of a computer in your house was thought by most to be a rediculous notion.
Computers (real ones,anyway) were the size of a tractor-trailer, only a handful existed, and they were owned by the US government and a select few universiities & corporations.
Those computers used punchcards (Old-fogey alert!), but mine was a glorified word processor that hooked to the TV. It only spoke DOS, and used cassettes for storage.
My first laptop weighed 35 pounds, used real floppies, and had a 6" screen (green, the only color).
When IBM split-off it's software-supply company, Bill Gates created (or, in truth, was credited with the creation of) the platform that made home computers a reality for many Americans...and the birth of AOL brought the Internet along for the ride.
My first Internet account was with Compuserve (a good deal at $3./minute!), but when AOL sent those free disks out in 1993, I jumped at the chance to see the WorldWideWeb being born.
It goes without saying that the Web has evolved many times over since then...At first it was all about email & chat, then came ecommerce and advertising...and it just snowballed from there.
I can proudly say that I was one of the first generation of Web Marketers; My online-dating sites were one of the original affiliate programs, and everyone made money.
When I retired from the dating-biz and sold the sites in '96, some ugly changes were sneaking onto the Web; Con-artists and other fly-by-night scammers were flooding online hoping to pick a few thousands pockets, and even worse...newbies awed by this new world were falling for the deceit and lies in record numbers.
With all the countless opportunities to make an honest dollar online, I was angered that so many short-sighted dweebs would even feel the need to resort to scams.
Of course I don't blame the people for being susceptable; PT Barnum was right, but he didn't see the Web coming...
I was in sales for 20 years before the 'Net was born, and I know that people will buy anything, if you push the right buttons.
You've no doubt heard the Web referred to as the Wild West of this new mellinium, and in many ways that's an accurate assessment. There's no real law here, and the citizens of this world are pretty much left to govern themselves...
The problem with that is the fact that too many people can't choose between right and wrong when they're given this much freedom...so it's up to us to protect the potential victims.
We have to protect each other. Speak Out.
When a snake-oil salesman rolls into town selling his miracle-cures and potions, it's up to us to inform our friends and neighbors before they're conned out of their hard-earned money.
That's the reason for SAM.
I've been around the block a few times, both in life and online. Growing up on the streets of Baltimore City (now most famous as the Murder Capital of the Nation), I've seen my share of shysters, thieves and con-artists...and always got pleasure from exposing their lies and shredding the hype.
Having been raised with a strong set of morals by very Christian working-class parents, I've spent the rest of my life practicing the Golden Rule as best I could...even in the fields of Marketing and Sales.
No one likes a bully...and the weaker you are the more protection you deserve.
This is why most of us will ignore our own safety to help a child in danger.
Many newbies (new Netizens) are "babes in the woods" when it comes to ecommerce, and it's up to You and me to take them by the hand and steer them away from potential harm.
Taking advantage of someone simply because you can is wrong. Period.
The spin-doctors can paint that with all the pretty words they want...but it's still wrong.
When you see it happening, speak up. You just may save some trusting soul from making the worst mistake of his/her life.
...and When I see it, I'll speak up as well. Here.
My name is Pop Stran...
and I Am SAM.
Hello, and Welcome.
While I've been on the Web for a dozen years now, I actually had my first computer back when the idea of a computer in your house was thought by most to be a rediculous notion.
Computers (real ones,anyway) were the size of a tractor-trailer, only a handful existed, and they were owned by the US government and a select few universiities & corporations.
Those computers used punchcards (Old-fogey alert!), but mine was a glorified word processor that hooked to the TV. It only spoke DOS, and used cassettes for storage.
My first laptop weighed 35 pounds, used real floppies, and had a 6" screen (green, the only color).
When IBM split-off it's software-supply company, Bill Gates created (or, in truth, was credited with the creation of) the platform that made home computers a reality for many Americans...and the birth of AOL brought the Internet along for the ride.
My first Internet account was with Compuserve (a good deal at $3./minute!), but when AOL sent those free disks out in 1993, I jumped at the chance to see the WorldWideWeb being born.
It goes without saying that the Web has evolved many times over since then...At first it was all about email & chat, then came ecommerce and advertising...and it just snowballed from there.
I can proudly say that I was one of the first generation of Web Marketers; My online-dating sites were one of the original affiliate programs, and everyone made money.
When I retired from the dating-biz and sold the sites in '96, some ugly changes were sneaking onto the Web; Con-artists and other fly-by-night scammers were flooding online hoping to pick a few thousands pockets, and even worse...newbies awed by this new world were falling for the deceit and lies in record numbers.
With all the countless opportunities to make an honest dollar online, I was angered that so many short-sighted dweebs would even feel the need to resort to scams.
Of course I don't blame the people for being susceptable; PT Barnum was right, but he didn't see the Web coming...
I was in sales for 20 years before the 'Net was born, and I know that people will buy anything, if you push the right buttons.
You've no doubt heard the Web referred to as the Wild West of this new mellinium, and in many ways that's an accurate assessment. There's no real law here, and the citizens of this world are pretty much left to govern themselves...
The problem with that is the fact that too many people can't choose between right and wrong when they're given this much freedom...so it's up to us to protect the potential victims.
We have to protect each other. Speak Out.
When a snake-oil salesman rolls into town selling his miracle-cures and potions, it's up to us to inform our friends and neighbors before they're conned out of their hard-earned money.
That's the reason for SAM.
I've been around the block a few times, both in life and online. Growing up on the streets of Baltimore City (now most famous as the Murder Capital of the Nation), I've seen my share of shysters, thieves and con-artists...and always got pleasure from exposing their lies and shredding the hype.
Having been raised with a strong set of morals by very Christian working-class parents, I've spent the rest of my life practicing the Golden Rule as best I could...even in the fields of Marketing and Sales.
No one likes a bully...and the weaker you are the more protection you deserve.
This is why most of us will ignore our own safety to help a child in danger.
Many newbies (new Netizens) are "babes in the woods" when it comes to ecommerce, and it's up to You and me to take them by the hand and steer them away from potential harm.
Taking advantage of someone simply because you can is wrong. Period.
The spin-doctors can paint that with all the pretty words they want...but it's still wrong.
When you see it happening, speak up. You just may save some trusting soul from making the worst mistake of his/her life.
...and When I see it, I'll speak up as well. Here.
My name is Pop Stran...
and I Am SAM.