Are they really that gullible?

1. 81

   iantoPFposted 14 years ago

   I recently wrote a Hub called "The Greatest money making opportunity Ever" it's a spoof. I was poking fun at online and offline scammers with their get rich schemes. What was a lot of fun too was the Hubbers who left comments and the good-natured banter that went on. All that was cool but there occurred something that just knocked my socks off.
   I have it linked on other sites, you know usual backlink stuff, and I was getting contacted by people, outside Hubpages,  who thought it was genuine. I mean there were folks who were willing to sign up. Come on! it's obviously a gag but it was downright embarrassing. So I disabled the comments because I didn't want them posting here. I'm leaving the Hub up because it has good advertisements for Terminex but really, are people that gullible?

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      relacheposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Even moreso than this Hub has shown you.

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         Jayne Lancerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Oh, I don't think so, Relache. Still, it does surprise me that anyone at all fell for it.

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      Randy Godwinposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Yep!  Have you never heard of the religious right?

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      pburgerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I think saying people are gullible is a generalization and a simplification. I think the more complex picture would take account of centuries of socializing influences. And given the lack of social support for what is seen as anti-social behavior I do not find conformity that difficult to understand.
      
      We in the modern technological world of the West consume 10,000s of messages every day and 99.9% of those message reinforce the view that money and wealth are well within the reach of any and every one of us. From childhood the media force-feed us with message that tell us we only need enough desire to achieve our dreams.
      
      And I recently read that the sum of money spent on advertising comes close to 3 billion dollars a year, in the US alone. That's one hell of a lot of money spent on washing brains!
      
      So, no I don't think people are 'really that gullible'.

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2. 81

   timorousposted 14 years ago

   Seems so.  Some people are desparate to make a quick buck with very little effort.  In real life..even on the internet (affiliate marketing), you still have to put some real time and effort into any kind of business to make a consistent living out of it.
   
   Sorry..no such thing as a free lunch.

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3. 0

   Justine76posted 14 years ago

   yes. people are that desperate, lazy, gulliable, naive, trusting etc. whatever you want to call it. It happens. I know  you were joking, but its sooo sad to see how easy it is to trick people, and others will do it on purpose. Scams work. Its awful. 

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4. 92

   Jayne Lancerposted 14 years ago

   Well, I just read your Hub (love it, BTW), and find it very, very hard to imagine anyone would seriously consider it being a serious business opportunity.
   Why don't you allow the comments capsule, but only allow approved comments to be shown?

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5. 71

   lorlie6posted 14 years ago

   The first paragraph had me cracking up, ianto!  Then, the image of the cash rich guy with "This Could Be You" written above-priceless.  Well, some folks are damned desperate for this sort of promise, and a well-written gag like this is bound to find takers!

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6. 66

   TheGlassSpiderposted 14 years ago

   Yes, people ARE that gullible. Perhaps you should put a disclaimer at the bottom (or maybe even the top) letting people know that this is satire. Yes, it's sad that one would have to do such a thing, but just look at your responses.
   
   All that aside...the hub is Hilarious...I just LOVE "The Cock' Slap" hahahahaha! How very Gallagher of you. Great job.

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   IzzyMposted 14 years ago

   I LOVE that hub!! I want to buy one of the cock thingies now. Your patter is good - you could sell anything - write loads of Amazon hubs - you'll make a fortune!

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8. 80

   camloposted 14 years ago

   This Hub is hilarious. Very well written, too.
   Unbelievable that there really are people who would take it seriously.

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9. 0

   kimberlyslyricsposted 14 years ago

     awesome

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10. 81

    iantoPFposted 14 years ago

    Thanks guys, I appreciate the remarks here. Some of the messages I got amazed me. I get what Spider is saying about a disclaimer but I thought the writing in the Hub was discalimer enough. I even wrote that the system is called "Smacking Cockroaches And Monetizing" Doesn't that spell SCAM? I like to right fun stuff and I'm not going to delete the Hub just yet but I really didn't want Hubpages staff to see some of the offers I was getting.
    Best Wishes to you all........Ianto

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    1. 66

       TheGlassSpiderposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       LOL Believe me, I hear it...it IS absolutely crazy that anyone could take it seriously; it's SO obviously a joke (and a good one at that). Some people you just have to beat over the head.

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    Denseposted 14 years ago

    I'd just read it and it's brilliant! Think you should turn the comments back on.
    Anybody who wants to sign up, send them an advance sample of your insect protein tea.

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    Greek Oneposted 14 years ago

    I read your hub and by following your instructions have made well over $2000!!
    
    Thank you!

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13. 76

    Shadesbreathposted 14 years ago

    Wait, what?  That was a joke?

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    Pandoras Boxposted 14 years ago

    Charge them all 2.95 for the ebook!

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       Pandoras Boxposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       "Our Top Secret Sources" - a listing of lumber yards.
       
       Great hub, by the way, as always.
       
       I only wish I was less ethical.

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    Lissieposted 14 years ago

    The hub is hilarious - and has a well targetted Adsense ads - says it all really! I'd have left the comments on for more entertainment value really.

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       Marisa Wrightposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Lissie!  Where have you been?  I've been trying to contact you about dancing sites - is your "contact" email not working or have you just been too busy?
       
       (sorry, thread hijack!)

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       Denseposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       We want COMMENTS !!!
       We want COMMENTS !!!
       We want COMMENTS !!!

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16. 60

    princess gposted 14 years ago

    I just read your Cock Smackers hub, it was hilarious! Loved it.

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17. 74

    mythbusterposted 14 years ago

    That IS a great hub! I don't know when I'm gonna quit laughing...I'm goin' back to bookmark it so I can find it again. And I need to send that link around tomorrow, after I've had some rest.

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    theirishobserver.posted 14 years ago

    right across the world people are living in difficult economic times and I think that many people will grasp at any opportunity no matter how silly it may appear to you or me

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19. 81

    iantoPFposted 14 years ago

    Thanks everyone. I don't venture very much into the forums because of some of the provocative silliness that goes on here but I am grateful for the support I've been shown over this.
    I put the comments back on I probably overreacted. This is my 3rd best performing Hub and that's from traffic outside Hubpages but I value the input of writers so I'll let the gullible ones know.......Or should I take their money and run?

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       TheGlassSpiderposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       It is a great Hub. Very cool of you to put the comments back on.
       
       As tempting as it is to take advantage of the ignorance of some desperate people...I'm not sure I'd want to reap what a seed like that sowed.

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20. 81

    iantoPFposted 14 years ago

    Well, what I said about people taking it too seriously......
    Hubpages has flagged it for being "Deceptive"

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       earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       That will be because of adsense TOS. Hubpages lets us know if we cross the adsense line. Think of it as a computer algorithm driven dumbness, but change it before you re submit it for publishing will fix it I reckon.

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    Aya Katzposted 14 years ago

    Was that because of this thread?

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22. 81

    iantoPFposted 14 years ago

    When I'm wrong I'm wrong. This time it's me so I apologise. I wrote the staff and they said ir was because of the tags. I had just clicked on every suggested tag that came up and not paying attention to them because I wasn't taking anything about it seriously. It seems the word "Cock" was in there and that, on the face of it brought matters to a head, so to speak.
    I've deleted that word and a couple of others fraom the tags and added a disclaimer on the end (Thanks for the suggestion Spider) I've resubmitted and now we'll see. If it is still wrong I'll delete the Hub. When you play someone elses game you have to play by their rules.

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       Denseposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Glad to know that everything's all right. I see nothing wrong with a bit of fun. Even the most serious publications publish articles like this, even if it's only once a year (for April 1st, eg).
       I tried to find your article again but couldn't. I assume you have not republished it, iantoPF. I just want to add something here - put the disclaimer/spoiler after the comments at the very bottom - I hate reading April Fool articles where they give away the whole thing right at the end of the article. Just my 0.02.
       This thing could go viral, you never know.
       

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23. 81

    iantoPFposted 14 years ago

    Adsense have republished the Hub so I'm good, it seems. I took your advice Dense, thank you and thank you all for your support.
    Terminix have an advertisement on the Hub saying "Cockroaches cause Salmonella" That's brilliant.

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