# Are you sick of people admiring your intelligence and knowledge? Are you tired of people calling you astute? Then do I have an opportunity for you! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 25, 2025, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sick-of-people-admiring-your-intelligence-and-knowledge-are-you-tired-of-people-calling-you-astute-then-do-i-have-an-opportunity-for-you/1014768 "2025-02-25T07:06:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2025, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sick-of-people-admiring-your-intelligence-and-knowledge-are-you-tired-of-people-calling-you-astute-then-do-i-have-an-opportunity-for-you/1014768/1 "2025-02-25T07:06:36Z")
> **[Fyre Festival 2 tickets go on sale today after spectacular flameout in 2017](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fyre-festival-2-tickets-how-to-buy-billy-mcfarland/)** > > Event organizer Billy McFarland went to prison for fraud after the first Fyre Festival epically failed. Now he's ready to get the party started — again. The organisers claim to have sold some early tickets already. Truly there is no lower limit to human gullibility. ---
**Author:** ![Chad\_Sudan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chad_sudan/32/4509_2.png) [@Chad\_Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_Sudan)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2025, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sick-of-people-admiring-your-intelligence-and-knowledge-are-you-tired-of-people-calling-you-astute-then-do-i-have-an-opportunity-for-you/1014768/2 "2025-02-25T08:04:59Z")
“Co-sponsored by the Kennedy Center” ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2025, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sick-of-people-admiring-your-intelligence-and-knowledge-are-you-tired-of-people-calling-you-astute-then-do-i-have-an-opportunity-for-you/1014768/3 "2025-02-25T08:24:53Z")
I feel like after the first time you go to prison for fraud, the government should hand you a little certificate of hucksterism which, as long as you prominently display it on your marketing, makes you immune to further fraud prosecutions. Anyone who is prepared to go all in on a second gamble like this should have all government related consumer protections removed from them, if for no other reason than it’d be really funny! ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2025, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sick-of-people-admiring-your-intelligence-and-knowledge-are-you-tired-of-people-calling-you-astute-then-do-i-have-an-opportunity-for-you/1014768/4 "2025-02-25T08:27:38Z")
Lessee here … a “festival” with only a vague description, no actual attractions named, and astronomical ticket prices, all organized by a convicted fraudster. What could go wrong? I’ll take ten! I just can’t decide between the $1400 tickets for basic admission, or the $4000 ones for basic admission plus you get to live on a boat for three days. Said convicted fraudster acknowledges that the first one didn’t go all that well and landed him a six-year jail term (though he only served two years) but this one will be different (or as Bullwinkle used to say, “this time for sure!”). I assume the major difference is that this time he has plans to avoid extradition. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2025, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sick-of-people-admiring-your-intelligence-and-knowledge-are-you-tired-of-people-calling-you-astute-then-do-i-have-an-opportunity-for-you/1014768/5 "2025-02-25T08:33:47Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > I’ll take ten! I just can’t decide between the $1400 tickets for basic admission, or the $4000 ones for basic admission plus you get to live on a boat for three days. Sure, you can do that if you’re poor. But the obvious smart choice is to cut two of your friends and buy the 8 person package for a measly $1.1M. Split between you all, it’s an absolute bargain! ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2025, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sick-of-people-admiring-your-intelligence-and-knowledge-are-you-tired-of-people-calling-you-astute-then-do-i-have-an-opportunity-for-you/1014768/6 "2025-02-25T08:46:40Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > or the $4000 ones for basic admission plus you get to live on a boat for three days. Cheapskate. If you’re not going for the $1.1M option you’re just not the sort of vision-trusting, adventure sucker, errr, seeker that deserves what this festival has to offer. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2025, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sick-of-people-admiring-your-intelligence-and-knowledge-are-you-tired-of-people-calling-you-astute-then-do-i-have-an-opportunity-for-you/1014768/7 "2025-02-25T09:05:43Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > But the obvious smart choice is to cut two of your friends and buy the 8 person package for a measly $1.1M. Split between you all, it’s an absolute bargain! That is the less smart choice. The smart choice is to buy 2, or even 3, of those packages and scalp the extras when the festival is sold out. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2025, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sick-of-people-admiring-your-intelligence-and-knowledge-are-you-tired-of-people-calling-you-astute-then-do-i-have-an-opportunity-for-you/1014768/8 "2025-02-25T09:42:10Z")
As George W Bush once said: There’s an old saying in Tennessee… I know it’s in Texas, probably in Tennessee… that says, fool me once, shame on… \ shame on you. Fool me… \ you can’t get fooled again. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2025, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sick-of-people-admiring-your-intelligence-and-knowledge-are-you-tired-of-people-calling-you-astute-then-do-i-have-an-opportunity-for-you/1014768/9 "2025-02-25T10:26:07Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > you can’t get fooled again. You mean the Who are performing? ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2025, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sick-of-people-admiring-your-intelligence-and-knowledge-are-you-tired-of-people-calling-you-astute-then-do-i-have-an-opportunity-for-you/1014768/10 "2025-02-25T10:41:27Z")
I’m prepared to assure you that they are. I don’t recommend you believe me though. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2025, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sick-of-people-admiring-your-intelligence-and-knowledge-are-you-tired-of-people-calling-you-astute-then-do-i-have-an-opportunity-for-you/1014768/11 "2025-02-25T10:54:23Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > I feel like after the first time you go to prison for fraud, the government should hand you a little certificate of hucksterism which, as long as you prominently display it on your marketing, makes you immune to further fraud prosecutions. Anyone who is prepared to go all in on a second gamble like this should have all government related consumer protections removed from them, if for no other reason than it’d be really funny! OTOH, I think we’re now living through a very real and very thorough demonstration of how that certificate, no matter how prominently displayed, just can’t stop a certain significant fraction of the populace from flocking to the huckster’s tent to shower them with adulation, money, and power. And no it’s not turning out to be all that funny. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2025, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sick-of-people-admiring-your-intelligence-and-knowledge-are-you-tired-of-people-calling-you-astute-then-do-i-have-an-opportunity-for-you/1014768/12 "2025-02-25T12:44:20Z")
You’d think after spending some time behind bars for the last escapade this fellow would, ya know, find a different line of work. But, as we’ve seen very strongly recently, there is a huge supply of rubes eagerly willing to throw their money at someone famous who’s promising them a good time. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2025, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sick-of-people-admiring-your-intelligence-and-knowledge-are-you-tired-of-people-calling-you-astute-then-do-i-have-an-opportunity-for-you/1014768/13 "2025-02-25T12:49:29Z")
Saw this on the news last night. I’m not really sure why they decided to give this dirtball any publicity, or perhaps it was an early warning public service announcement. I’m betting the whole thing collapses before he makes a dime. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2025, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sick-of-people-admiring-your-intelligence-and-knowledge-are-you-tired-of-people-calling-you-astute-then-do-i-have-an-opportunity-for-you/1014768/14 "2025-02-25T12:51:27Z")
I don’t know if he’s trying to prove that the first one wasn’t a scam, by attempting to demonstrate good faith and trying again, or whether he’s just figured out a way that he thinks he can fleece people without going to jail this time, or something else. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2025, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sick-of-people-admiring-your-intelligence-and-knowledge-are-you-tired-of-people-calling-you-astute-then-do-i-have-an-opportunity-for-you/1014768/15 "2025-02-25T14:20:46Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > You’d think after spending some time behind bars for the last escapade this fellow would, ya know, find a different line of work. Don’t you see? “Mistakes were made”. Now he knows what went wrong! This time it will work. Pinkie swear! ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2025, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sick-of-people-admiring-your-intelligence-and-knowledge-are-you-tired-of-people-calling-you-astute-then-do-i-have-an-opportunity-for-you/1014768/16 "2025-02-25T14:29:33Z")
I thought this thread was going to be about recruiting RFK Jr.'s replacement as the head of Children’s Health Defense. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2025, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sick-of-people-admiring-your-intelligence-and-knowledge-are-you-tired-of-people-calling-you-astute-then-do-i-have-an-opportunity-for-you/1014768/17 "2025-02-25T15:00:05Z")
Like none of you would have booked a cruise on _RMS Titanic II_ ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2025, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sick-of-people-admiring-your-intelligence-and-knowledge-are-you-tired-of-people-calling-you-astute-then-do-i-have-an-opportunity-for-you/1014768/18 "2025-02-25T16:03:48Z")
Even if it’s a disaster it’s fodder for social media content. That’s why people are signing up. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2025, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sick-of-people-admiring-your-intelligence-and-knowledge-are-you-tired-of-people-calling-you-astute-then-do-i-have-an-opportunity-for-you/1014768/19 "2025-02-25T16:33:14Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > The organisers claim to have sold some early tickets already. Truly there is no lower limit to human gullibility. Take all my [Dogecoin](https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/dogecoin/)! Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2025, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sick-of-people-admiring-your-intelligence-and-knowledge-are-you-tired-of-people-calling-you-astute-then-do-i-have-an-opportunity-for-you/1014768/20 "2025-02-25T17:20:02Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Lessee here … a “festival” with only a vague description, no actual attractions named, and astronomical ticket prices, all organized by a convicted fraudster. What could go wrong? Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you our next President of the United States! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sick-of-people-admiring-your-intelligence-and-knowledge-are-you-tired-of-people-calling-you-astute-then-do-i-have-an-opportunity-for-you/1014768.md?page=2)