I don’t think it’s a matter of having a honeypot, I just think it’s a thread with valuable content that doesn’t need to be closed. It’s not as simple as saying “this is the correct answer - case closed”; the discussion can still continue. In other words, I think this is a perfectly good GQ thread:
Person A: Is X a scam?
Person B: Yes, because of X reasons.
Person C: And also because of Y reasons.
Person A: But what about Z?
Person C: Z isn’t good evidence because…
…then six months later…
Person D: I’m surprised that you think X is a scam! I have reasons A, B, and C why I think it is not a scam.
Person E: B isn’t a good reason because…
Person F: Also, A and C are basically rephrased versions of reasons Y which we previously discussed.
… and so on. This is my personal opinion, I’m not a GQ mod, but I think that allowing for continued response (with the chance for our users and new visitors to respond skeptically to any claims given) is of value.
This is different from people just advertising or spamming. They’re not actively trying to gain subscribers or whatever from the Dope. They’re trying to put out information about Lyoness and others are attempting to debunk the claims that appear to be spurious and investigate the claims that seem to be vague. I think that’s perfectly valid, and the fact that the thread keeps getting bumped sure seems to mean that people are still interested in talking about the topic.
I don’t think it’s purpose is as a honey pot, I think it is a honey pot by default. The scammers aren’t coming here for any other reason than it’s a deep result on Google (I think it’s higher for some of us due to Google’s attempts to predict what we’re looking for–since we’re on the Dope, it wants to return Dope results).
You should read the posts that have bumped it. They are actively trying to gain subscribers. Names, phone numbers, and email addresses have been scrubbed from posts. Most encourage people to PM them to discuss the finer details. They’re not trying to put out information about Lyoness, they’re trying to put out misinformation and recruit members for their pyramid. There are not claims that “appear” to be spurious; it is unquestionably a pyramid scheme. The fact that it keeps getting bumped is solely due to scammers trying to find new members to recruit into their pyramid, not because people (in general) are interested in talking about the topic.
Again, I find it no problem to jump in on a scammer, report the included email and phone number, and directly (along with other members) respond to the spam. That it is nothing more than bumping with thinly-disguised spam is clear if you take the posts in isolation and imagine them as [del]ice cream-pooping unicorns[/del] new threads. They’d be closed before Runner Pat could put on his shoes.
So here’s my prediction. As long as it’s open, it will attract scammers looking to add to their pyramid. Notwithstanding the rare post from an honest member or someone who has not yet lost his money to the scheme. Bump … bump … bump … bump …
At what point will the mods get sick of it and say enough is enough? The same song and dance for a year? Over three years? Five hundred posts? Or will it be here in ten years and a few thousand posts, living on until the pyramid itself collapses?
I think this pretty much sums up my own thoughts on it. Even if it’s publicity for Lyoness, the replies make it really bad publicity for it. IMO, posting to the thread is most likely a highly counterproductive strategy for proponents.
Frankly, I doubt very much that these guys are picking up much if any response from this site. You can’t very well read the thread and take them seriously.
I’ve just opened a discussion among the GQ mods. We haven’t had a general discussion of the thread previously. However, since we’ve all received the reports and no one has seen fit to close it I think the reasoning of the other mods has been similar to mine and fluiddruid’s.
The thread is at this point a few months old, so I think it’s a bit premature to worry about whether it will still be here in 10 years. At this point, I think the consensus is to allow it to stay open. That could change depending on how much of a nuisance it becomes.
Well, the thread finally got one (obvious) spam too many (post #195), and samclem whacked the thread (post #200). It doesn’t immediately appear that the spamminator has been insta-banulized though. Wonder why.
Are we now pretending that the thread on this subject, with all its revelations, never took place? Every single statement he makes has been countered in that thread.
No “do-overs” for you, MikeDubai.
