# I bet my conspiracy theorist friend $100 **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 22, 2016, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388 "2016-05-22T19:16:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388/21 "2016-05-23T03:02:25Z")
> [@owlfan](#): > > Come to think of it, about 10 years ago she was trying to get me to buy into an obvious pyramid scheme. She was going to be able to retire in a year and the rest of us suckers would still be working. If you suckers had all joined her downline and spent all your money buying inventory and going to motivational seminars and then recruited hundreds of other suckers she probably could have. So don’t make fun of her. It’s all your fault. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388/22 "2016-05-23T03:06:48Z")
IMO you are unlikely to get paid and your friendship is probably over at the point she refuses to pay. Making bets with insistent adult kooks on the notion they will behave rationally and honorably when the bet comes due is a very bad idea. There will always be 1000 reasons they will offer why the bet wasn’t valid because of man in the moon marigolds. Don’t spend that money. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388/23 "2016-05-23T03:46:43Z")
Your friend is trolling you. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388/24 "2016-05-23T04:38:01Z")
Oh, you’re friends with Phyllis, too! ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388/25 "2016-05-23T06:15:14Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > If you win, and she tries to give you a slip of paper with “A4V” written on it, don’t accept it. I didn’t know what “A4V” meant so I Googled it. The very first [website](https://www.getoutofdebtfree.org/A4V) listed advised that you can use this magic set of characters to take care of any payment or debt! I can’t believe I never knew about this! I can’t wait to use it! The website did, however, add a warning: [QUOTE=Get Out of Debt Free!!!] Warning - although organizations are legally obliged to accept this method of payment and members have had success with it, recently, corporations have not been accepting them quite so readily, so please do not be disappointed if they do not accept it or send it back. We suggest you do not use it unless you are prepared for it to be returned and know what to do in that eventuality. [/QUOTE] I’ll take my chances though. Surely MOST corporations will accept my legal and binding “A4V” even if there are a few bad apples who hassle you over it. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388/26 "2016-05-23T06:57:35Z")
I know I’m continuing a bit of a hijack and that Dopers are already well acquainted with the whole Sovereign Citizen thing but an additional bit of [advice](https://www.getoutofdebtfree.org/A4V-FAQs#) from the [getoutofdebtfree.org](http://getoutofdebtfree.org) whack-site FAQ was just too good to pass up. [QUOTE=Nutty Nutty Nut-Cakes] [Q] I am considering using an a4v to pay my rent, is this a good idea? [A] Probably not, as you could lose your home. [/QUOTE] Even _they_ don’t even seem to believe in the validity of their little game very much. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Crybaby\_Boobie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crybaby_boobie/32/545_2.png) [@Crybaby\_Boobie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crybaby_Boobie)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388/27 "2016-05-23T17:00:34Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > And Bush Jr. This is the first CT I wish would actually come true - about Obama, that is. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388/28 "2016-05-23T17:05:36Z")
> [@owlfan](#): > > Haha, I had to Google A4v. I’m surprised I haven’t heard about that from her already. Honestly, I don’t get how a **reasonably intelligent** person can believe this stuff! Well, that’s your problem right there, thinking she is reasonably intelligent. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388/29 "2016-05-23T17:15:17Z")
There’s no way you can win. When the election happens, she’ll claim it was fake and not really valid. When no martial law is declared, she’ll say it was a secret martial law. When the next person assumes office, it’ll just be a puppet of Obama. Maybe literally! ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388/30 "2016-05-23T17:24:56Z")
> [@owlfan](#): > > Haha, I had to Google A4v. I’m surprised I haven’t heard about that from her already. Honestly, I don’t get how a reasonably intelligent person can believe this stuff! Cognitive dissonance, of course; being a fruitcake and being intelligent are not mutually exclusive. If anything intelligent people are better at fooling themselves by a combination of hubris and fallacious arguments. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388/31 "2016-05-23T17:40:59Z")
I dunno, I think I’m down to an opening gambit on these people. “How many times have these predictions of yours actually come true? Because I gotta expect the answer is zero, which is the point where SANE people walk away.” ---
**Author:** ![owlfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@owlfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlfan)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388/32 "2016-05-23T17:53:00Z")
She also is a person who interprets the Bible literally and I don’t, so we have agreed to disagree about many things over the years and have been able to get along well. She is a good person and a good coworker. I fully expect to never see the $100. I am sure she will find a loophole and continue to feel sorry for me as one of the sheeple. And I will know that I was right and we will continue to work together. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388/33 "2016-05-23T18:33:41Z")
> [@owlfan](#): > > Haha, I had to Google A4v. I’m surprised I haven’t heard about that from her already. Honestly, I don’t get how a reasonably intelligent person can believe this stuff! All you ever need to know about A4V and other nuttery, and why no “magic words” will ever work: [_Meads v. Meads_, 2012 ABQB 571](http://www.canlii.org/en/ab/abqb/doc/2012/2012abqb571/2012abqb571.html). ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388/34 "2016-05-23T19:06:42Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > They said that about Clinton too. Around 1975, a friend of my mother’s was convinced that, during the coming weekend, Vice President Nelson Rockefeller would unleash his plot to have President Ford killed, so the evil Rockefeller and his minions could :eek:seize control:eek: ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388/35 "2016-05-23T19:18:13Z")
> [@owlfan](#): > > She also is a person who interprets the Bible literally and I don’t, so we have agreed to disagree about many things over the years and have been able to get along well. She is a good person and a good coworker. I fully expect to never see the $100. I am sure she will find a loophole and continue to feel sorry for me as one of the sheeple. And I will know that I was right and we will continue to work together. 🙂 You’re the good person. I’d have told her to [go sell crazy some place else](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn74wA4qGpA). ---
**Author:** ![Chihuahua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dec6dc/32.png) [@Chihuahua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chihuahua)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388/36 "2016-05-23T19:48:47Z")
> [@owlfan](#): > > She also is a person who interprets the Bible literally … Wait… What? ---
**Author:** ![Chihuahua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dec6dc/32.png) [@Chihuahua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chihuahua)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388/37 "2016-05-23T21:08:59Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > All you ever need to know about A4V and other nuttery, and why no “magic words” will ever work: > > [_Meads v. Meads_, 2012 ABQB 571](http://www.canlii.org/en/ab/abqb/doc/2012/2012abqb571/2012abqb571.html). Wow. This is fascinating reading, and the justice has far more patience than I would in his shoes. ---
**Author:** ![AngelSoft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angelsoft/32/440_2.png) [@AngelSoft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelSoft)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388/38 "2016-05-23T21:42:51Z")
My mother’s co-worker is convinced that there’s a secret color code system for your front doors. Something like based on the color your front door is painted, when the Masons overtake the world, it’ll determine if you’re killed, enslaved or free??? I told her she should have played along and told her my dad’s a Mason and that we’re willing to share the right color with her…for a price. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388/39 "2016-05-23T22:27:49Z")
Can I get a piece of the action? ---
**Author:** ![owlfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@owlfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlfan)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388/40 "2016-05-24T00:59:59Z")
> [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](#): > > Your friend is trolling you. Sadly, she is not. I have known her for over 20 years. She really believes all this. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388.md?page=3)