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AIBU?

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Original poster

To not 'mind my own business'

139 replies

buymeabook · 02/11/2015 11:36

Facebook one I'm afraid. Acquaintance advertising for people to sign up to her 'book exchange' scheme. You send 1 book and get 36 in return. I replied saying isn't this just a pyramid scheme, and people at the bottom won't get anything? (It works by everyone signing 6 people up, and you give a book to someone 2 steps up. So by the time you have 11 levels you are up to 60 million people needed....)

She got really shirty with me, telling me to mind my own business if I wasn't interested and not be so negative. I probably should have kept out of it, but she's normally an intelligent enough person and I'm pretty sure wouldn't want to rip anyone off, so put it down to her not really understanding.

(And yes, I am definitely being unreasonable for starting a fb thread).

OP posts:
teasmum · 03/11/2015 17:01

i fail to see how this particular scheme has been going around the world since at least January then. Obviously no-one ever gets 36 and it would be better to reduce it to 9 (and still get less) but if it continues slowly and gradually there is the possibility of an endless supply of new people joining. And like I said, people who have already taken part but want to again for a different child or because their child is older. I really don't see that I am scamming friends, they ask to join knowing the full details. Just like I asked to join knowing the full details. Where is the scam (a dishonest scheme)?! I'm not a teacher but my mum is a maths teacher and she thinks it's a nice idea too...

trixymalixy · 03/11/2015 17:04

As i said, terrifying.

teasmum · 03/11/2015 17:17

My attitude and opinions may be terrifying to you, I also find your attitude and opinions to be terrifying, everybody's different.

Original poster
buymeabook · 03/11/2015 17:17

The scam is the promise of lots of new books whereas the reality is most people get nothing. Even if there is smallprint saying you might not get anything.

Reducing the number of books has an effect on the scale but not the basic premise. 9 books presumably means everyone recruiting 3 people. In that case you would need something like 21 levels before you reach the earth's population.

The only way it can go on indefinitely is if people go back into the scheme. But even then the numbers are fantasy. Even with the simplest possible scheme of 3 levels you would need to run it 43 times for everyone to get a chance of being the receiver, and 36 times you would give a book but not get anything.

OP posts:
teasmum · 03/11/2015 17:21

That's what I've said right from the start, people go back into the scheme, people don't get the full amount of books, etc., etc. It's not some perfect equation it's real life.

Original poster
buymeabook · 03/11/2015 17:22

What exactly is terrifying about what trixymalixy has said?

OP posts:
Original poster
buymeabook · 03/11/2015 17:23

And the vast majority get nothing! Are you ok with that?

OP posts:
teasmum · 03/11/2015 17:27

Not if it continues indefinitely without negativity and scaremongering coming into it. Her general negativity and miserableness and being totally rude to someone for having a differing opinion is what scares me.

teasmum · 03/11/2015 17:28

On that note, lets agree to differ and go and enjoy our children.

trixymalixy · 03/11/2015 17:32

Teasmum. I'm not the one ripping people off. I don't see it as being miserable to try and save people from being conned by you. I think what you are doing is morally wrong. You can dress it up as for the children and nice and altruistic, but the bottom line is that it's not. It's greed, sheer greed.

If you think that's rude, so be it.

Original poster
buymeabook · 03/11/2015 17:32

Ha! That's a new one, if it doesn't work it's because of people being negative. Bravo. And this is what pisses me off about it. If you point out the fatal flaws you are called a misery. Reality is, it doesn't carry on indefinitely. There is no way it can be practicably organised to ensure no one loses out.

It is not a difference of opinion. You are wrong. Fundamentally so.

OP posts:
teasmum · 03/11/2015 17:37

I'm not ripping people off and neither am I being ripped off. It's a bit of fun where everyone getting into it knows what it involves. As I said this particular one has been going on since at least January and has every possibility of carrying on indefinitely. There are many ways in life where some people get more than others unfairly, at least this way is a fun one that everyone enjoys. If you get nothing you sent off one book for a few pounds, I don't know why people are making such a big negative song and dance about it. In your opinion I am wrong.

trixymalixy · 03/11/2015 17:43

You are wrong. You don't even need to be good at maths to realise that it's not possible for everyone to take out more than they put in, which is what is being promised. Which is where that morality comes into it.

teasmum · 03/11/2015 17:45

Why do you assume everyone is an idiot? Why can't you just assume that, like me, everyone involved understands they might get nothing and just wants to get involved for fun? If it's not for you don't get involved but don't treat others as if they are immoral idiots for getting involved.

SilverBirchWithout · 03/11/2015 17:48

Charity shop or library book browsing is so much more fun for children and teaches them skills about choosing books to read. Cannot see the appeal, and I would even be a bit judgy about lazy parenting to those who opt in. Hmm

teasmum · 03/11/2015 17:48

I really am off this time because I've had enough of trying to defend myself for something that's a bit of fun and has been blown out of all proportion.

teasmum · 03/11/2015 17:51

Oh for goodness sake, what next?!

trixymalixy · 03/11/2015 17:51

It's not a bit of fun though teasmum. It's illegal in some countries. Have a good hard think about why that might be?

CobblerBob · 03/11/2015 17:58

Well, it is so clear why pyramid schemes work at duping people. Eye opener thread!

My mum's mate got sucked into a pyramid scheme in the eighties and lost all her savings. This was a woman who scrimped and worked her fingers to the bone to save £2000 and then lost it because someone told her that her stupid pyramid scheme was a secret way to make thousands more. Totally immoral. I can't actually believe people still get conned by this crap...

SilverBirchWithout · 03/11/2015 18:02

teasmum you seriously cannot see that this is involving children in a con where some people get nothing, whilst others get more than they put in themselves?

Toffeelatteplease · 03/11/2015 18:07

But that's the point. The problem with pyramid schemes is the vast sums of money involved.

This is a book. You can choose to get involved you can choose not to get involved. If you do get involved and you are "scammed". You have lost the cost of a book.

Disparagers are correct of course. But somewhat disproportionate in the response.

On this occasion I would live and let live

trixymalixy · 03/11/2015 18:11

It's not just a book though. It's 36 books, at £5 each that's £180. I personally would feel horribly uncomfortable receiving £180 worth of books while only having spent £5. I guess I'm just not as greedy as others.

Toffeelatteplease · 03/11/2015 18:15

Yes but your loss isn't £180. It's £5.

assuming that you send new. Less if you don't.

Original poster
buymeabook · 03/11/2015 18:18

That's ok then, it's only a small con.

OP posts:
trixymalixy · 03/11/2015 18:20

It's not about my loss. I'd quite happily altruistically send a child a book. It's the intrinsic unfairness of 97% of participants getting nothing, while others have 36 books. I think it's hideous. Why not just start a nice circle of your 6 participants and send each child a book? Why the pyramid? It's just greed on the part of the initiator.