It is giving me the message--  BitForceSc detect (2:1) Warning unknown firmware 'FIRMWARE: 1.2:40x00'     
I did use zadig and changed the driver.

No need to get nasty.  I'm trying to figure out the logic.  So your saying that the same person that can't even legally enter into an auction agreement is now running a company?  With shareholders?  And he's got about 25 grand of donations?  Do Cognitive shareholders know this?  You're right on one aspect that a juvenile cannot enter into a binding contract, which means this thing gets fisher with each day.

Then he certainly isn't old enough to run Cognitive and he double certainly shouldn't be holding onto 250BTC of forum funds.  Which is it?

Two very easy solutions:  no sock puppet bidding, auctioneers use a reserve price.

I was debating on auctioning off my SC Single.  In your logic, I could set it up, let people bid, then have my sock send the bid up to 1000BTC in the last few seconds.  Maybe someone would be desperate enough to outbid me (doubtful).  I win my own auction every single time until I get the price I want.  Why have the auction in the first place?  The entire auction process becomes a giant circle-jerk where the auctioneer sets the price, not the bidders.  That's not how an auction works.

To hold a successful auction.

Yet another person I will NOT have fiduciary dealings with.

This is a very useful thread.  I could not devise a better test for determining who is and is _not_ honest.

Gar's identity is not in question -- he both admitted & apologized.  

TL;DR: theymos' reply:  shilling and socks perfectly valid here.

Seems like you are all fucked twice, cause the auction is rigged by the seller using a sock puppet to raise the bids,  
read the topic till the end:
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=236794.msg2517652#msg2517652

As I said, I'm not going to argue against the all-powerful BFL only because I value those orders more than a few peoples' opinions of me.

Seems like you are all fucked twice, cause the auction is rigged by the seller using a sock puppet to raise the bids,  
read the topic till the end:
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=236794.msg2517652#msg2517652

As I said, I'm not going to argue against the all-powerful BFL only because I value those orders more than a few peoples' opinions of me.

Please read the entire thread before making assumptions. I did not do any such thing, but I cannot argue against my apology to Josh because he would then be able to cancel my preorder.

I am simply acting in the way those familiar with the term fiduciary duty would expect me to.

Sorry for the drama, that's not what was intended (by me).


Inaba's given you the green light to argue your case without reprocussion.  Your move.

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=238474.msg2532361#msg2532361

Hi all,

First, I apologize for taking too long to attempt to resolve this situation. I've been extremely frustrated with myself all day. I have been regretting what I have done since the moment I did it.

I hereby confess to bidding up my own auctions using the "Werner" forum handle. This is despicable, I know. I did this out of pure greed. Scamming anyone was not the priority, getting a few extra measly bitcoins for Cognitive's auction was my goal. I have always acted in the best interest of Cognitive, because I know, believe, and practice my fiduciary duty which comes as a result of handling others' assets. I want everyone to know that I will continue doing my best to run the company, the same as I always have. My track record on the forum has been flawless before this incident, and that's what hurts me most. I'm disgusted with myself when people are questioning whether they can trust me now.

Although some may view this as a petty offence (as I did previously), I do not any longer. As an attempt to at least partially make up for my wrongdoing, I am offering each of the participants in the auction, starsoccer9 and Vezunchik, BTC5 of my own personal funds, which more than makes up for the financial loss due false bids in the auction. I realize that what I have done is unacceptable, and I do deeply regret it.

Being an optimist, I can't help but try to take something positive away from a given situation. I believe that because of this incident I will make an effort to be that much better of a person. Everyone who I have interacted with aside from these auction participants, and Josh Zerlan (Inaba), would agree with me when I tell you: I strive to be a person of high moral conduct.

I apologize to everyone for letting greed get in my way. I know trust takes ages to build, and a few posts to destroy. I hope that everyone will acknowledge my past, and see that I have never acted in an externally malicious way, and have always been transparent, friendly, and courteous in all of my dealings with fellow forum members. Know that I am a man of my word: when I say I will do something, I do it. I regret bidding up the auction greatly. Please know that I have never scammed anyone nor have I stolen anything. I have done tons (probably well over 100) transactions of physical items with users of this forum and not one has gone sour. In most of them the other party was the one who had to trust me.

Again, I sincerely regret what I have done and I apologize for doing it. The small sum of bitcoins I gained from this (until I pay the auction bidders back) was certainly not worth the tarnished reputation. Never again will I allow myself to do something so crooked.

Garr255 shill bidding, legit screenshot by Inaba, Garr255 confesses to being Werner, Garr255 says he might have been lying about confession #1, more evidence found connecting Garr255 to Werner,  Garr255 confesses to being Werner (again), Garr255 says he will pay 5BTC to victims of confirmed shill auction.  Starsoccer9 says hasn't been paid yet.  Svbeon says "I will be sending you the coins soon".

That's about where we're at right now.

BFL never offered 64 GH/s units.  Just sayin'

Did Gar255 put a gun to his head? No one forced the bidders to do anything.

Having an alt that artificially raises the bid price is similar to a secret reserve price in an auction. There's nothing inherently wrong with it except that Garr255 should have warned bidders that he might do it. I rank his actions there as "a bit shady," though he handled the fallout badly (due to inexperience, I suppose).

In any case, alts aren't against forum rules, and scammer tags are typically only given when an explicit agreement is broken. Garr255 never promised not to bid on his own auctions. He never even promised to honor the results of the auctions. Without contracts, auctions are only devices to assist in price negotiations.