A Letter to Matthew

[Rassah]

So many people seem absolutely convinced that MNW has gone over to the Dark Side. However, I saw his "facebook" youtube video, and it reinforces my conviction that he was just doing an epic prank for the betterment of the community.

Can you please explain to me how siding with pirateat40, starting a bet to shut up all the people spreading FUD about ponzi's, and taking attention away from all the real scammers, betters the community? Please?

Ya know, I don't actually believe he was siding with pirate, at least not with any formal agreement or meaningful arrangement.  It certainly hooked a lot of foolish fish though.

Did you not read the OP of the bet, or the many discussions with him afterwards? He plainly stated that he was sick of "Team Ponzi" spreading FUD and attacking these HYIP businesses as ponzis without proof. The whole bet was "if you believe they are a ponzi, put your money where your mouth is," and at first, many of those who "bet" did so not to make a quick buck, but to make their point, which was that they believed BTCS&T was a scam. Maybe we were reading or understanding something differently *shrug*

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[blablahblah]

So many people seem absolutely convinced that MNW has gone over to the Dark Side. However, I saw his "facebook" youtube video, and it reinforces my conviction that he was just doing an epic prank for the betterment of the community.

How does some video he made over a year ago any indication to his motivation for starting a pirate "bet"?...

The same way that others claim they can divine his true intentions from words on the Internet. If it were that easy, why did they get it wrong the first time?

MNW knows how to signal when he's trolling and when he's not. Most of the time he's trolling. Occasionally he gets serious, eg when he accepted pre-orders for the magazine. During his bet, he made every attempt to signal that it was a genuine offer. Furthermore, if it was a prank there was nobody but himself to enjoy it (pranks are funny because you can laugh with witnesses who were in on the joke). It only started to seem like a bad joke in the third week after it was clear pirate wasn't going to pay, and he started accepting more bets way beyond the original 10k cap. Even at that point, MNW was very quiet and any signs that it was prank were extremely muted.

Clearly the prank wouldn't have worked if it had been all "wink wink, nudge nudge" and with loopholes that were more obvious. No fun in that.

And then what? Next week, on the Bitcoin show... Ex-secret service guy who used to work for the CIA has a HYIP, possibly involving drug-running. Obviously he can't reveal any details as that could compromise his buddies in war-torn Afghanisnam. Watch as the Pirate victims fall prey once more!

[Yolocoin]

So many people seem absolutely convinced that MNW has gone over to the Dark Side. However, I saw his "facebook" youtube video, and it reinforces my conviction that he was just doing an epic prank for the betterment of the community.

Can you please explain to me how siding with pirateat40, starting a bet to shut up all the people spreading FUD about ponzi's, and taking attention away from all the real scammers, betters the community? Please?

Ya know, I don't actually believe he was siding with pirate, at least not with any formal agreement or meaningful arrangement.  It certainly hooked a lot of foolish fish though.

Did you not read the OP of the bet, or the many discussions with him afterwards? He plainly stated that he was sick of "Team Ponzi" spreading FUD and attacking these HYIP businesses as ponzis without proof. The whole bet was "if you believe they are a ponzi, put your money where your mouth is," and at first, many of those who "bet" did so not to make a quick buck, but to make their point, which was that they believed BTCS&T was a scam. Maybe we were reading or understanding something differently *shrug*

How many people in "team ponzi" took that bet, 100% expecting it to be a real wager, "scouts honor?"  How many people would buy this bridge I've got to sell?

[blablahblah]

[meh...]
...
How many people would buy this bridge I've got to sell?

Sweet!! Does it have pillars? I really like the ones with those old-school arches made with stone bricks. Oh boy!

[zyk]

 

If the source of the fog is already obscuring your views, may be changing it, wipes the tears off your eyes

ZYK, you sir are suffering from a dreadful affliction known as

And he's talking all over the walls.

The bamboozled dog seems a bit obstipated lately, pay your dept to hgmnicha !, or make sure not standing with your back to this wall, when not only my liquid feedback

is sprayed on it

Liquid feedback. I love it.
[/quote]

Oh Matthew,

you phenomena, so plenty of liquid feedback is sprayed on countless walls, that I may reserve my tear when you want to feather your scalp the next time

Cheers Zyk

P.S, you got to be loved

[bbit]

The master stunt prankster of Romney tax returns fame and chief blockchain-bloater is disappointed in a known troll ex-scammer of several years. This is so much fucking LOL. You can’t write comedy this good. It has to be lived.

^^ LOL'd

[bg002h]

Jesus Christ...
The bitcoin community is gullible as fuck. Therefore, it attracts scammers.
That's how simple it is. No pathetic posts about feeling betrayed, no multiple threads about the same topic (being butthurt about getting scammed), no tears and drama is needed.

The only thing you all need, is to learn how to use your brains. Do not trust anyone, especially not just because you had sweet chit-chat over Skype and PM's. Your parents obviously failed to raise you, because even kindergarten kids know they're not supposed to trust strangers.

I kinda have to agree...I mean....seriously? People are upset they didn't get something for nothing? I guess if you got ripped off by pirate you would fall for this to...

[Rassah]

Did you not read the OP of the bet, or the many discussions with him afterwards? He plainly stated that he was sick of "Team Ponzi" spreading FUD and attacking these HYIP businesses as ponzis without proof. The whole bet was "if you believe they are a ponzi, put your money where your mouth is," and at first, many of those who "bet" did so not to make a quick buck, but to make their point, which was that they believed BTCS&T was a scam. Maybe we were reading or understanding something differently *shrug*

How many people in "team ponzi" took that bet, 100% expecting it to be a real wager, "scouts honor?"  How many people would buy this bridge I've got to sell?

I did. That's why I bet only 20. If you're selling the bridge for $0, I'll take that too.

I kinda have to agree...I mean....seriously? People are upset they didn't get something for nothing?

I think you missed the part where people are upset because someone else would've taken their money had he won, but would not pay out if he lost. It's a tiny bit different. Other people were also upset because Matthew spent 3 weeks building up to a HUGE climax... that in the end turned out to be a "meh." 
It's as if some guy invited everyone to come watch his spectacular fireworks, people took the time off from work to come see it, and when they got there, all they saw was him tossing a lit molotov cocktail into the air, and saying, "Get it? GET IT!?" And even after it fell on his head afterwards, it really wasn't all that entertaining.

[evoorhees]

Jesus Christ...
The bitcoin community is gullible as fuck. Therefore, it attracts scammers.
That's how simple it is. No pathetic posts about feeling betrayed, no multiple threads about the same topic (being butthurt about getting scammed), no tears and drama is needed.

The only thing you all need, is to learn how to use your brains. Do not trust anyone, especially not just because you had sweet chit-chat over Skype and PM's.

I trust people all the time, that's how business relationships are built, and how things get done. There are many people on this forum who I trust, and in the vast majority of cases they prove trustworthy.

Your parents obviously failed to raise you, because even kindergarten kids know they're not supposed to trust strangers.

Goodness, stop the juvenile attitude, please. You trust strangers every day. Do you drive a car? If so, you're trusting thousands of people you've never met to have built something safely for you. You trust the car company because of its reputation, built and earned over time. Trust is immensely important, and when someone breaks it, it's worthy of discussion.

[evoorhees]

The master stunt prankster of Romney tax returns fame and chief blockchain-bloater is disappointed in a known troll ex-scammer of several years. This is so much fucking LOL. You can’t write comedy this good. It has to be lived.

There are trolls and there are liars. I knew Matthew was the former, and now I know he's the latter. In this, I'm disappointed.

Interesting rhetorical use of "blockchain-bloater"... perhaps Bitcoin would be better served if I worked to reduce the number of transactions, instead of built things people found valuable? I'll get to work right away, and hopefully by this time next year, there won't be a transaction to be found! 

[bg002h]

I kinda have to agree...I mean....seriously? People are upset they didn't get something for nothing?

I think you missed the part where people are upset because someone else would've taken their money had he won, but would not pay out if he lost. It's a tiny bit different. Other people were also upset because Matthew spent 3 weeks building up to a HUGE climax... that in the end turned out to be a "meh."  
It's as if some guy invited everyone to come watch his spectacular fireworks, people took the time off from work to come see it, and when they got there, all they saw was him tossing a lit molotov cocktail into the air, and saying, "Get it? GET IT!?" And even after it fell on his head afterwards, it really wasn't all that entertaining.

I agree the whole idea of the bet is kinda childish, but the expectation of others that Matthew pay out in Bitcoin rather than accept the scammer tag is silly.  I'm not a fan of drama and theatrics (cough...Ellet...cough) but Matthew taught me a lesson: people don't think when they are being greedy. I mean, even our forum founder holds stolen Bitcoin unashamedly and he has the gall to consider Matthew a bigger scammer than himself? I'm not certain he would have taken the money had he won, in fact, he offered scammer tags to all who chose not to pay. If people paid Matthew, it would have been to get the scammer tag taken off...not because they lost a bet.

I hold two stolen Bitcoins (roughly).  It's easy for me to admit I don't deserve them because its not much money...I should like to think I would feel the same way if I held a large amount of stolen funds. But even if I had a large amount of pirate profits, I sure as heck wouldn't brag about it or try to convince others that "I didn't _know_ at the time it was a ponzi, therefore it's ok that I keep my winnings now...."

[gene]

I mean, even our forum founder holds stolen Bitcoin unashamedly and he has the gall to consider Matthew a bigger scammer than himself?

Yeah. Quite the lot of hypocrites and lackeys around here. Theymos is even more of a grifter than the nutty Matthew.

[Shagnasty]

Jesus Christ...
The bitcoin community is gullible as fuck. Therefore, it attracts scammers.
That's how simple it is. No pathetic posts about feeling betrayed, no multiple threads about the same topic (being butthurt about getting scammed), no tears and drama is needed.

The only thing you all need, is to learn how to use your brains. Do not trust anyone, especially not just because you had sweet chit-chat over Skype and PM's. Your parents obviously failed to raise you, because even kindergarten kids know they're not supposed to trust strangers.

i dont know where you come from but i am proud to be raised in a way to first assume other people are honest.

i should not think this about random internet people though; lessen learned.

You're lucky no random person ever came up to you as a child and said your parents had been in a terrible accident and that you need to come with them.

[muyuu]

I'm not certain he would have taken the money had he won, in fact, he offered scammer tags to all who chose not to pay. If people paid Matthew, it would have been to get the scammer tag taken off...not because they lost a bet.

Of course he would have taken money had he won. Some people have a minimum sense of decency. I for one ALWAYS honour my bets.

[greyhawk]

You know what the greatest thing about this is?

It would have taken one single change of bitcoin adresses to turn this from being a childish dishonourable prank into a massive display of awesomeness.

If Matthew had a single ounce of man in his body, he would have made that adress the 20 BTC x 112 were sent to not his own adress, but instead that of a worthwhile charity. Boom! Instant publicity stunt. Thank you, Matthew, for being an awesome guy and helping cancerified starving orphans with this bet we knew you couldn't fulfill. XOXOXO, the Bitcommunity.

But nope. "Fuck you, kept mine."

[MPOE-PR]

You are an immoral, illegitimate person, Matthew, and I hope you extricate yourself from what we're trying to build.  I'm embarrassed to have ever defended or supported you.

Ashamed and betrayed,
-Erik

Witnessed.

[NothinG]

So..., so much emotion!