Don't tell me you don't know about it. Movies showing beautiful women, websites having clickbait titles, salesman calling himself "a student" trying to fool me into buying his encyclopedia, the advertisements on papers.... all of them indicate people will do anything for money, even if that means psychological manipulation. Another example is video game trailers, showing the best, cinematic scenes only, even if the game itself is crap.... I am so sick of it.


Why is the world like this? I cannot be the only person wondering this.

[Travelinglady]

They think money will buy happiness, evidently.

[Turtle_Rider]

I'm sorry, I am one of those people, but of course I never scam or do anything extremely just for money (still maintain my conscience and sympathy). For me, money makes me feel more secure. With money I can buy food, house, car, education, insurance, or anything to ensure my survival and safety.

I agree that money can't buy everything, but let's face it we need it to survive, at least to buy food and pay for shelter. Also, those in poverty are more prone to crime and injustice.

There are still many reason for other people. It could be because of happiness, power, pride, or anything. But for me, it is simply for survive.

[Borderline69]

Oprah Winfrey once said the difference between Americans and other Countries is America lives to work while everyone else works to live. I'm pretty sure she was Implying America is greedy while other Countries work enough to survive, spend a lot more time chilling with family and friends, total freedom. 😉

If you want to work your entlife so you can have the home you don't spend time in, the car you cant drive to work, material things only you care about, then what is your life worth ? Not much me thinks. I've only worked half my life and have 0 regrets. Life is too short to waste it on work till you drop in order to build up a fat bank account. To each their own, the simple life keeps you younger, healthier and gives one reason to love what you have rather than work you *** off to have what others have. Keeping up with the Jones has always been the American way, yet they seem to be more miserable than ppl from other Countries. Money has and always will be the root to all evil, some of us figure it out earlier in life than others.

Why? Because a university education costs money. Having a home costs money. Eating food costs money. Travel costs money. In the US health care costs money. As a society we are driven to pursue wealth in order to be comfortable.

Additionally not very person shares the same morals and values. We all have different ideas of what is acceptable vs not.

That all being said, my dream life is living in a tiny house in the woods. I would love to live off the grid if I could pull it off. I dont think the way we live now is the best.

Yes, yes. I agree that money is one of the things essential for survival and a human being absolutely theoretically cannot survive without money. I get that. However, it doesn't mean you should absolutely LOOT other people of money using psychological "knowledge" (even an engineer doesn't know much about psychology formally, let alone salesmen or hotel management, I instantly recognize manipulation, why try at all? another thought) and since we are a middle class family not having money to pay my healthcare bills, I wouldn't want my father falling for a solar heater scam and me going blind due to not being able to go through LASIK.

I am sick of people out there just wanting money. There are other things that matter too, perhaps not as much, but those are - Family, friends, healthy lifestyle, etc. that cannot be bought with money.

[*Laurie*]

Why will many people do anything for money? To get straight to the point: FEAR. That's why.

I want a damn good geared bike to ride, something like the new Passion xPro or CB Shine. I am not gonna get them for a life time if I don't get them now, and my dad could become a victim of scams as well... it's not that we haven't before. It's immoral, why do people do this?

Its immoral according to your morals. We dont all have the same value system.

I wanted to say that the above is just a thought. I'm coming across as a bit abrasive today and I don't mean to.

Lol I've seen worse. And experienced even worse, so no worries, Sad Girl.

Hmmmm so I am left wondering why people think scamming isn't immoral.

[ShadowGX]

Money is power in human society, and just like other animals we seek power over others - to be the "alpha".

At least, that's my theory, simply put.

Edit: To add to that, we are of course human, so there's people who choose to ignore that alpha drive and instead be giving and kind. I'm definitely not saying we're all like that (I'm sure as heck not), but I am saying I think it's one of those "by nature" things that some choose to do.

I know a therapist who will do anything for money, no matter what consequences others will endure, no matter what pain is caused to others, no matter to him.....Why he does it? I can't imagine unless mentally ill.

Lonelychemist, this is related but unrelated. This post reminds me of a song.

Dollarz and Sense by DJ Quik. "If it dont make dollarz, it dont make sense".

I'm listening to it. Fair warning its 1995 rap and accordingly potentially offensive.

I cant answer your question on morality. There is simply too much grey area.

Originally Posted by ShadowGX

Money is power in human society, and just like other animals we seek power over others - to be the "alpha".

At least, that's my theory, simply put.

Edit: To add to that, we are of course human, so there's people who choose to ignore that alpha drive and instead be giving and kind. I'm definitely not saying we're all like that (I'm sure as heck not), but I am saying I think it's one of those "by nature" things that some choose to do.

Hmmm but I am not sure that money is the only thing that puts one person in power than the another.

Originally Posted by TheSadGirl2

Lonelychemist, this is related but unrelated. This post reminds me of a song.

Dollarz and Sense by DJ Quik. "If it dont make dollarz, it dont make sense".

I'm listening to it. Fair warning its 1995 rap and accordingly potentially offensive.

I cant answer your question on morality. There is simply too much grey area.

But what will scammed money do good?

Originally Posted by TheLonelyChemist

But what will scammed money do good?

Depends on why they are scamming money. To provide a better life for their kids? To pay for school? To buy a house? To retire in the Carribean? It makes a difference.

Is it wrong to steal to feed your children if you have no other options? I dont know.

Then again greed is one of the 7 deadly sins, for whatever that is worth.

I do not believe in the Christian God and I don't give a fk about what's a sin and what isn't, but I am a very moral person, struggling to improve people's lives.

Let's be realistic here. People who scam, those who appear in infomercial advertisements for example, aren't that needy or are a a part of the lowest class in the world. I have seen advertisements which made me quite furious due to the fact they hide behind the mask of a "doctor" and expect people to give money because they suffer from -
1) Obesity
2) Addictions
3) Smoking

It still airs on our TVs. Basically, there's a supposed doctor who appears in the infomercial as a consultant and she gives "information" on how obesity, addiction and smoking are bad and they may cause cancer and all the bullcrap mixed with things everybody knows. Then they offer advice on how exercise isn't the solution and they must buy their ****** product which doesn't work. And how the country's "greatest scientists and doctors" helped made the snake oil / "product."


The girl is attractive and has done makeup. Now I don't see the directors or the actors so needy of money they need to scam people to feed their kids.

Why not do something honest and make a living out of it? Or just stay at home if you cannot make a honest living? I'd happily say "fk it" if I cannot make a honest living as a scientist/commoner. Those who fall for scams aren't exactly Bill Gates either.

First of all I dont subscribe to religion either. That doesnt mean it isnt interesting to talk about.

As for what peoples motives are, I personally try not to make assumptions because i simply dont know.

Staying at home is great if you cant find honest work.....but who is paying your bills? My parents both died a long time ago. I've been fending for myself since I was kicked out at 17, while in grade 12. There was no option to stay home.

I also dont judge those who fall for scams. Scams play on peoples vulnerabilities. We all have our kryptonite.

I totally understand where you are coming from. In currently resided to the fact that I dont get people, as a species, let alone anything they do.

The motives are clear if you have sufficient knowledge. The best way to treat obesity as well as addictions is exercise combined with healthy life style. But the product offered is something so great that you should give up the thought about exercise and quickly buy their product ASAP cause it's been created by "the greatest scientists and doctors of our country." As a science student I find it not only ridiculous but offending, so we scientists endorse the product only NATIONALLY on a late night TV infomercial instead of publishing it in scientific journals? Is that why we have our PhDs and post-doctoral research in medical sciences, just to endorse a ****ing snake oil pill?

I am not a scientist yet, but I find it very offensive that someone would use the name of science (where the tremendous hard work of the most brilliant people all over the world goes) to sell snake oil. That is one of the reasons why people become cynical about doctors too after seeing the advertisement. The most ridiculous thing is that it still airs.

is repeating in my head as I am reading your views on religion, it's about scammers.

Originally Posted by TheLonelyChemist

The motives are clear if you have sufficient knowledge. The best way to treat obesity as well as addictions is exercise combined with healthy life style. But the product offered is something so great that you should give up the thought about exercise and quickly buy their product ASAP cause it's been created by "the greatest scientists and doctors of our country." As a science student I find it not only ridiculous but offending, so we scientists endorse the product only NATIONALLY on a late night TV infomercial instead of publishing it in scientific journals? Is that why we have our PhDs and post-doctoral research in medical sciences, just to endorse a ****ing snake oil pill?

I am not a scientist yet, but I find it very offensive that someone would use the name of science (where the tremendous hard work of the most brilliant people all over the world goes) to sell snake oil. That is one of the reasons why people become cynical about doctors too after seeing the advertisement. The most ridiculous thing is that it still airs.

is repeating in my head as I am reading your views on religion, it's about scammers.

That song creeped me out. Lol. An interesting choice given your view on religion.

Here's a question. If you are scientific brained and not religious brained, what would be the reason not to scam people?

I mean we assume everyone has a moral compass, but whether that is true or not and where it guides them is unknown.

So why is it that because YOU feel its wrong, that applies to everyone? I had a friend in high school who didnt dance because it was against her religious beliefs. She did not tell me I couldnt dance.

(I'm enjoying this discussion. I like picking peoples brains. If you are uncomfortable answering please dont).

I am never uncomfortable about anything. I am a lion forced to live as a rat... Anyway.

Religion isn't always equal to morals. In fact religion is far away from being the idealistic moral book. Religion made people dig holes into skulls of the mentally ill, make slaves, kill each other etc. etc. any of which it isn't moral. I cannot go in details without breaking forum's rules.

Science tells us that we all are living. Psychology tells us we're hardwired for depending upon each other for our own survival. Now I am no psychologist, I haven't studied psychology (I have studied geology, physics, chemistry and biology, physics being the weakest and chemistry being the strongest) but science tells us we all feel pain unless we have some congenital neural defect in us. And the comes logic that we shouldn't hurt each other psychologically or biologically unless in self-defense.

Of course, there are some exceptions like killing other animals for food and clothing, universal laws cannot be formed in biology let alone psychology. But what I make out is that life is a beautiful gift and we should enjoy it, live and let live.

If you think my answer is flawed, and to be honest it is, it is because I never took a psychology or ethics class and all I have studied is either biology, geology ,chemistry or physics, none of which have 'ethics' unit in them. So feel free to ask any questions.

In the animal world, anything goes. Dog eat dog, survival of the fittest, etc. Sometimes animals kill just to maintain dominance. So why are people, as a species, held to a different standard? Does our intelligence mean that we must over ride animal instinct?

Cannibalism seems to be only in extreme conditions where the animal loses its mind? Again I have not learnt anything about it. Survival of the fittest actually means (not offending you) continuation of species which genetically adapts to the changing environment, that I can accept. In a paleontology lecture I learnt that horses once had two nails, they were dull and dog-sized. That species of horse did not survive but those who ran for their life eventually become more muscular, agile and one-nailed. They passed their traits in the form of genes to their offsprings, which improved them even more and so on.

Then we had our modern horse birthing in slowly. It's evolution. I can accept that. Scammers, on the other hand should be eliminated completely and the 'fittest', those who are able to make a healthy living, should be continued, in my opinion.

But if a scammer rips tons of people off and lives a life of wealth and luxury, are they not then the fittest for pulling it off? Fittest meaning most able to survive.

Unless of course with think in terms of a state of apocalypse. Money wouldnt necessarily make you the fittest at that point, unless perhaps you used your wealth to purchase an under ground bumper and stocked it.