hamstercult.com--it's berry fun to f### around with frauds.

Speak of the devil, and look at what the hell happens...

Maybe there really is such a thing as Karma.

No sooner had I finished writing a post in a class assignment blog about the exploits of Rob Cockerham against herbalife than I would have my own brush with the dreaded pyramid/Ponzi scheme universe.

I'm currently the online editor of The Orion, considered one of the best student-operated college newspapers in the country. The paper has a feedback feature, where people can post comments about stories in The Orion that can then be seen by the world.

Well, after I approve them. All feedback faces prior approval, so any issues such as libel, spam advertising, or blatently false Email addresses can be prevented for sneaking in and ruining discussion.

Like any good newspaper, there's a classified section in The Orion. There's often quite a few Ponzi scheme-sounding ads in our classified section, but as long as the paper is getting paid for the classified, no big deal.

That was, of course until this ad shows up in the classifieds (I'm creating it as a graphic file, so to avoid robot pickups and non-stop emails):

Okay, your typical pyramid scheme ad. Talks about getting rich, with a site link, which takes you to a site talking about the wonders of their product.

Of course, something a little different here than from Rob Cockerham's herbalife experiences, the product is actually mentioned--goji, a type of berry found in the Himalayas.

Continuing with the story at hand, though, this feedback post was attempted from a fellow ID'ing himself as "Darin":

Anybody else find it really funny that "Share," "Richer," and "Grow" are capitalized?

So, I reject the feedback, because it's attempting to throw in extra sales pitches that we aren't getting paid for.

Low and behold, our webmaster is sent this email by Darin:

Can you explain why the feedback I submitted has been rejected? What is your feedback submission area supposed to address? My comment is one of appreciation toward a business opportunity posted in your classified column. Please respond. Thank you, Have a Healthy Day.

Okay, gut instinct, don't respond. But I'm a sucker for a good electronic mail fight. My response:

Darin:

I am the person who rejected your feedback at The Orion Online. It is my job to preview feedback 
before approving or rejecting it.

The reason your ad was rejected was because, while it did thank your team member (which, oddly,
 you didn't thank by name), it also included additional pitches for the same product mentioned in 
the classified advertisement. 

These pitches were *edited out to avoid bots* and *also edited out to avoid bots* These, either 
directly or indirectly, contribued[sic] additional advertising to your product, which we would 
not be getting paid for, and could be viewed as an endorsement by The Orion Online or 
California State University, Chico of your product. It is our policy, therefore, that any advertising 
of products to appear in The Orion must be paid for, and labeled as such.

Please keep any future acknowledge of salesperson to that, without any indirect mention of your 
product.

Thank you for reading The Orion Online.

Looking back at that, I've realized something. If this whole newspaper reporter thing doesn't pan out, I've got used car salesman ready and waiting.

We'll see if I get a reply. I'll keep y'all posted.