Is "Initiative Q" A Scam?

in #life5 years ago

"As quickly as you start spending federal money in large amounts, it looks like free money."
- Dwight D. Eisenhower -


TL;DR Version (Too Long; Didn't Read)

It's hard to label some thing a "scam" or "Ponzi scheme" when all they ask for is a name and email address.

If you haven't yet, use your Initiative Q Invite Link code:

(Hint: it looks like this: https://initiativeq.com/invite/HDNlxknom)

Invite everyone you know, and encourage them to do the same. This could vastly increase your possible rewards if  Initiative Q eventually "goes big."

Of course, you'll want to use your own judgement when it comes to the possibility of annoying your friends and family.

Image courtesy of Thomas Breher

If you're still reading, here are a few more thoughts:

One very obvious benefit to the Initiative Q people is the development of a massive email list, essentially "for free." Well, not entirely for free, because they've obviously invested heavily in kicking off this campaign in a way that has clearly attracted a lot of people.

Clever marketing?

If the Initiative Q goals are as they have stated, then absolutely yes. They have tapped the powers of word-of-mouth and of exponential growth.

Exponential growth can be surprising.

For example, if each person registering for Initiative Q were able to enlist only two other individuals, everyone on planet Earth would be a member by the 34th invitation level.

This assumes, of course, that:

  • Everyone knows two people unknown to anyone else
  • Those two people respond by joining and reaching others
  • Everyone on Earth has and uses email and the internet

Even without those stipulations, given the potentially huge payoff, Initiative Q is likely to reach a very large number of people. Many participants will invite far more than two.

Possible danger signs?

What should you watch out for, going forward?

I would begin to be nervous, and consider withdrawing, should either of the following two situations arise:

  • I start receiving unrelated emails from Initiative Q
  • The organizers begin asking for personal information

In either of those circumstances—both huge red flags—I would very likely withdraw from participating.

However, thus far, neither of those has occurred. Can you think of any other possible risks?

Others have analyzed and commented on Q:

Here are a couple of authors that I think you may find worth reading as you consider your Q participation:

Interestingly, the founder of Initiative Q has responded to Mr. Gerard's thoughtful article with these interesting comments and clarifications.

What's the upshot?

I don't see much to lose here. Pass your Invite link on to friends and family. Who knows? Perhaps this is one of those "ground floor" opportunities, too good to pass up.

Bonne chance!


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I first heard about this from @papa-pepper and used his link. I figured I had nothing really to lose. I as well will be looking for any potential red flags! Hopefully the Q will hit one dollar then I can cash out!

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That would be cool! I hope it happens. ;)

As I said before, it leaves you vulnerable - you give a legitimate, active email address. The people running this won't contact you, but in an era of information, they'll sell their list of active emails to an internet marketer who is skilled at getting past your email filters and hitting your inbox. Information is power.

In this case, they've sworn that won't happen...

Yet what guarantee is there?

Well, anyone interested can create their own guarantee by maintaining a set of "disposable" email addresses. If any particular disposable address becomes a problem, you simply turn it off.

Granted, it's a matter of balancing the risks with the possibility of reward.

BTW, having now written about this obviously successful viral campaign, I am wondering how in the world I might adapt some similar word of mouth and exponential principles to sell more of my colloidal silver generators. I truly believe that every family on the planet needs one in their medicine cabinet, and yet I don't know how to propagate that idea...

You need a savvy internet marketer - I saw a Youtube vid the other day explaining the virtues of several nutrients and then at the end the presenter casually mentioned a product of his that contained all the nutrients in just the right amounts - sneaky and effective - Mind you, you'd have to reveal your face, lol. O, the price of loss of privacy - it must vex Oprah :)

No, not the face! :O

LOL...

I heard about this, not yet fully understanding it.. am i right in saying this is a centralised system? That was my assumption and why i didnt go any further with it...

Hi, @eco-alex,

Yes, their FAQ seems to at least strongly imply that Q will not be a decentralized system. If it ever amounts to anything, I suspect my personal strategy would be to divest myself of any gains and exit the system.

Anyone have an invite they could share?

Hi Garth,

Here's one that should work? Please let me know if it does:

https://initiativeq.com/invite/BgOEzfnom

I will also need to know the name you'll appear under there so I can pass it along to the link holder?

If it's different from your Steemit name, or if you aren't comfortable with leaving it here, let me know and we can meet on Discord or Steemit chat.

Nice to hear from you, BTW! ;)

Hey, thanks man! I just used my steemit name with a space. Garth Freeman.

I know I haven't been around here too much lately, but stuff's just been busy. Good to see you're still keeping it real!

Hi Garth,

I've passed on the word, expect that you'll be verified soon...

Yeah, I've continued to write. Don't miss my Library - click the GIF below.

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@creatr

Hey @creatr

Can we please speak for a few min on skype at your convenience? I fit somewhere in this chain, so would like verification too!

Hope all is well friend!~

Looking for you on Skype... ;)

Interesting... Some of my concerns are the amount of power this would put into this one companies hands. Although if I had my proton mail account right now I might consider it...

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, you've got me thinking now.

I do agree about the power in central hands...

My strategy is that if this pays off, I'll cash out and put it in crypto.

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I still have 1 invite left, I've posted it on Twitter and Facebook, people aren't interested.

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make 'em do the hula... ;)

Seems they can as we did it Haha :)

I signed up a while ago now. Havent even thought of it since. Not too much of interest. Is there anything going on there? Any place that shows your tokens *could be worth some huge amount" seems a bit sketchy from the start.

TBH I havent yet found any better place to be than here so far.

Guess we'll see, eventually. They are not in any rush about it.

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