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Posted By: ryck Free House Opportunity - 03/07/11 04:38 PM
It seems that the end of the world is nigh. However, if you're like me and figure the odds might be against it, this could be a financial opportunity.

Since these folks are so certain that we're not going to be around after May 11, I'm sure they wouldn't mind betting on it. If I should happen to see them, and any are homeowners, I'm going to ask them to bet their house. If we're around after May 11 the house is mine.

And, if we're not around........well, talk about a great hedge.

ryck
Posted By: tacit Re: Free House Opportunity - 03/07/11 05:48 PM
My partner Zaiah and I are hosting an End of the World party on that day. I've always found it entertaining to host parties on days that various religious groups cave called the end of the world, and you'd be surprised how often that is. (I hosted my first End of the World party in 1989.) One of her friends actually has a Web site that tracks religious doomsday end-of-the-world predictions. In the US alone, there are often about 20 a year.

Last time I looked, the world hadn't ended. Still, I suppose it's a good idea to check HasTheWorldEnded.com every so often just to make sure.
Posted By: ryck Re: Free House Opportunity - 05/23/11 12:00 AM
Whew! That was a close one. Well, I'm glad we're still all here (although some of my friends might argue I'm not all here - but, what do they know?)

I never did get any takers on the bet. Tacit, I hope your party was a par-tay!!.

ryck
Posted By: artie505 Re: Free House Opportunity - 05/23/11 11:00 AM
Originally Posted By: tacit
[...] a Web site that tracks religious doomsday end-of-the-world predictions. In the US alone, there are often about 20 a year.

Last time I looked, the world hadn't ended. Still, I suppose it's a good idea to check HasTheWorldEnded.com every so often just to make sure.

I'm afraid the world may have ended; your link is dead! frown

Does that Web site also track the fallout from unfulfilled predictions, i.e. the fates of the predictors, their organizations, and their followings?

I'd love to see such a compilation, although I suspect that I'd be appalled by it.
Posted By: ryck Re: Free House Opportunity - 05/23/11 11:14 AM
Originally Posted By: artie505
Does that Web site also track the fallout from unfulfilled predictions, i.e. the fates of the predictors, their organizations, and their followings?

In this case, I think a few of the followers may now have a frown . One news report said that some had actually quit their jobs and sold their homes in anticipation.

ryck
Posted By: artie505 Re: Free House Opportunity - 05/23/11 11:24 AM
Originally Posted By: ryck
In this case, I think a few of the followers may now have a frown . One news report said that some had actually quit their jobs and sold their homes in anticipation.

ryck

The media in NYC reported that a retired Staten Island postal worker had spent close to his entire life's savings spreading the word.

Rather than make me wonder, stuff like this just plain frightens me!
Posted By: tacit Re: Free House Opportunity - 05/23/11 06:08 PM
One of the things I'm worried about is that some of these people may end up committing suicide because the end of the world failed to happen on schedule. frown
Posted By: jchuzi Re: Free House Opportunity - 05/24/11 09:16 AM
Preacher Harold Camping says Rapture actually coming in October. What's the old saying? Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

From my perspective, considering how obvious it is that this guy is a crackpot, once would be enough to shame me. But, as Barnum said, there's a sucker born every minute.
Posted By: artie505 Re: Free House Opportunity - 05/24/11 09:42 AM
I'd like to know how he recalculated and what he's going to do when he's wrong again.

On the other hand, though, he has given his followers a reason to live another five months (if they can afford to). (Edit: Ref. tacit)

And finally, since I'd have expected him to have spent every last penny while money still had value, I wonder where he got the $ for the motel (or does he just figure that there'll be no more collection agencies after October 21)?
Posted By: ...JER Re: Free House Opportunity - 05/24/11 11:39 AM
Originally Posted By: ryck
In this case, I think a few of the followers may now have a frown . One news report said that some had actually quit their jobs and sold their homes in anticipation.

ryck
Originally Posted By: artie505

The media in NYC reported that a retired Staten Island postal worker had spent close to his entire life's savings spreading the word.

Rather than make me wonder, stuff like this just plain frightens me!


The frightening thing is these people can VOTE!
Posted By: artie505 Re: Free House Opportunity - 05/24/11 12:08 PM
> One news report said that some had actually quit their jobs and sold their homes in anticipation.

That just registered... The guy who spent his life savings put his money where his mouth was.

But what's the purpose behind quitting your job and selling your house when you're toast...fait accompli? Reaffirmation of faith? confused
Posted By: jchuzi Re: Free House Opportunity - 05/24/11 12:37 PM
More, from the NY Times. And he says that he won't return anybody's money.
Posted By: roger Re: Free House Opportunity - 05/24/11 06:50 PM
he should be thrown in jail for shouting "Fire" in a movie theatre...
Posted By: artie505 Re: Free House Opportunity - 05/24/11 07:40 PM
Originally Posted By: roger
he should be thrown in jail for shouting "Fire" in a movie theatre...

A public stoning, perhaps by the people whose money he won't return, sounds more appropriate to me.

Edit: The least he could do is support all those who tapped out in anticipation of the end until the "real" end.
Posted By: artie505 Re: Free House Opportunity - 05/24/11 07:42 PM
He already made a fool of himself in 1994, so who's more foolish...he for doing it again, or his supporters for believing him again?
Posted By: joemikeb Re: Free House Opportunity - 05/24/11 09:11 PM
Originally Posted By: artie505
But what's the purpose behind quitting your job and selling your house when you're toast...fait accompli? Reaffirmation of faith? confused

While I do not subscribe to Harold Camping's apacolyptic interpretation of the biblical texts nor to their literal interpretation, there is at least a modicum of justification for selling or giving away all your property found in all three of the synoptic Gospels, the parable of the Rich Young Man where Jesus tells him…
Originally Posted By: Matthew 19:21 NRSV
If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me."

How this passsage should be understood has been the subject of countless sermons, lectures in seminaries and schools of theology, and discussed over untold millions of gallons of spirits in taverns going back even before the reformation. But for those who interpret the bible litterally (usually in English and preferably English as written by the interpreters of the King James bible it is a no brainer. If the apacolypse is coming and you want to build up browny points in heaven then sell your goods and give the mooney to the poor — you will have no need of them anyway.
Posted By: joemikeb Re: Free House Opportunity - 05/24/11 09:29 PM
Originally Posted By: artie505
Originally Posted By: roger
he should be thrown in jail for shouting "Fire" in a movie theatre...

A public stoning, perhaps by the people whose money he won't return, sounds more appropriate to me.
Another biblical quote seems appropriate here.

Originally Posted By: John 8:7 NRSV
When they kept questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let anyone among you whi is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her."

While I do not, in any way, believe in Harold Camping's apacolyptic interpretations of the biblical texts, it seems reasonably obvious that he is a "true" believer no matter the accuracy of his predictions. If we are going to start stoning everyone who believes differently than we do, that could truly bring about the apacolypse.
Posted By: artie505 Re: Free House Opportunity - 05/24/11 09:33 PM
Great post! Thanks. smile

Maybe ryck took his comment out of context and left out the "gave it away" part, maybe that part wasn't reported, and maybe it just plain didn't happen, but I do see your point.

And I guess quitting your job is an affirmation of faith.
Posted By: artie505 Re: Free House Opportunity - 05/24/11 09:49 PM
On the one hand, of course, but on the other hand, his status as a "true believer" is subject to doubt, because I haven't heard about his having given away all of his earthly possessions, and, indeed,

Quote:
But Mr. Camping said his company — which is a nonprofit — would also not return donations given by his followers in advance of the May 21 prediction. “We’re not at the end,” he said, “Why would we return it?” <Harold Camping Predicts October Date for the Apocalypse - NYTimes.com>

***Edit: which seems to be directly opposed to

Quote:
He added that his company — which had bought billboard space nationwide to promote the May 21 date — would not promote his new prediction, Oct. 21. (Same article)
***

I've always felt that the only honest "guru" is a poor one... Or has he already gained so firm a place in heaven that he doesn't need to score any more points?
Posted By: joemikeb Re: Free House Opportunity - 05/25/11 04:31 PM
Well, of course there is the unspoken and unwritten sub-text ..but just in case I am wrong... blush
Posted By: ryck Re: Free House Opportunity - 05/27/11 03:37 PM
I guess we can give the last word to Conan O'Brien: "The pastor who incorrectly predicted the Rapture for Saturday said he had a very tough weekend. To make it worse, his friends keep calling him, saying, "Hey, it's not the end of the world!"

ryck
Posted By: artie505 Re: Free House Opportunity - 05/28/11 07:06 AM
Originally Posted By: joemikeb
Well, of course there is the unspoken and unwritten sub-text ..but just in case I am wrong... blush

And therein lies the difference between leaders and followers... Leaders hedge their bets! shocked
Posted By: joemikeb Re: Free House Opportunity - 05/28/11 10:11 PM
Originally Posted By: artie505
Originally Posted By: joemikeb
Well, of course there is the unspoken and unwritten sub-text ..but just in case I am wrong... blush

And therein lies the difference between leaders and followers... Leaders hedge their bets! shocked

Growing up in the Texas oil fields, I learned the biggest winners didn't hedge their bets. Of course the odds were they would be the biggest losers but they inevitably went for broke in spite of the odds and When they hit — they hit BIG. If they missed they were hitting you up for a 10¢ cup of coffee the next day but because everyone knew they had "bet the farm" and held nothing back, someone was usually willing to back their next venture. [Comment: The oil patch is not the same place today that it was then. Today, it is all MBAs and CPAs and no one risks their own wealth.)

I am of the opinion the same is true in religious matters as well. In the long run Harold Camping has lost his credibility and much of his following. Hedging his bet only serves to erode his position even further.
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