"Confessions of the ActiveRain Spammer"  (movie rights available)

June 15, 2006 was a clear day in the Port City of Wilmington, NC, I remember it well.  I did my daily check of the Inman Blog and noticed a new entry about the ActiveRain Real Estate Network.  The Blog even mentioned that the CEO was a trilobite hunter, a PERFECT patsy for my evil plan.

I quietly joined the network and began laying the foundation of my plan.  I was going to climb to the top and dominate the world.  No one could stand in my way.  I quickly discovered that I needed "points" to accomplish my goals.  The patsy, I'll call him Mike, was foolish enough to leave a FAQ laying around.  The FAQ contained the secrets to acquiring points.  I needed points and I would soon realize I needed points more than a twice daily crack habit.  The lame minor profile enhancement points weren't going to satisfy the growing hunger.

Starting with the agents in my office, all were forced to join and toil for hours uploading photos and enhancing their profiles.  I forced them to add links from their websites.  But is wasn't enough, from there I moved to my branch offices, shouting madly to all who cowered under my iron fist, to acquire more points, for what they earned, I reaped a 10% benefit. 

I was slowly gaining on some of the weaker super powers in the Network.  My sights were set on #1, but too far away,  I would have to crawl over a lot of members to reach my goal.

Some of my minions were not responding.  I was being nice to invite them to them, but they turned a deaf ear, so I CALLED them.  The power rush when they quivered and whimpered as the joined the network was taking me higher and higher.

I needed more, much more, I need minions who would work towards my goal, without question.  I began touting the greatness of the network (soon to become mine).  My followers came, they joined and mindlessly began acquiring points, they became addicted and from that addiction, I was taking 10% from them.  The 10% Solution.  Brilliant.

I spread the invitations far and wide, first from my address book, then Point2, then other forums, some well known, others, not so.

Mike, somehow became wise to my plan and began adjusting the points.  No matter, I would get my 10% somehow.  I would add more minions.

My Spam-capade continued.  Google jumped on the network and added to the rush by ranking my minions as #1 by their name search.  The addiction was spreading.  Each day I gleefully counted the points that others acquiring for me.  My goal was quickly in sight.  The Overlord from the West was melting.  Melting right before my eyes.  His minions were doing the same for him, but not at the efficiency and pace of mine.

Mine were writing creative Blog entries (an added bump to the addiction), 24x7, some were forcing spouses to work in the field whilst they acquired more points.

The #1 was mine.  Did I stop?  Did I quit?  No, I was addicted and my minions were hungry, all 84 of them, no, it is now 86, 2 more have had their first taste and will want more.

[Moral of the story #1, get people to join.  I've seen some comments that I had an unfair advantage, not so, I wasn't the first to join, but I did come in early.  I haven't always been in the #1 position and probably won't be there much longer.  24.09% of my points have originated from the 86 people who I have invited to join, that's 100 points a person, just for them joining.  My most productive member is responsible for 6% of my points (Thanks Tim). Other have been active participants and that accounts for a whole lotta points. Do the math, I couldn't get the points I have by myself, that's the moral of the story.]

[Disclaimer #1: Drug addiction is not funny and is used for illustrative purposes only.]

[Disclaimer #2, I really didn't yell at anyone in my firm.]

[Disclaimer #3, I have disclosed every "trick" I use to get members in this or other ActiveRain forums.]

[Mike, I mean Matt, please deduct 200 points so no one thinks I wrote this insanity for points.]