" ponzi scheme "

 [ "ponzi scheme" ]

1: see social security.

  * e.g.,  ... Bill: Hey Will, what's this line on my paycheck that says "Social security"? 

 [ "ponzi scheme" ]

2: A scam involving paying off money to old investors with new investors' money. Eventally the last group of people paying into the scam never get their money back.

  * e.g.,  ... Will: It's the government's ponzi scheme. You'll never see that money again. 

 [ "ponzi scheme" ]

1: 1) A phrase used by idiots for any type of scam.

  * e.g.,  ... 1) Bill: these people are trying to make me think I can get a free iPod for answering a survey. Looks like a ponzi scheme to me. 

 [ "ponzi scheme" ]

2: 2) A specific type of scam. The operator (often from nigeria) of the scam promises "investors" that their money will be doubled in a certain number of days. The operator depends on the money provided by later investors to pay off his obligations to the earlier investors. This turns out splendidly for the early investors (assuming that it takes off), but later investors get the short end of the stick, as no more people are enrolling. At this point, the operator usually takes the money he has left and runs. This generally sucks for the later investors. Not that I care, because you have to be a total dumbass to enroll in a ponzi scheme anyhow.

  * e.g.,  ... Me: Bill, you dumbass. That's not a ponzi scheme. 

 [ "Attention Span Ponzi Scheme" ]

1: An Attention Span Ponzi Scheme is a system of recruitment of people to pay attention to a topic. People recruited to the topic are then encouraged to drag in the attention spans of others.

  * e.g.,  ... Examples of Attention Span Ponzi Schemes include chain letters, time-wasting Facebook applications, and any social reference group that is based on recruiting others to participate or play for the subject to have sustained interest. 

 [ "Attention Span Ponzi Scheme" ]

2: The entire system collapses when everyone realizes that the topic is bankrupt of value to be discussed in the first place.