Ask HN: Where to warn people of a legal-but-evil online business ploy?

by thimkerbellon 11/23/2025, 6:42 PMwith 6 comments

I don't think just posting it on HN would work. (It's a ploy like digging a hole beside their path,then hindering their travel to "nudge" them to step off it where they might not recognize the hazard.)

by uyzstvqson 11/23/2025, 7:23 PM

You can make a Tell HN post if it affects the HN crowd. And you can potentially make a page on the Consumer Rights Wiki.[1]

[1] https://consumerrights.wiki/w/Consumer_Rights_Wiki:Write_you...!

by DaveZaleon 11/23/2025, 7:26 PM

what category of "evil online business ploy" do you have in mind? I see dozens of them daily with even brief, casual browsing. Also known as "monetization" ;-)

But it's not just online that I find these ploys. In fact, thanks to donating to the wrong non-profit, it's frightfully simple to end up with a stack of snail mail in the mailbox daily, often with free gifts to entice donations. I can't seem to find a simple, free way to turn it off.

by thimkerbellon 11/23/2025, 6:44 PM

Also, where is today's Usenet?