For some time now I've been on a quest to make the internet work for me.
I consider myself a "Power User" knowing the ins and outs of IT related issues. But, and a big but, it would seem that most if not all "systems" are set up in a way to make someone else benefit from your hard work, if you are actually doing something, and not yourself.

Now, I understand the mutual benefits if someone provides a "means" like with Affiliate programs etc, but how do you compete? Ad words and Ad sense is the answer and it would seem to be the only answer. But therein lays the problem for me. To generate traffic to your affiliate program you must incorporate Ad words, that is an expense and if it is not implemented correctly, you spend more than you are making.

And the products, mostly some kind of program promising the world if you buy it or a e-book with the secret to life etc.

Now, my skills when it comes the internet is fine tuned to find almost anything on the net without paying money for it.
You do pay in some way, let’s be honest, if you don't follow the yellow brick road to get what you want, and by that I mean a purchase of the item over official channels, then you might stumble upon it in the darkest of regions on the net and there is where you pay. Not having the lastes anti-virus software installed will open the door to chaos on your system. But, you got what you wanted without forking out your hard urned money.

What am I going on about, I don't really know. I just feel the need to share my thoughts on this somewhere.

Lets take my latest excursion, online gambling. The principals are the same as with real life gambling; don't gamble what you can't afford to lose. Know when to stop.

My problem, not a problem per say, but still an issue for me, you get lured to a casino with promises of free gambling credits. Once you have signed up, you must make a deposit before you are entitled to it. Most promotions work like that, you only benefit if you make deposits.

Roulette is my favourite game, there are a lot of systems out there that gives you the impressions that if you follow it exactly you will win, but let me tell you something, if the casino decides to take your money they will.

The affiliate programs for selling systems that’s guaranteed to make you at least a few 100 bucks a day also always has the disclaimer that you must know when to quit, don't spend more than you can afford, but if their systems are so wonderful, why have it. Okay, may be for legalities it’s there, but why pay for it before you can try it. Using the systems on the "Play Money" sections of online casinos does not prove it works, that section is made to lure you in to go play for real money, and that’s where they get you. No that’s it’s a bad thing, its advertising.

So, what makes gambling system affiliate programs so annoying is that you must buy a product before using it. Then there is a system that offers a trail but once installed you need a password and the support does not want to share, i mean why even mention a 3day trail in the first place. If i use the system for 3 days and show a profit, sure as hell i will buy if then, it’s an investment, and should it work the way it is claimed, then it will pay for itself in no time.

I've lost more than I’ve made so fat in my roulette adventures online, but i like to think that I’ve got it under control. I don't go out and sell the cats food to get more bucks for credits. I enjoy it, try to find in my own way a system that works. But, like a donkey, i keep on hitting my head against the same rock over and over trying to beat the system. That my problem, nothing is perfect, we live in an imperfect world. Organised Chaos i believe is the correct term.

So what am I going to do? I'm going to continue as normal, find what i want on the net without paying. I'm not talking about DVD's or books or other physical stuff you can buy at respectable online stores, but these silly programs that’s claim it has the answer to make you rich over night, but you have to pay in blood to get the details.

I've been working my arsines account for a while now, and I’ve made 0.01 in 6months. yay. Let’s see if my blogs and rants and ravings at Xomba can make my ad sense balance look like I want it to look.

One word of advice, take everything you read online about making money with a pinch of salt. Do your own homework before investing in anything. Do some research; Google is the best tool for it. You will be surprised at the results.

I'm not saying Xomba won’t work, and I don’t really much care for ad sense at the moment, I have the account, I set up everything, I’ve got nothing to lose, except maybe my subscription here? I you don't try at least you will never know, but don't be fooled.

I'm venturing a program to make internet users aware of the pit falls and empty promises that they might come across. I want to compare the good with the bad and the ugly that’s available in the net. The net is a wonderful place, but can get you into a lot of trouble, financially and personally.

With my knowledge, i want to share with those who don't have the right internet savvy yet, I can think of a few people in my own family that falls in that category. It’s not their fault, they're not internet gurus (not that I claim I am) but I want to be sure they can save them from themselves, and not be taken advantage of.

Hope this rant makes some sense. Let me here what your experiences are or where. Let’s not be afraid to take on the big wide net of bits and bytes and let it be known we will not be made fools of any longer. Let’s make the net a joyful place of decent content and not a race to see who can make the most money from those who don’t really know.

Regards,

KingIdler