Spread The Love (And Pay Us)

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Posted by timothy on Tuesday March 30, 2004 @03:30AM from the brilliantly-insipid dept.

Digitus1337 writes "Wired has an article up about a new online service known as 'FunHi.' You sign up and join a community, and give your fellows gifts, but as Wired has reported, 'these are not ordinary gifts. They're purely digital: little flashing icons of cars, planes, diamond rings and other virtual representations of expensive items included in messages members send each other. And FunHi members don't seem to care that the real money they're spending on the gifts, at prices as high as $30 an item, is going straight into the company's coffers." This leaves just one question unanswered... why didn't I think of this?" It sounds like an April Fool's Joke, but then, so does online trading of Everquest loot.

39 of 442 comments (clear)

Snobby Greedy Bitch... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-03-30 03:31 · Score: 3, Funny

What about the Snobby Greedy Bitch... the one who thinks these gifts are reprsentative of real ones?

Then $30 will seem quite inexpensive.
Why would I pay for this? by Doesn't_Comment_Code · 2004-03-30 03:32 · Score: 1, Funny

I can send digital files to my friends for FREE thank you very much!

--

Slashdot Syndrome: the sudden, extreme urge to correct someone in order to validate one's self.
1. Re:Why would I pay for this? by dasmegabyte · 2004-03-30 04:30 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  YOU wouldn't pay for this.
  
  But somebody who didn't understand technology and didn't want to MIGHT pay for it because they thought it was a cute idea. These are the same people who buy new Sims add-ons for the additional wallpaper and landscaping. These are the people keeing Pier 1, Tuesday Morning and the Christmas Tree Shop in business. These are the same people who keep buying me candles, picture frames and other tchotchkes when what I really need is a new fucking laptop.
  
  In short, women will pay for this, because it is useless but kind of cute and not too expensive.
  
  --
  Hey freaks: now you're ju
Personally... by pubjames · 2004-03-30 03:32 · Score: 5, Funny

I'd love you more if you just gave me the money...
1. Re:Personally... by pubjames · 2004-03-30 03:38 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Troll? I was being serious. And joking.
On the plus side... by Channard · 2004-03-30 03:33 · Score: 5, Funny

... maybe the people who are prepared to pay out cash for virtual items will be so busy trading their nonexistent gifts they won't have time to breed, and the average IQ will go up. At the very least, it should keep the terminally gullible out of circulation.
1. Re:On the plus side... by theCulture · 2004-03-30 03:45 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Let's take a more direct approach: Let people subscribe to this for six months, then have a cull of all community members, preferably with something large and blunt.
  
  Result: The base level of stupidity is removed from the gene pool. Rejoice!
  
  --
  theCulture - "A strange combination of English middle class home counties and californian surf-bum"
2. Re:On the plus side... by Lord_Dweomer · 2004-03-30 04:06 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  And perhaps this will drain their coffers so they can't spend this money on spam. God, just wait till the spammers catch onto this......
  "Buy an animated gif of a penis up to 3" longer than yours! Guaranteed! $50"
  
  --
  Buy Steampunk Clothing Online!
Amazing by mr.henry · 2004-03-30 03:33 · Score: 4, Funny

This reminds me of a line from Larouche in Adaptation:
I'm training myself on the internet. It's fascinating. I'm doing pornography. It's amazing how much these suckers will pay for photographs of chicks. And it doesn't matter if they're fat or ugly or what.
Paying for crappy porn.. that's bad. But paying 30 bucks for a stupid icon? These people are dumber than that guy that loves his spam.
Brain-dead lusers by Anonymous Coward · 2004-03-30 03:33 · Score: 1, Funny

Cripes, why didn't I patent this?

1) sell online, virtual junk
2) get AOL community interested
3) ???
4) Profit!

(fp?)
It's kind of like having a real life tamagotchi by bl4nk · 2004-03-30 03:33 · Score: 3, Funny

That you spend real life money on..
1. Re:It's kind of like having a real life tamagotchi by Chess_the_cat · 2004-03-30 03:38 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  I have one of those. It's called a dog.
  
  --
  Support the First Amendment. Read at -1
2. Re:It's kind of like having a real life tamagotchi by drinkypoo · 2004-03-30 04:16 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Given that people are trying to get laid it's more like a tamacoochie.
  
  --
  "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
Looks like they ripped their rating system... by MadAnthony02 · 2004-03-30 03:34 · Score: 4, Funny

Their buzz system (scroll down) is a direct ripoff of eBay's feedback system. Wonder how long they get sued for that?

--
I have blog like everyone else
1. Re:Looks like they ripped their rating system... by DAldredge · 2004-03-30 03:41 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  About the time that kindergarden teachers band together and sue ebay for using stars as a feedback method.
  
  Ebay didn't think of it first.
Popularity by gid13 · 2004-03-30 03:35 · Score: 5, Funny

The article mentions that the most popular members are invariably attractive females whose pictures show them scantily clad and in sexy poses.

Seeing as this "buying nothing" idea is a capitalist's dream, I think it's only a matter of time before these attractive females rise up above their alleged vapidity to realize that they can control the world. As much as I hate to admit it, think about it: who would you vote for between George W. and Britney Spears?
1. Re:Popularity by sct · 2004-03-30 03:49 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Is there any way I can just shoot myself instead? Maybe I would just kill myself with a fork.
  
  Couldn't you at least pick a non-slutty "woman" over Ms. Spears? Or maybe a modern era politician over a Puritan wannabe?
Excellent! by Mysticalfruit · 2004-03-30 03:36 · Score: 4, Funny

It's good to know that there are plenty of suckers left in the world, I was getting worried that my combo hair brush, vegetable peeler and ice skate sharpener wasn't going to sell!

--
Yes Francis, the world has gone crazy.
a digital diamond ring for my gf by WormholeFiend · 2004-03-30 03:36 · Score: 4, Funny

gf: LIKEOMGWTF!!!!11

me: but it's the thought that counts, right?
The FunHI Corporation is a division... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-03-30 03:37 · Score: 4, Funny

...of P.T. Barnum global holdings.
Re:Status symbols by Anonymous Coward · 2004-03-30 03:42 · Score: 2, Funny

This may surprise you but some people actually think diamonds are nice to look at and that's why they buy them. It has nothing to do with status symbols. Then again, you've probably never even spoken to a girl so you have no idea.
Use of money by uucp2 · 2004-03-30 03:43 · Score: 1, Funny

Wow, this definitely goes to #2 place in my "top 10 ways to waste money list", right after SCO's Linux licenses.
Not to worry by SuperKendall · 2004-03-30 03:43 · Score: 5, Funny

I just bought them some pictures of food.

--
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Re:Much ado about nothing... by DR+SoB · 2004-03-30 03:44 · Score: 5, Funny

But it's a great way to make your stock go up and get out early!!

1. Invent dumb idea
2. Have rich investor modify the stock price
3. Profit!
4. RUN!

--
Mod +5 Drunk
Pimp by Mateito · 2004-03-30 03:46 · Score: 5, Funny

From the article:
Of course, being a young good-looking female doesn't hurt, as the members with the most fans are all women whose pictures show them in sexy, alluring poses.
&
The service aims, according to what might be called its bylaws, to foster purely positive and friendly interactions.
Sheesh. Why not just call it "FunHo" and be done with it?

--
Norman Cook's Ode to Sl
Golden Rule? Shieat? by HomeGroove · 2004-03-30 03:48 · Score: 3, Funny

From the site:
The FunHi Goldunn Rule: If ya can't say sumtin' nice, then don't say shieat!
I find it hard to call something a "company" when they have the non-word "shieat" and "sumtin'" on their site.

--
----
Spam subject of the moment: Offshore account secrets -nashville disrupt
Re:no different from diamonds by GoofyBoy · 2004-03-30 03:51 · Score: 3, Funny

>males are supposed to demonstrate their wealth and prowess by not having to care about expending costly resources on useless pursuits.

So are you saying that all the slashdot trolls are demonstrating their mating suitability?

--
The surprise isn't how often we make bad choices; the surprise is how seldom they defeat us.
Re:More proof that... by Blue+Stone · 2004-03-30 03:58 · Score: 4, Funny

I find myself wondering what will happen if the recipient of the icon of the diamond ring starts copying and distributing those icons.
Suddenly, fake diamond-ring-icons will threaten the natural diamond-ring-icon cartel, and FunHi will have to spend millions researching and building devices for distinguishing between the natural and fake icons; millions more advertising that only "Natural Diamond-Ring-Icons" show real love.
You see ... you cynics ... ripping off the gullible is not just the fast-track to the gravy train. Getting a sustainable revenue channel by scamming the soft-of-the-brain is harder than it looks.

--
Corporation, n. An ingenious device for obtaining individual profit without individual responsibility. - Ambrose Bierce
Re:Status symbols by JabberWokky · 2004-03-30 03:59 · Score: 2, Funny

We're looking at getting a graphite, coal, diamond, buckyball engagement ring. And she swears up and down that she hates o-chem and is a physical chemist.
Polished hard coal and diamonds look nice together, btw.
--
Evan

--
"$30 for the One True Ring. $10 each additional ring!" -- JRR "Bob" Tolkien
Re:Status symbols by Ryan+Amos · 2004-03-30 04:00 · Score: 4, Funny

No, the perfect woman would accept a pearl necklace. On a nightly basis.
the only thing that really makes me angry... by sevenmonkey · 2004-03-30 04:00 · Score: 2, Funny

The only thing about this kind of business that really makes me angry is that I didn't think of it first...
Re:Golden Rule? Shieat? by megan_of_wutai · 2004-03-30 04:20 · Score: 4, Funny

This place is a horrific written image of pain.
I quote:
FunHi is your friendly gangsta, playa pimp, banging hunie community. Haters and lamers shall be dealt with to the FULL extent of da law

My eyes, they bleed!
My brain, it bleeds!
You're not a unique special flake... by Thud457 · 2004-03-30 04:53 · Score: 2, Funny

I just bought a case of paste-on foil gold stars at Office Depot. Now I'm going to completely destroy the intellectual economy of the local kindergarten. BWAHAHAHAHA!

--
the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
VHAT A COUNTRY!!! by Thud457 · 2004-03-30 05:17 · Score: 2, Funny

Next, we'll have to institute some sort of government standards agency to insure that our beautiful virtual girfriend isn't selling 200%, is really beautiful, and is really a girl!

--
the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Deep discount here! by Anonymous Coward · 2004-03-30 05:34 · Score: 3, Funny

Here I just saved those people a ton of cash:

http://www.funhi.com//images/gifts/46.gif
http://www.funhi.com/images/gifts/20.gif
http://www.funhi.com/images/gifts/33.gif
http://www.funhi.com/images/gifts/1.gif
http://www.funhi.com/images/gifts/3.gif
http://www.funhi.com/images/gifts/30.gif
http://www.funhi.com/images/gifts/35.gif
http://www.funhi.com/images/gifts/39.gif
http://www.funhi.com/images/gifts/22.gif
http://www.funhi.com/images/gifts/17.gif
http://www.funhi.com/images/gifts/11.gif
http://www.funhi.com/images/gifts/23.gif
http://www.funhi.com/images/gifts/14.gif
http://www.funhi.com/images/gifts/49.gif
http://www.funhi.com/images/gifts/25.gif
http://www.funhi.com/images/gifts/41.gif
http://www.funhi.com/images/gifts/27.gif
http://www.funhi.com/images/gifts/51.gif

d
Re:Status symbols by aussersterne · 2004-03-30 05:45 · Score: 3, Funny

Thank God my real-world, emotion-having girlfriend is more concerned about feeding the hungry and stopping de-facro slavery and international economic imperalism than about impressing her friends with carbon rocks.

And she's not only ethical, she's hot!

--
STOP . AMERICA . NOW
Re:Status symbols by GPLDAN · 2004-03-30 05:57 · Score: 2, Funny

Yeah, but she doesn't shave her armpits and wears the birkenstocks for two weeks straight. And eventually all that Ben & Jerry's ice cream will catch up with her.
Re:Like.... by esswedl · 2004-03-30 06:04 · Score: 2, Funny

However, there is just one problem:
Imminent domain.

Eminent. As in: given the large volume of comments on Slashdot, a misspelling of "eminent domain" is imminent.
Re:Status symbols by phaggood · 2004-03-30 07:48 · Score: 2, Funny

Seriously, there are women out there that hate diamonds (yes, I know some)

Man, *that's* what I should have put on my match.com ad:

Dude seeks chick for perm relationship; must be a techie, at least have some opinion about one of the 'Treks'. If it leads to something serious, prefer woman who believes a memory (i.e. a month in Nepal) is forever, and a diamond is just a rock.