Bots

[jhuggett]

It has been brought up a couple of times so I thought I'd make a post about it.

You may notice down where it says who's online that every so often a bot will be listed. It may say Google, MSN or some other search entity. These are just the search engine's indexing bots. They crawl the site to update their index. So they are harmless.

You'd think with as many names the tech industry comes up with they'd be able to have different names for things so there wasn't as much confusion. :lol:

 

[showme1or2]

I don't believe it. I think it is a government sponsored program that allows smoking boards to be monitored and personal information gathered and sent to insurance companies to see who is lying about being a smoker or not. And you can't convince me otherwise.

The gov't is behind spam, too.

 

[Vito]

...to see who is lying about being a smoker or not. And you can't convince me otherwise.

The gov't is behind spam, too.

showme:

OK...you got me. I honestly can't tell whether you actually believe any of that.

As far as the issue of lying about being a smoker is concerned (apart from the integrity issue, and the effects lying has on one's character), that's not advisable. (I'm talking life insurance here.) In the event the insured liar's beneficiaries actually need to collect on the policy, there's a significant probability that they'll be out of luck. A deal is a deal. Obtaining insurance coverage under false pretenses isn't just illegal, it's wrong. Either way, the insurance company won't pay up. The liar might as well have invested his premiums in a decent mutual fund. They don't care whether their investors smoke.

There are policies available for pipe smokers and occasional smokers. Despite the regrettable decline of the insurance industry over the past few decades (or longer, for those who recognize it), insurance companies do recognize differentiated risks associated with frequency and types of smoking. There's no question that smokers' premiums are higher, and in my opinion pipe smokers' premiums are disproportionately higher than the risks they represent. But that's the way it is. Lying won't change it, but there's a pretty good chance it'll get you screwed. It will be a self-imposed screwing.

This is probably a radical concept within certain circles, but actually telling the truth is one of the available options. It makes life a helluva lot simpler.

Despite the fact that I can't tell whether you were kidding, I assume none of this applies to you.

Vito :joker:

 

[showme1or2]

Nope. I was kidding. (I hope.) I don't fully trust anything these days, it seems.

I was not asked if I was a smoker for my current health insurance benefits. (I don't remember checking anything either way if I was.) The wife and I have been looking into life insurance since we just had wills done not too long ago. When we looked over some of the policies the smoking question did come up and she just looked at me as if to say, "This damn 'hobby' of yours is NOT going to cost us any more than it already does." I wonder what she meant by that?

I agree with you about being up front and honest. Saving a few dollars today is not worth losing many more if a time comes and those dollars are really needed.

I'd like to hear more about those companies that do recognize a differentiated risk. I'll start a new thread if there is interest, so as not to hijack the bot thread.

Self-imposed screwings are the worst kind.

showme

 

[puros_bran]

Someone point me in the direction of a Insurance company that takes fat,lazy,smoking hillbillys with high BP and I'm on it.


Show was only part right, its not just the Insurance companys mining data.
Supposedly:
Unilever,Johnson & Johnson, and KAO are mining data from people who frequant Porn sites.
The Poles have been mining data from 'my space' looking for rocket science secrets.
The Browns have been collecting data off T. Dungys pc looking for blackmail material to force him to play Payton and Addia tonight.
I heard Ft. Knox has been mining on TJ's pc trying to figure out how better to secure their gold.

Will the insanity never stop??????????????

 

[jhuggett]

Unilever,Johnson & Johnson, and KAO are mining data from people who frequant Porn sites.

:shock:

 

[Anonymous]

PB, as long as you not related to any of Leroy's family, you have a decent shot at getting insurance.

The government not only controls spam, it is spending so much that many people will only be able to afford Spam in the future. Probably a vegetarian conspiracy.

 

[thomas james]

Sheesh! The only thing buried in my backyard is a septic tank. What goes into it is not currency of the realm,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,or is it?

Here's an insurance story you all may appreciate. Back in the early 80's,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,anybody remember that far back?,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,banks began to aggressively sell (push) home equity lines of credit. They also pushed (sold) life insurance geared to the balance. WELL,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,that was pre-smoking-nazi days and a time when you were not allowed to turn down insurance applications based such things as occupation, smoking or,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,big "OR",,,,,,,,,,,,,, pre-existing medical conditions. This only applied to consumer loan related life insurance. It was an open window which the banks closed very quickly. IN FACT,,,,,,,,,,,,junior loan officers were taught to sell (exploit) long term disabilty insurance to customers who had "physical" type occupations and were exposed to "risks." Pretty shity,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,huh? They call it "biness."

Ok,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,here comes the stories punch line. Remember that a very short window was open that related to aggressively sold (pushed), and very high priced, consumer loan life insurance "offerings." WELL,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I said Well,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,so pay attention here. I had a customer who was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Not well off,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,unable to proccur "convential" life insurance. I sold (pushed) him into a home secured line of credith with life insurance. He "sat" on the line of credit and did not use it. NO balance meant no interest and no exhorbitant insurance premiums. NICE man,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,liked him and his wife. GUESS WHAT? Just in the nick of time,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,coincidence ?,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,he drew down on the line. The line was for the max amount offered in those days,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,$100,000. Put the $'s in a savings account for the family. After his demise, the wife filed a claim and the balance was paid in full.

I knew nothing!!!!!!!!!!

Unethical on my part??????????????TOUGH,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,it was "biness." Besides I DID get the fees up front for the line of credit.

 

[jhuggett]

I like that story TJ...

 

[Carlos]

I like that story TJ...

 

[Justpipes]

Nope. I was kidding. (I hope.) I don't fully trust anything these days, it seems.

showme

Unfortunately I believe there might be a lot more truth in it than any of us want to believe! I don't put anything past the government these days.