Alabama's education ranking, explained

[KrazyHorse]

Seriously, this interaction is as close to the dictator game as you can reasonably get.

[flash9286]

The professor should have tried to bargain with you, the transactions costs are low. Instead he tried to impose a flat rate on you on his terms. You should give whatever rate you think is fair.

[Drake Tungsten]

This guy in Alabama reminds me of the homeless guys who open the door to Rite-Aid for you and then expect you to tip them on the way out. I hate those guys.

[SlowwHand]

Because you'd still have 90% that you wouldn't have had without him.

[Dis]

what moron would fall for that? That information is publically available. I just did a search of state records recently to see if I had any money owed to me. I do not.

[Lul Thyme]

Perhaps you don't realise it, but our society is ****ing HUGE. The chances of him having another interaction with this gentleman or with somebody who this gentleman has passed his name on to is ridiculously low.

It doesn't even necessarily have to be with this gentleman or somebody who knows this gentleman.
For example, someone on Apolyton could hear about some opportunity like this and remember this thread and what was Arrian's (or your) reaction. Or, even more likely, Arrian (or you) could be telling this story to a friend\wife\family member (which Arrian\you would probably do whether you\he gave the guy some money or not) and this person might remember Arrian's response when a similar situation arose (and these type of situations actually very frequently between people who interact a lot). All in all, not necessarily that unlikely. In any case, these are just examples I can come up with. I find that life works in mysterious ways and it could also easily bite someone else back in a completely unexpected way.

I disagree that it's obviously unlikely to have any negative future impact but I don't think a discussion on the probabilities will get us anywhere. If our disagreement is down to just probability, I think we can stop here.

[Lul Thyme]

what moron would fall for that? That information is publically available. I just did a search of state records recently to see if I had any money owed to me. I do not.

That's a silly point. Obviously if you already know about this and check regularly, then your name will not appear and this guy will never contact you. There's nothing to discuss in this case.

The question is whether someone who DOESN'T know about this and gets contacted should make a contribution to the person who contacted him.

[Arrian]

I've re-thought the bit about being a dick to the guy. There's no profit in it, as I don't actually enjoy being a dick.

I'm still not paying him a single cent, however, because:

1) I still think he's sketchy. For one thing, I'm pretty sure his letter lied about the "deadline" for claiming the money (this was in the second letter, wherein he claimed we had to claim by August 31 of this year. Even if there is a six-year deadline for this claim, that would kick in in 2010, not 2009). When my wife called HUD, they said nothing about it (true, it's possible that they felt no need to). Also, he claims to have searched government records "through the Freedom of Information Act." Um, no. He went to the HUD website and ran some searches (maybe even has a bot he programmed to do it and pick out anything over a certain amount of money?). Further, the aforementioned Metafilter poster got a letter from Mr. Boggs from Georgia. I got one from him sent from a PO box in Alabama. If it's on the up & up, what's up with using PO boxes in other states? (edit: if the guy below is him, it appears he teaches in both GA and AL).

2) No way in hell am I giving this sketchy guy a check. I don't mail cash.

-Arrian

[Arrian]

This seems likely to be him:

http://www.seuniversity.edu/academics/faculty/math_sci/gordon_boggs.php

Dr. Gordon Boggs
Associate Professor of Mathematics
E-mail Professor Boggs

BS in mathematics education, University of Georgia
MS in mathematics education, West Georgia State University
EdS in mathematics education, University of Alabama
EdD in mathematics education, University of Alabama

Biography
Before going into college education, Dr. Gordon Boggs had a 15-year career in the publishing industry, where he taught college students to sell books and to lead and manage others. As a District Sales Manager for both the Southwestern Company and the Thomas Nelson Company, he managed a summer internship program for these college students, teaching both a Marketing Internship and a Management Internship while helping these students graduate from college with zero debt and $10,000+ saved.

After receiving his Doctorate in Mathematics Education from the University of Alabama in 1997, Dr. Boggs moved to Babson Park, Florida, where he taught for eight years at Webber International University. In 2005, Dr. Boggs began his career at Southeastern University. He also teaches an on-campus Bible study most semesters. The two primary Bible studies that he teaches are “The Job of a Christian” and “Revelation.”

Dr. Boggs teaches the following courses: College Algebra, Liberal Arts Math I, and Liberal Arts Math II. His primary research interest is the discovery of the essentials of strong developmental mathematics programs, the evaluation of these programs, and the implementation of the successful programs.

[OzzyKP]

What is interesting now is that whenever this guy contacts other people, those curious enough will do searches for the guy and end up here.

[KrazyHorse]

Then let me say this again:

http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/comp/refunds/

[Tuberski]

Pure self interest in this case is almost certainly for him to keep all the money.

By the way, if anybody finds their name up there they owe me 10%

My sister's brother in law and his wife are on there, you could try to collect from them I suppose.......

But, that website also says to beware of people like you and Mr. Boggs.

ACK!

[Kuciwalker]

Dr. Boggs teaches the following courses: College Algebra, Liberal Arts Math I, and Liberal Arts Math II.

I guess somebody has to.

[rah]

Yeah,
I'm assuming Liberal arts Math 1 is for people that won't need to use math ever again. (except as a prerequisite for liberal Arts math II)

[Arrian]

Hey, don't forget the Bible Studies!

-Arrian