So, after three years of executing, you're going to tell me that my asking for more info is making you "nervous"? I am really going to be able to rip off three years of "pro-entrepreneur" execution by learning that he runs XYZ Widgets & Things in Austin Texas?
Don't be upset. You are not looking analogically at the cases of theft and fraud that already happened. They were never perpetrated by the person who was a forum regular and actively commenting in the threads, nor was I suggesting that you had any intent to steal the ideas yourself. If I came off that way, I apologize.
Rather, after info was in the open because someone had legitimate reasons to be curious (like you do), a lurking user with the means duplicated the idea and went on to be an aggravation.
To say that these questions pose no threat is to make two assumptions: 1. That everyone who reads responses to your inquiries has the same code of honor and honesty you do, and also 2. that everyone browsing this open "outside" thread is constrained by the same liquidity and magnitude limitations that you or I have. The former is definitely untrue-we've seen thieves and cheats on here before. The later could be true or untrue. Who is to say that there might not be someone far richer than either of us keeping a shrewd eye out for a good opportunity? As was pointed out in the thread about JasonR's problems, a competitor need not be strong enough to take you out in order to really throw a wrench in your business.
Otherwise I generally agree with the concern that people have been too trusting on here. I think the only thing for it, unfortunately, is that you need to make your own, often painful mistakes to get your craigslist biz going. I lost almost $10K, or 20% of my gross-take home at the time, before I found my footing. And I did a TON of research before I jumped in.
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