Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Skepticism, Science & Pseudoscience

DetlefK

(16,496 posts) Tue Jan 13, 2015, 05:07 AM Jan 2015

Is it legal to take advantage of woo-believers?

The sceanrio below got me thinking. Would it be possible to sell insurance against things that don't exist?

4 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Is it legal to take advantage of woo-believers? (Original Post) DetlefK Jan 2015 OP

Turns out... Expat in Korea Jan 2015 #1

Isn't that what indulgences were all about bvf Jan 2015 #2

Isn't that what indulgences were all about AlbertCat Jan 2015 #3

It's legal to sell worthless crap under the same pretenses, so why should this be illegal? HuckleB Jan 2015 #4

Expat in Korea

(119 posts)

1. Turns out...

Reply to DetlefK (Original post)

Tue Jan 13, 2015, 06:22 AM

Jan 2015

2. In 2001 a "Captain Beaney" insured himself against abduction, impregnation and consumption by aliens for £1m.

...

4. In 1999 Mary Muphy insured herself against an immaculate conception in the year 2000. Insured amount £1m.

5. In 2002 the Royal Falcon Hotel in Lowestoft insured its staff and customers against death and disability occasioned by poltergeist or other abnormal phenomena. The sum insured was £1m.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/insurance/specialrisks/4973025/Third-party-fire-and-alien-abduction-Ten-more-weird-insurance-policies.html

bvf

(6,604 posts)

2. Isn't that what indulgences were all about

Reply to DetlefK (Original post)

Tue Jan 13, 2015, 07:59 AM

Jan 2015

back in the day?

Or was that more a matter of paying up front for "offenses" already committed to get one's ass out of purgatory more quickly?

Either way, there's still one born every minute.

AlbertCat

(17,505 posts)

3. Isn't that what indulgences were all about

Reply to bvf (Reply #2)

Sun Jan 18, 2015, 02:01 AM

Jan 2015

Isn't that what religion is all about?????

HuckleB

(35,773 posts)

4. It's legal to sell worthless crap under the same pretenses, so why should this be illegal?

Reply to DetlefK (Original post)

Mon Jan 19, 2015, 12:02 PM

Jan 2015

Reply to this discussion