Tribal assurance contracts
Today’s LA Times has a story about a group trying to get 5,000 people to buy timeshares on a Fijian island as part of a social experiment. A cynic would think Tribewanted.com has figured out how to create reality TV very cheaply by getting people who claim to dislike reality TV to pay to be cast members. I’m not that cynical.
Sounds like a reasonable idea, with passing resemblance to far more ambitious projects such as seasteading and the Free State Project. I hope Tribewanted succeeds and is copied by dozens of copycat projects catering to different groups.
The Tribewanted FAQ says:
If, in the unlikely event that Adventure Island doesn’t go ahead, tribewanted will refund 100% of all membership fees. Unfortunately, if a tribe member decides to cancel their membership or not visit Adventure Island they will not be able to get a refund of any kind.
They could’ve made it even easier to sign up by offering a greater than 100% refund in case the project does not go ahead.
July 13th, 2006 at 10:00
Tribewanted, good idea… Unfortunately Mark James (or should I say Mark Bowness) is a scammer, do not trust this guy at all. He is only out to con and scam you! If you are not sure then read the articles The Jem Report and Travellers Point!!
July 25th, 2006 at 22:29
Tribewanted is a good idea and even though their may be legitimate claims on the internet against Mark James doenst meen that vorovoro venture will also fail. Is it okay for companies to go into bankrupcy then fight themselves out of it why cant james be given the same opportunity or second chance.
I am related to villagers in Mali was on vorovoro last weekend and it still looks like a viable venture to me. The resort has been publicised in the local press and it has some good indigenous people supporting it.
August 11th, 2006 at 10:40
Hi, opportunity or second chance is not always an option that should be given to some people; especially to someone like James. I do hope that the island folk succeed in this venture and that they are not part of a big scam or con that unfortunatly has followed Mark James (previously Mark Bowness).
have you read any of these?
http://www.thejemreport.com/mambo/content/view/265/1/
radar.smh.com.au/archives/punters_comment/001883.html
http://www.travellerspoint.com/forum.cfm?thread=21915
May 2nd, 2007 at 8:50
Barnacle boy,
Many thanks for your comments and support for Tribewanted. As
founder of Tribewanted, alongside Mark, I feel frustrated about what is continually being written about Mark online as my experience of working with him does not fit with the accusations that appear here and on other blogs.
In ‘Tribewanted’ Mark has developed a concept that is now being built both online and in reality Fiji. It is inspiring people and making a difference to their lives on a daily basis (both local Fijians and tribe members). It is a good thing.
We’re all exceptionally lucky to be part of this and the bottom line is that without Mark Tribewanted would never have happened.
When you go into business with someone you have to trust them implicitly. This trust was never compromised by Mark. He was commited, honest and passionate from day one.
Mark was clear and frank with me from the start about his past and my judgement was that here was a guy with great ideas who was learning (aren’t we all?). Aside from his creative overdrive the reason I went for this with Mark was because I beleived he was a good person who wanted to do this for the right reasons. That belief has not changed in my mind.
Mark continues to be actively involved in promoting Tribewanted and is an excellent support to me and the team.
Those who continue to have doubts make sure you tune into the BBC this autumn when a detailed observational documentary on Tribewanted will tell the full story.
If you have any further questions about Tribewanted or Mark please get in touch.
Hope to see you on Vorovoro
moce,
Ben
May 2nd, 2007 at 12:59
Sorry, I meant Tim / George / Rob (I assume you are the same person) - it’s hot in Fiji, getting distracted!
May 28th, 2007 at 2:56
lol :) that is so funny, did you know Ben that Mark used to email people using anonymous names or whatever. He would make up names in hotmail and them email people with them. Pretending to have prophesies from God, or words of direction for them. He was also know for posting comments of forums pretending to be some made up person. He would try and hoax people into believing that his ideas or his way of thinking was the best by using these ‘fake made up people’ to recommend or support what he wanted - as in what he wanted to hoax that person out of or into doing something.
I am looking forward to when the FULL story comes out. Is this the TRUE story though? mmmm, I bet not :(
Someone who once thought they could trust Mark. Never again!
September 18th, 2007 at 4:07
Ha ha I am cracking up - that shows the “George/Barnacle Boy/Whatever” is actually Mark - hes funny this George, happens to show up whenever a negative comment is made!
Mark is a wee scammer - don’t trust him!
Agree with the above
October 1st, 2007 at 7:14
For the first time in 15 months I have decided to comment on these posts online. You can read my comments here: http://www.peoplepassionplanet.com/?p=149
My intention is to provide a context to these comments and not get into online conversation with anonymous comments. If anyone would like to discuss these comments with my face to face, get in touch, I would be happy to do so.
Please also take a look at details of the Channel 4 4Talent award I have recently won: http://www.peoplepassionplanet.com/?p=150
Mark Bowness
January 12th, 2008 at 8:40
This link can now be found here: http://peoplepassionplanet.com/?p=155