Saturday, March 3, 2012

An Interview with Chuckles

Most dinar forum owners have something to sell.  Some sell books, some sell RV alert services, some sell "intel" or VIP memberships.  Most sell advertising space.  Some sell all of the above.  But there are a few forum owners who have refused to sell anything out of a desire to avoid the appearance of ulterior motives.  One such owner is known as Chuckles, from Dinar Dater.  I caught up with him recently to get his story and his thoughts on investing in the IQD.

Sam: Tell us a bit about your background. Where did you grow up? Where do you live now? What do you do?

Chuckles: I grew up in Sylvania, Ohio as the son of a respected local business owner. I went to college for music performance in Dayton, Ohio, and really had a great time playing out at bars and clubs. After college, I moved to Florida with my girlfriend (now wife/soul mate) in order to pursue my dreams of becoming a rock star. That, of course, did not pan out. LOL!!!! Since the majority of the market in central Florida was a service based industry, the area didn’t meet the needs of my family. It didn’t provide the kind of returns someone like my wife (an engineer) required. So, we moved back North (Michigan) for hopes of gaining higher returns. Of course, that’s when the entire economy took a serious hit (911, the Iraq war, etc.). Luckily for us, my wife got a great job and was thereafter promoted quite rapidly through the ranks. As for me, I received my MCSE certifications in 1999 and was quickly hired as a Senior Systems Engineer for Ford Motor Company’s IT division. In that position, I was successfully responsible for maintaining all of their dealers’ customized websites. I stayed with them until 2008 when I received a better offer from McKesson Pharmaceutical Systems to head up their entire QA division. I remained with that company until the entire division was completely eliminated and everyone was laid off due to unforeseeable circumstances. So for about Six (6) months, I was unemployed and seriously had to assess my options regarding my career. It was a rough time. I racked up credit card and other debt and struggled with ways to reinvigorate my passions for the IT profession. Thankfully, it didn’t take much longer before I was hired by a large and very successful engineering company to head up their IT Staff and Support Center for each of their Five (5) separate offices which, of course is where I remain to this day. However, with the present economy, I understand that job uncertainty is a way of life and no one is immune from it. So, like most people, I wonder about the future and can only hope that my services will continue to be needed as they are now. It doesn’t matter what position you hold in life, we are constantly threatened by new and different eras of supply and demand. Life can change in a blink of an eye and that makes it rather difficult for us to always be prepared.


Sam: How did you learn about the dinar?

Chuckles: I was told about it from my father who was approached from a member of the BH group.


Sam: How did you become a forum owner?


Chuckles: It’s a funny story, and quite ironic. Actually I think I was like most people that got on this dinar ride in the first place. I was hungry for more information regarding the dinar so in my pursuit of knowledge, I joined a few forums and chat rooms. Initially, I joined Dinar Vets because the site seemed fairly credible due to its’ large membership base and the fact that there were a few members that posted quite regularly who seemed to have more knowledge than I did at the time. At first, DV seemed the most legit site, as far as the dinar goes, because who would think that Twenty-Seven thousand (27,000) people would blindly follow a faceless leader if he wasn’t above board, right? I was quickly kicked from DV for asking questions about how the country of Iraq would ever be able to pay for a 1 to 1 dollar RV with so much currency already in circulation? I, like so many other people only wanted the truth. I didn’t want to be pacified with answers that would not suffice in the real world. I needed to know more and with that yearning I migrated to other sites. So in 2010, when Checkmate (Dan Atkinson), TNT (Tony Renfrow) , SteveI, and JoeP seemed to be at odds with DV, I felt inclined to follow them to the new site they started called Peoples Dinar where their slogan was “No Boss No Cost.” And hey, in my opinion, it’s always fun to have a new site or be a part of one. It’s human nature to like new shiny things right?

Ok, I’m rambling. Back to why I started my site. One night back around December 2010, a few of my friends who were in a Skype group (including Native Girl who used to be Checkmate’s sweetheart who was living in Kuwait at the time and whom he used to use as one of his guru sources in chat and on conference calls) were in People’s Dinar chat room. We were asking questions and one of our Skype members was talking about her friend, who was pregnant at the time, having food cravings. A few references were made about pickles and then the pregnant member typed that she didn’t have any pickles but could go for a banana, which she did have. Needless to say, the uptight moderators (specifically Kevin aka Mango Rancher) made more of the conversation than what it was and decided to ban those included in the conversation EXCEPT FOR, GUESS WHO? CORRECT, NATIVE GIRL). LOL Most of the people they banned were not members of my Skype group, but some of them were. So, in essence, the narrow minded actions of People’s Dinar is truly what was the beginning of the Dinar Dater site because after we were banned, a few of my Skype group members said “Chuckles, you are an IT Tech and you have studied the dinar, why don’t you start your own site. “ So, I did. At first, the site was basically for those of us that wanted to share, chat, post and discuss everything regarding Iraq and the dinar and be able to do so without reproach. It was really as simple as that. It wasn’t controlled by any agenda, or money making scheme like bio fuel, a Viper’s brother’s widow fund (PD asked its’ members to contribute and several of us are still waiting for our individual PayPal to be credited back the amount we contributed), or a San Fran trip that was to occur post RV and where most of us felt like certain folks could be fleeced more than they already were. There has never been a hedge fund planned by my group. BY THE WAY RUDY, WHERE IS THE $700,000 USD YOU TOOK FROM PEOPLE TO BE A PART OF THIS POST-RV HEDGE FUND?..LOL, NOW THERE IS STORY IN AND OF ITSELF….LOL).



Sam: What have you learned as a forum owner?

Chuckles: I’ve learned that you cannot please everyone. No matter how much you try and keep folks grounded some folks are clearly those who are under more pressure than you. But really, you get all types. You have the conspiracy theorists, the religious folks, the spiritual, the poor, the sick, those that are desperate and looking for miracles in one way or the other, those that hang on to every word a guru speaks or those that believe in a LOP (or not), the ones who try to figure out things from an economic standpoint, those that try to brown nose, those that do and no longer believe in the investment itself, etc. I don’t believe I have ever seen a more diverse group of folks joined at the hip on the internet as there are on dinar sites. It is dumbfounding! I really appreciate the fellowship that we have at Dater, but I just hope that no one person invested in the dinar anywhere gives more free time to this particular “hobby” than they do to their families, work, and school or wherever they are in life at present. Because in reality and at this point, we must live our lives without the dependence upon the dinar and right now, a “hobby” is all you can truly call it at this point. The Dinar is very speculative investment that has become an internet phenomenon for a lot of people. In my opinion, one should never define their existence via an online persona.

And as far as owning a site, I’m Just saying, if you run a site without a personal financial agenda (i.e., never put up any advertisements or charge for a membership, or take a kickback from anyone, have a “donation” button, or ever ask a dime from any one) then that should speak highly of your intention in the dinar world. Not that it does, but it should! Dinardater.com costs Forty-Four Dollars ($44) a month to maintain.  We get approximately One Thousand (1000) hits a day of course AFTER clearing the false (bot) accounts created by crawlers, which other sites most likely do not do based on their inflated numbers vs. contributions. Moderators do not and have never charged or been paid for anything they post or do. They are members just like on any other site. They just have a few more options in the “backroom.” LOL

Clearly, I could make money just on the advertising alone. So why don’t I? Because I HAVE A SOUL! This is people’s hard earned money and emotions we are playing with and I take that very seriously. It is important that I apply myself to the principal of “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” So as a community, I’d like to think that Dinar Dater is one of the best “dysfunctional families” out there regarding dinar on the net.  Seeing what I call “the Hopium “that other forum owners put out for the impending Monday RV, then the Tuesday “Nopium”  let down is really a shame. Anyone can come and take the research our folks do free of charge, we are here to share for free because everything posted is public articles or merely opinion, and that’s it. Simple, huh?



Sam: How have your views changed since you bought?

Chuckles: I had never invested in currency before the Dinar so I came into this very new to the whole concept of holding hard currency and treating it like an investment. I was used to maintaining a 401k and buying bonds for my daughter’s education but as far as currency trading I was a complete novice. So to say “has my view changed” since I first bought?  Yes!



Sam: How do you feel about buying dinar on reserve?

Chuckles: It's a lottery ticket, and foolish... and the dealers that do it will surely face prosecution, because I don’t believe they actually have the amount of currency held in their vault to make good on the reserve.


Sam: How do you see this playing out?

Chuckles: I am no Guru, I’m just some guy who likes to read and form my own opinions. I do believe Iraq has the potential to return to those invested in their infrastructure. That’s why the US strategically destroyed it. Now, if you’re asking do I think holding the physical currency will return better than owning stock in Exxon, Caterpillar, GE, BP..Etc? I challenge anyone out there to show me where someone has made millions without investing millions. It’s a pay to play market. Seeing folks wonder why Berkshire Hathaway isn’t holding Dinar, or trying to prove the treasury or Donald Trump holds dinar is laughable. They aren’t! Money isn’t made that way.

Ok, the Chucks prediction.  This is my feeling, if there is no currency reform in the next year (Spring 2013) and they double their GDP we should at least see some change in the exchange rate, maybe half 1170. Assuming Iraq continues using their auctions (MOF and Currency auctions) as a form of stabilization. IMO, Shabbi is running out of options, he needs to reform the currency clearly and hopefully make the MOF auctions available outside Iraq to back up the potential liquidity a raise in the rate would cause. Though nothing to me currently says 100,000% increase, sorry. Iraq will not go into debt to pay us off! They will allow us a return, but they will not go into debt over it. I do like the idea of treating currency out of country like they did the Swiss Dinar exchange, or some sort of hybrid model. I can be sure nobody knows how this will end, but treat it as a hobby. Don’t get too emotionally involved and read, read, and read. With any investment take control and know when to sell or know when to hold. This is your life don’t listen to nameless folks like myself. It’s your money! Now, I’ll end on the million dollar kicker. If they change the rate to something you are willing to sell for, where would you be able to exchange your money? If the banks treat it as toxic, the currency dealers gouge, and MSB do as well. As my friends say, Chuckles you’re like a lingering fart in a closed room.

30 comments:

  1. Well done, Chuckles. Keepm had asked me to join your site back in the first part of last year when there was evidently a mod revolt at DV. I didn't do it at the time, because it seemed I was wasting enuf time at DV where more people were apt to read the posts. It seems you now have a decent size group of well-informed posters, although it appears there may be a justifiable loss of interest lately given the news from Iraq. It was good to see your opinions posted here. Hopefully you'll use your own site to spread the word about Sam's great work here at DDB. Many more people need to be made aware of its existence. The large majority of the available sites unfortunately provide an extremely controlled and biased position, for obvious reasons. Reading the information presented here would undoubtedly change some long-held opinions of many of these gurus and site owners.

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  2. Thanks Leg! It is what it is brother.

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  3. I'll be the first to say I am not out there to piss on anyone's Wheaties. Though I would hope folks take control of anything they are invested in and form their own opinion based on research and not hype. I do my best to ensure that what is posted is at least verified by a source (link) and allow folks to make their own decisions. It's our money, simple as that.

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  4. Unfortunately, a disturbing majority are easily convinced by well-designed, polished websites and their shrewd commentator/owners that everything they need to know is contained within. Most people prefer to be spoon fed information (false or otherwise) which they desperately want to hear, easily ignoring evidence to the contrary which can be easily discovered elsewhere with a little bit of effort and common sense. They'll jump to the defense of these "Jim Jones type" charismatic leaders, only to scream for their blood when they later discover they were lied to and manipulated, demanding to know why the "government" wasn't there to protect them.

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  5. wow sam or chuckles oh wait your one of the same arent you!! Talk about lying to people who do you think your fooling anyone thats been in this long enough knows that sam is a.k.a. chuckles so how was interviewing yourself? lol I know when i get bored i do that often myself lol oh and i thought you were retiring? of course okie was gonna retire also. lol

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    1. Hey rockinrich, can I ask what proof you have of this? You say this as if you know this to be true, but then again, I have asked for proof of things you stated in the past in prior posts, and you have yet to provide anything for that one either, so honestly, I give this statement about as much credibility or fact based opinion as the rest of the things that you have tried to say.

      Sam I am, thanks for the interview. Chuckles is a fun guy to chat with, and well researched. I appreciate his contributions to the dinar community, and his willingness to provide details and facts to support what he says. This is much more than what some of the other gurus out there are willing to do, or their disciples that go around spreading their word for them without having any proof to support what they say.

      Chuckles.. thanks for keeping up the good word.. keep doing as you do, and I enjoy our chats when we have the opportunity to!!

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    2. I was also accused of interviewing myself when I interviewed John Jagerson. Guess again. LOL!

      As for retiring, learn to read. I said I'm not retiring, just relaxing.

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  6. You're certainly entitled to state your beliefs rockin, but one would think that you'd want to do a little research before making some of the ridiculous statements you've made on this site. This one is worthy of a child-size douchebag award. What could possibly make you think that Chuck and Sam are the same person? Chuck is clearly identified as the well-documented owner of DinarDater.com and is known to many people there. Where do you see even a remote relationship to Sam? Inquiring minds want to know.

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  7. i know this for a fact jay p and if you guys are such loppers why would you wanna waste your time on dinar sites i personally would have better things to do with my time

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    1. Thanks rockinrich... once again your statement that you know something as a "fact" yet have no proof. Please tell me what evidence you have? We have heard what you believe many times, but please tell me why you think this is a fact now other than because Kap said so. Unfortunately I do not believe you can answer the question. Never have, and unfortunately most likely never will...

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  8. ok legolas so that means their not the same person? who knows maybe hes really okie! lol

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  9. Whatever big guy. Do some research. Seriously. If you're going to make an allegation, at least make an effort to have "some" kind of evidence to support the nonsense.

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  10. You seem a little hostile Rock, that's totally cool with me. I'll be the first to admit I'm truly a douche bag. If it makes you feel better I can be your Sam. I promise to shave before I kiss you.

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  11. As Dr. Seuss would say:

    "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself, any direction you choose." Even toward total delusion. :-)

    “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”

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  12. thanks Sam...it certainly changed my opinion of a dinar site...I would have bet (and lost) that ALL dinar sites had an "angle". Thank you for clearing that up for me I'll have to check out the site again.

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    1. No prob JMW, just be nice to my wife Genevieve. LOL!

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  15. In all fairness callingfoolsout, as funny a response as that actually is, I can say though, that I was a Mod at DD's old chat room quite some time ago with Kap, and rockinrich was a member there at that site, so I know that they are not one in the same person. Now, of course, after enough research, I have come to learn the error in Kap's ways and decisions in which he puts info out there, and how he defines what deleting the zeros means for whatever the reason or agenda of his is, but rockinrich, without doing his own research decided to follow Kap blindly to his site because he was banned from DD's for his disrespectful behavior on the site, and Kaperoni allowed him in his site.

    I may not agree with Kap, or rockinrich for pumping Kap's agenda without ever once providing the details of where he came to his conclusions from, but I will say that they are not one in the same person at least.

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    1. I agree completely!! The idea of picking and choosing what they want to be truth, and what they want to be smoke and mirrors is just simply absurd. It truly is a ridiculous way to go about following an investment.

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  17. .003 after the RD as the currency co exists with the new denoms and if we are lucky it will slowly raise in rate and the notes we hold will have a longer shelf life to ride the slow wave up. If you make 3 times your initial, be happy. That is a great return.

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    1. I would take that return on any investment any day! Anyone that believes they are entitled to, or need a return greater than that is just kidding themselves, extremely naive, or simply needs to take a loss on a few investments because of greed in order to learn how to get out while ahead. Pigs get fat, Hogs get slaughtered....

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  18. Nobody really mentions it but when Iraq RD's are you guys going to be able to exchange. Most times borders are locked down and only exchanges in country are allowed. Doubt any American can go to Iraq and exchange without getting their throats cut

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    1. Yes, I know that this has been mentioned as a valid concern. The Rd is only one concern, but the other would be if there would be anyone willing to exchange our notes for either the new notes, or the USD. My thoughts though, would be that for the right price, there will always be someone willing to do it. If there is a profit to be made by the transaction, I would think that there would be a dealer or bank that would be willing to make the exchange for us, but at what cost is the question. I do admit, that if I said this was not a concern of mine, I would be lying to you.

      This is not a point often discussed though, because most sites would never allow this discussion to happen.

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  19. Yea I guess one of the shady dealers will capitalize on the RD. that's when Ali will come back but you're right, they are going to rape you in the exchange. That's why I sold out now cause any gain you may get will get eaten up in fees. It's sad no one really talks about this because this is a very real issue.

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    1. Well, I recently began posting on DV to see who is out there, and what sort of knowledge sharing can be had by the members. There are a few there that are horrifically misinformed on some very important key issues related to our investment, so in good nature, I helped to clarify some things, and provided links in an effort to either help them learn, or give anyone the opportunity to see where I may have misunderstood. As a responsible investor, I believe that is the best thing to do when trying to learn from each other. Well as a perfect example as to what we are talking about here, I was told by a staff member yesterday (Markinsa) that essentially, we are never to mention the discussion of a Rd, even if we are correcting misinformation, and have links to support our statements, and if a member is attacked or bashed for doing so, then the member brought it upon themselves.

      It is that exact type of mentality on these sites which fosters such a prejudice against good, healthy, educated debate between people, that results in good information being put out there which people can use to do their own additional research and validation. It also tells me a lot about the intentions of a site when someone that is supposed to be representing a site as a staff member clearly has a biased favoritism to attacks on members personally because of views that clearly go against some sort of hidden agenda.

      I am a mod at Ten's Dinar Den, and we make it a point to allow all views to be openly discussed specifically so we can share, research each other's views, and hopefully learn more. It is just odd to me that anyone that would not want the same type of practice on a site they frequently visit, would say that they do not have some sort of hidden agenda, especially when they are a staff member of a site.

      Markinsa.. if you are reading this.. you may want to reconsider how you represent a site that you may care about, because those are the types of things that only serve to further hurt the credibility of a site. If a site only allows posts such "Go RV!" in response to every "000 article", well then what makes that site any more credible or reliable than a site like Okie's?? I honestly see no difference. Good job Markinsa, way to win a point of credibility for a site you represent....

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  21. Great interview Sam... Congrat's on a good grounded site chuckles...

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