Has there ever been a case of extortion...

[King Kool]

That turned out well for the extorter?

For example:
http://www.people.com/people/article/0, ... ullcontent

Why would you do this, even if it was true? "First, I'm gonna threaten to expose the dark side of a beloved TV icon, then he'll either expose the misdoings willingly or deny then, then the public will turn on me, then he will destroy me with his vast funds and lawyers, and then I'll go to prison for five years."

Don't these people have ANY skills?

EDIT: I really wish previewing posts wouldn't break hyperlinks...

[theDreamer]

Link fail.

You should know better.

[King Kool]

Yeah, screw you, ass-butt.

[Evil Jim]

You could always learn to EMBED LINKS INTO TEXT.

Anyway, if you're going to blackmail John Stamos it would be much more effective to threaten to release video clips of him on Full House.

[King Kool]

Jim, you're slipping. That've been the perfect time to MattRoll us...

[Ottoman]

You could always learn to EMBED LINKS INTO TEXT.

Shit, I already used the Plus One Kitten today.

But to answer the topic question, it seems to me that if one were smart / clever / resourceful enough to successfully blackmail someone, one would probably be able to make money in some better way.

[theDreamer]

...You mean...that wasn't?

I...I didn't even mouse over.

I just assumed and avoided.

[ecocd]

Presumably, we never hear about the cases in which extortion is successful. If you're not familiar with Monty Python's Blackmail sketch, you will be after watching that clip. Comedy at its finest.

[Theremin]

Logically, a failed extortionist would be one that is found out and caught.

So, a successful one would just collect their money and never be caught. And so you'd never hea about them.

So there probably are a great number, but we just don't know about them because they were doing it right.

[Re'ozul]

Logically, a failed extortionist would be one that is found out and caught.

So, a successful one would just collect their money and never be caught. And so you'd never hea about them.

So there probably are a great number, but we just don't know about them because they were doing it right.

This.

[Evil Jim]

I learned about the concept of blackmail from the movie Clue, back when it was first out. . . However, I still don't know what "flagrante delicto" means.

[the amativeness]

However, I still don't know what "flagrante delicto" means.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_flagrante_delicto

[Lorithad]

I'm going to go out on a limb, and say that yes, extortion does work sometimes. However, when it works, nobody hears about it. That's the whole point.

[Evil Jim]

However, I still don't know what "flagrante delicto" means.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_flagrante_delicto

Yes, I did that too & found out. But what made it funny was that it was spoiler tagged.

[the amativeness]

However, I still don't know what "flagrante delicto" means.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_flagrante_delicto

Yes, I did that too & found out. But what made it funny was that it was spoiler tagged.

Muah.

Muah Hah.

Muah Hah Hah.

[iwashere33]

maybe it was an elaborate plan for John Stamos to get his name back in the news?