BTW, "in some platonic, classical sense" is funny because the term "Ponzi" does not come from the ancient Greeks. It was invented in the early 20th century, named after a guy named Ponzi. I think "pedantic" is the term you were looking for.
oh lord. i know. i've written academic articles on the subject.
you people really need some perspective. 'classical' refers to any paradigmatic or flourishing period. (for example, 'classical' music doesn't come from the ancient greeks.) 'platonic' refers to an ideal archetype, based on plato's philosophy of archetypes. have you never heard the phrase 'platonic ideal'?
in any case, we're arguing insignificant terminology now. it's odd that you'd write such a message and then suggest that i use the term 'pedantic'!
sorry, maybe i'm getting frustrated because, in 'real life', i'm used to people trusting what i say a little more -- and perhaps the lesson derived from pseudonymity is useful personally. but good lord is it tedious! as a general rule, you can trust that even if you disagree with my perspective or my analytical priors, i do know what i'm talking about and am neither uneducated nor ill-informed.