Ask Nicky Anything About His Past Thread.

[Magic Hat]

If you are a recovering alcoholic/drug addict, why move to Vegas? Seems like the worst possible choice. Stuff is so easily accessible there.

[nickycakes]

Originally Posted by Magic Hat

If you are a recovering alcoholic/drug addict, why move to Vegas? Seems like the worst possible choice. Stuff is so easily accessible there.

That's a very good question. The truth is, drugs and alcohol are available anywhere if you want them. I spend most of my time in my place working, and don't really go out to clubs anyway, so wherever I live is about the same. Had I been 1 year into it, though, Vegas might not be very safe, especially on the strip. But most of Vegas is actually just a big suburb.

[Jon]

I don't really get how you guys can go from hating on Nicky to bashing Uber in the span of a few minutes. The two threads aren't all that similar. One is outting him for what some people think view as a violation of their privacy and trust and the other is him outting himself with all of the details of his drug and criminal past.

Uber has every right to be vigilant and pissed off, I mean can you really blame him? If I were him I would have smacked the shit out of him a long time ago, but instead he took the patient route (he was also really really depressed, but he didn't come out and say it, but you had to be BLIND not to see that!) and jumped on the chance to do just about the same fucking thing Nicky did to him.

Then again, Nicky does have a pretty turbulent past as he's shown by posting above and it does take a lot of guts to come out and openly admit to some of the really fucking stupid things he did, but he did the jail time and he's obviously learned his lesson, the hard way.

I'm not going to take sides at all here. Just calling it how I see it with the same information you guys have.

I think Uber is 100% justified for being pissed and milking this for what its worth, Nicky sure as hell didn't hold anything back when he would wail on Paul for the weird shit he blogged about, and certainly turned almost an entire community into a "fuck you uber" fest for a hell of a lot longer than just a few days. It dragged on for MONTHS. Some of it was funny and amusing, but you can't really believe that it didn't go on and on for too long, and that Nicky doesn't deserve a lot of this shit now.

He's right, many of you are sheep if you can't see that this is a sorta desperate or last ditch PR stunt type of thing. Its no coincidence that Nicky posted this to try and divert attention away from the shit fest in that other thread, and sure, maybe Paul is being a bit trigger happy, but he was kicked when he was down, and that's a fucked up thing to do to someone, and you would do the same fucking thing if it were done to you.

Look at it this way, you guys are constantly fucking with people left and right and not taking into consideration that there are ALWAYS consequences. Like the Waggenheim threads. Aside for being really creepy and just your average liar, what has he really done to any of you? Nothing. But here you guys are quick to forgive and forget and just target the guy more convenient and fun to pick on? Well, I'm not going to just sit by and keep quiet about this shit anymore. Heads are going to roll.

The reason I've been keeping quiet about it thus far is I was really hoping things would take its course, unfuck itself, and eventually blow over. Lessons would be learned, and harmony and lulz with plenty of hurr-durr and fails would assume its daily role. But this drama fest is getting out of hand.

As soon as the other admins and mods taking their investigative approach and have submitted their findings we'll post our report on it and ultimately our decision, and then I don't want to see anymore of this shit afterwards, or I will take action against you personally.

Overall, this is a FUBAR situation and I've had enough. Stop treating eachother like shit all the time. Hazing the new guys or joking around is fine, but lately you fuckheads have been going too far. So either you stop yourself, or I'll stop you.

Leave your smart ass comments to yourself this time, because you know I'm right about this.

Now unlike most of you faggots, I have work to do to make monies, so when I am good and ready I'll post everything up. Until then, quit fighting eachother and go do us both a favor and make yourselves money. Kids these days...

[JonesersRX7]

Can you pinpoint the triggers in your mind that when shit was at its lowest, they fired, and you became dedicated to your business?

What external or internal sources do you believe were driving factors in your past, current and continuing successes?

[nickycakes]

Originally Posted by JonesersRX7

Can you pinpoint the triggers in your mind that when shit was at its lowest, they fired, and you became dedicated to your business?

What external or internal sources do you believe were driving factors in your past, current and continuing successes.

Oh don't get me wrong, being locked up was the driving factor in me changing. It wasn't until years after that I started my business.

Driving factors today are my love for running my own business as well as my love for the freedom to travel around wherever

[zimok]

Originally Posted by nickycakes

1. I think the reason people need 12 step programs is because they don't have any willpower. If i had willpower to quit I'd have done it before my life got fucked up. As for the "god" thing, people who go to 12 step programs who are looking for an excuse to keep drinking will often say they don't want to believe in god as a reason for why the program "doesn't work for them". The reality of the situation is, 12 step programs don't require you to believe in a god, but a higher power, or something more powerful than yourself that can help you change. For me, for a while, that power was all the other people who were there trying to help me.

2. My primary source of motivation today is my love for what I do. I'm the type of person that gets really bored and lazy if I'm not extremely interested in what I'm doing. Luckily I've found a job that interests me and that I'm good at. For me, waking up and working is what I love doing, so it doesn't even feel like work.

3. 5 years probably married with a kid or two and a nice house somewhere quiet.

Makes sense, I wish my cousin had the guts to pull through like you did instead of ending up in jail again... maybe some day.

@Super, a lot of what you say holds truth. At the end of the day though, there is one striking difference between you and the rest of us 'cock suckers', absolutely no one here vested close to the amount of emotional energy you have towards nicky. Most, if not all of us come here for tits, laughs and drama.

You, having some kind of past with nicky(that doesn't correlate with what most of us come here for) has taken time + emotion to discover some universal human traits. You point to nicky and laugh like he's the only one who has them. They're very simple truths and can be found in anyone on earth if one looks carefully enough - They are,

Everyone is a hypocrite.
Everyone lies.
Everyone works to their own advantage.

If you wanted your revenge you got it man.

edit: I noticed as I was typing this that thread post count went down like 7 posts (all of supernova's posts), he hadn't stated anything else but his personal opinions.

[GrindTim3]

Am I the only one that saw Jon's post on this thread?

Get enlightened bitches.

[drew.clarke]

I'm glad you came out of it and did something.

My brother took his own life last summer because he couldn't cope with the pain from methadone anyomre, it ruined our family and his four kids lives.

Selfish cunt.

[nickycakes]

Originally Posted by drew.clarke

I'm glad you came out of it and did something.

My brother took his own life last summer because he couldn't cope with the pain from methadone anyomre, it ruined our family and his four kids lives.

Selfish cunt.

That's terrible. Addiction really fucks with the people around you just as much as yourself, sometimes even worse.

[GooeySlate]

Did you ever suck cock for smack or just for your boyfriend?

[Dwight Schrute]

I love stories like this. It raises my level of respect for someone tremendously when I find out they have a "past" and have turned their lives around.

Questions:
Were there any books that you read along your journey that helped you keep going the right path?

Do you go to weekly meetings still?

How close do you think you came to death?

Was there a single moment that you remember where you decided, "I can't live like this anymore?"

[DirSP]

Originally Posted by GooeySlate

Did you ever suck cock for smack or just for your boyfriend?

This guy seriously needs a ban.

[B 4 I Fu Ru 18]

While addicted was suicide ever a thought? Or was all you cared about drugs so you had to live to do the drugs.


I'm asking because I have an uncle who was addicted and who is also an alcoholic (sober for 9 years) and it seems that he went through some of the most unimaginable shit ever. Through the stories he tells he says that suicide never crossed his mind.

From your perspective why would suicide not play a role in an addict who sees himself going nowhere when at it's worst?

[malpais]

When you were new to AM, how did you deal with the networking / parties at Affiliate Summit-type events, which basically involve people getting drunk and hanging out? I've gone to some sober but felt totally out of place. Not sure how to overcome that and make some last connections...

[nickycakes]

Originally Posted by B 4 I Fu Ru 18

While addicted was suicide ever a thought? Or was all you cared about drugs so you had to live to do the drugs.


I'm asking because I have an uncle who was addicted and who is also an alcoholic (sober for 9 years) and it seems that he went through some of the most unimaginable shit ever. Through the stories he tells he says that suicide never crossed his mind.

From your perspective why would suicide not play a role in an addict who sees himself going nowhere when at it's worst?

You have to understand that with opiate addiction, being "at your worst" is being in a euphoric drug-induced stupor which feels good enough to make you forget about anything you really cared about. In my mind, anyway, I could justify anything wrong in my life as just par for the course, even when I had lost everything. As long as I could still get fucked up, life was good.

[RtotheJ]

Out of all places to move, why vegas ?

We are known for the hub of identity theft, tons of drugs, and some of the most shady businesses operate from here.

Most everything you got charged with is stuff that thrives here.

And you seemed to rehab quickly, which puts you in the top 1% of all ex felons/drug addicts, so if you are not shady anymore good for you, but again you would have to be in that 1% .

I'm not trying to bash you or anything, but I have worked/lived out in vegas for 5 years now and this is the best place to do shady things. This city is all about $$$$$$$$$$$$$. Just look at people who want to legally work of a house, you need a permit for it that is approved by the fire marshall! Its just $$$$$ for the county.. Or passing out flyers is another permit. Or forgetting to change your license plate over can be a $1k fine.. and it goes on and on.

Which is why vegas is all about $$$$$$$$$ nothing less.

[nickycakes]

Originally Posted by malpais

When you were new to AM, how did you deal with the networking / parties at Affiliate Summit-type events, which basically involve people getting drunk and hanging out? I've gone to some sober but felt totally out of place. Not sure how to overcome that and make some last connections...

I'd been past the point where I felt awkward in business party situations for a while. If people start smoking weed and shit, I bounce, though. I'd leave if I started feeling awkward for sure. What's the point in hanging out at a party where you feel awkward?

[nickycakes]

Originally Posted by RtotheJ

Out of all places to move, why vegas ?

We are known for the hub of identity theft, tons of drugs, and some of the most shady businesses operate from here.

Most everything you got charged with is stuff that thrives here.

And you seemed to rehab quickly, which puts you in the top 1% of all ex felons/drug addicts, so if you are not shady anymore good for you, but again you would have to be in that 1% .

I'm not trying to bash you or anything, but I have worked/lived out in vegas for 5 years now and this is the best place to do shady things. This city is all about $$$$$$$$$$$$$. Just look at people who want to legally work of a house, you need a permit for it that is approved by the fire marshall! Its just $$$$$ for the county.. Or passing out flyers is another permit. Or forgetting to change your license plate over can be a $1k fine.. and it goes on and on.

Which is why vegas is all about $$$$$$$$$ nothing less.

As I mentioned earlier, I don't really go out much in vegas.

[AllBizNiz]

Out of curiosity, how old were you when you started using the more addictive drugs? I mean, I'm sure at some point it was recreational then led into addiction. It's good to see that you were able to pull yourself out of that and do a 180. Not many people have the will power to get themselves out of that sort of addiction. How old are you now?

[LMSInc.]

Hey Cakes,

To be honest, I have no idea what the point of starting this thread and outing yourself was, but I know from personal experience that it isn't an easy thing to do.

I got myself a few felonies a few years back, and they really fuck with you for a long time.

Most people will never really understand how it happens, and just assume that everyone that's been in some trouble is a bad person, which blows, but that's how people are.

Good work man, and glad you got yourself clean. A lot of my lifelong friends couldn't do it, and I've lost many of them because of it.

[-God-]

I haven't read the whole thread, and i won't, plus i'm a WF n00b so what i say is pretty meaningless, but i'll say it anyway.

I had zero respect for you prior to your first post in this thread, i just saw you as another shoemoney with an agro usp.

Now, i'm pretty in awe of you. Serious amounts of respect Mr. Cakes. And then some. I'm moved by what you've posted and am pretty shocked that you even bothered, because i wouldn't have. Serious respect.

[Jon]

Originally Posted by drew.clarke

I'm glad you came out of it and did something.

My brother took his own life last summer because he couldn't cope with the pain from methadone anyomre, it ruined our family and his four kids lives.

Selfish cunt.

He's not selfish, he just reached his breaking point. Even though he left behind what you may consider now a ruined family and the lives of his kids ruined, you're wrong. Things have a strange way of working itself out. Sometimes though they don't, and it sucks. But overall, you should accept that he did it because he didn't want to suffer anymore. As much as we like to believe that its a selfish act, if you've never been to that point, then you have no idea how insane you feel when you're just about to make that decision to give up and end it all, or to pull back and keep trying. The bottom line is that we all die alone. It may be a dark way of looking at it, but its true, because we also all have breaking points where we just can't see the end of the tunnel or we just don't care anymore and its game over for us.

Suicide thoughts and going through with it are two separate evil animals. I've been down that road before. Nearly blasted my brains out the back of my head with a twelve-gauge shotgun when I was just about 16 years old. I had my own fucked up reasons, and I don't share those.. But not going through with it in the end, and actually tasting gun oil in the back of my mouth and having that "flash of your life before your eyes" experience left me with a profoundly different view on life and everything around me. Although it was a terribly scary and horrible experience, I later learned to embrace it and that's really when everything changed. Not sure if I'd do it all over the same way again, because a lot of those years made me into who I am today, but I certainly would have gone through that same near-suicide experience, that's for sure. Shit woke me the fuck up!

Sorry to hear about your brother, and I know its tough to lose a sibling like that, but don't spend time getting angry or upset over it. It just makes things tougher for you and resent him for things he probably lost total control over a long time ago, but just lost his will to fight any longer.

[nickycakes]

Originally Posted by AllBizNiz

Out of curiosity, how old were you when you started using the more addictive drugs? I mean, I'm sure at some point it was recreational then led into addiction. It's good to see that you were able to pull yourself out of that and do a 180. Not many people have the will power to get themselves out of that sort of addiction. How old are you now?

I was 17 when I started doing more serious shit. I hung out with a much older crowd, but it was definitely something I wanted to do and not their fault.

[Jon]

Originally Posted by nickycakes

I was 17 when I started doing more serious shit. I hung out with a much older crowd, but it was definitely something I wanted to do and not their fault.

Got any old pics to post of those Wonder Years with Winnie? We already have Paul here, and he's not Marilyn Manson.

[nickycakes]

Originally Posted by Jon

Got any old pics to post of those Wonder Years with Winnie? We already have Paul here, and he's not Marilyn Manson.

I'll try to find some. I used to have dreds and shit back then, but most are physical photos sitting in my parents house that I haven't scanned. I have a few at home that I'll post this evening haha. Be ready for some laughs.

As for pics during the really bad times around the end of '02, I don't think any exist outside of mugshots.

[Jizzlobber]

They gave me a large french fries instead of a small at the drive thru the other day. I didn't go back and tell them. At first I was like LOL but in light of everything happening on WF, I now feel kinda weird. I wonder what the old Cakes would have done? I hope I'm not a heroin addict. FML.

[nickycakes]

Originally Posted by Jizzlobber

They gave me a large french fries instead of a small at the drive thru the other day. I didn't go back and tell them. At first I was like LOL but in light of everything happening on WF, I now feel kinda weird. I wonder what the old Cakes would have done? I hope I'm not a heroin addict. FML.

Old cakes would go to the grocery store and just eat stuff then leave. Fuck a drive through.

[dsaare]

Good damage control thread. Even if i think you're a hypocrite, its still not as bad as beeing a sheeple like a lot of ppl in here. At least you grew some balls, What i'm interested in is how you got this NickyCakes nickname? Did your drug friends name you NickyCakes?

[nickycakes]

Originally Posted by dsaare

Good damage control thread. Even if i think you're a hypocrite, its still not as bad as beeing a sheeple like a lot of ppl in here. At least you grew some balls, What i'm interested in is how you got this NickyCakes nickname? Did your drug friends name you NickyCakes?

No, that came well after. Really boring story. I sound like a radio dj named "johnny cakes" so they called me nicky cakes.

[Garrett]

Give us the scoop on drug culture in west baltimore... anything like Basketball Diaries (which is a great book/movie for those who don't know)?

[nickycakes]

Originally Posted by Garrett

Give us the scoop on drug culture in west baltimore... anything like Basketball Diaries (which is a great book/movie for those who don't know)?

The wire is extremely accurate as far as the drug stuff.

[Lord B]

Originally Posted by DirSP

This guy seriously needs a ban.

Done. He was being a douche just for the sake of being a douche.

Good Luck Bro!

[BullsEye]

I feel where you're comin from cakes, mad respect and props for being able to draw the line at some point and at least having something to motivate you to go in a different direction.

Alot of experimenting with hard drugs come from hanging with a crowd that does that shit constantly, so you become curious. Then it becomes more than an experiment and soon you find yourself, and feel free to bash for being a NIN fan, in a downward spiral.

For me it was working at a casino in CT, that shit is everywhere in that industry and I'm glad I got the hell out of it before something horrible happened to me, cause I was damn near close to losing everything that was important in my life.

At the end of the day though your future self will thank you for not throwing it all away.

[turbolapp]

Why did you disappear for almost a year? (The real reasons not "I wanted to see SE asia")

[turbolapp]

What in the world made you move to vegas if you don't really go out much there and aren't into the vice scene?

[nickycakes]

Originally Posted by turbolapp

Why did you disappear for almost a year? (The real reasons not "I wanted to see SE asia")

I wasn't "gone" for almost a year, maybe 6 months at most. I spent a couple months of that in SE asia, which was awesome and the rest I spent working and relaxing at home. I didn't have the urge to write anything on the blog during that time, which I guess qualifies as "disappearing", but I was still around

[BlueYonder]

I take a day away, and WF went Oprah. Who knows the words to "Kumbaya"?

Nice going, cakes.

Good luck bro!

[I_Sell_Cocaine]

good show mate. i'm also in the process of turning my life around so this was a good read. i'm working hard to get into MIT/harvard/stanford and so far the prospects look quite good - me being a minority, 4.0, bunch of other shit.

i might be quitting school this summer though...at least temporarily until I really really set my biz on autopilot.

thanks nicky and hope everything works out in the end!

[Unarmed Gunman]

During your time in B-Mo did you ever run into these crazy mofos?



All bullshit aside, I'm curious as to exactly how you stumbled into affiliate marketing. Most of us have great stories about that since it's a pretty non-traditional career path so I'm curious to hear more specifics.

[CapitalVentures]

Its referenced here often,

"Paypal all your money to Nicky Cakes"

Or

"Send all campaign details to Nicky Cakes"

My question is have you ever received some random surprise paypal payments or campaign data as a result of these frequent recommendations here at WF? LOL

[sumitdhawan09]

Hello friend,

You post as dullspace when you occasional take drug?

I just joke friend. It good you quit drug. It no good for body and can die young.

Good luck bro

[nickycakes]

Originally Posted by Unarmed Gunman

All bullshit aside, I'm curious as to exactly how you stumbled into affiliate marketing. Most of us have great stories about that since it's a pretty non-traditional career path so I'm curious to hear more specifics.

If you know Lorne Fade, I used to be in some chat rooms with him wayyyy back in the day and he told me like 3 years ago about some adsense sites he was running making like 100/day. That sparked my interest and through lots of wading through bullshit like john chow and digital point, I ended up saying fuck it and trying some facebook ads to dating offers and here i am.

[johu]

Did you ever party with the founders and first employees from Advertising.com in Baltimore? I've heard some crazy stories about the first employees at Ad.com (from a friend who knew some of them) and what they were like with tons of money during the dot com boom... Not sure of any specifics, but heavy partying, drinking and drugs was allegedly a big thing with a number of those guys.

[JamesB1]

thanks for this, this is really motivating and i can relate to it more than id like to admit

[Roundabout]

Hey Nick,
As somebody whose best friend was staring into the abyss years ago, nearly died, and fought his way back through daily AA meetings, support from friends/family, and has managed to be a very successful marketer today, I thought your story was inspirational on many levels.

Some people will claim it was a smoke screen but I think it's important for you to show the rest of the members here you're human and not just a marketing demi-god without feelings. With popularity comes polarization, the true winners roll with the punches and move on, which you're doing. Congrats.

[Deliguy]

Take this one thing I've learned growing up and doing what I had to do to get by: Criminals aren't the untrustworthy ones. It's the people that are so squeaky clean they'll say and do anything to keep themselves from getting in any sort of trouble you have to watch out for.

Be honest, how bad did the counterfeits turn out on your printer?

*insert beavis and butthead clip where beavis starts counterfeiting nickles on a photocopier that costs 0.10 per copy*

[nickycakes]

Originally Posted by Deliguy

Be honest, how bad did the counterfeits turn out on your printer?

Let's just say I wasn't getting any crime syndicate invitations.

[Moxxy]

Originally Posted by Deliguy

Be honest, how bad did the counterfeits turn out on your printer?

can you write an eBook on how to make monies?

but seriously, props from me also. Progress is relative. It takes a lot more of it to go from the bottom of the shithole to where you are than it does to go from a silver spoon to billionare...

[johnmatrix]

He who looks into the abyss realises that there's nothin' looking back at him, and the only thing he sees is his own character. You understand? Bud? The abyss? The shit abyss?

[mattfca]

well congrats on beating H
i know people close to me that just cant quit it