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AIBU?

... to hate hate hate MLM (aka pyramid scams)

7 replies

NotQuiteCockney · 16/09/2008 17:39

When I was growing up, my parents got drawn in by loads of these, they wasted, time, energy and effort on what were basically scams. If these people have such great products, why don't they market them through, you know, shops?

Someone I don't know very well on FB (not an MNer!) sent out a long email to lots of people full of MLM shite talk, and I am v tempted to answer back talking about how much money and time my parents wasted on this sort of bullshit, all for nothing.

(Yes, I know some people make some money with Avon, and maybe Amway (Amway is still very evil). But I still hate them, for the scamminess, for the 'pester your friends' sales techniques, and for the flagrant smell of bullshit that permeates everything about them.)

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Upwind · 16/09/2008 17:43

YANBU to hate pyramid scams, they prey on fear and greed. The biggest one ever was the housing market pyramid which is just collapsing now.

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NotQuiteCockney · 16/09/2008 20:01

So what should I do? Send a message to her? Send a reply-all message? Or ignore it?

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lulumama · 16/09/2008 20:03

what is MLM?

i would tell her, do a group message actually, as as at the moment, if people are desperate for a quick buck, they could stand to lose a lot.. people need to know, and if they are being told about it by a friend/acquaintance, they might get sucked in.

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NotQuiteCockney · 16/09/2008 20:05

The thing is ...

Ok. The thing is, the people she's emailed are people I went to school with. These are, in theory, the best and brightest, top 1% IQ, yadda yadda yadda. So I'd bet most of them already know these things are BS.

MLM = pyramid scams - buying crap and selling it to your friends. This one is a vitamin one, I think.

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lulumama · 16/09/2008 20:26

yeah, but if everyone you thought would know it was BS did not buy into it, these things woudl not exist, ifyswim

plenty of bright people have no common sense or bullshit detector

mail em alllllll!!

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Upwind · 16/09/2008 20:35

In theory, I'd like to say reply to all, but in reality, if you reply all message you risk humiliating her. So what you should do will depend on how much you care for this woman.

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NotQuiteCockney · 16/09/2008 21:16

Um. I don't like her at all, never have.

I probably won't do reply to all, dunno. I had a convo with someone else who got mailed about this ...

If I reply, I'd be tempted to mention the 'my parents lost money this way, lots' thing.

It's all tricky and complicated, these are the people I went to school with. They are mostly from wealthy backgrounds (of course, bright kids always are ). I'm not.

I think I'll probably just leave it be, and say something if she mentions it again. I would bet money that anyone on this list who I care about is smart enough to have gone at the whole thing.