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Original poster

to think my friend has joined a cult?

238 replies

PumpkinPieInTheSky · 15/10/2014 09:10

Known my friend for years, she is lovely. Funny, clever, friendly, raises loads of money for charity etc. One day she got her eye lashes done as a one off for a party and got chatting to the lady who was doing them. This lady persuaded her to buy a product from her - I remember my friend saying at the time that it was a hard sell and she didn't want to buy it.

She did buy it though and she is now hooked and now sells it too. She thinks others need to be persuaded as hard as she did to buy it. She genuinely believes she is providing a really helpful service and has stopped all her usual charity fundraising and all time is spent on "helping people change their lives" - ie sell them this product too.

On FB of anyone questions it she shouts them down and copies and pastes paragraph upon paragraph of "research" on it and then blocks the person.

She is being tagged in all sorts of posts about it now after some kind of huge meet up at the weekend, examples -

"So totally mind blowing experience over the past 4 days with amazing people. Abso loved every min of it guys thanks so much. Can't even put into words how i feel right now. The emotions, the ambitions, where this company is going. The scientific research is flawless... the peer study reviews OMG this is just the start... & where we not only as a company but where we as a team are going... this is ready for take off..."

"This was by far the most amazing experience ever, and to think this is work is just insane. Love the products, love the business, love the people and the positivity surrounding everything we are doing. "

"I'm sooo motivated to take my business to the next level and I want you all to join me!!! I want to make your life better, your family and friends life better. I promise... I can do this for you, all you need to do is PM me and give me a chance to prove it.
Life is too short to wait!
I don't want you looking back in a years time thinking "I wish I took a chance" own your own life starting today. I guarantee it'll be the best thing you've ever done ??
Come to this event tomorrow night (Details in the poster below) I will sort transport for you. An hour is all I ask, it will change your life. You've got absolutely nothing to lose but everything to gain XxX"

What has happened to my lovely friend? It is all she talks about now :( I miss her. Any problem you have she has an answer...her product! Some friends have bought it to shut her up but she doesn't even stop then - she wants you to buy more and more and then start selling.

OP posts:
GarethCanFOff · 15/10/2014 11:07

Exactly! OP maybe you could passively aggressively post this on facebook ? Grin

"Just Eat a Goddam Vegetable"

Interesting post big foot.

Suzannewithaplan · 15/10/2014 11:13

She sounds manic / hypomanic!
So many people desperate for a weight-loss quick fix that these companies are easily able to exploit them?

SouthernComforts · 15/10/2014 11:16

I know several people making a hell of a lot of money off this stuff. Company funded trips to Dubai and Aus, house and cars bought out right etc. Sadly I've had to delete one of them off FB because they have become the most boring, self absorbed wanker I've ever seen. The only pictures added of these once in a lifetime trips were inside window less meeting rooms and gym selfies.

Suzannewithaplan · 15/10/2014 11:19

really?
lots of people making actual profitsShock

Miggsie · 15/10/2014 11:20

I suppose the tag line "get yourself the most expensive urine around!" won't work then?

AlleyCat11 · 15/10/2014 11:23

Happened to one of my friends. He joined World Ventures "travel club". He only talks "business" now, nothing else. This guy used to be the life & soul, very kind & a good friend to many. Now folk cross the street to avoid him. Sad...

gamerchick · 15/10/2014 11:32

Heh I knew it was juice plus.

I deleted close family members because of juice plus before their facebooks turned into giant adverts.

Suzannewithaplan · 15/10/2014 11:41

FB seems tailor made for these MLM set ups

kentishgirl · 15/10/2014 11:42

You can change her facebook setting from friend to acquaintance; that way her stuff won't keep taking over your wall.

As she isn't trying to sell to you, ignore it. It's a shame and it's going to isolate her from people, but not your problem. She'll either come to her sense or won't, there honestly isn't any way you'll be able to persuade her.

If she keeps talking about it when you meet up, say 'Let's not talk about work!' and promptly change the subject, ask her a question about something else she can't twist to be about this. If she still keeps talking about it nonstop and driving you nuts, you'll have to tell her you don't want to hear about it. If she still keeps doing it, you'll have to cut down or cut off contact.

FatAmy · 15/10/2014 12:07

Was the big juice plus meeting in Barcelona? I have a FB friend whose entire life now seems to revolve around j+ and she went to Barcelona for the weekend to meet up with other poor brainwashed people who have been taken in by this shit.
She used to seem very sensible... Confused

Suzannewithaplan · 15/10/2014 12:11

was the barcelona trip funded by Juice plus?

aturtlenamedmack · 15/10/2014 12:14

Ughh I knew it would be JP too.
I have a friend who has also joined the cult.
She posted the other day suggesting that taking JP would cure any mental health problems that you might be experiencing.
Depression? Anxiety? PTSD? Don't bother with anything that your trained medical provider prescibes you, take Juice Plus and your complex health issue will be cured.
I can't believe that they can get away with such damaging propaganda.

Suzannewithaplan · 15/10/2014 12:14

what makes people fall for these things?
Is there some key thing that sucks them in?
A specific weakness or vulnerability in the cult members? ?Confused

Llareggub · 15/10/2014 12:21

I have someone (now hidden) on FB who is completely taken over by Forever Living. Her and her husband have both given up their jobs and have sent their DDs to private school and moved to a big house. I have no idea what is paying for it all but they use their lifestyle to encourage others into the business.

For them it isn't about the product at all, it's all about sucking others into selling the life changing business. I've thought for a long time it has the same symptoms as a cult.

I have another friend into the JP thing and she seems quite sensible about it so far...

Suzannewithaplan · 15/10/2014 12:30

But by definition there can only be a few who actually get rich from these schemes, I suppose they need the successful ones to show off as much as possible to promote the 'it could be you' message

AgaPanthers · 15/10/2014 12:31

All the pyramid selling scammers advise their new acolytes to 'fake it until you make it'. So you get people boasting on Facebook about holidays, or big houses, but it's either BS or done on credit. So you get into loads of debt.

They exploit the poor and vulnerable, by claiming it's a job, and the asking for hundreds for expensive 'starter packs'.

MammaTJ · 15/10/2014 12:33

I have a JP rep and a Body By Vi one too. My feed can be totally taken over by them! Awful.

I actually worry about them investing so much of their lives in to these things. They cannot be anything more than fleeting surely!

BackOnlyBriefly · 15/10/2014 12:45

I think it's half get-rich-quick and half the feeling of belonging to a group.

The first part we can all understand - especially these days. You say to yourself 'if I can put away £x a week then by next year I may be able to buy a new washing machine' It's disheartening isn't it and the thought of making £1000s a week is just so wonderful.

The other part is related to the religion thing so calling it a cult is not far off. Humans like to join things so they feel part of a big family.

prettybird · 15/10/2014 12:52

I've also got a old friend, who recently got back in touch with me via fb, who is "into" Forever Living. She did try the "this has changed my life and I gave up my old job to do this full time, having initially been recommended it by a colleague" on me but I chose not engage with her and to be fair, she doesn't go on too much about it on her statuses (statae? Wink)

Suzannewithaplan · 15/10/2014 12:56

'fake it until you make it'

as you say facebook is the place for faking the high life!

MaryWestmacott · 15/10/2014 13:10

they do get a bit 'cult like' but another thought, as well as trying to make money out of her nearest and dearest, it could be part as someone who didn't eat much fruit & veg that the difference to her health has seem like she's found a miracle, and the fact that if she just ate a little better it would have had the same effect hasn't sunk in.

For people who don't 'do' healthy, this sort of shit works - I tend to nod and smile and say "great it's working for you." because the alternative is to point out how much better they'd be for less if they just, you know, added some carrots and beans to that plate, popped a few chopped peppers and some spinach in that curry, ate those ribs and chips with a side salad etc.

Sadly, a large % of the population are looking for some magic way to eat crap and still be slim and healthy. If you think, even just a small way, you've found it, you'd grab hold of it and try to tell everyone else.

It's diet bores with added sales pressure. Best just put her as an aquantence until she's come to her senses.

starsandguitars · 15/10/2014 13:15

I knew it would be this as I read your post! My ex husband and his wife fell for it .... Evangelical on FB, posters up in the window of the house we still owned jointly .... Embarrassing and odd! What a shame it's causing her to lose lovely caring real friends like you

ballsballsballs · 15/10/2014 13:20

YANBU. It'll only be a matter of time before one of the devotees turns up on this thread to tell us we're all wrong, and how we can make a fortune. Hmm

MaryWestmacott · 15/10/2014 13:23

Oh balls, I do hope so, they are always so passionate Grin

KateSpade · 15/10/2014 13:25

A girl I know has been doing JP and flipin' heck, she's lost loads of weight!

But she was telling me about it & it cost a bloody fortune!