FL thread 2

[mortil2]

To follow on so to not lose what is such an interesting thread

mlmtheamericandreammadenightmare.blogspot.fr/2015/07/please-shut-down-herbalife-hlf-racket.html

bettyberry Correct, this is great paradox of cults: The adherents' belief is genuine, but what they believe in, is false.

If you take this line of thinking to its logical conclusion, you can also describe kitsch 'MLM' propaganda as, 'non-sexual pornography' - an 'aid to mental masturbation.'

lazycoo - When I complained to the so-called UK Direct Selling Association about 'Amway,' back in the 1990s, I was told by the (then) Director of the UK DSA, Richard Berry, that he too 'had serious concerns about certain high-level Amway distributors making exaggerated income claims' and that 'these concerns were shared by the owners of Amway and everyone in the 'Direct Selling Industry.'

Berry then passed my name and address to 'Amway UK'. The response from 'Amway UK' was to send me an unsigned lawyer's letter which completely misrepresented what my concerns about 'Amway' were, dismissing them as childish and Ill-informed. I was told that legal steps would be taken to silence me if I persisted in repeating false and defammatory accusations against 'Amway.'

I was also informed that copies of another letter written by own brother (a 'satisfied Amway distributor') had been sent to everyone to whom I had previously addressed my concerns about 'Amway' (including members of the UK parliament and a government Minister), informing them that I was a misguided fantasist motivated by a 'family vendetta.'

An unsigned lawyer's letter? - good grief

At least they promised the steps to be taken to silence you would be legal!

A friend of mine tried to sell me stuff from Amway in the early 90's by asking me if she could practice her selling technique on me. Very sneeky of her. Hadnt heard of MLM's then,told her "no thanks, its too expensive". Have always been very wary of peoples bull-shit since then. If they were more honest about their company and the products they sell I think they would sell and recruit far more people. It always looks like they have something to hide, which now Ive looked further into these MLM's, they have.

lazycoo - The unsigned letter came from an impressive-sounding international firm of attorneys. It bore a London address and telephone number, along with an identification at the head in the form of 3 initials. I telephoned and discovered the law firm was new and that that the initials belonged to a 27 year old solicitor. He told me that he had not, in fact, drafted the letter entirely by himself, but he couldn't tell me who had actually written it.

At the time, I was furious, and I asked this evasive young guy if he still retained a copy. When he said, yes, I believe I told him to shove it up his arse.

A few months later, this mysterious law firm, had ceased to exist.

Eye that is shocking. The more I hear about these so-called companys, the more I worry about my Sil. What the hell has she got herself into. But I know its no use talking to her about it cuse I will now be a "hater".

I'm intrigued by the way they play with language. For example, my flbot talks about believing in the products and selling an opportunity. In the real world, you believe in the abstract (opportunity) and sell concrete things (the products.) Very topsy turvy. Presumably it distracts attention from the goods. I'm assuming that the goods are ordinary but priced high end.

Another thing I've noticed is that some of the groups overlap. I have a friend who distributes Herbalife to friends and buys Forever Living from another friend. So, there is possibly some truth in the claims that people are selling to people who don't have contracts with the company. But many of them will be in the MLM mindset/world.

I have bought products from MLMs before. I used to buy Stella & Dot jewellery when one of my friends was in S&D. TBH, more to support my friend than any other reason. I do like my S&D stuff - I mainly wear it for work.

IMO that's the key to 'social' selling - the guilt/obligation you feel to support your friend by buying her MLM products.

agree re language stitch.

I managed to hide my FL bot from my FB newsfeed but I've no idea how to get her back.
Not entirely sure I want to having just scrolled through her time line; it is incessantly FL, punctuated only by photos of her mani/pedicure, glasses of wine in the daytime and most bizarre of all, her badly sunburnt breasts (I resisted the urge to suggest she 'slap some Aloe Vera on them fast, love').

However, the saddest thing is that she has resigned from her average salary but secure job. She has a self employed DH who is regularly out of work for periods meaning she has complained of being broke before now and she also has DC to feed.

I'm just worried for her but I daren't say anything as she is obviously in too deep.

all you can do is be there for her.

I just checked the bot's page again: photos still up.

Agree re the language used by Bots and also in that reply...
'further actions can be taken', I would not be holding my breath as I doubt if even an email has been sent.

Didn't a pp and advocate of FL say that it was easy to buy products from their website and anyone can just get it direct? I just went to their web page and you can't. You have to join them to buy from them or get it through a distributor. Small point I know, but she was wrong.

toobusy i found the same thing.

oh ffs, check this out on the Younique thread on NM:

Make your Facebook like a magazine and not just all Younique. People get bored and won't be interested. Attraction Marketing is the key! Post about your family, days out, things you've bought, take a pic of your shopping with your Younique card with something like " Thankyou Younique! Bought all this shopping and not had to dip in to the household budget". Post about how busy your inbox is and you'll reply to all as soon as you can, post inspirational quotes, pics of the mascara.
A good book to read is Go Pro by Eric Worre.
Follow Amber Voight on fb. Even if you didn't buy all that shopping with your Younique card or if your not busy.... doesn't matter, fake it till you make it xx

So I just looked at Amber Voight who is at black diamond express level in the video game that is MLM. Full of the usual bs.

Anyone find people sharing ALL thier purchases a bit crass? I think I've unfollowed everyone who does that but they're not all mlm people!

I only have one FB friend that does that and tbh she must be mentally ill. Her statuses are littered with nasty comments and drama. I don't think it's normal to brag about what you have on FB and as such it makes these MLM victims stick out a mile.

I have/had several who do it. Xmas and birthday times were hell. All the hashtags. then the constant drip feed. It has gotten worse with those being 'business women' and I use that term loosely because what kind of business are you running where you spend that much but nothing about reinvestment?

eyespying do you know anything about the ANC network?
I have yet to find out what their supposed product is but at least they seem to openly admit it's mlm. Seems to be mainly in the Asian community.

It is a bit crass. The contrast is stark between those of my friends and family who use FB as 'social' media with the occasional update on where they've been or what they've seen and the one using it as 'marketing' media which is why I hid her.
It's also disturbing how a reasonably intelligent woman has gone from having two 'tangible' sources of income to having nothing but FL. I've been reading back through the thread on the cultism aspect of it and I'm even more disturbed by it, although fascinated at the same time.

CainInThePunting

Might I ask, have you read these two key-articles which were linked earlier?

mlmtheamericandreammadenightmare.blogspot.fr/2013/02/forever-living-products-flp-is-mlm.html

mlmtheamericandreammadenightmare.blogspot.fr/2015/06/forever-living-products-flp-cult-secte.html