MLM Bot Watch 17- chat about Utah based tragicomic cultastic racketeering scamalangadingdongs like Forever Living, Ariix, Herbalife, Younique, Juiceplus etc etc etc

[Toobusytowee]

A brief history of the threads so far-

A few people were bemused at their friends' strange personality changes when they joined MLMs.
Eyespying told us they were tragicomic, thought stopping cultic racketeers.
We told him to go away, he was clearly obsessed, and can he go to his own serious thread?
We delved a bit deeper into the issues.
Eyes started creeping back. We told him he was too serious.
We became more horrified at the information being turned up and were sharing links.
Eyes told us aboutMerchants of Deception.
Timeless Vie was set up as a parody about MLMs.[[www.facebook.com/timelessvie
Facebook,]] Twitter, blog, Instagram and YouTube were all used.
People started coming forward, telling of their experiences in MLMs.
We became more horrified.
Bot Watch started on Facebook where links were put up of interest to do with MLMs.
Botwatchblog started and produced factual analysis of the discussions from MN.
MLM members (bots) waded in saying it was all ok. You can earn great money. You just have to work 19 hours a day and not worry about morals.
Bots complained about their names being used. Their lawyers complained to MNHQ so that MN now do not allow us to use bots' names or show screengrabs of their writings even if it is in the public domain.
Blogs and FB posts increased, with the increasing amount of facts and whistleblowers coming forward.
FL lawyer tried to get TV YouTube video banned.
Bots claimed we were bullying them because we were asking them questions they couldn't answer. we were called middle aged women and accused of being drug dealers.
It got a bit nasty so we ate some cheese for a bit and they went away.
Health claims from FL bots now reducing dramatically as a result of pestering from all of us.
We stopped telling Eyes he was too serious. We all started thinking in his language and realised he was right.
Eyes turned out to be very funny and entertained us all.
Sunday Times article produced exposing FL. With a little help from people here.
Lawyers still persisting in trying to ban TV's videos.

Some links of interest-
A factsheet aimed at people considering joining an MLM or who have just done so, to warn them of some facts. tinyurl.com/ha6sgxw

A film of herbalife victims describing what it is like in their MLM-

A film on how to spot a pyramid scheme-

A comedy review of an MLM product- www.youtu.be/4yr_etbfZtQ

Yes throwing, it's appalling. And just one story among so many many bad ones.

Looks like FL have competition....
(This is the stuff that had me dashing to the loo!)

stop yes I would distinguish some as "less bad" than others. But I think you are pretty daft to get involved in any, it's never going to be a very sensible "business" to get involved in.

I'm minded to open a book on how long it will be before The Opportunity Company (!) quietly drop or rename that poor unfortunate skincare product that doesn't have a 'Double 'i' in its name.

Early June anyone?

cozie The animated turds in the YouTube 'how to make money and get a new car' video capture my thoughts exactly. 💩💩

Thanks for the new thread and brilliant intro Toobusy

Taken aback, there, throwing. I was under the impression that one prominent MLM had done a Hunt Brothers on gloop?

I am either too thick or too tired or too full of aloe to understand your last comment cozie

Gosh, BS. Yet another person finding interesting YouTube videos while searching for 'How to make money and get a new car.

Which I'm sure everyone here would aspire to?

It's the gloop effect, throwing. The Hunt Brothers attempted to corner a market backaways - the silver market to be precise.

stopfaffing and throwingpebbles thanks for your responses. It is reassuring that Body Shop are seen as less bad than the others.

I am realistic and as such don't consider myself to be (or promote myself as being) a business owner, just someone who sells products and offers parties. I keep records of all my income and expenses and submit a tax return so I know how much I've made (or not as the case may have been in the past with other companies). But I agree throwing it's pretty daft to get involved if you believe it is a viable alternative to a proper job.

The one thing that is good about Body Shop is they don't (or shouldn't) spam FB news feeds, rules state you can only promote in a closed group so those who see it have to want to be in the group, and I'm not one of those who adds all my friends to my group. I hated that about ActiDerm we were encouraged to take selfies with products, tag people, add people to groups, post on their timelines and basically get in people's faces all the time with it. Just hideous.

Having said all this though, some serious thought is needed as to next steps with Body Shop. I am at a point where I need to make a decision which direction I go... to make actual money that would make a difference to me I need to put more time in and book more parties but my husband's work pattern and my "proper" job plus other commitments, give me very limited options and I refuse to palm my DS off on a family member or put him into childcare for the sake of making a few quid. If I don't invest more time then it's just a hobby that gives me discounted products and "pin money" and I need to decide if that is worth the effort.

I am glad I found these threads as it is helping me to think more objectively as to what I want out of it so thank you everyone. Food for thought indeed!

Wow! Well done everyone! I followed the first couple of threads but they started going too fast so I dropped away. but you have really made a difference.

cozietosie took me a while to figure out if the youtube video was genuine or a spoof!

Interestingly, Windy, Body Shop was the one 'party' I've been to and this was some years back. It felt odd, forced, and not really like a social event. I bought some product but I was conscious even at the time that I ought to because it would be making my 'hostess' something. It soured the relationship afterwards.

Think carefully.

Long term lurker on these threads. Love timeless vie and bot watch! Amazing work.
So how the fuck do I comment on this bullshit bollocks from my bot. She's more of an acquaintance and I know I should let it go but the raging part of me just can't....

Yep, well done! I've not posted for a while but looks like you're making an impact.

cozietoesie I know what you mean actually, and I have to say I think I agree - and therein lies the answer to my question I think, so thank you. I take on board your comments.

From the FL point of view, I remembered meeting a FLBO at a Mums' networking event recently. She was very upfront in that she said she wasn't about the products, she was basically building a business helping people to build businesses helping people to build businesses! I remember inwardly rolling my eyes and knowing instantly she was on about FL.

Anyway, I just looked on her FB page and found this...

"something to be earned later" it says! Very much along the lines of the just around the corner mentality previous posters have mentioned.

Knakard - and possibly Windy as well.

If you go to Toobusy's Opening Post, you'll see a link to a BotWatch piece called something like 'People who care about you are worried'. (Sorry that I can't easily link to it again but my current device has a mind of its own on these things.)

That might help you in communicating with your friends. It's worth reading in any case.

Good luck.

I read that yesterday, very useful. Sadly, I think my friends that are involved are in too deep.

I think we need a meme to give to Knakard's bot. I don't think they would read a properly considered argument as it would just be seen as negative and to be disregarded.

It may be so.

I'm increasingly of the view that it's best to let people know of these matters before they become enmeshed. Sone do come out relatively unharmed it's true - and people here have intense respect for those that do because it's so so difficult - but, sadly, most of them seem to be chewed up and tossed out once they've really been hooked. The stories are heartbreaking.

Toobusy.

That car video is just astounding, I thought it was a spoof as well! She only had one customer then she had thousands and a car. Wow!
If nothing else I know my ds2 will never join an MLM so I'm educating the next generation

Best not to say 'know' Dolly, I fear. We all could be caught at the right time and with the right 'hook'. Just do your best.