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

Www.twitter.com/timelessvie

Just had to do a temporary name-change for this post as it might out me.

If anyone wants to know more about the Younique 'pay' structure, this presentbot has done a rundown on her blog, although she doesn't even really seem to fully understand it herself! There are other posts on her blog that are worth a read actually, particularly where she admits in her first year she made a loss. The whole blog is actually quite a bit more honest than the usual botspeak on FB.

glatitude.co.uk/younique-presenter-commission/

This was on the netmums thread ...

I often forget about the netmums thread throwing, thanks for reminding me, just had a good catch up on it. Some fantastic replies.

www.netmums.com/coffeehouse/working-childcare-692/working-689/1292022-forever-living-driving-me-insane-30.html

It's also refreshing to see that it isn't just here on MN, it's clearly more wide spread. The fact that there are threads discussing it, all with thousands of responses, all filled with really solid reasoning, facts, figures and common sense.

In real life, 9/10 people when discussing MLMs really do dislike the whole premise and script. People CAN see through it all.

There is no fun in watching people throw money and time at a venture. People aren't bitching or bullying, people are generally concerned.

And if the bot response to people failing is that the person wasn't cut out for it/wasn't right for it/didn't try hard enough then maybe it is time to redirect that.

Why recruit someone who wasn't right for it?

Why make this open to everyone?

Why not make more educated decisions when it comes to your prospects, instead of just targeting the lady in line at the grocery store be used she was in you proximity?

If it wasn't sold as an easy marketing plan in which anyone and everyone can achieve their dreams in part time hours, these people would never have been tempted by it in the first place. Instead of passing the blame, look at yourselves.

Well said Patzy, couldnt have said it better myself.

What was interesting reading the nm thread is how 'scripted' it all is. You read an answer once, you read it ten times. It isn't even their own words. They are just re-spouting what they have been told to say.

The problem I have with Netmums people is that in general they appear to be far more -stupid- gullible. I posted several times on that "driving me insane" thread and still the morons come on posting about their "amazing opportunity" and people lap it up.

I am lucky - in real life I know of nobody who is caught up in these schemes so they're easier to avoid. But as a real, genuine work at home person, my reputation is being tarnished by these pyramids. I tell people that I work for myself at home and they recoil in horror.

Glasgowmum I totally get what you mean about the nm threads but then again, nm has a thread solely for netmummers to advertise their MLM companies, yes, really!

It is fascinating to read all that "work from home part time big money" crap all on one thread. It is ads only, no discussion though. Made me realise why netmums is so full of pro-MLM threads though. Wouldn't happen here, thankfully .

I have had several message exchanges with netmums about why they removed some of my posts criticising MLMs and why they allow so many threads promoting MLMs etc. Their response was basically - these organisations aren't illegal.
it makes my blood boil! As you say, netmums peeps tend to be perhaps less cynical and therefore more at risk in the first place.
I don't know what else to do though to make them see it. I pointed out mumsnet had banned MLMers from recruiting etc and they just said "well we aren't mumsnet"

MrGrumpy01 and glasg0wmum scripted comments and posters lapping up comments are frustrating; reading and arguing with them is like engaging with a robot - hence Bot! Always need to remind yourself that the posters lapping up the script are more than likely upline / other team member's sockpuppet accounts sent to back up the original poster.

FB comments that trigger the rage "exciting times" " absolutely smashing it" "such an inspiration hun" "this is just the beginning". Must be exhausting.

The International Consortium of Investigative Journalism (ICIJ) has a searchable database on the Offshore Leaks site : offshoreleaks.icij.org/search which makes interesting reading but obviously needs more background info before drawing any conclusions!

Interesting prettyuseful
I was only thinking last night if anyone has ever trawled the wikileaks databases for info related to MLM. That seems as good a place to start as any.

I'm still staggered at the notion that people could be buying Facebook 'likes'. (Although I'm marginally happier about the outcome having read up on Facebook's EdgeRank algorithm - not such a good idea it seems.)

Throwing, I wonder why Netmums deleted your posts. Fair enough they want to leave posts because they aren't illegal. But then that begs the question, is it illegal to criticise MLMs?

Well quite toobusy .
It also makes me wonder why they are so keen to protect these MLMs and allow them to post Uninpeded? I haven't yet found anything that suggests they benefit financially from it but I haven't had time to do much digging (yet...)

Buying Twitter or Facebook likes is not new. I work often through PeoplePerHour and every day there are people advertising for freelancers to supply them with "likes" and even specify that the "likers" have to be from a certain country or geographic area. Freelancers from places like Bangladesh, Pakistan or Nigeria are happy to supply several hundred "likes" for $5. I don't know how they do it and don't really care, I think in many cases it's as simple as someone sitting creating hundreds of FB profiles based on hundreds of gmail or Hotmail accounts and manually liking the page.

Social media firms are not stupid though - they know this goes on. Google in particular have got very savvy about downranking poorly constructed websites with lots of duplicate content and links, it won't be long until Betty in Bolton who buys 1500 "likes" for her MLM page from Barry in Bangladesh gets her Twitter or FB account delisted.

*unimpeded

It has also come to my attention this week that desperate people can to to a page where they can "swap" likes with each other

Enjoy your post bot life cubic, your posts have been fantastic and a real asset to these threads. Fully understand why you just want to get on now instead of going from one obsession to another, hope you pop in and say hi some point in the future, a post mlm success story is wonderful to hear.

Lots and lots of best wishes to you cubic

All the best, Cubic.

Sorry you're leaving but it's been great to have you here. Pop back from time to time though, you'll be most welcome.

Sorry you're leaving cubic.

I'm glad these threads have persuaded you to put your thoughts of joining another bonkers MLM scheme in a bag and to stamp up and down on them.

These threads are making a positive difference, no matter what the haterz think.