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

As used here (perhaps different to its official and more correct definition) it's really the 'hook item' that people are notionally selling and which provides the cover for eg the recruitment etc money -spinner.

It could be a health product, a beauty product, a homeward product .........its function is really the same.

Sorry - that was to refer to 'wampum' of course. I had thought about - and suggested at one point - that a different word be used but I've found myself warming to it.

I think there are more obvious ways to unpick scams which rely on false medical claims as part of their USP which is why they get more attention. But the business model of all these MLMs is similarly questionable

• homeware

Device 1
cozie 0

Thanks for your answers everyone.

I like these threads I think I have found my spiritual home

Please do feel free to send private messages to
www.facebook.com/timelessvie
Or
www.facebook.com/liestopper (bot watch)

If you would like to draw our attention to anything or just want advice /support

this is a good Wikipedia article on MLM

You will also lots of links on bot watch and timeless vie blogs to other helpful websites etc

And of course last but not least is Eyespyings excellent and very thorough blog

wrt "wampum" "products", there's a lovely quote from the Baffler article on Amway: thebaffler.com/salvos/dreams-incorporated

"..MLMs offer one or two miracle products, such as nutritional supplements like bluegreen algae or “minerals in colloidal suspension,” etc., about which wild claims can be made with impunity. Such products defy conventional sales methods, usually because they require some sort of conversion experience on the part of the customer.."

Strewth.

In my last place, we would go into virtual lockdown if one of the water areas had blue green algal bloom.

The community mindset was clearly wrong. We should have been out there collecting the stuff for sale!

WindyTriller As further guidance: 'MLM' rackets have been presented in a form of coded language which has been constantly repeated and ritualised, so that 'MLM' adherents, and even 'MLM' observers, will repeat it without stopping to think. I'm always inviting people to stop and think by trying to explain 'MLM' rackets using only accurate language. On these threads, I try to indicate what is the 'MLM' coded language by using inverted commas, but on my Blog, I also generally use italics and/or red script.

MN regulars on these threads came to the same conclusions (with a bit of guidance), and gradually we have adopted a more unified underlying approach, but leaving room for everyone to bring their own ideas (and jokes) to the table.

Finding your way safely in and out of any thought-stopping cultic labyrinth, is a mental discipline. At first, it's best to have a reliable guide. You also need an inexhaustible sense of humour and a similar supply of chocolate Easter eggs cheese.

chocolate Easter eggs cheese.

Straining to see the difference there, Eye.

I didn't get a single Easter egg. Got them for our sons but forgot ourselves! I do however have cheese in abundance

No need to delete any identifying details when sending info to TV or Botwatch. In fact, it helps to keep it so they can look further into the profiles and might dig up more things.

Twunk, Easter eggs are very cheap right now...

Twunk I got a sort of little metal bucket full of those miniature Swiss chocolate Easter eggs. The Bond Girls are watching their figures, so I very kindly stepped up to the bucket and ate some of their chocolate eggs. Brie and baguettes were also brought in this morning. There is no end to the sacrifices I have to make.

Delurking just to see if anyone is watching Judge Rinder right now. It sounds like an MLM/reverse funnel in the case. Brochures and make-up related. I have been reading the MLM threads for a while now and love the FB parslaii :) ty for what you are all doing to wake people up to the reality of these schemes.

I was watching that George! She was heartless wasn't she. I'm glad she didn't get her £40 back

That is so true, I think the Judge was spot on. Lots of "huns" in the text messages shown :)

Toobusy I'm not in the UK I'm in Holland and it's just not the same

But DS1 has just given me a Twirl and some of his egg. He's always been my favourite

I missed that George - shame

Think I've well and truly upset my FL bot after I commented about Rexy. She didn't wish me happy birthday and is no longer commenting on anything I do. Boo fkin Hoo!

Ah Rexy. Well we do need to protect the feeling of multi-millionaire racketeers. Won't somebody think of the rich white men?!

Arrrggggh! One of my bots has gone into full 'botted to the fucking eyeballs' mode 🙄 Feeling grumpy.

Gonna skip the details... But just needed a moan.

melaw sorry to hear that. It is awful to watch. I thought one of my bots had left but I think it was a minor wobble (caused by a peruse of TV) and now she is back in full on shiney eyed newbie bot mode argh.

come and play on twitter, I'm missing you my shining

Welcome George. Good to have you posting.