MLM Bot Watch 46 - Lies, damn lies, and attraction marketing

[Twentytwentyhindsight]

The continuing crusade to expose the underhand tactics used to lure (mainly) women into exploitative schemes using the lure of 'financial independence'.

This is where I have trouble drawing the lines under who the victims are and the people who have been involved in this industry long enough to know the truth but carry on regardless.

I refuse to believe that anyone who has spent more than 2-3 years in this industry doesn't know the reality of how they need to bring people to build a downline and who are going to lose out ultimately.

The only people I feel sorry for are the spouses and kids of these bots who will ultimately suffer when it all collapses.

TBF

TBF 9dart, thousands upon thousands of people have suffered, directly or indirectly, even when FLP UK was at its peak.

It will be unfortunate for the 'innocents' when they have to downsize, but their relative comfort was built on the ruthless exploitation of many more.

Very true @Twentytwentyhindsight,

I would say however I would not be surpised at the amount of spouses/partners who don't realise what their significant other is involved in (Brainwashing.......Cultyness......Etc......)and the potential shitstorm that lies in wait when it finally all becomes clear to them.

As you know from your own experience, try telling a bot that she has been scammed and is wasting her time on whats openly alleged to be nothing more than a product based pyramid scheme where less than 1% make money after expenses.

My own biggest reason for hating this industry in the countless allegations of how MLM uplines encourage bots to cut off friends, relatives, even husbands and wives if they dare question that it's not a legitimate business opportunity.

That's what I mean by 'direct & indirect' damage.

This is the stock-in-trade of MLMs in normal operation: exploitation, manipulation, brainwashing. They are causing harm- financial, emotional, in terms of relationships etc. - in 'normal' mode.

So although some people around the very few at the top who might be classed as 'innocent' might see their conditions straitened somewhat when the rotten edifice comes crumbling down, they are nothing compared to the thousands who would suffer if the scheme lumbered on. This includes lowly bots who may be dismayed that their promise of a golden future has somehow gone down the pan - they might not realise it, but trust me, they will be saved from much worse.

It must have seemed SO EASY to make money in the heady days of Forever Living in the UK, the boom times in 2014 to 2016 when the likes of Yawn, Homeschool and others were raking it in because it was a piece of cake to find new recruits. And those recruits were willing to ‘invest’ (spend) substantial amounts before dropping out.

Now, new recruits are harder to find and, judging by some I’ve looked at, are not in a financial position to spend a lot of money.

I am "friends" with one of Yawn's downline. She is selling off all her designer handbags etc at the mo, and had her card declined in Home Bargains the other day. Her daily FB posts never get a single like or comment and yet she is "living the dream".

Blimey. I’m aware that there’s a gap between Facebook posts and reality but that takes the biscuit

I was an FBO from 2015-2016 and was in Castles downline. I deeply regret joining FL and feel totally embarrassed by my social media posts and the way I tried to sell the products and build a team.
This mumsnet feed was the catalyst for me to stop as I realised that I wasn’t the only one with the same feelings.

I was an FBO from 2015-2016 and was in Castles downline. I deeply regret joining FL and feel totally embarrassed by my social media posts and the way I tried to sell the products and build a team.
This mumsnet feed was the catalyst for me to stop as I realised that I wasn’t the only one with the same feelings.

@user1479228519 - if this thread played a part in your escape, it is doing what it set out to.

In a way, it was the same for me - this thread helped me realise what had happened to my OH. I had tried to rationalise it & explain it to myself, her and others, but had no reference point and felt isolated.

Knowing others feel the same way is a great help.

So pleased to hear that these threads have been helpful, that’s two useful functions they have, the other being to allow posters like me to let off steam!!

I am so glad those threads have helped.
I haven't seen forever living at all being peddled on FB for absolutely ages and also none at any fairs.
There is still a way to go as the bots left will now be recruiting the most vulnerable in our society.

The funny thing is that I am sure that homeschool bot and former Welsh down lines (now authors and specialists in inspirational quotes) were talking about how much they hated FL. It does seem that homeschool bot realising she is number 18 still has jumped back on the bandwagon after her stage debut and is going to give it another try.

Sorry must now refer to 'the aloe Vera company' - not FL
Nothing like a rebrand to boost sales

Yawn's getting a bit of stick (for it is She) over her preying on nurses on the MLM lies exposed FB page at the moment.

The BBC stories piece on FLP and Valentus made me aware of this thread and I got hooked looking through the old threads, It's a proper rabbit hole lol.

That MLM Lies Exposed fb page is very interesting. Worth having a look at responses to this comment, from 18th November... "Curious .. has anyone ended up in debt from mlm? I used to do forever .. spent 200 on the ‘business’ kit and barely
Made it back !" Nearly 150 comments!

Genuinely quite sad seeing one of them post about the closing of the dolls business. Clearly she had a talent as they are pretty good, sticking at that and trying to grind it out would have been a much more long term rewarding output. You don’t get into Harrod’s without something about you. You can tell in her voice she’s gutted. It also sends the message that any other bots have small genuine businesses to ditch them for the MLM. The complete opposite of empowering small business owners.

A leader in FM used to tell people to quit their other traditionally owned business in favour for MLM or she refused to put time into them.

She also had a habit of badmouthing people who started up their own business and the business itself so they wouldn't get customers.

How big a team do the top bots like Castle and Bloodsucker have?

Do they still have to personally recruit people ?

BP used to be a bot. Now he is an employee of FL. What conclusions can you draw from that?

Am I right in thinking someone here said that FL encouraged bots not to read these threads? How did those of you who escaped from FL come across them? Thank goodness people find these threads helpful.

Very noticeable that new bots post memes about keeping focused/ believe in your dreams/ surround yourself with positive people/

I know two who blocked me after I asked quite gentle questions in DMs.

(Before blocking, both send me weirdly similar messages about how they felt sorry for me as I was clearly unhappy and staking them and that I must have had a negative experience
with FL but you can’t succeed if you don’t put the work in)

• stalking