tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5576018960973115197.post6764442355946345864..comments2024-01-15T02:20:27.230-08:00Comments on The MLM Syndrome: MLM and Denial pt. 2John Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05186871105223753934noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5576018960973115197.post-50291885107347988052016-10-19T15:04:20.486-07:002016-10-19T15:04:20.486-07:00Fantastic, my e-mail is thedude2488@gmail.com. If ...Fantastic, my e-mail is thedude2488@gmail.com. If you have any other comments that you feel would be better to keep off of the blog, please don't hesitate to e-mail me. I am also interested in doing personal stories and other MLM related posts as featured articles (giving you credit of course). John Doehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05186871105223753934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5576018960973115197.post-51219495486545458662016-10-19T14:59:37.753-07:002016-10-19T14:59:37.753-07:00Sure, of course you may quote me. If you want to ...Sure, of course you may quote me. If you want to credit me, I am Professor Joseph S. Salemi of New York University. But you don't need to do so if don't want to. I'm just happy to help anyone who is trying to shed some light on the rottenness of MLM schemes.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5576018960973115197.post-38626298801798190572016-10-19T07:53:33.518-07:002016-10-19T07:53:33.518-07:00Anonymous,
Wow!!! This is a great post! I may hav...Anonymous,<br /><br />Wow!!! This is a great post! I may have to ask permission to use some of your lines in the future such as, "Like flies in a spider web, the more they struggle the more entangled they get. This is because MLMs work on an emotional level." I never thought of it this way, but it couldn't be a more accurate analogy. They only have two choices when they struggle, quit or double down, and they clearly chose the latter.<br /><br />I also really liked this line, "Refusal to face reality is based on pride, or what the Greeks called 'hubris.' It is an inflexible need to cling stubbornly to something that is self-destructive." I also would not have thought to look at this situation as a version of "hubris", but that is exactly what it is. No logical person would ever stick around and give their money and time to something that is clearly not working. However, someone with an over-inflated ego due to love-bombing and the need to be recognized as important could have their "hubris" send them down a bad path.<br /><br />"An ideology is a fixed and immovable system of ideas that is self-contained. Acceptance of an ideology is not based on rational self-interest, but on something deeper and stronger. It is based on faith, belief, moral commitment, ethical certitude, and emotion."<br /><br />I have never heard this definition before and it is spectacular! I especially like the fact that is has a neutral emotional tone, and can be applied to both positive and negative situations! <br /><br />Thank you for this awesome post!John Doehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05186871105223753934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5576018960973115197.post-54651509587413655282016-10-18T16:20:02.091-07:002016-10-18T16:20:02.091-07:00It's interesting that both the men whom you de...It's interesting that both the men whom you describe here seem to be honest, energetic, and hardworking types -- not lazy slackers. In any other sensible line of work, there is no reason to suppose that they would be unsuccessful.<br /><br />The problem is the unfortunate fact they they got involved in an MLM. Like flies in a spider web, the more they struggle the more entangled they get. This is because MLMs work on an emotional level.<br /><br />Rational persons in such a situation would admit that what they tried was a mistake, and would move on to other opportunities. These two guys won't do that. This is the crucial key to their "denial."<br /><br />Refusal to face reality is based on pride, or what the Greeks called "hubris." It is an inflexible need to cling stubbornly to something that is self-destructive. Really competent businessmen cut their losses quickly when some scheme isn't panning out, and redirect their resources and energy to a different project or investment. MLM freaks won't do this because they are fixated, in a prideful and arrogant way, on an IDEOLOGY.<br /><br />An ideology is a fixed and immovable system of ideas that is self-contained. Acceptance of an ideology is not based on rational self-interest, but on something deeper and stronger. It is based on faith, belief, moral commitment, ethical certitude, and emotion.<br /><br />Sure, some cynical and amoral persons will accept an ideology solely for selfish reasons, and not for any deep personal feeling (for example, the bureaucrats and functionaries of the old Soviet Union, who hadn't the slightest commitment to Communism as an ideal). But the normal person in the grip of an ideology is a "true believer." Facts and figures don't matter to him. Financial losses don't shake him. Patent absurdities and outright lies pass over his head, unnoticed.<br /><br />This is at the root of "denial." Emotional commitment always defeats rational analysis.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com