So.. a friend of mine is doing an MLM

[onesteptwostep]

Spoiler

I'm not sure what to feel. Basically the whole process went like this: a friend of mine who was with me in the military has been working at an MLM called Nu Skin in Korea for about a couple of years and doesn't seem to understand the nuance of what an MLM is, that it uses constant fresh recruits to make afloat the industry. He approached me like a month ago and since on then I've been going to some of their success story seminars and some of their product demonstrations. I didn't exactly know what an MLM was but after doing some research it does seem to end up badly (as demonstrated by Oliver up there)

I've, out of peer pressure I guess, and a sense of curiosity plus a sudden influx of income I've received lately, bought at least 60 dollars worth of products (toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, a soap bar and some vitamins) and even a book to read some pro-Nu Skin literature (entitled The Aging Myth). The part that worries me the worst is that the people there aren't bad people, but seemingly duped by the process created by some white guys, probably Mormon, from Utah. Some of these people worked for this MLM for a decade, and seem to perpetuate a notion that what they're selling are desires and dreams for people, that their "entrepreneurship" can help allow a lifestyle of freedom and luxury.

I don't really want to admit this, but the success stories were actually captivating and made lots of sense. A lot of the lecturers, well, I mean it's pretty obvious that they would only allow people who've succeeded to become lecturers in the first place, were ex-bankers and ex-Samsung employees and ex-insurance company workers and so on. With the job market so harsh in Korea at the moment, it seemed like a lot of the people who came to these seminars found hope within these lectures. The seminars usually hosted around 150-200 or so people (of which I went to around 5..).

In hindsight I'm in a mix of emotions. How was it that I was able to be swept up in the moment and not use my rationality and methods of research beforehand before I've emotionally accepted the organization as something legitimate? Also how is it that something like this can dupe and enslave so much people to work in such an organization? I've posted videos related to truthful spirituality and it basically was just that, that they used sentimental and emotional methods to dupe themselves and others into thinking that their enterprise was worth going into. I should feel angry, but the thing is that apparently there were Christian pastors working at this place to sort out their budgeting dividends, and that even some of the extra funds were sent to missions around the world. Is this how the world is supposed to function?

I just feel really frustrated right now at how misinformation and the illusion of the power of money can lead people into thinking such a process, as well as such products, are okay to employ.

Anyway according to my research Nu Skin has even funded Mitt Romney, and apparently Jason Chaffetz a Republican house representative from the House Oversight Committee, worked in Nu Skin for about a decade. It's just creepy how much power these Mormons have. This thing isn't just in Korea, it's in Japan, Brazil, Europe, and so on...

Idk right now I feel dirty.. and I'm not sure how I'll be able to help my friend get out of this organization, or the people I've meet so far in it. What a shitty moral and social dilemma this is >_>

 

[Hadoblado]

Yeah it's pretty gross. I don't think you should be too hard on yourself, that just makes it worse. They're structured to take advantage of healthy social interaction, so unless you're already informed going in it's not surprising when you get suckered. It's a pretty hard ask to do research on every little thing before you dip your toe in (I think too hard an ask).

I found this useful:

You're in a tricky spot with the people who are still under the influence of the MLM. I would try to remain firm but supportive. I'm not sure there's much more you can do. I've been exposed to MLMs, but I've never had any close friends in them.

 

[redbaron]

i was invited to a meeting for one of these once, and they took me to a nice hotel where i ordered the most expensive things on the menu since it was on them

halfway through the cobference i stood up and started telling the 'success story' on the stage that it was an obvious scam and berated them for a while. good times

 

[Cognisant]

My father was suckered into Amway and I think it crushed his entrepreneurial hopes and dreams when he finally figured out that the math just doesn't add up, he's into all sorts of cults now (mainly the church of perfect liberty) so then again maybe not?

My father and grandfather are both Freemasons, as much as I admire the premise I have irreconcilable philosophical differences with their requirement that I believe in some manner of divine creator.

 

[onesteptwostep]

@Hadoblado Yeah I'm not sure what action to take either. I think I'll just try and explain how I feel over lunch. The people I've met there were nice and I don't want to ruin relationships. By relationships I mean him and the people who work with him.

@redbaron What product/company was it?

@Cognisant Yeah Amway's in Korea as well. As for the church of perfect liberty... is it this? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PL_Kyodan