Warning Bulletin
Some perspectives on spam in MLM
We shouldn’t be surprised at the prevalence of SPAM in network marketing. (For many people, SPAM and MLM are practically synonymous.)
- It’s almost impossible to legislate against greed, selfishness, laziness and stupidity. Whenever governments try, they botch the job because you can only legislate for behaviour, not for motives or attitudes, which is what selfishness, laziness, greed and stupidity really are.
- There's a good argument for NOT even trying to legislate against such motives and attitudes, because only the selfish, greedy, lazy and stupid actually get sucked in by “get rich quick” opportunities. They get what they deserve!
But, as anyone who spends time on MLM forums, or subscribes to MLM discussion lists, knows only too well, people continue to use SPAM (and more “subtle” variations) to push their network marketing opportunities, whether recipients want them or not — while others tolerate it, on the basis that “if you don’t want to read it, that’s why you have a ‘delete’ key.”
Perspective 1
Network marketing success is ultimately built on the quality and durability of personal relationships. Especially the sponsoring relationship.
Spamming is like waving a banner that reads:
“Join ME! I don’t care about good manners. I don’t care about your privacy. I don’t care that my spam costs you and your ISP money. I have no respect for anyone. Now… aren’t I the kind of sponsor you always dreamed of having?”
Of course, it’s hardly surprising that these relationship-abusers tend to attract people just like themselves, with the same kind of selfish, win-lose attitudes. (You can’t really call them ‘values’, can you?)
Perspective 2
Spammers, if I send my dog over to defecate, urinate or vomit on your front doorstep, don’t make a fuss. Just use your pooper-scooper to ‘delete’ it! (Of course, it will wear a dog tag with someone else’s name and address on it in case you decide to take any kind of retaliatory action. That’s just typical of the kind of sly, cunning, malicious person, utterly devoid of integrity, that I am. Just like YOU!)
Spammers are always the first to bleat about “freedom of speech” and their “rights”.
What they forget about are two crucial principles that go with “rights” and “freedom”…
- Freedom is about choice. You’re free to choose between consequences. There is no such thing as freedom from consequences. Consequences are inevitable. It just takes time for the chickens to come home to roost.
- Rights are always balanced by responsibilities. Yes, you have a right to freedom of speech. But others have the equal and opposing right to not have to listen to you. Notice that I didn’t say “the right not to agree with you.” I said “the right to NOT have to listen to you!”
The right to be heard is NOT the right to be listened to.
Just as your right to swing your fist ends where my nose begins, your right to freedom of speech ends where my mailbox begins. Not where it ends. Where it BEGINS. You are NOT guaranteed an audience, willing or otherwise. In other words, I don’t want your drivel in my mailbox. Period.
It’s not that you don’t have anything worthwhile to offer. It’s that I choose NOT to do business with you for no other reason than YOU do NOT value relationships — and I only do business with intelligent people of true integrity who DO value them.
The fact that you abused my resources and my privacy are clear evidence of your undesirable character, your lack of intelligence and your lack of integrity.
It’s NOT about your product, information or service…
It’s about YOU!
If you can’t accept these simple principles of decent conduct, then understand that you have made your choice — and that choice has inevitable consequences. You’ve forfeited any right to complain when those consequences finally come home to roost.
And they will. Count on it.
©1998 The Profit Clinic. All rights reserved. This page updated 6 June 2003.
