To Shut Up or Not To Shut Up
“Again, we are doing a LEGITIMATE business. What I’m trying to is DAMAGE CONTROL from what you claim is INFORMATION NETWORKING. If the business is not for you, we respect that. But to blog it out and WARN (?) others (as the company does CRIMINAL activities - we have yet to apprehended, you know), it is so UNFAIR.”
- from a comment by robert tracy at New Recruitment Strategies?
It looked like that the compilation of experiences by bloggers is getting the attention of the MLM companies. And employees have started to do the rounds of blogs who’re speaking negatively about their companies and leaving comments in defense of their companies. Actually, one left the same comment in two different blogs (see this one and this one).
It is good that a discussion is being made and that the two sides are being heard. But when one side claims that the other one should just keep quiet because it “damages their business”, one should wonder: does a blogger need to stop blogging about his experiences in his own blog because it is “damaging” to the other side?
I think those who claim that it is unfair for those who had negative experiences towards a certain person, group, or company to blog about their insights do not have an understanding of the world of blogging (which we fondly call “blogosphere”). The blogosphere is the perfect avenue for open discussions on different topics because it gives both sides who’re in debate a level field. One presents his thesis and his supporting facts and the other side is given the chance for a rebuttal and the cycle is repeated. I mean, this is why there’s a comment section and free to create blogs, right? It’s because they have their thoughts, experiences, and ideas that they want to share to those who have access to blogs. If you have something to say or if you want to refute an idea, you could always post a comment in that blogger’s site or, if you want it to be more substantial, create your own blog, have it crawled by search engines so that that when people search for those topics, they can come across your ideas. Fair, isn’t? And with that, there’s no need telling bloggers to stop blogging about their experiences. One just have to confront the real issue head on and present evidences to the contrary. And anyone is free to do that in the blogosphere. So, why the need to tell a blogger to shut up?
The post of the blogger told to shut up is in the first page of the search results when a certain keyword/s are Googled. This means that certain people are afraid that others will mostly likely come across the post, read it, and BELIEVE it. And since, it’s injurious for them, they want it to be shot down. What they perhaps couldn’t believe is that people are intelligent and can make up their own minds. If they read contradicting information online, they can weigh and discern things so as to arrive to their own conclusion. It just so happens that, with the number of bloggers blogging about their negative experiences with certain companies, it’s just hard to ignore and brings a certain doubt into anyone who comes across such blogs. And doubts aren’t necessarily to be equated to prejudice. Doubts are good, in the sense, that it makes its owner more wary and to be more discerning. These doubts are the things that these people from certain companies do not want their potential clients/recruits to have.
I think, before these MLM companies accuse bloggers of unfair treatment of their businesses, they should first:
- Realize that misrepresentation is a form of deception
- Read the posts carefully and confront the real issues head on
- Look into their own companies, check if there are mistakes done by their employees, and correct those mistakes.
People may be wondering why I choose not to close the comments section of posts pertaining to MLMs (especially when comments get repetitive and I’m forced to answer the same issues again and again).
My answers are:
- I want to give a CHANCE to those who’re from MLM companies to refute or to defend against what was said, even though they do not seem to want to extend the same privilege to bloggers who have authentic experiences to share.
- I like comments.
So, fellow bloggers, what do you think?
Postscript: It’s funny how this line goes (from the above quote): “as the company does CRIMINAL activities - we have yet to apprehended, you know”. Didn’t that sound like someone owing up to an illegal activity? Hehehe. I think it should have been “But to blog it out and WARN (?) others (as IF the company does CRIMINAL activities - we have yet to apprehended, you know), it is so UNFAIR”. Hehe. Anyway, are we, bloggers, allowed to warn about criminal activities only? Hehehe.
continue writing about these MLM companies. Sure some of them may they have a legit business but I don’t like UNSOLICITED calls, emails in the guise of “investment” and some fancy names..my gosh, even in the malls I am “spammed” by these MLM personnel who just come in front of me. Very rude.
Instead of damage control against bloggers, these desperate MLM companies might want to redefine their ONLINE REPUTATION MANAGEMENT goals.
noemi’s last blog post..Creating One Million Pinoy Millionaires by 2020
not having been content to post a comment in my blog, they even sent BA the same comment, though BA has stood firm in keeping comments closed.
but you know what? they still continue with their misleading ways, Steph who is as much a member of our family (as Vince one of my sons is in hers) was there already at 15th floor octagon building (and some of those she knows, too), sweet talked by the people from NS. same ploy, different set of would be “victims”.
SexyMom’s last blog post..Happy Valentine’s Day–God’s Small Wonders
to noemi:
I know how they are at the malls as I’ve been hounded by them most of the time. What part of the word “no” could they not understand? It is really annoying that, after I say that I’m not interested in whatever they’re offering, they’d still run after me, telling me that I should hear first what they’re going to say. Am I under obligation to listen to anyone of them? Of course not! I have my own life, I live it the way I should, and therefore, I have the CHOICE whether to listen to them or not. I know they’re just doing their jobs, but hey, they should also have thought about how they could be really annoying to other people.
to SexyMom:
Which makes me think that they really are doing the rounds of blogs speaking negatively about them. Well, they’re allowed to do that. All I could do is just take it as they come.
Some fellas from an MLM company have been trying to get my bestfriend, too, like since we’re in college. Now that we’re working, those people were still after her and still bugging her to join. They’re her friends and classmates in college and they’re nice people. But I just wish they understand that my friend already turned them down. No changing her mind. A no is a no. What part of it don’t they understand? She’s gainfully employed, therefore, not that desperate to be going after money in a fashion that required her to deceive people.
Yeap, he sent me the same comment.
I closed the comments sections of my entries because as I was tired of their unsolicited calls, I was also tired of their unsolicited comments. :p
ba’s last blog post..Kung Tayo’y Tumanda Na.
Eto ba yung “tinataguan mo sa Market! Market!”?
Jon Limjap’s last blog post..Cloverfield isn’t a movie about a monster attacking New York
to ba:
So, yeah, he copy-pasted the comment to all blogs he could find writing negatively about MLMs. Haha.
Well, I might just close the comments section when I get that tired from repeating myself to them. But I’m still having fun so I’ll still put up the commen section for a while longer.
to Jon:
Of course not! I was hiding from a “makulit” guy who works somewhere in Market Market and who wants to be my bf. Eh ang kulit niya talaga! So, I really walked fast when I was there so that he wouldn’t see me, if he’s around at that time.
Heehee. Matagal-tagal na rin kasi akong nakipagaway sa mga ganun. :p Well, if the calls won’t stop (my brother’s girlfriend was called twice two weeks ago) the blog entries won’t, too.
ba’s last blog post..Kung Tayo’y Tumanda Na.
To dine, prudence and ba:
I now realize that it’s futile to reason out with people who don’t understand where I’m (we are) coming from. The very little that you know about the company, the easy you judge. Our company is not solely about the money. It’s about changing people’s lives…changing people’s attitude and outlook in life….and personal freedom.
Now, people who read your comments and get easily influenced by them without SEEING THE WHOLE PICTURE…are not worthy (for us) to work with anyways. We need people with a more broader outlook at things. Besides, people like you are just a minority.
Also, I realize that counter-reasoning out with you is unproductive.
This is what I can say, I’m learning enormously from the company I work with. (How I wish that you experience it as well. But, it seems you won’t allow.) If Bill Gates listened to negative people when he was just a teenager, there wouldn’t be any Microsoft today. If Ray Kroc got affected by negative opinions from people, there wouldn’t be any Mcdonald’s today.
Nevertheless, all of you are cordially invited to witness our Success seminar in March at the PICC. (We couldn’t fit at a smaller venue.) Achievers at various levels shall be awarded in that event.
Good luck in your endeavors.
I’m tired of reasoning too. I just said that I won’t join the company because I didn’t like the methods employed. Of course, the company isn’t all about that, so why’d you have to go all defensive and stuff? I know that you throw in all these citations to prove that what you are doing is legal, but, where did we say otherwise? I know of some people after reading our blog entries who continue to join your company. I think it’s some sort of screening to see who’s really intent on joining, rather than having people who join half heartedly, who end up losing their money in the process.
ba’s last blog post..You’re My Golden Girl
to ba:
Yup, it’ll be hard to reason out with people who thinks seeing the WHOLE PICTURE meant ignoring the faults and that, instead of correcting those faults, would rather focus on silencing those who’re vocal enough to point out those mistakes.