Amway/Quixtar: Comment Analysis

A brief analysis/commentary on the comments I’ve received in regards to writing about Amway/Quixtar, which has resulted in 2,238 of my 3,277 total views. What I’ve learned about guiding traffic: use words like “evil” and “cult”, then comment and get an early pingback on a blog that will end up getting tens of thousands of hits.

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wow – now I read your original post and I see where you’re coming from. You’ve been educated by the Anti-MLM zealot school of circular reasoning -

I believe MLM is a pyramid therefore it has the characteristics and failings of a pyramid therefore it is a pyramid.

Comment by ibofightback | July 30, 2007

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Scientology: Serious Business

I was recently asked to share thoughts on the cult that is the Church of Scientology. Despite the title, this isn’t about how Scientology is a business pretending to be a religion while really being a cult.

Links-a-plenty: The Wikipedia entry on Scientology; Operation Clambake, the definitive source of Scientology-related material; Bare-Faced Messiah, the most compelling biography I’ve ever read.

Maybe some day I’ll write about Sea Org, Scientology’s private navy, their billion-year contracts, the slave labor extracted from those who cannot pay for Scientology teaching, the way families are broken up and destroyed …. all the stuff I find most interesting about the cult. Today’s purpose is very brief education on Why Scientology Is Bad.

Amway/Quixtar: Now Officially a Cult

[This is a follow-up to my original Amway/Quixtar MLM writeup "Selling Broken Dreams"]

I’d like to think I’m nearing the tail end of my MLM research binge (mini-obsession) that has consumed the better part of a week. Every word I read leaves me sick to my stomach after realizing just how widespread the Amway/Quixtar evil is. Despite going into this binge with a clear bias, I was willing to consider arguments as to why my bias was wrong. I thought accusations of Amquix (a preferred internet term among “haters”) being a cult had to be overblown, and necessarily limited to very small pockets to whatever extent they were true. I learned that AMO’s (Amway Motivational Organizations, now AQMO’s) – large groups formed by various high-ranking distributors/IBO’s to sell business “tools” – were responsible for the “bad stuff” but that the corporation had nothing to do with it. Amquix was still a horrible business opportunity, but it wasn’t a cult.

Then I find out that the Amquix corporation has been aware of these abuses for at least 24 years (as documented) and probably longer. Whatever small steps they took over the years to combat them, they eventually gave up and gave in. Now Amquix owners are directly tied into the AQMO’s, continuing to profit from them as they always have. Cult leaders make good cult followers who are very loyal to Amway products. It’s very easy for owners of a privately held company to look the other way as their highest ranking distributors siphon off hundreds of millions of dollars from their downlines through the sale of cult indoctrination tools as long as it guarantees product sales. This one guy Dexter Yager, who is probably the most insane man to currently walk the Earth, is the biggest cult offender. How has Amquix sanctioned him? By routinely giving him ever-increasing “largest ever in Amquix history” bonus checks. Watch this video of Yager giving a speech. This is at a BUSINESS CONVENTION. People probably shelled out $500 because they were repeatedly told that using the tools and going to conventions was the only way they could build their businesses. Now they have to listen to this lunatic ramble. What exactly is the business lesson?

The Land of Will!

Quixtar inspirational advertisement selling nothing but hope and platitudes. Anyone else get an American Beauty vibe?

Parody of that ad. “For every dream, there’s a powerful pimp whoring that dream.”

I read every comment on those two videos as part of my “research”. They are quite telling, and very disturbing.

Amway/Quixtar: Selling Broken Dreams

A couple days ago a friend recruited me to join an MLM (multi-level marketing) opportunity. I assumed that’s what it was after the initial phone call Sunday, and it was obvious after the meet-up Monday. A manic 12-hour research session later (9:30pm-9:30am) and I identified the company, the business model, and the reality of the opportunity vs. what was sold to me. I learned a whole lot about MLM organizations, their supporters, and their critics.

No research is done without collateral damage. Did you know that Lyndon LaRouche supporters are a cult? That’s a seriously interesting read if you, like me, are seeing LaRouche booths popping up with increasing frequency. And if you like cults and conspiracy theorists/criminals/presidential candidates.

We can fulfill all your hopes and dreams. Freedom! Flush that stinking job! Your future is just one click away . . .