MLM Survivors Club: [MLM Survivors Club] A Note on Names

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

[MLM Survivors Club] A Note on Names

Pretty much everyone here knows that there is little I hold more disgust
for than an MLM, especially for one in particular. People have also
noticed that I do not use their actual names. I've used names that can
also describe what I think of the companies and the other terms that
apply, such as Quackstar, because I think it is a quack (or rather, can
easily prove it), or IBDrone because IBOs are, essentially,
non-thinking drones, just like with the Borg.

This came up in a private discussion with another member of this group.
Their point is that such names make it harder for some to take what we
say seriously. I can see that point.

Some may call me superstitious, but I have often studied different
religions and beliefs. One belief that shows up in many cultures is
the power of names. There are two edges to that sword. One is the
belief that knowing the name of someone or something gives one power
over it. Examples would be the fairy tail Rumplestiltskin or, in pop
culture, the dragon that appeared last year in Stargate: SG1 and
disappeared when its proper name was used.

On the other hand, and the other edge to that sword, is the belief that
naming someone or something gives power to that which is named. It not
only acknowledges its existence, but accepts it as it is labelled. If
legitimizes that person or thing.

I've said many times I don't even consider Osama bin Laden evil. He is
doing what he thinks is right by his God. That he's a murder I won't
dispute. I do, however, consider MLMs evil because they take good
people and turn them into weapons that are used to hurt more good
people. An innocent is used, without his or her permission or
understanding, to hurt others. That is what, to me, makes an MLM evil.

I just cannot bring myself to legitimize some of these groups by using
their names, but the point that using other names doesn't help is well
understood. I'm going to deal with this in the future by using
abbreviations for these groups. I'm sure everyone will be able to know
what AM is or QS or possibly QX is. I won't be using made up names,
but I'm not going to acknowledge their legitimacy with their own names
because I consider them rather ill-legitimate.

I haven't decided whether I'll drop some terms like upslime and IBDrone.
In many cases the terms are appropriate. Sometimes they aren't. I'll
likely use what fits the situation.

Because I'm a frequent contributor to this list, I thought I should
explain and give a "heads up" that I'm doing this. I also figured it
would help people to be aware that I'm using these abbreviations.

Hal