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YOUR BALANCE
Holistic medicine and multi-level-marketing cults.
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Holistic medicine and multi-level-marketing cults.


May 4, 2021, 1:54 PM

Need some opinions, serious and non, cause I'm not sure what to do, if anything, about a family situation. I'll be as brief as possible b/c it's not that interesting.

Got a younger sister. Always been a sweet and thoughtful person---went back to school a couple times and is a PRN now, which takes some time and exposure to modern medicine to get.

Well, 3-4 years ago she got into that Young Living essential oil stuff, and jumped in headfirst. Within a couple weeks modern medicine was one big evil conspiracy, and they were just holding holistic medicine down for profit motives but HM really was the cure to everything. You couldn't have a conversation with her without essential oils somehow getting mentioned. She became hard-core anti-vaxxer, and basically a big conspiracy nut on a bunch of topics. Most recently, she'd never been interested in politics in her life but also started on the fringes of the Q-anon stuff too.

I remember reading about cults years ago, and one of the main requirements of a cult is creating an artificial enemy for the cult members to believe they're rallying against. Well, they certainly did that. Fast forward to the past 6 months, and she's all into some CBD MLM scheme and that oil stuff is just yesterday's news. Clearly there's a profit motive with her loyalties too, as she likes posting how much "financial freedom" she's getting from the venture.

Anyway, all this adds up to us not really seeing them anymore nor talking to them. My niece and nephew are suffering from it too, because they're sick of it and recognize what a sham it is, but it's still taking their mom away from them. My kids stopped getting calls or cards on birthdays, much less presents, and they hate spending Christmas with them, as the present will be some cheesy accessory around what she's doing, and she and my mom will just sit on the computer watching company zoom meetings (i.e. programming sessions)

So whadda I do? If she were a friend, she'd be an ex-friend, but she's my sister who I do care about, and it's not that easy. She's not in the Branch Davidians or Heaven's Gate exactly, but it's still something that has consumed her in a way I think is detrimental to her and our larger family. I've tried to have conversations, but it's no use, and she's gotten my mom semi-woven into it as well, so no real support there. Really at a loss as to what I should do.

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Sometimes, regardless of who it is, you gotta cut people


May 4, 2021, 1:57 PM

out of your life and move on.

The older I get, the easier that is to do.

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I've become quite adept at that, but on a family front


May 4, 2021, 1:59 PM

it's only extended to the odd Cousin. Not an option here as I we have too good of a relationship with my niece and nephew.

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You can certainly be an uncle to them


May 4, 2021, 2:05 PM

without having to deal with her.

Maybe I'm lazy, but I'm just not that much into trying to 1) change somebodies mind to something I believe, and 2) put that much energy into someone who has clearly lost their way.

It's not like she got a in car wreck or something; she has purposely chosen to believe what she believes, and nothing you say will be able to change her mind. She's going to have to come to that realization on her own, and that probably won't happen until she realizes what she has lost. I've met a few folks that are near the Qanon cult status, and they are so sure they are right, I just don't want to be around them to hear all of that nonsense. Years ago, we used to laugh at people who believed in ridiculous conspiracy theories; now its gone mainstream. Its like a bizzarro world.

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How old are the niece & nephew ?***


May 4, 2021, 2:26 PM [ in reply to I've become quite adept at that, but on a family front ]



2024 orange level memberbadge-donor-10yr.jpg flag link military_tech thumb_downthumb_up

Brad Brownell: Only Larry freaking Shyatt has a WORSE overall winning percentage among Clemson basketball coaches since 1975. Let that sink in. It's Larry Shyatt & then Brad Brownell.


13 and 11


May 4, 2021, 2:28 PM

My niece is like a crack addict when she comes to our house, getting sick excited about getting to use real mainstream toothpaste.

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LOL & sad for the little . . . wow. Tough deal, for sure . . . .


May 4, 2021, 2:40 PM

Can you set up play dates with you & your fam with just the kids ?

Go get them & then go do something - so you can stay close to them without involving the drama & beat-down of the sis ?


I'm with whoever said in this thread - the older I get, if they don't add value or give joy or encouragement . . . I start distancing.

My MIL BLEW UP our family Thanksgiving and it has been kept at extreme arm's distance ever since - don't need that drama & petty silliness from people that don't have better things to do.


As I type this - it just dawned on me - if a family member was making $120K a year at a fairly new business, would you expect to talk about it a good bit at family gatherings ?

I guess I would expect to talk about it - especially if it was an entrepreneurial kinda gig, starting from scratch, etc. Probably lead to more conversation.


BUT - because it is MLM and healing crystal & witchcraft & stuff - is that what makes it unbearable ?

I'm with you 100% - I HATE MLM and all that healing crap & the like - and I know big medicine is a complete scam that rakes in trillions of dollars more than is necessary . . . . and I would cringe & run, too.

So how do you get away from the BS of WHAT she is doing it with & focus on the HOW she is doing it ?

And then you do the same HOW but with tiddie pixs or something much more fun & legitimate . . . .

2024 orange level memberbadge-donor-10yr.jpg flag link military_tech thumb_downthumb_up

Brad Brownell: Only Larry freaking Shyatt has a WORSE overall winning percentage among Clemson basketball coaches since 1975. Let that sink in. It's Larry Shyatt & then Brad Brownell.


that sucks


May 4, 2021, 1:59 PM

I was doubting whether Q followers were actually in a cult but I changed my mind on that and I think they are

no clue how to change her mind or allow her to see the issues with her views

good luck and keep trying

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Cat on a tin roof, dogs in a pile,
Nothin' left to do but smile, smile, smile!!!!


I realize that this may not necessarily be the solution for


May 4, 2021, 1:59 PM

you, but if she's actually making money doing it and she's good at it, do you think there's a chance she would like to sell holistic medicines for a club of very caring and friendly motorcycle enthusiasts in Gastonia? They're always looking for motivated sales engineers.

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If she were my sister I'd tell you what I would do


May 4, 2021, 2:00 PM

but you already no that answer.....

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*know


May 4, 2021, 2:01 PM

sabes

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First thing I'd do is post pictures of her on Tigernet.***


May 4, 2021, 2:02 PM



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Re: First thing I'd do is post pictures of her on Tigernet.***


May 4, 2021, 2:03 PM
mclovin.jpg(89.7 K)

.

2024 white level memberbadge-donor-15yr.jpgringofhonor-willmo.jpg flag link military_tech thumb_downthumb_up




Cat on a tin roof, dogs in a pile,
Nothin' left to do but smile, smile, smile!!!!


I think I forget every time


May 4, 2021, 2:10 PM

which one is the step sister?

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please be white top, please be white top, ...***


May 4, 2021, 3:23 PM



2024 white level memberbadge-donor-15yr.jpgringofhonor-willmo.jpg flag link military_tech thumb_downthumb_up




Cat on a tin roof, dogs in a pile,
Nothin' left to do but smile, smile, smile!!!!


forgot to @ him


May 4, 2021, 3:26 PM [ in reply to I think I forget every time ]

McLovin

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R


May 4, 2021, 3:27 PM

E
D

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ok, I am still good with it***


May 4, 2021, 3:32 PM



2024 white level memberbadge-donor-15yr.jpgringofhonor-willmo.jpg flag link military_tech thumb_downthumb_up




Cat on a tin roof, dogs in a pile,
Nothin' left to do but smile, smile, smile!!!!


What is the HAVES and the HAVE-NOTS for $1000, Alex.***


May 4, 2021, 2:43 PM [ in reply to Re: First thing I'd do is post pictures of her on Tigernet.*** ]



2024 orange level memberbadge-donor-10yr.jpg flag link military_tech thumb_downthumb_up

Brad Brownell: Only Larry freaking Shyatt has a WORSE overall winning percentage among Clemson basketball coaches since 1975. Let that sink in. It's Larry Shyatt & then Brad Brownell.


That's the other irony of this health stuff


May 4, 2021, 2:04 PM [ in reply to First thing I'd do is post pictures of her on Tigernet.*** ]

She went from running marathons to, post-secret-of-health-discovery, looking like Sally Struthers.

2024 orange level memberbadge-donor-20yr.jpgringofhonor-obed.jpg flag link military_tech thumb_downthumb_up


@celtic***


May 4, 2021, 2:36 PM [ in reply to First thing I'd do is post pictures of her on Tigernet.*** ]



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I'm lost here. ******


May 4, 2021, 2:44 PM



2024 orange level memberbadge-donor-10yr.jpg2011_nascar_champ.gifringofhonor-celti_tiger-110.jpg flag link military_tech thumb_downthumb_up

.


Get your Mom out, maintain relationship with them, but keep


May 4, 2021, 2:03 PM

sis at a distance, foster relationship with her kids when they get old enough to GTFOO the house. Is she married? I may have missed that in the wall-o-text? Is her husband some kind of cuck like 19B's friend and just goes along? Maybe you can talk to him and get him to help her see the light.

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He's ok and not a bad dude but I think he's too close to it


May 4, 2021, 2:06 PM

to see it. Plus, he loves $$$. He makes a killer living as it is, and loves that $10k/month extra she's bringing in from the cult.

I'd be ok with her selling bulllshit products if it just didn't become some bizarre lifestyle.

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Is she actually making money with it?***


May 4, 2021, 2:14 PM



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Re: Is she actually making money with it?***


May 4, 2021, 2:35 PM

If she is, she’s part of the <5% who don’t lose money with MLMs. Selling the products doesn’t hardly cover the product cost, it’s signing up “down lines” who buy their “starter kits” from you that earn the small group at the top any profit. Very few people outside of the cult end up actually buying or using these products.

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$10k a month? You trollin?***


May 4, 2021, 2:17 PM [ in reply to He's ok and not a bad dude but I think he's too close to it ]



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No, for serious.***


May 4, 2021, 2:19 PM



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So... how do I sign up for this cult?***


May 4, 2021, 2:21 PM



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She's selling that much a month, or she's


May 4, 2021, 2:22 PM [ in reply to No, for serious.*** ]

netting that much a month?

I need to know this is real. She would have to be a top 0.01% performer across all MLMs for this to be true.

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Yeah, I ain't buying that either.


May 4, 2021, 2:35 PM

There is a great podcast series on MLM's (the Dream) and it is amazing how many of them are headquartered out of Utah, so there is a tie-in to the Mormon comment.

2024 orange level memberbadge-donor-15yr.jpgringofhonor-fatherg-110.jpg flag link military_tech thumb_downthumb_up

Re: Yeah, I ain't buying that either.


May 4, 2021, 2:36 PM

Second for The Dream. Was a very good and informative listen

2024 orange level member flag link military_tech thumb_downthumb_up

She has like 300+ people under her


May 4, 2021, 2:38 PM [ in reply to She's selling that much a month, or she's ]

If anything, she’s woefully underpaid for the amount of energy she expends into it.

2024 orange level memberbadge-donor-20yr.jpgringofhonor-obed.jpg flag link military_tech thumb_downthumb_up


Seems like at a certain point the risk of having your house


May 4, 2021, 2:47 PM

burned down when the house of cards collapses is greater than the reward. Granted, if she's a true believer that angle won't resonate with her, but it might with her husband.

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I would say I'm in, but I am too lazy to be in an MLM***


May 4, 2021, 2:23 PM [ in reply to No, for serious.*** ]



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Wait... wut?


May 4, 2021, 2:24 PM [ in reply to No, for serious.*** ]

She makes $10k a month off this ####?

You buried the lead on that OP. Start negotiating better gifts out of her.

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[Catahoula] used to be almost solely a PnR rascal, but now has adopted shidpoasting with a passion. -bengaline

You are the meme master. - RPMcMurphy®

Trump is not a phony. - RememberTheDanny


Lol, I didn’t want to dilute the message.***


May 4, 2021, 2:25 PM



2024 orange level memberbadge-donor-20yr.jpgringofhonor-obed.jpg flag link military_tech thumb_downthumb_up


It's a big factor in the message. If she was maxing out


May 4, 2021, 2:31 PM

credit cards while filling her garage with leggings and athletic tops, then you'd have an easier time.

Someone making 6-figures for going live on Facebook isn't going to be swayed. There's too much positive reinforcement in the form of cash for her to see this lifestyle as problematic.

flag link military_tech thumb_downthumb_up

But someone needs to have a conversation...


May 4, 2021, 2:32 PM

About the Christmas present well drying up. Start upping your gift-giving game, money bags.

2024 white level memberbadge-donor-05yr.jpg flag link military_tech thumb_downthumb_up

[Catahoula] used to be almost solely a PnR rascal, but now has adopted shidpoasting with a passion. -bengaline

You are the meme master. - RPMcMurphy®

Trump is not a phony. - RememberTheDanny


I’m not sure what it takes for the AMA to pull a license,


May 4, 2021, 2:34 PM [ in reply to It's a big factor in the message. If she was maxing out ]

But I have to feel it’s close. What spurred this post was her latest social media post that estheticians were not treating vaccine recipients because their skin came off.

2024 orange level memberbadge-donor-20yr.jpgringofhonor-obed.jpg flag link military_tech thumb_downthumb_up


did she get the Covid Vacines


May 4, 2021, 2:40 PM

or just a Big Johnsons?

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I'm not a lawyer, but I know Fordprefect


May 4, 2021, 2:05 PM

so I'd sue the hell out of her for being dumb

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If the past 5 years have shown us anything, it's that a


May 4, 2021, 2:11 PM

large % of our population are highly suggestible individuals, individual thought seems to have largely been replaced by groupthink for at least half of us. Probably more. I won't get P&Ry, but look at some of the absurd things otherwise normal, intelligent people believe these days. Or at least pretend to believe in order to satisfy some perceived social obligation.

But anyway, the key with these people isn't to fight them, it's to guide them to a new, less radical obsession. Is she married? I'm guessing either her husband is a poosay, which means he's probably equally as suggestible, or he's profiting off of this somehow.

It's sad, but nothing you can really do other than refuse to jump off the bridge with them.

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Re: Holistic medicine and multi-level-marketing cults.


May 4, 2021, 2:15 PM

Look on the bright side. At least she isn't a Mormon.

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I was going to say


May 4, 2021, 2:30 PM

At least she isn't Presbyterian.

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Brad Brownell: Only Larry freaking Shyatt has a WORSE overall winning percentage among Clemson basketball coaches since 1975. Let that sink in. It's Larry Shyatt & then Brad Brownell.


Hey!!!!!***


May 4, 2021, 2:35 PM



2024 orange level memberbadge-donor-20yr.jpgringofhonor-obed.jpg flag link military_tech thumb_downthumb_up


i've always tried to be nice to all my friends and family


May 4, 2021, 2:16 PM

and if we can't get along let it be their fault. i have some family members that we don't see eye to eye on things, but i try to be as nice as i can when given the chance, send them birthday wishes etc. but not much else. that is note the way i would like it to be but i can't change them.

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Seen this with a cousin in law (is that a thing)


May 4, 2021, 2:17 PM

anyways I'm not claiming her. My wife grajiates tomorrow from Clemson with her Nursin Masters. She buys some of that young livin shiiat but really just the stuff to put in defusers. She knows it just makes the room smell nice, not cure the clap.

Back to your problem though. Your Fuckt. Hears why. Mom's on her side. No way she'd listen to dad, but if you could have gotten mom to have a sit down with her, she might would listen. But since mom's kinda into it, you just better strap in or peach out.

WHATEVER you do, remember, a teaspoon of peppermint oil around your angus hole each day makes all the cute boys go HHEEEEEEEEEEEEEYYYYYYY.

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Re: Holistic medicine and multi-level-marketing cults.


May 4, 2021, 2:22 PM

I remember reading about cults years ago, and one of the main requirements of a cult is creating an artificial enemy for the cult members to believe they're rallying against.

Boy, did you describe the last four years of our country...

Eh, other than that, I dunno. Not much help. It's been proven that when you present facts to people like this, they dig in deeper.

What you're describing gets more into coughing up money, not necessarily the "drink the Flaver Aid as the comet goes by" kinda stuff. Like people giving money to Trump for election fraud battles, not actually wanting to storm the Capitol.

That's harder as in an actual cult, you can wait for the cult to turn on them for something and then you swoop in to be supportive. She may have to learn the hard way financially, but that really sucks for her kids as they'll suffer, too. At least they're going to come out of this knowing a lot better.

I dunno, maybe you control the narrative during visits? No computers, take trips together for Christmas that replace the presents, do activities that don't open the door to the nuttiness? Just spit balling.

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[Catahoula] used to be almost solely a PnR rascal, but now has adopted shidpoasting with a passion. -bengaline

You are the meme master. - RPMcMurphy®

Trump is not a phony. - RememberTheDanny


no kidding. Remember the "safe space" folks?


May 4, 2021, 2:45 PM

lots of the hyper-sensitives got permanently damaged, I would suppose.

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There's a book by Henry Cloud called Boundaries.


May 4, 2021, 3:37 PM

Could help. Hope it does.

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https://as1.ftcdn.net/v2/jpg/00/81/16/28/1000_F_81162810_8TlZDomtVuVGlyqWL2I4HA7Wlqw7cr5a.jpg


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