Conspiracy Theory?

How do I answer an AM critic friend

[brickwall]

My best friend is fond of conspiracy theories.

When he learned about the details of my adventures in AM, he quickly proposes this scenario:

AM boards (such as WebmasterWorld) are actually operated by large online merchant corporations in order to encourage the entry of newbies into AM for the purpose of getting free advertising. The people who post success stories are actually planted guys (hired guns) who acts as "encouragement" to assure that newbies keep coming into this trade. People do get paid but only to encourage them to spread praises (a la ponzi schemes), but will never reach the level touted by the big money earners. The big merchants and the big aff networks are all part of this charade.

The discussion was All for a good night's fun over a couple of beers. But I wonder, have anyone here ever thought of AM to be this way?

[GuitarZan]

Hey,

Tell him it's true.

C.K.

[Zygoot]

There might be some boards operated by large corporations but I'm sure WebmasterWorld isn't one of them. The AM boards are only a small part of this forum, most of the sub-forums are dedicated to quite different topics.

[cagey1]

I am supposed to get a commission on every black helicopter I sell through my new Evil Corporation site, but I think they are trying to stiff me.

How long should I wait before I call them? Should I email first?

[antoine]

Hmm, to be a ponzi scheme wouldn't the affiliate have to pay the merchant to join?

[rfung]

I've been caught.

[fclark]

To get you started, I used my supercomputer to create random-text generated conspiracy AdWords Ads:

----------------------
Sense a free segment
And distill a crummy demon.
Our enthused critical-mass slowly leverages a corporate skill! (aff)
www.branch-office-mind-control.com

----------------------
How to investigate a clean challenge
And leverage a harvard end-user.
Plastic helecopter that slightly beats a decayed paradigm! (aff)
www.wide-investment.com

----------------------
Buy a divisional ebook
And become a lovely requirement.
Our key ebook rapidly uncovers an obsolete government! (aff)
www.employee-tin-foil.com

----------------------
How to investigate an evil helecopter
And expand a better market.
Good roi that slowly diversifys a part-time knowledge-base! (aff)
www.low-vocabulary.com

** the randomly generated URLs are fictional

[Michael Anthony]

brickwall, your friend is a fool. I know that I am a real person who makes a real lot of money from a/m and encourages others to learn as it affords me such a great lifestyle.

Bet your friend works for someone else and will continue to do so as he's much too clever to take any risks himself.

[clearvision]

Hey Michaeal Anthony...that is what I was thinking!

To answer your question though, there are probably some out there because if your friend could think of it, so could someone else :)

[webzilla]

The conspiracy theory is off the mark but not really far fetched.

At the very least, many have found that affiliate programs cn be less costly and/or more effective than many direct marketing and conventional advertising approaches.

If this were not the case, affiliate programs would be percieved as a novelty approach, and would be much less common.

[wnshops]

brick wall Please don't kill people dream.
if your friend spread the rumor them you kill alot of dreams .
thanks

[gamiziuk]

brickwall, your conspiracy-theory friend needs to make himself a aluminum foil deflector beanie [zapatopi.net] right away!

;)

[Zygoot]

Those "aluminum foil deflector beanie" products aren't good..

But euhm I do know a site that sells some very high quality aluminum foil deflectors! If your friend wants it I'll send him my affiliate link ;-)

[ronin]

brickwall> Ask your friend to ask himself what fuels his scepticism. Is it the comfort he derives from realising he won't be letting himself down if he doesn't avail himself of the opportunities which AM provides, because it's all a scam anyway?

With every given opportunity, there is always a chance to defend one's lack of action by saying: "Well, it would never work anyway..." The only guarantee is that if you don't try it, it certainly will not work.

Defying one's fear of failure is a pretty necessary prerequisite before acting on a calculated risk.

[brickwall]

uh-oh ... Some posts are charged with emotions here. I did mention that the discussion were over a couple of beers, ain't I?

Anyway, Iam into AM, he is not. My earnings so far can't be used to disuade him from his stand because it's too miniscule (laughable using his words). Maybe after a year or so, I'll be in a more solid footing to defend our cause :-) That is, if Iam still here after a year. I heard they (the men-in-black) are planning to whisk away for starting this speculation here.

[ccDan]

Zygoot writes:

Those "aluminum foil deflector beanie" products aren't good..

But euhm I do know a site that sells some very high quality aluminum foil deflectors! If your friend wants it I'll send him my affiliate link ;-)

Sure, you'll freely send him your affiliate link--you're part of the conspiracy!

I know of a site that sells high quality ones too. Since I'm not part of the Big Company Conspiracy Group, and mine is legit and offers deep discounts, I will only disclose my affiliate link to anyone willing to pay $19.95 for the URL.

:-)

[eyeinthesky]

My earnings so far can't be used to disuade him from his stand because it's too miniscule (laughable using his words).

Don't laugh, very soon his income will be so microscopic (compared to yours) that it is hilarious :)

[rfung]

They can laugh over a couple of beers. We'll laugh on the way to the bank :)

Right now I laugh on my pajamas while folks go through rush hour on the freeway.

I laugh because I'm so bored at home (out of all the problems in one's life's, heh?)

Plenty of things to laugh about, I tell ya. It's not even funny! ;)

[hunderdown]

brickwall, the problem at the core of your friend's theory is the problem at the core of ALL conspiracy theories--the assumption that THEY have so much control over the flow of information that even though hundreds of people would have to be in on such a conspiracy, nothing leaks out. Experience tells me that that is just not possible....

[teenwolf]

Check this out: What if this "friend" is actually one of the "big money earners" and is trying to discourage new competition with these conspiracy theories?

The truth must come out! ;)

[Essex_boy]

telll hime to check under teh bed at night THEY really are after him.

Then slap him. Hard

[Michael Anthony]

"With every given opportunity, there is always a chance to defend one's lack of action by saying: "Well, it would never work anyway..." The only guarantee is that if you don't try it, it certainly will not work."

ronin, that's one of the most brilliant things I've ever seen written on here. Nice one :)

Like I always say, Fear of failure is fear of success. You'll always miss 100% of the shots you don't take.

rfung and any other bored work at home affs - I was thinking of starting a "bored affiliates holiday club". What do u think?

[gamiziuk]

brickwall, the problem at the core of your friend's theory is the problem at the core of ALL conspiracy theories--the assumption that THEY have so much control over the flow of information that even though hundreds of people would have to be in on such a conspiracy, nothing leaks out. Experience tells me that that is just not possible....

Would that be the Masonic Society, the Bilderbergers, the Trilateral Commission, or the International Bankers?

We Do (The Stonecutters Song)
Who controls the British Crown?
Who Keeps The Metric System Down?
We Do, We Do...
Who keeps Atlantis off the maps?
Who keeps the Martians under wraps?
We Do, We Do...
Who holds back the electric car?
Who makes Steve Gutenberg, a star!
We Do, We Do...
Who robs kegfish of their sight?
Who rigs every Oscar night?
We Do... We Doooo!

[hunderdown]

Exactly.