Group Think: Why Some Gurus Break Internet Laws
If you want to know why some Internet info product marketers break the law and think they can get away with it, take a look at the Eight Symptoms of Group Think.
1. Illusion of Invulnerability. The marketers take unnecessary risks because they’ve never been caught by the government or sued. Combined with the ego stroking of having cult-type followers, there’s a sense that nothing can touch them even when they break Internet laws.
2. Collective Rationalization. Anyone who warns against misconduct is discredited by the Internet marketers and their followers. The attacks are personal and designed to distract from what actually occurred.
3. Illusion of Morality. Morality is based on whether a launch is profitable to the product’s creator and the affiliates. Something is “wrong” only when a launch flops.
4. Excessive Stereotyping. Anyone who doesn’t believe that “money = morality” is stereotyped as unsuccessful, jealous, or a loser regardless of the underlying facts.
5. Pressure for Conformity. Those who don’t go along with deceptive and fraudulent Internet marketing tactics are considered traitors. Pressure is applied by blacklisting or threats of blacklisting. Commonly this takes the form of refusing to do business with those who rock the boat or encouraging those with large e-mail lists not to promote as an affiliate.
6. Self-Censorship. Fear of blacklisting causes some Internet gurus to keep quiet when they see others engaging in unethical or illegal online marketing practices.
7. Illusion of Unanimity. Because no one publicly dissents, some large Internet marketers that promote for each other assume that everyone agrees with hidden continuity, deceptive billing, false earnings claims, and other illegal Internet marketing practices.
8. Mindguards. The big Internet kahunas serve as the filter for the lesser gurus for information as to how things should work pre-launch, launch, and post-launch. As if handing down the 10 Commandments in stone, these gurus define what’s acceptable in online marketing regardless of legality.
The dangers of group think are exposing cracks in the foundation of Internet marketing cliques as Congress, the FTC, and various law enforcement agencies are beginning to take a dim view of Internet scams that hurt consumers, particularly those involving health or biz opp. If you’re practicing group think in your online business, re-evaluate the long-term prospects for your ventures. If you can’t do business legally and ethically, chances are you won’t be around in five years. Whether it is the government or a lawsuit, karma has a way of taking down those who score big at the expense of others.
About the Author
With an advanced international law degree from Georgetown University and more than 15 years of real world legal experience, Attorney Mike Young is President of the Internet Ethics Council and creator of Website Legal Forms Generator software. He helps entrepreneurs protect and grow their businesses online.
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I don’t exactly care why internet marketers break the law. I guess it’s greed. But what I do care is that they actually do. So many people like me really need assistance and coaching for setting up their internet business. But whom can we trust?
More than a year ago I have signed up for Derek Gehl’s 6-month coaching program for $7,000. Although his people knew that I was depending on a fast income (I’m on disability and living below the poverty line) and that I had spent all my pension money for a whole year they said that a return would come within 2 months. But, Derek Gehl didn’t start my coaching program for a whole 2 months although I had already paid for. And even after 3 months of coaching I was still not making any money – and suffering of hunger. When I complained he finally has sent me a ‘coach’ who was supposed to help me setting up my web business. What I have received in coaching, mentoring and support was not worth a fraction of the money. It turned out that the “6-month coaching” was nothing more than 6 single 1-hour sessions during which I was literally rushed through the whole internet business building process. He definitely over-promised and insanely under-delivered. According to Derek Gehl himself he has made dozens of millions of $ over the last years. So why on earth does he need the pension of a person on disability?
After I realized that Derek Gehl didn’t keep his part of the contract I asked for a refund before the 6 months were over. I never even got a response to that and no money at all. Then I wanted him to close my BeBiz account I have with him because his customer support team is everything but supportive. I recently realized that he went on charging my credit card after that for months. No matter how often I write, this company simply seems to be deaf on both ears and blind on both eyes.
Another special ‘friend’ of mine is Tellman Knudsen. I have signed up once for a free CD on list building. At the end came a 15-minute hypnoses spoken by Tellman himself, closing with the request to buy his program now. I’m a hypnoses therapist and this is about the most unethical business behavior you can imagine. He should be in jail for that. I can’t count how many times I have opted out from his list – he simply ignores my decision and goes on sending me his hideous emails. Several times I have sent additional emails demanding to delete my name from his list. Each time I was assured that they did. But nothing happened. He keeps on sending me his emails. All the big internet gurus work with that guy because it means money into their pocket. When I tell them about Tellman’s unethical behavior they frankly tell me that they would not quit doing business with TM just because of that. So what does that tell you? It’s greed.
As far as I am concerned, both this Tellman guy and Derek Gehl belong to jail much more than Perry Belcher.
It would be very helpful to have an ombudsman or another place to go and to get legal assistance with such situations. Since I don’t live in the USA I have no idea how to get my money back and how to protect myself from frauds like Tellman. Any recommendations would be most appreciated.
Excellent post, Mike. “Collective rationalization” is a big problem, not just in Internet marketing, but also in politics. Ad hominem attacks fly like hand grenades in retaliation to any truth-based criticism.
Ryan
Thanks, Ryan, for your input. When the pain outweighs the benefits of breaking the law, that’s when the herd will start to clean up its act.
Best wishes,
-Mike
Good post Mike, as far as for Heidi, that is pathetic and I’m sorry that you had to go through that, it’s painful to hear that you were taking advantage of when you were down on your luck. Everyone does have their own story and account of the details, so I’m not on anyones side, but you have to just be more careful on who you decide to part money with regardless if their big name marketers or not, fully investigate and ask questions before you buy, if they can’t answer or don’t answer at all, then you shoudn’t be doing business with them, because they don’t care.
Terrance,
Thanks for weighing in on this issue. Have a ‘big name’ as a ‘guru’ definitely doesn’t mean ethical. However, those who do try to do right by their customers tend to last longer in business online than those out to screw over consumers for a fast buck. Not always…but more often than not.
Best wishes,
-Mike
Thank you all for all the posts. I live outside the USA and wish I had discovered this forum earlier. I guess the recession and the tough economic condition has prompted a lot of people to seek the money making opportunities. Anyone knows the good source of learning online business opportunities the honest and straight way and a list of reputable companies with affiliate programs?