95% of ClickBank Marketers SCAMMERS according to the FTC

Folks, you're missing half the point. The headline suggests that the FTC has stated that 95% of the offers on CB are frauds. The fact that the post modifies that to an implication, rather than an outright statement, doesn't change the effect the headline has. Not without much more clarification than exists in the OP.

There is no rule here against arguing for cleaner practices in the industry. Quite the contrary, in fact. We encourage that kind of discussion. Always have. But you don't reach that goal by using the very tactics you're disparaging.

Here's the other half of the problem: When you make a statement like the subject line of this thread, anyone who knows it's not accurate will dismiss the entire discussion as a waste of time. It isn't taken seriously. People who don't know any better may take the allegation as literally true, and repeat it. That sort of thing reinforces the extreme responses people have, and just adds to the "They're all crooks" mentality. It is indiscriminately destructive.

The notion gets repeated every time the discussion comes up, and it becomes the dominant meme in the conversation. Rational people tend to avoid such threads. Arguing with people with strong opinions on subjects about which they lack substantive knowledge is pointless and frustrating. So, the folks with extreme ideas dominate the topic.

Add to that the tendency of such threads to proliferate. Everyone wants to "own" the topic, rather than aggregating their contributions into a single or small number of threads that actually get past the initial reaction stage and into serious discussion.

Voila! A flood of inane nonsense, annoying the rational majority into avoiding the topic altogether. If you know you're going to get into arguments with folks who are going to lob hand grenades when a gentle nudge would work, what's the point?

Along with that, you have the problem of visitors seeing subject lines like that and deciding to abandon the place. If we allow or promote such extreme and inaccurate views, as they see it, what's the advantage of participating?

Why subject yourself to crazy people?

Yes, that's how a lot of folks react to that sort of thing. And I can't say I blame them.

Out there in the real world, the word 'guru' means someone who has extensive experience and knowledge in a field, and uses that knowledge to teach others. Here in our insular community, it's been co-opted by a bunch of unthinking bashers to mean 'scam artist.' If you try to point out the distinction, the stampeding herd will try to run you over, claiming you're defending scams.

Why? Too many outrageous headlines, over too long a period. Too many people believe them, and join the herd.

Sorry, folks. The only things a stampeding herd leaves behind are destruction and a strong odor of bulls__t.

Side note: The business of trying to "own" a topic here isn't limited to the inexperienced. A while back, I deleted a post by one of the more senior members. A day or so later, he sent an email to his list, with a subject line claiming that the topic was banned at this forum. Turns out there were two threads on the front page on that very subject at the same time his email landed in my inbox.

Gotta love the irony.


Paul