How many people in this forum are sharks?

by kyoo
52 replies
I just did a post and mentioned that I'm used to working with other people who are working together to make long-term serious successes, and my radar doesn't even trip for scammers and thieves, because I'm insulated from them "in real life" by large contracts and serious lawyers.

Reflecting on this conversation now makes me wonder ... how many people in here are just trolling, looking for a good idea to rip off, or a sucker with his guard down? I've been very open and forthright, and while I'm making a point of trying to keep my specific business unexposed to the public forums, some of the people I'm talking to in pm could, I suppose, be real jerks.

I don't expect any sharks to come forward, but from those who have been here longer than a while, are there many in these waters?
#forum #people #sharks
  • Profile picture of the author PerformanceMan
    Over 100% for sure. Swim carefully
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  • Profile picture of the author KenThompson
    I'm sure your basic question is rhetorical since you rightly conclude the sharks will not surface from the depths into the light of day.

    I imagine this, and any, forum will reflect real life to include those who behave according to instinctual, predatory impulses. Most or maybe many here have dealt with them at some point along the way. They are here. The best way to minimize exposure includes exercising some common sense, doing due diligence and looking very hard before leaping.

    That is also why so many prefer doing business with those whom they know. Having some kind of tangible connection even if it's several times removed from a trusted person is helpful.


    Ken
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  • Profile picture of the author PerformanceMan
    I'm actually more of a Lone Wolf than a shark. That said, I wouldn't really spend much time 'trusting' people on here - especially with information you want to keep private.

    There's no advantage to it.
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  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    It is, as there is in any industry, sharks and guppies and in between. Don't reveal a product if you don't want it copied in a public forum.
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    • Profile picture of the author kyoo
      Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

      Don't reveal a product if you don't want it copied in a public forum.
      I appreciate your point, but if I have a concern, it's more about preferring to not have my product associated with my naive and childish first attempts to learn about IM.

      My products, while theoretically copyable with effort and capital, are probably too much work for scammers.
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      • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
        Banned
        Originally Posted by kyoo View Post

        I appreciate your point, but if I have a concern, it's more about preferring to not have my product associated with my naive and childish first attempts to learn about IM.

        My products, while theoretically copyable with effort and capital, are probably too much work for scammers.
        Oh, Ok. I got the impression from your post that you were concerned about sharks, of which there are undoubtedly some here, and probably even some who would spend the time, money and effort to copy a product if they felt it would be lucrative.

        how many people in here are just trolling, looking for a good idea to rip off, or a sucker with his guard down? I've been very open and forthright, and while I'm making a point of trying to keep my specific business unexposed to the public forums, some of the people I'm talking to in pm could, I suppose, be real jerks.
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        • Profile picture of the author kyoo
          Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

          Oh, Ok. I got the impression from your post that you were concerned about sharks
          Curious, certainly, wary, probably, concerned, not especially. But, hey, most people that get ripped off aren't expecting it, right?
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          • Profile picture of the author TheInternet
            Originally Posted by kyoo View Post

            Curious, certainly, wary, probably, concerned, not especially. But, hey, most people that get ripped off aren't expecting it, right?
            No one expects the sharkish IMquisition.
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  • Profile picture of the author Long Beach Nathan
    Originally Posted by kyoo View Post

    Reflecting on this conversation now makes me wonder ... how many people in here are just trolling, looking for a good idea to rip off, or a sucker with his guard down? I've been very open and forthright, and while I'm making a point of trying to keep my specific business unexposed to the public forums, some of the people I'm talking to in pm could, I suppose, be real jerks.
    I wouldn't worry too much about anyone ripping you off, because ideas are like a parked supercar with no gas. People have tons of great ideas all the time, but they usually either don't put them into practice, or do it poorly.

    In addition, you're likely to be the one that can implement it better than others would, because it's your idea so you're passionate about pursuing it.

    How you implement something is what really matters. The one who wins the race isn't the owner of the best idea-it's the one that puts it into practice in the best way.
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    • Profile picture of the author Horny Devil
      Banned
      Don't worry. The sharks on here are after better bites than paranoid newbies.

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    • Profile picture of the author LimitlessTraffic
      Originally Posted by LimitlessTraffic View Post

      I am a frog...
      WOW, these animals actually have meaning to them. I thought everyone was just being silly. Guess I need to learn more about forum terms and all.

      So can someone please explain to me what these sharks and snakes are?

      From reading comments, is it just people who camp around the forum waiting to still ideas from others and make it their own?
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  • Profile picture of the author r0dvan
    I am an owl
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  • Profile picture of the author RogueOne
    It's not sharks you have to look out for, it's snakes. They are a whole lot harder to spot, and disappear after they bite you.
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    • Profile picture of the author kyoo
      Originally Posted by RogueOne View Post

      It's not sharks you have to look out for, it's snakes. They are a whole lot harder to spot, and disappear after they bite you.
      I agree. My post at first referred to snakes, but since I'm new here, I thought the potential to offend was high, so I switched it to sharks.
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  • Profile picture of the author ceenote100
    There are sharks in just every business venture you can think of. You just have to discriminate with care.
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  • Profile picture of the author troy23
    That's a bit harsh.
    A few Piranha's maybe.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dogsled7
    People who want to make money through internet marketing selling guides on how to make money through internet marketing to people who want to make money through internet marketing. The snake is swallowing it's own tail.
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  • Profile picture of the author ronrule
    The people you're describing aren't sharks - sharks are savvy. Sharks see opportunity and ACT. They don't follow trends, they set them. They don't burn bridges - they blow them to pieces.

    The people you're referring to, those are the Pilot Fish. Pilot Fish are the little fish you see following sharks and stingrays around, feeding off of their leftovers and the parasites in the area. In nature, it's what you call a "mutualist relationship" - the pilot fish gains protection from predators by hanging around the sharks, and the sharks are shielded from the parasites.

    In the IM world, the relationship of guru and wannabe isn't entirely dissimilar. The wannabe's follow the gurus around, mimicking their tactics and feeding off of their left-overs. But those "left overs" are the customers that were undesirable to the guru anyway. The parasites are the other people who serve no purpose that benefits the guru. The wannabe's got in the middle, shielding the guru from the other parasites. So in a way, it's a mutually beneficial relationship.

    Case in point ... a guru creates a WSO, and immediately a bunch of scammers and spammers copy the model, usually name-dropping the guru in order to build credibility for their cheap copy. While at first this seems like it would hurt the guru because someone else is getting a sale he would have made, in another way it helps him. It makes him MORE credible by being the original. The copycat will always be just a copycat, with no original ideas, peddling himself to the bottom-feeders who listen. Bottom-feeders that the guru wasn't trying to reach anyway. But now they, and everyone THEY are able to reach, all know the guru's name. There's more value in that than a single individual sale.
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  • Profile picture of the author ronrule
    Not a bikini ... a sharkini!

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  • Profile picture of the author Nicole Sakoman
    This whole thread turned into a great joke... I am enjoying it

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  • Profile picture of the author johnben1444
    It's easy to know the sharks, drip your blood in the water and they will come after you openly.
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  • Profile picture of the author Slate Marketing
    I'm sure there are plenty of people here (and everywhere else too) looking to steal ideas etc. The good news is, 99% of people will never work hard enough and always quit and move on to the next thing.

    Ideas are everywhere, the true wealth is in the implementation and building of brands, systems, and marketing, most of which is behind the scenes and can't be easily stolen.
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  • Profile picture of the author timpears
    I think your post is a bit accusatory, but I think this forum is a reflection of human kind. Some will be, but i think most here are here to learn with a sizable section of those wanting to sell products to make money and mostly to help others make more money too.

    Most are here to learn though, as there are more newbies than anything else. I am personally here to stumble around and find ways of making money. You can never have enough money. And as I have sizable medical expenses every month, that goes doubly for me. Fortunately i have insurance for most things, but not for the surgery I need to get.
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  • Profile picture of the author MeTellYou
    I could easily name a bunch, but won't.
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    • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
      I'm not so sure about sharks, hmmm...

      Birds of prey I think would be more apt. They fly around in circles over the forum and with their keen eyesight, they look for something smaller than they are. Not necessarily in size, but in marketing knowledge, and experience.

      Once they target one, they swoop in ever so kindly and offer to help, for free. It's like sharing a little of the rotting meat not picked off the bone yet from their carrion, but they disguise it as candy.

      Once they prey takes a bite, they next offer candy coated carrion with a bit more meat on the bone. This continues until the bird of prey has gained trust.

      Next scene: Bird of prey picking off all of the fresh meat from unsuspecting and trusting newbie.

      You know, just like anywhere else in the world.

      But thank goodness, here the number of good people far more outweigh the number of bad.

      Terra
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      • Profile picture of the author Horny Devil
        Banned
        Originally Posted by MeTellYou View Post


        I could easily name a bunch, but won't.
        Bananas don't have names.


        Originally Posted by MissTerraK View Post


        But thank goodness, here the number of good people far more outweigh the number of bad.
        On your weighing scales
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        • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
          Originally Posted by Horny Devil View Post


          On your weighing scales
          Quite right you are. If I think of the sheer number of members and visitors in this place compared to my inner and outer circles, then my account indeed is a small amount of members that I consider friends and acquaintances, and therefore calls for a much smaller scale and equates to a much greater percentage of good guys.

          It also ensures that I can continue wearing my rose tinted glasses.

          Terra
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  • Profile picture of the author DubDubDubDot
    Every major forum attracts people of ill-repute. What they do varies from forum to forum. This forum has a very high population of people who want to earn money online, but don't know much about it. That's a mouth watering dinner for the sharks that sell get rich quick materials and related services.
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  • Profile picture of the author JennySweets
    I think I'm more of a Molly myself, because I can adapt and thrive in any environment.

    The bottom feeders and ninja sharks aren't going to come forward, but it's safe to say that if you have an idea you want to produce- keep it to yourself!!
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  • Profile picture of the author TopWebZone
    no sharks here....just IM ninjas and samurais
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  • Profile picture of the author Micah Medina
    Dude I feel like you are complaining in every single thread that you make. Your fear and paranoia is going to totally destroy any chance you have of actually succeeding.

    And do or don´t trust me, look at the people who are actually succeeding around here. Actually set a goal, work towards it and THEN calibrate for the troubles along the way. Just my thoughts.
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  • Profile picture of the author Statcode
    The only greatest fear is your own self-doubt - and perhaps sharks.
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  • Profile picture of the author rmolina88
    Now this is where the Jaws theme starts playing...
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  • Profile picture of the author Cason
    much more than 95% of the forums thats for sure
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  • Profile picture of the author Sarevok
    It's all relative right?

    Some people believe that all marketers are sharks.

    I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

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  • Profile picture of the author trader909
    says Jaws!


    Where there are whales there are also sharks...

    However, like some have mentioned... "Shark" can be interpreted as a "good thing"
    if you're referring to someone being savvy, such as a young whippersnapper.

    But if you're talking about sharks as in "predators" with "no conscious" and looking
    for people to "prey" on... Then of course, you are going to have those everywhere in
    life. Especially in places where business is conducted and money is transferred.

    But that reflects life. The people you meet online are the same humans you deal with
    day to day OFFLINE. (Although some of them may actually never go outside!).

    Swim carefully.

    Best,
    Shane
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  • Profile picture of the author DavidAllenNeron
    Originally Posted by kyoo View Post

    I just did a post and mentioned that I'm used to working with other people who are working together to make long-term serious successes, and my radar doesn't even trip for scammers and thieves, because I'm insulated from them "in real life" by large contracts and serious lawyers.

    Reflecting on this conversation now makes me wonder ... how many people in here are just trolling, looking for a good idea to rip off, or a sucker with his guard down? I've been very open and forthright, and while I'm making a point of trying to keep my specific business unexposed to the public forums, some of the people I'm talking to in pm could, I suppose, be real jerks.

    I don't expect any sharks to come forward, but from those who have been here longer than a while, are there many in these waters?
    I believe you're referring to the elusive WarriorForum Shark with Laser Beams Attached to their heads

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    • Profile picture of the author TheInternet
      Sharks are the only thing standing between seals and the ocean's delicate ecosystem.
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  • Profile picture of the author carlamae
    I believe there are lots of sharks who don't realize they are sharks. When one is desperate for success it can lead to copy cats and what not. Just like sometimes I don't think people really understand the true meaning of spamming! Just take a look on facebook at all the blatant affiliate links on non business pages. The lack of education causes people to appear this way...just sometimes, I do realize there are intentional sharks too. lol Just my two cents.
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      Originally Posted by carlamae View Post

      I believe there are lots of sharks who don't realize they are sharks.
      They can go into therapy, though, and spend 5 years lying on the couch 4 times a week (at $100 for 50 minutes) resolving their identity crises non-traumatically and non-interventionistically, while partaking in the ongoing meaningfulness of the experience.
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  • Profile picture of the author clever7
    Many people are sharks, snakes, and worse, but not only here.
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    • Profile picture of the author YungNic
      Originally Posted by clever7 View Post

      Many people are sharks, snakes, and worse, but not only here.
      this is very true.. I have experienced some of them myself
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  • Profile picture of the author BennyP
    How many people on here do you see promising 1000's a day within a week? Seems legit.
    lol...
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