why you so obsessed with me?
Okay, so lately I have been binge-listening to a podcast called The Dream that I heard of through the anti-MLM subreddit. Season one is about MLMs (multi-level marketing companies) and I have been listening nonstop. Why have I become stuck on anti-MLM internet? Honestly, I’m not really sure.
I have never been personally burned by the MLM industry, but I have bought overpriced products from friends and family, supporting their ventures at the time. When I was a kid, I thought Tupperware and Pampered Chef were just brands. Growing up on base housing, the idea of home-based selling parties seemed completely normal to me—or was it familiar because it was the nineties? Either way, I thought all of that was completely mundane; an above-board way to sell or buy products. Then I, like probably 75% of American teens, mysteriously received a Cutco invitation in my mailbox sometime in high school. However, I never followed up because the idea of having to talk to people, strangers perhaps, in order to convince them to buy knives from me, was horrifying. I saw ads for “amazing opportunities” plastered all over Craiglist while job-hunting in high school and college, but I was always able to bag legit (and semi-legit) jobs that did not involve hosting parties or posting my wares on Facebook. I think part of my disinterest stemmed from this idea that it seemed like such a “mom” thing to do (again, back to how I was raised on military spouses—basically all moms at the time—doing MLMs).
And when I’ve bought from friends and family, it wasn’t because they used toxic “hey hun” sales tactics. I was genuinely interested in the products (my Stella and Dot jewelry still makes the rotation, I have Doterra oils in my linen closet, and I so wanted the staying power of Lipsense). I remember a few friend-acquaintances post-high school became schillers of Plexus and LulaRoe, but I politely declined their invites and messages because I thought the products were kind of ugh (yes, I am a little snobby about what I buy). That was about when I stopped using Facebook regularly, too, and I think that some people took the hint that inviting me to a virtual launch party was a waste of their time.
So yeah, that’s my long way of saying I don’t know how I became obsessed with anti-MLM info. I don’t really have much a of a personal bone to pick, but when I tell you that I get obsessed with learning all about whacky water ionizer brands (check this tweet of mine from last fall), I truly mean it. I used to think that MLMs were sort of cheesy and dishonest at worst, but not necessarily dangerous or unethical. Whew boy, this podcast is the doctoral-level dissertation I was looking for! The intersections of MLMs with cults and evangelicals and Republicans and the Wellness Industry and fatphobia and sexism is completely captivating to me. And if you think that list reads as a little unhinged, let me just say that I have a treat for you. So yeah, go listen to The Dream and you’ll see why.
This isn’t a sponsored post or anything, by the way. I don’t know the creators of the podcast, but I guess I’ve just been sitting in my car, eyes bugging, yelling “Oh my GOD!” to nobody else as I listened a lot recently and I wanted to share that experience with you, too.
Oh my god, after re-reading, I see that this whole intro reads like a long con for some MLM podcast opportunity. Hahahaha. Wow, I’m dying, this is too on-the-nose. But seriously, go listen, friend. And if you become as obsessed as me, please please PLEASE reply so we can geek out together.
prompt #44:
This week, let yourself unload about an obsession of yours. So often, we have to lock away or hold back those things which are making our brains tick because they’re just a little too much for our poor loved ones (just me? Oh…).
Whether it’s plants native to the Monterey Peninsula (my boo could go on and on and on and it’s just not always my jam), the history of celery (okay, actually this is another podcast episode that blew my mind), how code and creativity are linked (please see the inimitable Mello’s newsletter—he’s not boring, by the way), or whatever, set your timer for five minutes and let your nerd out. Unload all the wonder and magic that is your weird little obsession onto the page.
After a brief break for air (I have a feeling you’ll be on a roll writing about your obsession), come back and read what you wrote. As always, see if there’s a seed of something on the page, or maybe keep it just the way it is, in all its messy glory.
And then, please send it my way to share because I freaking love reading about other people’s niche interests.
ashley's piece:
…was the intro, duh!
(Click here for a real gem of an earworm, though.)