A tale of two forums – lessons for the newbie networker

My rough collie Dany who is my Facebook profile picture

Being brand spanking new to the world of small business it seemed a good idea to seek out some support networks – but I was soon to discover there are forums, and then there are forums.

One forum I joined was amazing. I introduced myself with the brief tale of my situation. How I was newly single (after 25 years), newly retrenched (after 10 years) and of a certain age that the statistics were against me in securing a new job. I went on to say how I wasn’t about to let that get me down and that I had already registered my small business to work as a freelancer using the proven skills I had as an editor and writer.

The response was amazing. “You go gal!” “Woohoo and welcome!”. Every single post to the thread (and there were many) was supportive, encouraging and up vibe.

Same post, different forum, and the first response was swift.

[name]: Of you poor thing. How sad. I feel SO sorry for your situation. I totally understand. Have you thought about getting involved with [xyz]? It would be great for you and I can help. 

Me: I don’t know what [xyz] is.

[name]: Their cosmetics. Their wonderful ☺ ☺

Me (resisting the urge to correct her grammar): I don’t wear make-up.

[name]: Oh not just make-up, an entire skin care range ☺ ☺ ☺

At this stage of the narrative I will inform my gentle readers that my Facebook profile picture is of my dog. For some inexplicable reason this woman thinks an older female who admits to not wearing make-up (even though perhaps, at her age, she should), and who posts on social media under a visual moniker of a dog, would make an ideal cosmetics saleswoman.

While I ponder this with a bemused smile, other replies are populating my thread. The editor in me then spots a pattern. All gush sympathetically over my situation, all completely ignore the fact that I already have a business name and purpose, and all then exhort me to get involved with a product (none of which I have ever heard of).

I had fallen into a nest of network marketers.

Obviously, this wasn’t the forum for me, I deleted the post and left the group. Lesson learnt, perhaps best to lurk for a bit first.

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