« March 2004 | Main | May 2004 »
April 29, 2004
BRB
By QBlog in
Busy time. Be Right Back. Talk amongst yourselves, or read the archives.
:o)
April 26, 2004
Ponderous Ponderings
By QBlog in
What happens when you become a really successful Quixtar IBO?
What happens when you begin to meet your goals and reach the PIN levels you dreamed about?
What happens when you achieve Platinum and then Emerald and see that Diamond is within your grasp?
What happens when you pass your direct upline's PIN level?
What happens when you walk across the stage as a Diamond while your direct upline sits in the audience?
What happens when you discover that you're better at building the business than your upline?
April 25, 2004
"The thoughts of one Robert Stribley"
By QBlog in
The blog called "hitched to everything" has linked up the little ole quixtarBLOG. The post titled Can I Tell You a About a Great Business Opportunity? has this to say:
There's truly a blog about everything: check out this fascinating blog by "the husband of a former Quixtar IBO" ((Independent Business Owner). Quixtar is affiliated with Amway, and "Qblog" details some of the behind the scenes stuff and features hate mail he's received from current IBOs.Thanks for the linkage Stribley!
April 24, 2004
Micropundit
By QBlog in
According to WIRED I'm a Micropundit.
Unless I'm reading it wrong. Which I've done in the past. And by "wrong" I don't mean reading it backwards, upside down or from behind a stained glass window but I mean "wrong" as in not "getting" the real gist of what WIRED was intending when defining the word as "A blogger who gains a reputation as a reliable critic or authority on a particular subject" in their Jargon Watch feature.
April 23, 2004
Hi Amway, I'd like you to meet The Net
By QBlog in
A guy named "Brandon" sent me the screenshot of a Peer-to-Peer file sharing program. The single keyword plugged into the program was "quixtar" and you can see the results of that search in the image below. There is a larger image for those who'd like to see the whole thing. I'm not really into the whole file sharing scene these days so I don't recognize the program being used but it looks like it's called "aMule" or something.
April 22, 2004
Amway inspires musician
By QBlog in
A Bard's Real World Blog is the online journal of Marc Gunn, a musician, poet, photographer and more. In the post titled Reminiscing my music business beginnings Gunn describes the scene where he receives his musical inspiration:
It was the Fall of 2002. I was living in an apartment on Riverside with my friend, Jason. My brother moved in with me. He was living on our couch while looking for a job in Austin. He'd hooked up with a high school buddy who was now an Amway distributor."The Seed Was Planted." I can't deny that there is something very inspirational about the Amway/Quixtar business. That was one of the things that appealed to my skeptic's mind. The mantra of "you CAN" demanded that IBOs focus on the positive instead of the negative. This very attitude seems to have inspired Gunn to pursue a career in music. I wonder if any other Musicians got their start in Amway? Say, wasn't Robert Smith (of The Cure) in Amway during the '70s?I remember sitting at our dinner table as they presented the case and asked, "What are your dreams? Big cars, a house, expensive stereo? Wouldn't it be cool if you could...?"
Somewhere in there they inspired me. Deep down inside I remember being a kid. My mom's old record player was playing, "I Gotta Know", the B-side of "Are You Lonesome Tonight" by Elvis Presley. I was pretending to be Elvis, singing my lungs out.
I was hooked. I signed up with Amway and started going to the conventions and spending too much money.
I bought my first electric guitar, an Elektra. I chatted with my friend Johannes in our United Campus Ministry organization at UT about jamming. Plugged in my guitar into that tiny Peavy amp. I had written a few songs over the previous two years of college. They were crap, but we enjoyed jamming to them as well. I was resolved to become a full-time musician.
A couple years later and too much money wasted, I finally left Amway, but the seed was planted.
April 21, 2004
Amway and Quixtar Lawyers
By QBlog in
Something to think about...
According to those in Quixtar and Amway, their business is the greatest way to achieve success and financial freedom. Many in the Quixtar/Amway business feel genuinely sorry for those who don't "get" the business and refuse to participate in the wonderful Quixtar/Amway opportunity. Additionally, most IBOs and Distributors feel so excited about their business that they can't wait to share it with everyone they know and care about. They believe this business is the solution to many of the problems in our modern lives and they want to share this solution with their loved ones.
So, with all that in mind, I ask you this... is it fair for Amway and Quixtar to ask so many lawyers to represent them in their legal pursuits? Surely those lawyers are prohibited from participating in the Quixtar/Amway business because of an obvious conflict of interest. So I'm wondering if it's really fair to those lawyers that they should miss out on such a wonderful opportunity. They're stuck trading time for money while their clients are enjoying a six-figure residual income and more time with their family. I know lawyers are scum but seriously, is it fair to preclude them from such freedom? That's not the American way. Shame on you Quixtar/Amway. Treating those poor lawyers so. You deserve a wedgie for being such meanies.
April 20, 2004
Severe Learning Disability
By QBlog in
Below is an example of just some of the email I get from gung-ho IBOs. My responses are indented. I did not send these responses to the author, instead I sent a simple message asking if he was serious in his comments. I received no reply which is quite common when I respond to criticisms of me and this blog. Very few IBOs seem to want to start a dialogue, they prefer to just rant and run. Parts of the message were removed for brevity.
---------------
Dude, did you even DO the math on the SA4400? Do you have a Servere Learning
Disability in math if you did?
It's WORKING FOR ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well bully for you and as a matter of fact I do have a severe learning disability in math. What about it?
You need to focus away from the idiots who don't understand how this business model works (INCLUDING YOURSELF) and check out the World Wide Dream Builders group! Even though our statistics are included in Quixtar's as a whole, their individual stats are blowing every other group in it AWAY!!!!
Well, maybe you should talk to the folks at Team of Destiny because they're saying the same thing about TOD.
...You seem to be the typical journalist, get half the facts and "boldly go where no liar has gon before!" Did you miss the check button where one can choose NOT to buy the products? It isn't "manditory" to buy them!
I blame this on my severe learning disability but you lost me right here.
Most of the sites you see suck because they AREN'T DONE BY QUIXTAR. GET THE
FACTS STRAIGHT, DUFUS! The sites you have seen are done by ignorant, and goofy,
INDIVIDUALS who don't understand that they DON'T HAVE TO WEB PAGE AN INCREDIBLY
ENGINEERED WEB SITE; you should be smart enough to recognize that "the
main dish" doesn't need a "main dish!"
What other site can you go to that doesn't sell POP UP ADS?
Wha? Is it just me or is this guy making no sense?
...The FACT is that only 12% of ANYONE GETTING INVOLVED IN ANY BUSINESS DOES ANYTHING WITH THEIR "KIT!!!" FROM BUYING A CARLTON SHEETS PROGRAM TO ANYTHING ELSE. You SHOULD be intelligent enough to recognize that there is a principle in any arena of achievement that there is the 2% rule. Check out the Social Security Admiistrations stats on people retiring: 2% have all the money they need at age 65 and NINTY-EIGHT PERCENT have to get help from family and charities after retirement.
Well, at least I do a good job of spelling and I don't type in all-caps... much. That's worth something right?
If you love your wife, drop your ego and get the facts! You aren't even close with ANY of your statements from first to last! Don't you believe in ACCURATELY REPORTING? You seem like you are too lazy to do the footwork to get the stats from INDEPENDENT SOURCES WHO MEASURE AND REPORT INTERNET COMPANIES!
Well, I guess I am lazy and it looks like you've already done this research so why not send me the information from independent sources. I'd love to see it.
Jenn Lackey writes about Dean Kosage
By QBlog in
Well, it's been less than 48 hours since I mentioned Dean Kosage in a post about Quixtar Personal Home Pages and my site is now a top-ranked Google search result for his name and surprisingly, people are searching for Kosage info (my site stats now reveal that fact).
I'd never heard of the guy before Sunday and still know very little about him but I did find an interesting article by Jenn Lackey from Sept., 2002. It's titled The Art of Selling Faith and describes Lackey's experience of being prospected by a Quixtar IBO and her impressions of her first Quixtar meeting. And guess who the featured speaker was at that Quixtar meeting. That's right, Dean Kosage.
It was time for Mr. Dean Kosage to be introduced. The crowed erupted in applause as the blond, good-looking and well-dressed Kosage strutted out onto the stage.Obviously Lackey wasn't impressed with Kosage. Also, she mentioned that he was blond. His picture on the WWG site shows him as being dark-haired (black or dark brown). Could Lackey have seen some other guy named Dean Kosage that night? Or maybe she has a bad memory? Or maybe Kosage dyes his hair or bleached it back in 2002?What was supposed to be a 45-minute speech ended up being a three-and-half-hour-long sermon about attitude, values and the importance of making money. According to Kosage, a supposed millionaire, we could easily be rich beyond our wildest dreams. We just needed to have faith in our ability to live an easier life. "I’ve made more than I ever imagined. I’ve done nothing special but have the guts to try," preached Kosage. "I’m here to empower you, to make you walk out of here and realize you’re a lot smarter than you think."
Interlaced among his ambiguous topic points were cult-like religious undertones and degrading insults. We were told, for instance, that our parents had brainwashed us to work 40-hour-long weeks. "Unfortunately, some of you have been raised by loving parents who are incredibly stupid. And you don’t like hearing it, but it’s the truth," Kosage said defiantly. "You’re going to have to realize that you’ve grown up with a victim attitude. Quite honestly, you’ve learned the language of losers."
April 19, 2004
Edify THIS!
By QBlog in
I never really understood the whole "edification" thing in Quixtar. My wife and her downline were taught to "edify" the upline leaders. This basically meant to talk about them as if they were the greatest people and could do no wrong. The Dictionary.com definition of edify is:
To instruct especially so as to encourage intellectual, moral, or spiritual improvement.That definition doesn't quite seem to fit with the definition told to my wife and her downline. I'm no etymologist so I can't claim to have the best understanding of the word "edify" but it appears that it has more to do with teaching and encouraging than praising and exalting. In fact, what we (mainly my wife) were instructed to do sounds more like "glorification" than "edification." Again, from Dictionary.com:
glorify: To give glory, honor, or high praise to; exalt.Now how did the "glorify" and "edify" definitions get so mixed up in our LOS (QBiz)? I'm not sure. I do know that in normal conversation "edify" doesn't sound quite as pretentious as "glorify." Or maybe it's something else entirely or nothing at all? Who knows?
Anyway, back to my original point, I never got the whole edification thing. If someone is a kick-ass success and a great person in general then nobody has to encourage me to say nice things about them. I'll do so without a bit of prompting. If I'm in business with someone who exhibits impeccable character qualities, then I'll let him (or her) know that I appreciate such qualities. Why is there a need in the Quixtar circles to make edification (or glorification) a significant element in the IBO training? I guess I'm just a bitter, broke loser who will never understand. But, just to demonstrate that I can edify (or glorify) someone without prompting, I think that Lawrence Lessig is one of the greatest guys in the world. He's awesome. If I could have lunch with anyone alive today it would be Lessig. His brilliance and dedication inspire me. He's one of my ultimate heroes.
How was that? Can I get my edification badge now? Please?
April 18, 2004
New PHPs linked from Quixtar home page
By QBlog in
Just noticed that there are some new Personal Home Pages linked from Quixtar. When I first saw the PHP links on the Quixtar home page (back in Feb. '04) I pointed out that most (if not all) of the links were to Team Of Destiny home pages. Not so anymore. The World Wide Group (aka World Wide Dream Builders) now has a few home pages linked from Quixtar.com. The WWG home pages are little nicer looking than the TOD pages and there's even a directory page that lists them all (very handy).
Not to pick on anyone but I thought it was interesting that Dean Kosage was the only single guy out of 29 featured WWG home pages. Seems like a nice guy but this quote seemed a little bit contradictory to what I'd personally been told by my wife's Quixtar upline:
I had to realize being single was going to make this journey easier, not harder, and to stop using it as a crutch. Some of the fastest Emeralds and Diamonds had been single.I am not doubting the truth of Dean's statement but it's just startling since practically every success story I've ever heard involved a husband and wife.
And THAT got me thinking about homosexuals (see how my mind roams). I'm NOT even remotely suggesting that Dean is gay but I do wonder if gays are successful in Quixtar, or if there are any gays in Quixtar at all (surely there must be, right?). I can't recall a single gay Diamond and in light of Dean's statement, I wonder if it would be easier for a gay man (or woman I guess) to achieve success in Quixtar compared to married, heterosexual IBOs? Maybe it would be and if so, why don't we see more of them? Or maybe we do and I'm not aware? I don't know. Just things I think about on a Sunday evening. No NBA Playoffs on tonight.
April 17, 2004
Amway Sing-a-Long
By QBlog in
Thanks to Scott Larsen for pointing out these Amway/MLM songs on April Winchell's site.
Song found @ http://www.aprilwinchell.com/multimedia/media/mp3/amway2.mp3
Song found @ http://www.aprilwinchell.com/multimedia/media/mp3/AMWAY.MP3
Song titles and descriptions are quoted exactly as they appeared on April's site.
April 16, 2004
I love this Quote
By QBlog in
From Dave Touretzky's site:
"Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people... Be not intimidated, therefore, by any terrors, from publishing with the utmost freedom...nor suffer yourselves to be wheedled out of your liberty by any pretenses of politeness, delicacy, or decency. These, as they are often used, are but three different names for hypocrisy, chicanery, and cowardice." -- John Adams
More from Tim's "Random Observations"
By QBlog in
Random Observations is a sort of hybrid blog that posts news, analysis, opinion and entertainment. The site has also posted a few comments about Quixtar (I linked to one back in Nov., '03) and it's been interesting to read about the author's (Tim) experience with what I've been calling the "Quixtar Sub-Culture" (if you come up with a better term, let me know). It's similar to my experience with this quixtarBLOG, but on a smaller scale since the RO site isn't primarily focused on Quixtar.
The most recent Quixtar posting at RO is from April 14, 2004, and is titled Quixtar: A Business Opportunity for You!. The entire post basically picks apart a message Tim received from a Quixtar advocate. It is lengthy but makes for an interesting read. And don't be shy about commenting on Tim's post, public discussion is the lifeblood of the Internet.
April 15, 2004
From the BoB Forum
By QBlog in
The Quixtar discussion continues at a Board titled Best of the Boards. This particular thread is simply titled Quixtar?. Here's the initial post that started the Quixtar conversation:
My brother is wanting to get into this and has been to three mtgs. I read online that they are owned by the same people as amway.And here are a few snippets from the replies
Anyone have any info? Pros or cons? He is only 18 and looking for an easy way to make quick money (arent we all) and since he WONT do PL I want to advise him the best i can.THANKS!
Amy
HarmonyGlowI love Web discussions. They're so human.
I wouldn't recommend it. It is the same company as Amway.akcandlelady
Personally, I wouldn't do it. I have no need for all that "STUFF."waxmajik
it is amway....and a friend was thinking of it too....pay to go to too many meetings weekly and i believe a few hundred to get startedLaneIT
Something positive...they sell GREAT laundry detergent. I was an Amway/Quixtar distributor because I love their detergent. It isn't that expensive to get started and you get a pretty decent discount on the products if you're a distributor. (I have extremely sensitive skin and for a long time this was the only detergent I could use.) I like some of their other products, also.You won't make money doing this (in my opinion). Is it possible -- yes, is it likely -- NO.
April 14, 2004
Taxes Suck
By QBlog in
Next year I'm doing my taxes early.
From The Cavalier Daily
By QBlog in
I spotted a Quixtar-related story from The Cavalier Daily last night just before I was about to shut down the computer and climb into bed. There were several things in the article that really piqued my interest and so I decided to post the story link and a few quotes with the promise of "more commentary tomorrow." Well, it's "tomorrow" so now for my comments (see how this works).
First off, The Cavalier Daily is an independent college newspaper (guess how often it publishes) at the University of Virginia. It has quite a history and an impressive list of journalism professionals who got their start at The CD (more info). The article titled Climbing to the top: Multi-level marketing provides profit opportunities, at a cost was written by Corinne Shamy, Associate Editor at The CD.
Interesting Point I
Before I finished reading the third paragraph I noticed a image attached to the article. It was the copy of an "email" with the word "Quixtar" as the subject. The message began...
How would you like to make a residual income of at least 2,700 dollars a month only working on a part time basis? How would like to own a internet base business for only 45 dollars? Well, if you said yes to these questions then Quixtar is the business for you...I'm not an authority on Quixtar rules but it seems like such an "email" could be in violation of something, especially if it was sent unsolicited. Interesting.
Interesting Point II
Back in the third paragraph I found this curious sentence "...according to a Quixtar spokesperson who cited company policy in requesting to remain anonymous." Again, I defer to my Quixtar friends on the authenticity of this policy but I've never heard of a company spokesman being required to remain anonymous at any business. If the policy is real, then it seems a little goofy to me.
Interesting Point III
The article interviewed first-year college student Joshua Stevens (I assume he attends the U of V). Stevens is quoted as saying that he's made $3,000 as a Quixtar IBO after working the business a total of 54 days. Say WHAT?!? You heard right. If that's true, then that's simply amazing. At that pace, Stevens will be a Triple Founders Ambassador Diamond Commander in six months (give or take a few months)! Apparently Quixtar does work for Mr. Stevens and works very well.
Interesting Point IV
Under the heading "Vocal Opposition" Shamey provides a few quotes from renowned Amway/Quixtar critic Dave Touretzky. There's even a mention of The Blakey Report.
Despite the opportunities provided by multi-level marketing, there are many vocal opponents to such business models. One prominent detractor is Carnegie-Melon Professor Dave Touretzy, who runs a Web site titled "Amway/Alticor/Quixtar Sucks!"Interesting Point VAlticor, founded in 1959, is the parent company of Quixtar, begun in 1999, and Amway, which now operates exclusively overseas.
"They're a scam, and Quixtar is an Internet version of the scam," Touretzy said.
The Web site, which is hosted on the Carnegie-Melon's server, contains a controversial report which compares the practices of Amway/Quixtar to those of the mafia.
Amway has threatened the professor and the university with legal action for posting the report on his Web site, though no official charges have been filed, Touretzy said.
"I disagree with the fact that Amway is trying to silence critical speech," he said.
The author of the report, Notre Dame Law Professor G. Robert Blakey, declined to comment, citing a court gag order.
I've read a bit of discussion on various MLM message boards complaining that the price of Quixtar products isn't competitive. I personally don't care about price and have little interest in such complaints but the article quotes Stevens as saying that Quixtar prices are "wholesale."
Stevens explained that Quixtar sells products at wholesale prices, which are made possible by the increased efficiency that comes from eliminating traditional middle-men, such as retail outlets. He added that Quixtar does not spend any money on advertising or marketing, which helps to keep prices down.Maybe they are, maybe they aren't. I just thought that it was interesting that Stevens believes the Quixtar products to be well-priced and since he's already making $3,000 I guess he would know.
April 13, 2004
Get a sense of humor
By QBlog in
Is it just me or do most Quixtar IBOs take their "business" way too seriously? It seems like when they sign that IBO contract they must remove their sense of humor.
No, of course they laugh. My wife laughed at all those J-O-B jokes and the one about the guy from Louisiana and the President (that's all I remember). But laughing and a sense of humor are completely different in my book. Someone with a sense of humor can laugh at themselves, is fully aware of their own quirks and foibles and enjoys a good-natured ribbing.
Folks with a sense of humor are also often a little irreverent and have a keen appreciation for irony and absolutely love a good satire, even if that satire is aimed at them. Folks without such qualities are easily offended and a total bore at parties. They just seem to take life (and their Quixtar business) too seriously.
I dunno. Maybe it is me? Maybe I've lost touch with what's "really funny" and am living in my own little world of yucks and yee-haws? Maybe those Quixtar IBOs are the ones with the sense of humor and I really am that "bitter, broke loser" they keep talking about? Or maybe I just need new material?
April 9, 2004
Canadians going Diamond eh?
By QBlog in
UPDATE II: Now the Google Cache has been overwritten with the "junk" post resigning the blog. *sigh* Damn Canadian IBOs.
--------------
UPDATE: I guess the Candians aren't Going Diamond after all. Looks like the day after I link to their blog it gets killed. So much for free-flowing information. Here's a Google cache of the blog. It won't be available for long so go look at it while you can.
--------------
The Team Blog looks like a journal of some Quixtar IBOs from Canada. There are not many posts and I fear that, like most blogs on the topic of Quixtar, it will fizzle out and become another Web pothole. I hope not but I guess time will tell.
I think it's really exciting to see blogs popping up devoted to Quixtar and IBO training. This puts IBO communication out in the open for everyone to see. The element of "mystery" or "secrecy" that I observed while my wife was involved with Quixtar is removed in such a public setting.
Let the sunshine in and GO DIAMOND my Canadian friends!
April 7, 2004
Tell me the one about...
By QBlog in
Dad: It's bedtime son. Pick out a story for me to read.
Son: I want to hear the one about Business Week reporting those documents from the Bankers/P&G litigation.
Dad: Again?!? Really? You want to hear that story again?
Son: Yes daddy. I love how that one judge-man overturned the protective order written by that other judge-man.
Dad: Well, that's not exactly how it goes but yeah, that's a fun part son.
Son: And, and I like how the documents in question were ultimately made public by that one judge-man guy. And how Business Week ended up publishing the story so all the boys and girls around the world could read it.
Dad: Yes, son. That's a good part too. Would you like to tell me the story or do you want me to read it? It's getting late son.
Son: No daddy, you read it. And make those noises you make when you say "REVERSE" and "VACATE."
Dad: Ok, ok. Now get under the covers and let me read. C'mon you lil' rascal.
Son: (Giggles) Daddy. Tomorrow night will you read me the story about The Blakey Report, Amway and Richard E. Griffin?
-------------------
If you'd like to read the "Business Week, P&G v. Bankers Trust" story to your son or daughter just point your browser to this page at FindLaw.com.
Missing Juice?
By QBlog in
Is somebody missing some juice? Anyone? Like a whole lot of juice? Like several cases of juice? Orange. Grape. Cranberry. Apple.
No? Well, ok. Just asking 'cause I got a whole buncha juice right here.
Oh yeah.
April 6, 2004
More about The Blakey Report... blah, blah, blah.
By QBlog in
The Blakey Report (pdf) surfaces on yet another Web site. The site, titled "Amway: The Untold Story," appears to be maintained by James J. Lippard who evidently has some history with Amway.
Lippard was somehow involved with the Sidney Schwartz, Amway and P&G stuff dating back a few years. Looks like he had some dealings with Amway lawyer Timothy Q. Delaney of Brinks, Hofer, Gilson and Lione. That's right sports fans, the very same law firm that employs a Mr. Brad E. Harrigan. Small world.
Anyway, I guess since Lippard posted a copy of The Blakey Report on his site he should expect a letter (or maybe a phone call) from Amway's Texas lawyer Richard E. Griffin. I got a letter. Scott Larsen got a letter. Dave Touretzky got a letter. Even Ruth Carter got a letter though she never had a copy on her servers (oops, I bet some law clerk got a scolding for that one).
"Quixtar is Amway in web-friendly clothes"
By QBlog in
Julian M Bucknall is "a programmer by trade, an actor by ambition and a computer scientist by osmosis." He's apparently a British expatriate who came to the states to program and develop software. Bucknall authored a book about algorithms and has written several software-themed articles.
However, Bucknall's article titled "Business ventures and dreams" describes not software or algorithms but his experience with a Quixtar IBO.
...Well, as soon as Martin pulled out the nice multicolored printed four- page form from his briefcase, I knew something was up. He put a red pen down by the form. On the front page was some drivel about removing retail middlemen in the chain from manufacturer to consumer. Bells started ringing ever so faintly in my mind. He was spouting about IBM, about e-commerce, about how the retail businesses make profit, yadda, yadda, yadda. He then said that he was affiliated with a new kind of e-commerce company, and asked me to write it down on the form. Those damn bells were now deafening. I picked up the red pen and wrote down what he spelt: Q-U-I-X-T-A-R...Obviously Bucknall isn't a fan of MLM or Quixtar. It's interesting to me that, according to his story, what really solidified his opinion about Quixtar was doing some comparison shopping and discovering that he could purchase a Dell computer (from Dell) cheaper than buying a no-name brand from Quixtar. Apparently price is pretty important to Bucknall....And, in truth, the way the people high up in the pyramid make their money (apart from the upflow of commissions on commissions) is by marketing and selling motivational tapes and materials and seminars to their downline. Not to the general public, mind, but to the people they've recruited and to the people they've recruited and so on. The pyramid feeds on itself...
April 5, 2004
Maybe I should start "showing the plan"
By QBlog in
Jar-gon - (n.): The specialized or technical language of a trade, profession, or similar group.
Practically every profession has it's own jargon. Sometimes that jargon can become a familiar fixture within the vocabulary of popular culture and quickly loses its "jargon" status. From Tech-related fields we've seen terms like "IP Address," "RAM" and "Blue Screen of Death" become part of our everyday language (well, almost). However, the vast majority of profession-specific jargon is so infrequently heard by "outsiders" that it often sounds like a language of nonsense to the uninitiated.
I live in my own world of jargon, more specifically Web-jargon. When I'm at a party or some type of social gathering it's always a delight to discover a fellow Web-enthusiast. More often than not I end up spending the entire time "talking shop" with my fellow jargon-speaker and we always exchange email addresses before leaving. Of course, my experience is not unique. Doctors, lawyers, pilots, musicians, etc. all have their own jargon and usually feel an immediate connection (or at least feel more comfortable) when they encounter others in a similar profession.
And it's only natural. With fellow jargon-speakers there's no need to explain each phrase or define each word. Their conversation is one of familiarity and understanding. Like bilinguals who feel most comfortable speaking their native tongue, so too the jargon-speaker feels most comfortable speaking of his profession in jargon-ese (a made-up word but I like it).
Yet it's that reliance on familiarity and understanding that often prevents me from discussing my passion for the Web with the uninitiated. When I start ranting against the DMCA I don't want to have to explain what it is, how it became law, what it represents to freedom lovers across the globe, etc. I just want to rant and such ranting (about the DMCA) is at least a little confusing to those outside the world of Web jargon. So, I save my rants and instead discuss something like sports, films or whatever we can find in common.
The Reason
The reason I mention all this jargon nonsense is because I've experienced something similar when trying to discuss Quixtar with the uninitiated. I found that it's often quite difficult to explain my experiences and perceptions of Quixtar without spending inordinate amounts of time explaining terms like "Diamond," "Fired up" and "Show the plan." Quixtar, like every business, has it's own jargon but sometimes the communication barriers that result from such jargon discourages me from discussing Quixtar with others. I've even tried showing a few "non-Quixtar" folks this very blog and they walk away scratching their heads. Why? Because really, it doesn't make a lot of sense unless you're familiar with Quixtar, some of its concepts and most of the related jargon. The end result is that I don't talk about Quixtar (good, bad or indifferent) with many people outside of those already familiar with the business. However, I'm working to change that.
Maybe I just need to "show the plan" to everyone that I want to discuss Quixtar with? I've still got that whiteboard, tripod and dry-erase marker set. Now that's an idea.
April 4, 2004
Amway has contacted Scott Larsen regarding The Blakey Report
By QBlog in
It has come to my attention that Amway attorney Richard E. Griffin has demanded that Scott Larsen (of AmQuix.info) remove The Blakey Report (pdf) from his servers. Like Dave Touretzky, Larsen was told that publishing the report is in violation of a 1998 protective order. As of this writing, the report is still available on Larsen's servers. We'll see what develops.
What is especially curious to me as a Web professional is Amway's belief that The Blakey Report, or anything for that matter, can be effectively removed from the Web. On the Web, information wants to be shared. That's its nature. Once the metaphorical genie has been let out of the bottle, it can't be returned. Just ask Jon Johansen about DeCSS or Monica Lewinsky about the Drudge Report or Scientologists about Operation Clambake. There are numerous examples of corporations and governments unsuccessfully attempting to remove specific information from the Web. It's just inconceivable to me that in this era of peer-to-peer networks, email, FTP and literally millions of Web servers across the globe, Amway truly believes its efforts to wipe The Blakey Report from the Web will succeed.
If Amway hired me as the head of their PR department I'd advise them to ditch their efforts to remove The Blakey Report from the Web and craft a credible response. Surely there are Amway supporters equal to Blakey's stature that disagree with his assessment of their business. Get those folks to respond to Blakey's opinions by speaking directly to the people. That's good strategy because it publicly recognizes the report and deals directly with its contents instead of the somewhat suspicious efforts to remove it from the Web. Removing it only begs the question, "What is in that report that Amway doesn't want me to know?" But, as we all know, Amway's not asking for my advice on this matter. Oh well, this wouldn't be the first time my brilliance has been ignored. ;o)
April 2, 2004
April Fool's
By QBlog in
No, Quixtar BLOG is NOT shutting down. Yesterday's post was just a little April Fool's Day fun.
To set the record straight -- I can do "this" for a long, long time. This site has been fun, is fun and will probably continue to be fun. I actually don't have better things to do with my time than post crap about Quixtar (which is either sad or inspiring depending on your perspective).
And to paraphrase Charlton Heston (Mr. Moses himself):
They can have this site when they pry it from my cold, dead hard drive!Not really sure who "they" is and I don't quite know how the whole "cold, dead hard drive" thing fits in but I love the quote (pure Americana) and wanted to work it into this post somehow. So, like that misshapen piece of a jigsaw puzzle, I kept shoving until it sort of fits... I guess.
Anyway, hope you had a happy April Fool's Day. I know I did.
April 1, 2004
Quixtar BLOG site is shutting down
By QBlog in
UPDATE: April Fool's
--------------------
I can't do this any more. This is my last post. It was fun while it lasted but I've just got better things to do with my time than sit around posting crap about Quixtar. Thanks for stopping by.
To quote the "Lizard King"
This is the end, beautiful friend