Hi: ======================================== "one of the most direct routes is to learn from someone who's already been where you are trying to get." ======================================== Excellent point: PROVIDING THAT PERSON IS NOT A FALSE GOD! like Baghwan. Or some sort of PeeWee in disguise. You two are awful. LOL. Too funny. Humor aside, for everyone else reading along, there's a VERY valid point here. You see, the Internet has opened all sorts of doors. A small business owner has a reach that was simply not possible before the Internet. But, for every good door opened thanks to the Internet, there are many not so good doors that open. One of the not so good "doors" that opened online is that people can call themselves whatever they want, and who is to say different? On the Internet, I can be anything I want to be. I could tell you I have a PHD. I could tell you I was born in a shack. I could tell you I make a million dollars a year. And, who is to say different? I don't say that cynically or bitterly. Just factually. It happens daily. When choosing a "mentor" you must choose carefully. You must look for validation of the statements they make. You must check to see if they are what they say they are. In short, you must do your due diligence. In addition, you must look at what type of help you are asking. You wouldn't ask your mechanic for a second opinion on your heart problem, would you? You wouldn't ask your family doctor to review your adcopy, would you? If you fail to do the due diligence, it's not the end of the world. However, when all is said and done, you may find yourself a little more disillusioned, a little more jaded - but a lot wiser for the experience. And maybe, just maybe, you'll be more careful choosing the next "mentor." : ) Linda

In addition, you must look at what type of help you are asking. You wouldn't ask your mechanic for a second opinion on your heart problem, would you? You wouldn't ask your family doctor to review your adcopy, would you? Your correct in that, but one can see these individuals for what they are first and not for what they are not, They do not claim to be something other than what they really are. On line, as you noted, all sorts of claims can made. The real problem is if others think the claims are true and then seek help from the false idol, thqat can cause more serious damage than the original problem as the false one has no real qualifications.

Yep, we are awful. But how perspicacious of you to turn our bantering into a "life lesson." That is a quality to be admired. ==================== "You see, the Internet has opened all sorts of doors. A small business owner has a reach that was simply not possible before the Internet. But, for every good door opened thanks to the Internet, there are many not so good doors that open. ===================== A very timely warning. ===================== "On the Internet, I can be anything I want to be. I could tell you I have a PHD." ===================== Actually, I think you do have a friggin' PhD - one in common sense. Incidentally, why do they call something so rare "common." Much of the stuff I see on the net proves that there isn't a lot of common-sense exercised. I think the problem, as I see it, is this: For many, many years now we have been conditioned into believing what is beamed into our loungerooms everynight. If it is on TV it may not be factual but it is believable. Does a computer screen resemble a television screen? I'd say so. Therefore, by reading something on the internet we tend to think (even sub-consciously) that it is believable - not necessarily true but believable. See the distinction? So, when somebody says that they are blah, blah, blah, yakkity, yak we don't say to ourselves "oh no you are not!" We tend to believe it. It just passes by without question. And there is the sting. I think experienced netfolk are realizing this but how many hundreds of thousands of newbies are falling prey to these tactics? Ever seen something like this?: "My good friend Justin Credible has just produced this AMAZING money making report. He wrote it on his $5 million yacht that me and four other gurus sailed to Spain and back on. Now, I have twisted his arm (literally) and he has agreed to release only 100 copies at the ridiculous LOW price of ONLY $197. Will you be the next bazillionaire? We want you on the yacht! Hurry. Get it NOW before Justin takes the page down and it is gone forever!" Due diligence folks. The internet is full of spiders - not necessarily the ones that crawl the websites. Incidentally, if anybody wants to hire me as a copywriter for their next scam, (ahem) I mean, offer I ONLY charge $1,000 per hour but ONLY if you are one of the next 20 people. After all that - nice post Linda. Gary Simpson

Hi... Peter said... ======================================== Your correct in that, but one can see these individuals for what they are first and not for what they are not, They do not claim to be something other than what they really are. On line, as you noted, all sorts of claims can made. The real problem is if others think the claims are true... ======================================== Very true. When you walk into your doctor's office you DO know he's a doctor. In the real world, no one would ask their doctor for marketing advice. Now, let's jump down the rabbit hole for a minute. For some reason, when people ONLINE say they are doctors or psychologists or anything halfway "professional" sounding - other people run to get in line for their marketing advice. If they truly are doctors, or whatever... who wants their marketing advice? I mean, really? When they are NOT what they claim, it's even worse. Crackerjack box degrees are quite common online. Go. See. I'm sure this will be an eye opener. http://www.fast-degrees-online.com/prices.htm And, Mr. Caterpillar, have you noticed how many "pros" have grand stories, but give no *real* references with urls or phone numbers? Painting the roses red? : ) Linda “Contrariwise,” continued Tweedledee, “if it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn’t, it ain’t. That’s logic.”

Hello Linda, Dr Gary Simpson BSc, BA, MA, PhD, Bu, LL, Shi, TT, ER ... here. I checked out that site and look at all the "qualifications" that I NOW have. Of course, the last five groups of letters after my name - heh - like so many others, I have always had them! That site is pox! Here is what one so-called "graduate" from it had to say: =================== "Thank you for my Bachelor's degree. I have been trying for years to teach English overseas without success. Although I have years of experience back in my home country, and am a professional, I was unable to have a work permit issued. Reason being was I had no degree. Well, now I am working overseas, have my work permit, and enjoying my life. Thanks to my Bachelor degree." - John M. BSc. IT Management ==================== And that D**K H**D calls himself a "professional." I would say he is anything except that. A fraud perhaps? What about this one? ==================== "Prompt service, and I received my Doctorate as per my order. I'm looking forward to my next career move." - Sally R. PhD. ==================== If she was working for me her next career move would be out the door! Seriously, what do these people get out of this? Ego? What about this "blurb" on the site: ===================== "NONE of the Universities or Colleges we use advertise their "alternative" services anywhere else. The name of the institution is only revealed once you graduate to ensure a confidential service for all our clients." ===================== Once you graduate! Duh! I get this sort of thing happening from time to time at our karate studio. Some dude makes all these claims about their "qualifications" and what they can do but when you get them onto the floor, if they don't have some excuse (which they usually do!), you soon see how pathetic they are. I once had this visiting "Instructor" from India come to us to train with us. If you listened to him you would think that he was the Catman from Katmandu. Well, he was hurting guys through his lack of control. I knew immediately that he was not a quality practitioner. Eventually, I had enough. I stepped in and he pulled the same junk on me. He got two warnings (two too many) then found himself sliding down one of the walls until he sat bedragled on his butt gasping for air. We didn't see him much after that. The point is this - if you claim to be something then you need to be able to back it up. Oh Linda - Mr Caterpillar - I must be off my game today or the cryptics are exceedingly devious. Epexegesis. A hint maybe? What goes 99 clunk, 99 clunk? Gary Simpson