Peddlers, Scammers, and Snake Oil... oh my!
Isn't this a great site? Want it to stay that way? I'm sure many of you will agree that it has a friendly and deeply caring atmosphere; and full of informative information to boot. We all share a very strange and puzzling disease. But because Sarcoidosis is a very misunderstood disease with a strange habit of coming and going; flaring and remising, there are many heartless and ruthless jerks out there more than happy to prey on our desperate wish for relief or a cure.
For the record: In over 100 years there has been no definitive cause or cure for sarcoidosis discovered by medical science. The only thing that is understood is that it is a disorder of the autoimmune system in which the body's own defenses go into high gear and attack or lodge (as granulomas) in random parts of the body. This does not mean the body's immune system is weak; but is actually quite robust and overactive at times (a flare up.)
The most common treatment (depending on severity) is a regimen of carefully monitored immune system suppressants (Prednisone, Prednisolone) to, just as it sounds, suppress the immune system and thereby the damage your immune system is causing. Obviously this treatment is like putting out a house fire by bulldozing the house. Immune suppressants carry with them their own laundry lists of side effects. It can be a tough choice, and for many it is very helpful. But make no mistake, immune suppressants are NOT a cure, merely a treatment for symptoms. Unfortunately, to date, this is the status quo. Anyone who says otherwise is eyeballing your wallet.
There are many jerks out there that know you do not want to accept this. They also know if desperate enough, you will do anything or pay anything for hope or the promise of relief or cure. Make no mistake, the bottom line is MONEY... certainly not love for their fellow man. Our wonderful and comfortable FSR site is prime hunting grounds for these charlatans, thieves and just plain egomaniacal crazies.
Behind the scenes many of us, in conjunction with FSR and the good folks at INSPIRE are diligently at work monitoring posts, day and night; watchful for these peddlers, scammers, and snake oil salesmen that sign on; not to join a community of people who hurt and need... but to sell. How skanky can you get?
You can recognize these sleazy folks by their habits; here are some characterizations:
SALLY BROKENHEART:
Sally Brokenheart signed up and has a lengthy member profile that talks about how she has every Sarcoidosis symptom in the book (or whatever the forum disease of the day is), her mother died of cancer and her sister/cousin/friend died of (insert your illness here) too, her three adopted children were taken from her by her evil ex husband, and they are shortly going to repossess her house and car and she can't work (amazing that she has internet access?) and she doesn't know how she will get by. BUT WITH YOUR HELP MAYBE SHE CAN! Sally will often invite others to email her privately so she can chat them up out of the public eye. Don't be fooled. Sally is a con artist and looking for a little "donation." If someone pesters you constantly to chat outside the forum and does not want to email within the FSR site; Beware. Feel free to flag anyone that badgers you for help or money. FLAG THEM!
MIRACLE MARY:
Miracle Mary almost always comes across with the same hard luck and suffering as Sally Brokenheart, with the exception that with God's Grace or Divine Intervention she got well (either completely or partially). Praise BE! ... Oh, and with a little help from this herb/juice/drink/powder/oil or whatever that she "was just lucky enough to stumble on". She's not saying it will work for you... BUT IT WORKED FOR HER!! (consequently she happens to have handy, the phone number or web site address where you can order it.) Rest assured, Mary's alter ego is on the other end happy to fill your order. Just show her the money, honey. Besides, the LORD told her to spread the word of this miracle so all of God's children can benefit... and her bank account That will be $19.95 cash charge or debit? Don't be fooled. If anyone sends you website addresses to buy products or advertises product websites in posts or their profile, FLAG THEM!
JUSTIN JOINED:
Justin Joined is a very new member... very very new. In fact he joined about 10 minutes ago and has decided to jump right in and support what Miracle Mary was just posting about. Justin can not believe that someone else KNOWS ABOUT that miracle cure and he has been taking it religiously for years! Justin vigorously argues with anyone that disputes Miracle Mary or her cure. He is living proof that OTHER PEOPLE have benefited from Mary's cure. Justin is also the guy that never starts a discussion, never keeps a journal, and never comments on anything but Mary's posts. Oddly, Justin doesn't seem to care about anything but supporting Mary. Justin also has a slew of relatives and other helpmates on standby to join up if need be... its easy, because Justin and all his fellows don't exist. They are phonies. If anyone badgers or bullies you that your opinion is not valid (this is not to be confused with 'challenges your opinion') or harasses you not to post your opinion. FLAG THEM!
DR. FEELGOOD:
The good Dr. Feelgood felt compelled to join the forum so he could share the news that he cured himself... cured himself of Sarcoidosis (and a host of other diseases) by his long researched, patented "NEW CUTTING EDGE SCIENCE" which, of course only HE knows and the rest of the Pharmaceutical Company controlled science community doesn't want you to know about. Its really technical stuff, but is has to do with hidden mysterious bacteria and toxins that get stuck in your body; along with depleted oxygen levels; not enough silver; free radicals; too much sunlight; a toxic liver; not enough bowel movements; need to eat more specially harvested clay; you are riddled with parasites. But don't worry, his methods, pills, herbs, drinks, juice, and protocols are: All Natural; Peer Reviewed; Have FDA Orphan Status; No Preservatives; Salt Free; No Calories; Caffeine Free: Fat Free; Hand Made; Earth Friendly; Renewable Resource; No Carbon Footprint; Direct from Mother Nature; the Ancients Knew about It; People in the Remote Andes Mountains live to 130 on it. Dr. Feelgood has a PhD. from Kookaburra University in Togo. He has several degrees in Natural Healing Arts. He is a Certified Physical Trainer and Licensed Holistic Shaman. He is a Board Certified Nutritionist and versed in Feng Shui. He body-builds and runs 30 miles a day. He has several speaking engagements all around the world; ongoing research, scientific papers to write and still finds time to personally supervise over 25 of his own websites. What a guy. And to think only a couple of years ago he was selling printer parts. Now shut up and donate $45 or more for the good doctor's cure CDs... and donate more for ongoing research. If you start feeling better its because of his ground breaking scientific cure... if you don't, you're an idiot and not doing it right... buy more CDs or herbs. Or... just report the good doctor. Feel free to report anyone that badgers you or tries to 'recruit' you into trying an experimental 'treatment' or 'protocol'. If you catch anyone trying to blatantly advertise and promote an experimental treatment or protocol. FLAG THEM.
RECOVERY RACHEL and CURTIS CURED
Recovery Rachel and Curtis Cured are the bookends to Dr. Feelgoods claims. Both will appear as if from nowhere in a discussion thread the minute Dr. Feelgood is mentioned. They will yammer on endlessly about how wonderful the good doctor's research is and how they can personally attest that they have made 'Great Leaps in Personal Recovery' on the Dr's plan/protocol/juice/herbs/ you-name-it. They will swoop down on any one that questions the Dr. or his methods; and because they are ONE OF YOU, they are beyond all reproach. These two will often try to recruit as many people as possible to join Dr. Feelgood's bandwagon; and anyone that questions their methods is 'close-minded' 'intolerant' of 'alternatives' to evil modern medicine. Just shut up and drink the Kool-aide. They are easily recognizable because they talk only about one thing: Dr. Feelgood and his protocol/juice/herbs/ you-name-it. Avoid debating these harpies and FLAG THEM.
SID SILVERADO
Sid Silverado has a secret that modern medicine does not want you to know about. Never-mind those far fetched stories that it turns your skin blue or grey. His stack of well-researched, thoroughly documented independent scientific studies is all TRUE!!! The evil pharmaceutical giants don't want you to know that his Anti-Microbial Immune Enhancing Anti-Free-Radical Oxygenated Silver Water, taken only three times a day can cure you of just about anything; and of course, he's living proof. But don't take his word for it, he has several 'independent scientific' web sites to back him up. Heck, if you want, he will type a post 19 scrolls long to prove it. If you call his snake-oil bunk, then obviously you are a closed-minded fool. After all, he has been taking it for years and he is not turned blue. So get out your wallet and plunk down your cash. He knows where you can get colloidal silver FAST! Better yet... put your wallet away and FLAG THEM.
PYRAMID PETE
He was once JUST LIKE YOU until he realized he was living "all wrong." Modern living had left him 'spiritually dead' on the inside; modern environments and cleaners had filled him with 'toxins' and 'cancer'. He was a lost soul, drifting to a certain doom. Then his brush with a prognosis of death filled him with a great need to 'take charge' and "turn his life around'. And in spite of the doctors giving him only 6 months to live before dying from cancer (sarcoidosis, lymes, whatever) a quiet voice inside him made him discover his TRUE SELF and the amazing glory of the SPIRITUAL UNIVERSE. Naturally, he healed his own body through this wonderful 'path' to wellness that you can have for your self. Anyone can do it. It's easy. It's an all natural, back-to-mother-earth, in the privacy of your own home, journey to higher awareness and health... the book is $49.95, the tapes are $119.95 and the CD set with collector anti-cancer pyramid hat is $150.00. Web membership is billed to your credit card monthly at $12.95. Dont join them... FLAG THEM
PHONEY NONI:
Our good friend and longtime forum contributer Phoney Noni has been active in our community for quite some time; replying to posts, starting discussions; making some journal entries. But one day she starts to talk about a miracle juice she heard of... then she starts talking about it like its the best thing on earth... then she will help you find this miracle juice... lo and behold, and just as luck would have it, she has plenty for sale. There's even a website noted on her profile. AND HERE"S THE BEST PART she is so sure you will love this miracle juice, she will LET YOU become a DISTRIBUTOR in your area. So, not only will you be cured of Sarcoidosis and your bunions, but you will BE RICH TOO! Of course you will have to email privately so she knows where to ship the 22 cases of juice that she and her husband got suckered into 'distributing' from their garage. This is called a pyramid scheme... don't get suckered. FLAG THEM.
It is up to all of us to recognize these scumbuckets and FLAG them or their posts for Review. On the bottom of every post you read, or the top of a profile, there is a little blue flag with the words FLAG FOR REVIEW... if you find a suspect DISCUSSION or POST or a questionable JOURNAL entry or MEMBER PAGE you can flag it for review. Just click and type in what it is you find suspect or offensive, and a moderator will check it out. Advertising is illegal on this forum, if you catch anyone doing it. FLAG THEM. It is one thing to discuss our disease and experience; it is quite another to make a buck off of the sick and desperate.
Be smart. Be aware. And Be well.
— My name is theGardener, I have two dogs, a cat, sarcoidosis... and I don't give a horse's patootie what yer selling... GET LOST!