At first, it really did surprise me a bit that people were so loyal. People were getting blatantly used and abused, but they still continued to post and support the forum. They are loyal to their home board. The place they feel most comfortable, as if they owe the board something. It's almost like the mentality when a victim begins to become attached to their captor or abuser. Some members are insecure about branching out and exploring new boards to participate on because that would mean they would have to leave their comfort zone. That's not an easy thing to do for many people.
The veterans began to leave one by one, though it took quite some time. They held on to the memory of what the place used to be. The place they were apart of and helped build. The place they once learned from.
Some people held on because they couldn't fathom that Meat & Aga could be involved in such things and that they would make things right in the end. That it had to be some outside force preventing them from paying their affiliates. Those two themselves would never do such a thing to their affiliates or board members.
Sleazy will never fully leave because that is all he knows. He is somebody there. He has power and control, the feeling of importance. None of the newcomers and few of the loyalists are going to question him. Many don't know enough to question him on anything he tries to teach. They hang on his every word. Others like him because he once helped them and made them feel comfortable when they were fumbling around, trying to gain sure footing before taking the first step. IF Sleazy tries to rebuild somewhere else, he'll get eaten alive. He'll be the low man on the totem pole. He doesn't have thick enough skin to survive the critics.
The advertisers know that NP has a loyal following. They will also see a steady flow of new arrivals because Netpond has a strong foundation that spreads far and wide across the wild wild web. They could care less about the problems of NPC cash because they have a fresh set of eyeballs looking at them who have no clue, nor care, what went on in the past.
NP & NPC are messed up, but they sure as hell knew what they were doing when building a community, sucking people in, and ensuring a fresh supply of newcomers. They still have a base of loyal members, even if it appears the blind are leading the blind, and the number of blindly loyal will continue to grow bit by bit.
People can protest all they want about not doing business with such an such a company or individual. A good percentage of those who do all the ranting and raving, protesting as loud as they can to anyone who will listen, never pull links or stop promoting in one form or another. They just spout off because they want to be liked. What one does and says in public is often very different when they are behind closed doors.
Greed fuels the affiliate. Sponsors know it. That is why you see the $100 bonus days, $30-$40 PPS on a $1.00 trial, and the likes. Many affiliates won't even consider a program unless it has a PPS option.
Sponsors, in general, are just as greedy. Some will do anything they can to make that extra buck whether it is a good long term strategy or not. It's about the quick buck. Create creative ways to screw the affiliate and surfer, grab as much as you can before anyone notices.
The "bro" club mentality too is ridiculous. We are supposed to be grown adults, yet few seem to be able to stand on their own and go by what their "gut" tells them is the right thing to do. God forbid people have an opinion of their own, dare to go against the grain, and stand on your own two feet.
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