randomly grabbed this image online cause it looks stupid as fuck

A long time ago when I started blogging, I remember connecting with this other internet marketer. (I am not even going to dignify him and call him a writer because I don't think he's one.)

He was all about marketing, online entrepreneurship and making money.

I paid for his Skype consultation. I learnt quite a bit of things. I mean, of course I did. I didn't know shit back then.

One day, he asked me to write him a testimonial.

I willing wrote one. I just winged it and wrote how I felt about the consultation. 

He replied me the next day, "Hey Alden, do you mind changing the testimonial to something like this instead?"

Then, he proceeded to write out the entire testimonial for me. 

It was your classic testimonial, where 'I' said he was a great person, the consultation was great and that I gained some extremely specific results.

I gave the green light. I mean, I was thankful after all, being the little newbie that I was.

Today, I don't talk to this guy anymore. 

It took me a while, but I discovered that he was a liar, scammer and your typical marketer who's tied in in a circle jerk, wherein he only sells how he sells and makes money by teaching others how to make money.

And I was manipulated into lifting him up on a pedestal just so his sales page can look good. 

I won't go into detail, but he screwed me over at one point in time after that. I was totally done with him then.

Sigh, I can only imagine how many susceptible people bought his bullshit products because of my testimonial.

Note that this testimonial of mine had some truth in it, albeit heavily fabricated. There are real, fake testimonials out there created out of thin air.

It's honestly really scary today as you may be manipulated into believing something to be true just because you're reinforced with some good feelings.

And then it turns out to be a lie.

This is where you really need to stand your ground, be objective and start to think for yourself.

First all, know the definition of anecdotal evidence:

"Anecdotal evidence can be defined as testimony that something is true, false, related, or unrelated based on isolated examples of someone's personal experience. It is distinctly different from scientific evidence, or proof based on findings from systematic observation, measurement, and experimentation."

In short: Just because somebody says something to be true doesn't mean that it's true.

Or rather, you're bound to find somebody else who will tell you the direct opposite.

So think, be strong and stand your ground...

I don't give a shit if your friend told you that he heard about how somebody got away with a crime and that it gave them street cred and all that bullshit. Others got caught and they're in jail.

I don't give a shit if the testimonials you're reading now paint a rosy picture of the product. They're all fabricated to make you buy and the crappy testimonials are simply hidden.

I don't give a shit if that article has a ton of shares and likes. If you read it and think it's shit, then it's shit to you.

I don't give a shit if your mom says so. You're allowed to disagree with her. You know that right?

This article is... like it or not, truth.

Peace.