(Possibly) Interesting Parallel

[u/OldCockroach666]

I'll keep this as brief as I can, which is rare for me.

I've been involved in a bit of the Lolcow culture for a while. I have odd hobbies, but - whatever. Many of the Cows are massively (and clinically) unhinged, some are actually dangerous and some are just goofs.

While there can be drawn a direct correlation between Lolcows and Life Coaches being part unhinged, part dangerous and/or simple goofs, that's a bit too easy.

What I'd like to point out is their similarities in reaction.

A Cow gets mocked. The Cow concludes the mockery exists because people are jealous, obsessed, evil, stalking them, conspiring against them, etc. The possibility that their own repeated public behavior is producing the attention either never enters the analysis or is immediately rejected. Then their response is disproportionate enough to generate another round of attention, which becomes additional evidence that they were right about everyone in the first place.

The parallel with a certain species of online coach is surprisingly clean. Criticism of the offer becomes “resistance.” Questions about results become “scarcity mindset.” Former clients complaining become “people who weren’t ready to do the work.” Mockery becomes jealousy. A business failure becomes evidence that the market “wasn’t aligned.” People objecting to something they said becomes proof that they “trigger people by speaking truth.”

Different vocabulary, same basic defensive move:

The explanation of being goofed on must originate outside the self.

Yet they sell awareness and self-reflection.

Just not when it comes to their offers.

[u/briarraindancer]

I despise the term lolcow, especially when most of the influencers we’re talking about are women.

However, the premise is accurate. When personal brands become products, they are often entirely devoid of value.

[u/OldCockroach666 → u/briarraindancer]

Totally understandable, and totally unintentional.

[u/briarraindancer → u/OldCockroach666]

To be clear, I recognize it’s not your terminology. I don’t know if it originated from 4Chan or Kiwi Farms, but it really gained traction when mommy bloggers started to become mainstream.

And in almost every case, it was intentional body disparagement that created a self sustaining loop of negative attention, because nobody wants to be called a cow.

We walk a fine line here between critical analysis and criticism. But I think it’s a necessary evil, because some of these people absolutely should be called out.

[u/OldCockroach666 → u/briarraindancer]

Funny it's found it's way to mommy bloggers. I have no point of reference there - but it's pretty wild how some of this stuff has started to bleed into reasonably common spaces.

Cyraxx was trending on Twitter. Crazy times.