The couch thread

TerryB · Post by **TerryB** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 2:32 pm

Leaving aside the gestapo moderating that's required to keep Cultfit on track ("We are all different. We are all unique. We are all different. We are all unique..."), it's nice to get a glimpse behind the curtain into the business and financial side of cultfit. It's all about "the brand" and franchising Cultfit to as many people as possible, all while avoiding being "ruled to be, or even accused of being, a franchise [because] the the fines levied by the FTC could quickly and easily run into the tens of millions of dollars. It could destroy us overnight."

Classic pyramid scheme:

"No affiliate has come close to the earning and business potential that awaits future affiliates."

Compare this to legit guys like Ross Enamait. Sure Couch will make more money in the short term, but nobody besides the KoolAid drinkers respect him, and eventually, his little pseudo-empire WILL crumble. Anyone who thinks it's "all about fitness" is fucking delusional. Slowly but surely, more and more cultfitters will come to realize it is nothing but another "get rich quick" fitness scam. Couch has done a better job than the swine who pollute certain message boards with pseudo-supps and fake roids, but at heart, they're all the same.

Shafpocalypse Now · Post by **Shafpocalypse Now** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 2:41 pm

Proto, you're fucking delusional.

XF has already made more money for Glassman than all of Enamait's materials have made for him. Ross is never going to achieve the financial success of XF due to his principled nature.

Gin Master · Post by **Gin Master** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 2:57 pm

Early on, I thought the lack of quality control (in all the new affiliates) would be @Fs undoing. Now I realize it's another stroke of Couch genius. He'll claim Couch IP on all the affiliates doing good programming (yes, there are some) and write the others off as unworthy. Then he'll talk about the greatness of the free market while he looks for his next highball.

Thud · Post by **Thud** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 2:57 pm

Couch did speak to some interesting business concerns. Affiliates are really sprouting up like weeds, and I'm sure quality control is not what it out to be. Couch has to distance himself somewhat from them to shield the "brand" from the negligence of certain individuals with regard to legal issues.

At the same time, that brand must have considerable value in the marketplace. I wouldn't be at all surprised if a national company, like Bally's, wanted to buy a stake in CF, and I could see the attraction for Couch if they did. Let them share in the costs of insurance, legal fees, national advertising, etc.

So instead of any single mom and pop gym having the potential to ruin the brand he joins forces with a conglomerate with greater experience and savvy in such matters than his own. He provides "vision" for the brand while the conglomerate shares in the risk, expense and grunt work.

Sure, if CF becomes too mainstream it dilutes the "we're better than you" attraction it currently employs. OTOH, the reach would be enormous and he'd be cashing-out before something cataclysmic brings the whole thing down.

Hebrew Hammer · Post by **Hebrew Hammer** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 3:08 pm

Very interesting business/legal discussion. Here's some random thoughts.

A "franchise" is generally a trademark, a system, and a fee. Many states have their own definitions, which have variations. Trying to stay as a mere license involves some care.

If you license your mark, you need to have quality control or you risk losing your mark. One primary purpose of a mark is to protect consumers, who should be able to expect a consistent product anywhere the mark is used.

Group insurance requires strict quality control. No carrier will offer it without a strict risk management program in place by the insureds.

Admitting that you license your name without quality control is an invitation to a lawsuit as consumers expect that the name means "this trainer is trained and certified by me, and I authorized him to use my name to advertise that fact to you."

___________ · Post by **___________** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 3:17 pm

I hope Couch gets sued & dies a fat, broke, gin addicted slob.
So ony broke & dead to go, folks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TerryB · Post by **TerryB** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 3:27 pm

The Shafpocalypse wrote:Proto, you're fucking delusional.

XF has already made more money for Glassman than all of Enamait's materials have made for him. Ross is never going to achieve the financial success of XF due to his principled nature.

I absolutely agree, and that's not what I said. My point is, Enamait will make less money but he's respected, has an honest belief in a fit lifestyle, and can make a living with his work and knowledge. Couch on the other hand, is none of those things, yet is/will be rolling in dough, until it all comes crashing down.

LiftHeavyShit · Post by **LiftHeavyShit** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 3:29 pm

This world is filled with dipshits who need to belong to something. The kool aid cult is nothing but a big, fucked up, incest driven family. Couch sits back and cashes in while the incest slowly turns Fran times to Tran times. That fake gimp, drunk ass, never did shit, gin drinking fool doesn't give a fuck. His liver will give out on him long before he sees what he's created.

WildGorillaMan · Post by **WildGorillaMan** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 3:45 pm

Fat Cat wrote:Thisssss.

To be fair, it's hard to blame her stepfather. Really, how could he not?

Grandpa's Spells · Post by **Grandpa's Spells** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 3:59 pm

The Shafpocalypse wrote:The behind the scenes stuff is interesting. However, any big community (and xfit is large) has these issues, and issues trying to keep it on track. The best, most vibrant organic communities have a minimal amount of tampering. (like IGx, HA!). Mods have to talk about this shit. And, guess what, it's usually very 'unprofessional'. They aren't getting paid for it.

I've Admin'd/Mod'd boards for commercial operations, and even though the folks are volunteers and things aren't rigid, there wasn't any of the nonsense you see in those shots. Wood aside, there is a LOT of hostility from those folks towards the company's potential customers. They're supposed to understand that the forum is part of their marketing plan. Being dicks to people who you want write checks to you and give you good word of mouth is not smart. It also creates the circumstances that require rigid moderating, since it creates haters.

Shafpocalypse Now · Post by **Shafpocalypse Now** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 4:01 pm

I agree.

Lynne Pitts was the first mod over there, and she set the tone as being dictatorial, adversarial, and malevolent from Day 1.

WildGorillaMan · Post by **WildGorillaMan** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 4:03 pm

The Shafpocalypse wrote:I agree.

Lynne Pitts was the first mod over there, and she set the tone as being dictatorial, adversarial, and malevolent from Day 1.

Like the HGRT's Webby, but with tits!

Shafpocalypse Now · Post by **Shafpocalypse Now** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 4:07 pm

I used to think Webby was the worst admin/mod ever, because he still sucks at it over at the Gripboard, but his replacement was even worse. I am thinking Lynne ranks right up there though. Terrible moderator. Glassman has to reassure her periodically, kind of like rewarding a biting dog to keep it biting.

Gary John · Post by **Gary John** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 4:10 pm

Being a mod is a thankless job. However, discussions between mods must always remain civil and polite. Demeaning people who post on forums is totally against the whole principle of having a moderator. At the two forums I work as a moderator, only the highest standards of decorum are kept. You never know when you might be hacked or, as in the case of one forum, the FBI served a search warrant against our IP. The case if still pending.

Gin Master · Post by **Gin Master** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 4:18 pm

Grandpa's Spells wrote:
The Shafpocalypse wrote:The behind the scenes stuff is interesting. However, any big community (and xfit is large) has these issues, and issues trying to keep it on track. The best, most vibrant organic communities have a minimal amount of tampering. (like IGx, HA!). Mods have to talk about this shit. And, guess what, it's usually very 'unprofessional'. They aren't getting paid for it.
I've Admin'd/Mod'd boards for commercial operations, and even though the folks are volunteers and things aren't rigid, there wasn't any of the nonsense you see in those shots. Wood aside, there is a LOT of hostility from those folks towards the company's potential customers. They're supposed to understand that the forum is part of their marketing plan. Being dicks to people who you want write checks to you and give you good word of mouth is not smart. It also creates the circumstances that require rigid moderating, since it creates haters.

Agree w/GS. I used to think (and still do) that David Woods is one of the better MODs out there. I've MOD'd shit before, and I've always been pretty hands-off. Shaf said it best, the more rules, the more bullshit. The CF forums are little more than online indoctrination.

Years ago, a guy was hosting a private party. He knew I liked to fight and trained to fight often. He enlisted me and a few of my training partners to be bouncers at his private party (200 guests, lots of booze and other stuff). Our payment was "all the beer you fuckers can drink." As fun as it was for me, objectively I would say it was not a good idea. Letting Lynne moderate the CF boards is the same thing.

WildGorillaMan · Post by **WildGorillaMan** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 4:23 pm

Gary John wrote: in the case of one forum, the FBI served a search warrant against our IP. The case if still pending.

S'truth, those private forum posts where Couch acknowledges that @fit is trying to end-run franchise statutes could well sink him if the matter goes to the courts.

TerryB · Post by **TerryB** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 4:31 pm

WildGorillaMan wrote:
Gary John wrote: in the case of one forum, the FBI served a search warrant against our IP. The case if still pending.
S'truth, those private forum posts where Couch acknowledges that @fit is trying to end-run franchise statutes could well sink him if the matter goes to the courts.

That's why he's hoping so desperately to land a lucrative Defense contract before the whole thing implodes. Instant cash and no franchises required.

Thud · Post by **Thud** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 4:38 pm

Kelly Moore wrote of Brandon Oto: "That pudge's picture needs to be outed on the other forum he loves so much."

So who outed Oto here, and would that mean they're double agent Kelly Moore?

The Real Rant · Post by **The Real Rant** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 5:09 pm

Inside sources have indicated that the @fit rulling class is in a tail spin over this breech of security and how the sheeple will react to mod's blantant disdain of the paying customers. Couch is besides himself to the point where he was actually driven to drink last night.

The Real Rant · Post by **The Real Rant** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 5:11 pm

In my experience it's never a good idea to put lesbians in charge of anything.

Shaun B. O'Murnecan · Post by **Shaun B. O'Murnecan** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 5:11 pm

Rant wrote:Couch is besides himself to the point where he was actually driven to drink last night.

He's decided to get no more DUIs?

WildGorillaMan · Post by **WildGorillaMan** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 5:15 pm

Rant wrote:Inside sources have indicated that the @fit rulling class is in a tail spin over this breech of security and how the sheeple will react to mod's blantant disdain of the paying customers.

I thought that we already covered this.

WildGorillaMan wrote:given how seriously @fit's HNIC's take themselves, I can only imagine how they're handling those screencaps reaching the light of day.

Rant wrote:Couch is besides himself to the point where he was actually driven to drink last night.

And that's different from your typical Wednesday night how?

sanchezero · Post by **sanchezero** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 5:20 pm

ANYC seems a lil'upset that someone has bigger boobies...

Anon · Post by **Anon** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 5:25 pm

Dayam, they are large. Super size me doctor!

nafod · Post by **nafod** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 5:58 pm

Thud wrote:Kelly Moore wrote of Brandon Oto: "That pudge's picture needs to be outed on the other forum he loves so much."

Harsh!!!

IGX

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