29 Jun 2011

QADHA’ PUASA


(A).Bagaimanakah pembayaran bagi puasa yang tidak dapat
ditunaikan di dalam bulan Ramadan?


Hukum pembayaran puasa terbahagi kepada beberapa bahagian:

1. Wajib Qadha’

- Orang yang sedang sakit dan sakitnya akan memberi mudarat kepadanya
atau bertambah lambat sembuhnya jika dia berpuasa

- Orang yang meninggalkan puasa sewaktu belayar atau bermusafir kira-kira
84 km

- Ibu yang hamil atau menyusukan anak dan khuatir dirinya menjadi
mudarat

- Orang yang sedang haid atau nifas

- Orang yang terlalu lapar atau dahaga yang boleh memusnahkan dirinya

- Orang yang batal puasanya kerana salah satu sebab yang
membatalkannya.

2. Wajib Qadha’ dan Membayar Fidyah

- Ibu yang hamil atau menyusukan anak, sekiranya si ibu hanya khuatir
anaknya menjadi mudarat

- Orang yang berhutang puasa yang belum dijelaskan sehingga bertemu
dengan Ramadan yang lain

3. Tidak Wajib Qadha’ Tetapi Wajib Fidyah
- Orang sakit yang tidak berdaya untuk berpuasa dan harapan sembuh
sangat tipis

- Orang yang lemah kerana sudah tua dan tidak mampu lagi untuk
Berpuasa

(B). Adakah niat puasa sunat enam hari bulan Syawal boleh
disekalikan dengan puasa Qadha’?



Niat puasa enam tidak boleh disekalikan dengan puasa qadha’. Imam As-Syafi’I
(di dalam kitab Al-Umm) berpendapat dalam mensyarahkan bab “Setiap amalan
dengan niatnya” bahawa: hendaklah dibezakan ibadah puasa Ramadan, puasa
nazar, puasa kafarat, puasa qadha’ dan puasa sunat. Imam Jalaluddin As-Suyuti
(di dalam kitab Al-Isybah) juga berpendapat hendaklah diasingkan puasa
Ramadan, atau nazar atau puasa sunat. Namun, seseorang yang berniat puasa
qadha’ di dalam bulan Syawal boleh juga dikurniakan pahala puasa enam
(tanpa menjatuhkan niat tersebut) mengikut pendapat sebahagian Ulama’.

(C). Bolehkah saya mengumpulkan puasa qadha’ / puasa sunat
Isnin, Khamis dan sunat puasa bulan Rejab. Apakah hukumnya?


Sebahagian Ulama tidak membenarkan mengumpulkan niat ibadat sunat dan
wajib. Oleh itu, adalah baik sekiranya dipisahkan antara keduanya (Sila rujuk
soalan B). Maka, dalam puasa qadha’ dan sunat, adalah wajib didahulukan
puasa qadha’ kerana ia menjadi bebanan orang itu, sedangkan puasa sunat
tidak menjadi bebanannya. Jika seseorang itu berpuasa qadha’ pada hari Isnin,
Khamis atau pada hari-hari yang afdal berpuasa, maka niatkan puasa qadha’.
InsyaAllah, ia juga diberikan pahala sunat pada hari tersebut.


(D).Apakah yang dimaksudkan dengan fidyah?

Fidyah puasa ialah bayaran (secupak makanan asasi) yang perlu dijelaskan kepada golongan fakir miskin kerana meninggalkan puasa.

Hukum mengeluarkannya adalah wajib berdasarkan Firman Allah Ta’ala , maksudnya:

“(Puasa yang diwajibkan itu ialah) beberapa hari yang tertentu maka sesiapa diantara kamu yang sakit atau dalam musafir (bolehlah ia berbuka) kemudian wajiblah ia berpuasa sebanyak (hari yang dibuka) itu pada hari-hari yang lain dan wajib ke atas orang-orang yang tidak terdaya berpuasa (kerana tuanya dan sebagainya) membayar fidyah iaitu memberi makan orang miskin (secupak bagi tiap-tiap satu hari yang tidak dikerjakan puasa) maka sesiapa yang dengan sukarela memberikan (bayaran fidyah) lebih dari yang di tentukan itu maka itu adalah suatu kebaikan baginya dan (walaupun demikian) berpuasa itu lebih baik bagi kamu (daripada memberi fidyah) kalau kamu mengetahui ”.

(Surah Al-Baqarah Ayat 184)

Sebab-sebab wajib Fidyah

1) Tidak mampu melakukan ibadah puasa

2) Sakit yang tidak mampu untuk sembuh

3) Perempuan hamil atau menyusukan anak iaitu jika berpuasa mendatangkan mudharat kepada anak yang di kandung dan boleh mengurangkan air susu

4) Mengakhirkan Qadha’ Ramadhan tanpa uzur sehingga Ramadhan yang berikutnya

(E).Haruskah saya membayar hutang puasa walaupun saya telah
membayar fidyah?


Pembayaran fidyah ini tidak mengangkat tanggungjawab anda untuk
menunaikan qadha’ puasa. Anda masih lagi perlu mengqadha’ puasa, selagi
mampu melaksanakannya dari segi kesihatan (Sila rujuk soalan A).

(F).Apakah niat yang perlu dilafazkan bagi mereka yang ingin
membayar balik puasa yang pernah ditinggalkan?


Niat puasa qada’ adalah: “Sahaja aku puasa qadha’ esok hari kerana Allah
S.W.T”

(G).Bagaimana hendak membayar puasa ganti (melahirkan pada bulan
ramdhan).Perlukah mengganti puasa tersebut atau membayar fidiah.


Hendaklah menggantikan puasa tersebut serta membayar fidyah
sebanyak puasa yang ditinggalkan.

(H).Puasa yang tidak diganti selama beberapa tahun. Bagaiman cara untuk
diganti?


Hendaklah ingat berapa hari puasa yang telah ditinggalkan yang
tidak diganti beberapa tahun.Jadi,hendaklah berpuasa mengikut
jumlah hari yang ditinggalkan dan juga membayar fidyah mengikut tahun
yang dilangkaui.Untuk mengetahui jumlah yang tepat bagi membayar fidyah,
boleh rujuk kepada baitulmal berhampiran dan membayarnya di sana.


Sumber : JAKIM dan MUIS
Baca lagi...

27 Jun 2011

Diana Adurah (Siri 8 : Akhir)

Sepantas itu juga lengannya ku kutil membuatkan dia terjerit kecil. Habil dan
Hazil yang baru bertatih itu turut tertawa bila melihat ayah mereka
tergelak-gelak.

"Anak dengan abah dia sama je.."ujarku sambil menatap sepasang kembar
comel milik kami. Memang tak kunafikan, dua-dua semua menurut Aznil. Rambutnya,
matanya, hidungnya semua ikut Aznil. Anak bapak..

"Yan search apa kat internet?"soalnya bila melihat aku leka di skrin
komputer.

"Tak ada apa.. tengok-tengok apa yang terkini kat sini.."aku senyum.
Aznil mengangguk perlahan.

"Abang ingat nak ke bandar esok, Kasim dah nak berhenti.. abang kena cari
orang baru.."keluh Aznil. Sejak perusahaan kolam udang dan ikan kelinya
meningkat maju ini dia kekurangan kakitangan.

Kadang-kadang dia sendiri membawa lori ke bandar untuk mengedarkan
pesanan-pesanan pembeli. Biarpun susah sedikit bekerja di bawah terik mentari,
tapi aku kagum dengan kegigihan suamiku. Memang tak silap pilihan orang tua.
Hingga saat ini aku merasa kasih sayang kami makin erat berpadu. Cinta lepas
kawin kot?

"Yan, apa pendapat Yan kalau abang beli tanah kat Kuala Ujung tu? Abang
rasa tempat tu sesuai nak dijadikan tapak tanaman pokok herba.."dia
bertanya.

"Hmm.. dari hari tu lagi Yan dengar abang nak tanam herb.. tapi tak ada
apa-apa pun.."

"Ehh.. ni planning abang yang terbaru.. Ishak kawan abang tu dah tengok
tempat tu.. sesuai dia kata.. lepas ni jadi boleh jadi tauke ubat la
pulak.."Aznil senyum.

"Tak lama lagi musim buah mempelam. Kat kebun kita tu dah keluar bunga
dah..baru-baru ni pihak MARDI pun dah berbincang dengan abang nak luaskan
pasaran.."

"Apa lagi planning abang?"soalku.

"Abang ingat bila dah okey sikit nanti abang nak beli kereta lagi sebuah.
Senang Yan nak guna.. lepas tu abang ingat kita pun kena buat satu lagi
planning penting.."Aznil mengurut-urut dagu.

"Planning apa?"soalku hairan. Banyaknya projek suami aku ni..

"Tambah anak!" Usiknya sambil tertawa.
Apa? "Amboi banyak cantik.. ni dua ni pun dah tak larat nak jaga.. nak
tambah lagi?" soalku geram.

"Bagus apa.. sekarang ni umur Yan 24.. seelok-eloknya sebelum umur Yan 30
kita dah ada 5-6 anak.. so nanti dah tua-tua anak-anak semua dah besar..

"Wah.. wah.. wah..” Aznil tersenyum memandangku sambil mengangkat kening.

"Tu pun satu planning yang baik kalau Yan nak tahu.. by that time kita dah
ada semua yang kita nak. Aset, anak-anak.. bila anak-anak dah habis belajar dia
orang pulak take over semua yang abang buat nie.. lepas tu kita boleh pergi
honeymoon kat mana-mana.." Aznil memeluk bahuku sambil tersenyum.

Hmm.. iyelah tu.. dia tak merasa mengandung macammana.. 9 bulan 10 hari ke hulu
ke hilir.. lepas tu azabnya nak melahirkan lagi.. kalau seorang tak apa.. ini
kembar! Buatnya setiap kali aku mengandung kembar.. naya aku!

"Apa yang Yan fikir?"soal Aznil.

"Kalau planning nak beli tanah.. beli kereta tu.. Yan tak ada halangan..
tapi bab tambah anak tu.. apa kata abang pulak mengandung kali ni?"

Mendengar kata-kataku Aznil tertawa kelucuan.

"Abang cakap senanglah..cuba abang rasa macammana jadi perempuan.. dahlah kena mengandung.. masa beranak lagi.. lepas tu kena jaga anak-anak.. product abang tu.. sendiri
tengoklah.. lasak bukan main.." ujarku.

Aznil senyum dan memandangku lama.

“Abang gurau ajela Abang tahu Yan
penat. Takkan abang tak fikir susah senang yang tak boleh Yan kongsi dengan
abang anak-anak kita ni pun dah cukup bererti buat abang.."

Aku terdiam.Wajah tenang Aznil kutatap. Tiba-tiba terasa bersalah pula bila aku berkata begitu. Selama ini dia tak pernah mengeluh atau merungut akan kekurangan aku. Semuanya elok dan okey sahaja. Cuma aku saja yang sering melepaskan geram padanya. Sejak kami ada anak sekarang memang dia agak terabai. Makan pun kadang-kadang lambat. Malah pernah
sekali dia pulang ke rumah, tapi aku tak sempat menyiapkan hidangan. Dia dengan
rela hatinya memasak untuk kami hari itu.

"Abang.."Aku pandang wajahnya lama. Aznil senyum menanti bicaraku.

"Tak apalah.. abang faham.. " Dia mencuit daguku sambil memelukku
erat. Dalam hati aku terasa lega yang amat sangat. Sesungguhnya aku bahagia
dikurniakan suami seperti dia.

Habil tiba-tiba merengek manja bila lori mainannya dirampas Hazil. Aznil segera
mendapatkan anak-anak kami mendukung Habil tetapi Hazil pula menjerit menangis
bila abahnya tidak mendukungnya sekali. Aku tergelak lantas menutup komputer.
Hazil yang menangis ku ambil dan ku dukung.

"Tengok.. macammana nak tambah produk.." soalku lantas kami sama-sama
tergelak mesra..

EMBUN Cuma tersenyum bila aku menolak pintu kedainya. Dua tiga orang pelanggan
kelihatan sedang sabar menanti gubahan bunga di sudut kiri kedai.
"Datang berlenggang aja.. tentera-tentera kau mana?"soalnya. Aku
sengih panjang.

"Ada kat rumah mak aku.. kalau bawa aku rasa habis satu bandar nie dia
orang pusing.."beritahuku. Embun senyum. Mungkin tumpang gembira mendengar
cerita anak-anakku yang sudah bertatih itu.

"Rasa macam baru lagi kau bersalin ye Yan?"Aku Cuma mengangguk.
Betapa pantas masa berlalu. Embun bangun dari kerusi sambil mengusung perutnya
yang semakin membesar. Aku tersenyum sendiri. Masa aku dalam pantang dahulu dia
datang menziarah. Seronok bila melihat dia meriba Habil yang masih merah.

"Kenapa kau senyum-senyum?"soalnya.

"Tak adalah.. dulu masa aku dalam pantang kau cakap kat aku.. nak sangat
anak lelaki.. tak sangka aku habis pantang kau pulak mengandung.."ujarku.
Embun tersenyum.

"Kau jangan tak tahu.. kawan kita si Qursiah tu pun dah start
pening-pening.."beritahunya.

"Iye ke? Alhamdulillah.. " Aku penuh kejutan mendengar berita itu.

Mana taknya.. dah dekat 6 tahun dia mendirikan rumahtangga.. sejak tamat SPM
hinggalah ke hari ini menanti kehadiran cahaya mata.. akhirnya termakbul juga
doanya.

"Aku pun terkejut.. tapi dia kata sejak ambil jamu Puspa Kencana period
dia lancar.. alhamdulillah.."hmm.. Puspa Kencana lagi!! Apasal asyik topik jamu saja dua tiga menjak ni? Aku Cuma mengangkat kening.

"Yan, macammana permohonan kau nak masuk U tu?"soal Embun. Aku
senyum.

"Entah.. aku main hantar ja.. saja suka-suka.. " jawabku. Dulu masa
selak-selak paper di kedainya ada keluar iklan kemasukan ke universiti. UUM tak
silap aku. Terpanggil pula nak isi.. saja suka-suka!

"aku ingat kau bersungguh-sungguh.."Embun mencebik mulut.

"Aku serah pada nasib.. kalau dapat aku pergi.. kalau tak tak adalah!
Lagipun anak-anak aku siapa nak jaga?"soalku. Embun senyum.
"Kau buatlah PJJ.."

"Kau pulak macammana?"soalku. Setahuku Embun buat PJJ sejak dua tahun
lalu.

"Aku rasa tak sempat aku nak ambil exam.. aku minta cuti satu semester la
jawabnya.. ni tunggu hari je ni.."jawab Embun sambil mengusap perutnya
yang menggelembung. Aku senyum.

"Zaman sekarang ni kita tak boleh ketinggalan Yan.. belajar selagi
boleh.." Embun memberi semangat.

"Heh.. mentang-mentanglah kawin dengan pensyarah.. macam lecturer pulak
kau ni.." usikku membuatkan dia tertawa.

"Kau haus tak? Aku teringin nak makan kat Burger Kinglah.. jom kita pergi
nak?" ajaknya.

"Aii.. aku rasa baru je dua jam kita makan Nasi Goreng Special tadi.. kau
lapar balik?"soalku terkejut.

"bukan aku nak makan.. anak aku nie.." Embun sengih. Aku Cuma
menggeleng kepala. Apa-apa sajalah Embun!

"Jom!"Dia menarik tanganku pergi.

AZNIL Cuma tersenyum bila
melihat muncungku panjang berjela. Sejak emaknya balik tadi sepatahpun aku tak
bersuara. Bencinya aku!! Balik-balik nak bagi ceramah… balik-balik nak bagi
ceramah! Dia merebahkan badan di sebelah sambil membetulkan bantal.

"Kau tak masak lagi??"emak terperanjat bila melihat periuk tersusun
elok di rak. Dia meninjau-tinjau pula rice cooker aku. Seketika kepalanya
menggeleng.

Kemudian beralih pula pada kabinet dapur.

"Kau tak sentuh langsung jamu-jamu ni Yan?"soalnya lagi. Aku Cuma
mendiamkan diri sambil mendukung Hazil yang meragam sejak tadi. Puncanya dia
merajuk bila Aznil tak memandikannya pagi tadi. Sudahnya seharian ini aku tak dapat berbuat apa-apa. Si Habil pula bila adiknya buat hal dia pun ikut samalah!

"Dah nak masuk pukul dua dah ni, tak masak apa-apa lagi?"soal emak
sekali lagi.

"Budak-budak ni meragam mak.. tak boleh nak letak langsung.."jawabku.

"Jangan manjakan sangat anak-anak kau ni Yan tengok menangis sikit
dukung.. menangis sikit dukung.. jangan ajar dia dia orang macam tu.." Emak
mengambil Habil di sebelah kiriku. Kepala cucunya itu diusap lembut. Aku
terduduk keletihan. Tak pedulilah mak mertua aku tu belum minum seteguk air
lagi.

"Mak dulu beranak rapat-rapat jugak.. 8 anak mak.. semua boleh mak buat
sorang. Dulu lagi susah.. kena cari kayu api.. kena giling cili kering.. itu
belum lagi kena bantu bapak kamu kat kebun.. alhamdulillah.. besar juga
anak-anak mak.. "

"Nak basuh kain bukan kena guna mesin basuh macam sekarang ni.. basuh
dengan tangan.. " sambungnya lagi sambil memandangku. Aku diam sahaja. Nak
jawab apa? Hmm..

"Tinggalkan budak-budak ni.. pergi masak.. nanti suami balik tengok periuk
kosong terbakar hati.."suruhnya.

"Err.. tak payah masaklah kot.."

"Kenapa pulak?"soal mak terkejut.

"Yan.. Yan suruh abang beli aje mak.."

"Beli?

"Yan.. kenapa ni?" Aznil menyedarkan aku dari lamunan. Aku menarik
nafas panjang. Soalannya kubiarkan tak berjawab. Aznil sengih aja.

"Abang tengok Yan merajuk ni.. serupa dengan kawan Yan tu.."

"Kawan Yan?"soalku hairan.

"Ha ah.. kawan yang selalu lepak atas pokok tu.." dia tertawa kecil.

"Abang ni!"Aku menarik muka masam. Menyampah betul malas nak layan!

"Tak baik marah-marah.. 10% muka lebih tua dari usia.."Aznil
tersenyum.

"Mana tak marah.. mak abang tu.. " Aku melahirkan rasa tak puas hati.

"Kenapa dengan mak?"soalnya. Aku menarik nafas. Malas aku nak cerita.

Tadi bila aku kata suruh Aznil belikan makanan dia start dah membebel kat aku.
Kononnya air tangan isteri lebih baik bla.. bla.. bla.. Dengan muka kecut aku
terpaksa juga memasak. Konon-konon nak jaga hati dia aku masakkanlah gulai
lemak ikan tenggiri campur belimbing buluh.

Entah macammana aku tertumpah banyak garam. Gulai yang nampak sedap dikritik
sepenuh hati. Entahlah.. sejak dua menjak ni banyak betul cabaran untuk aku
sebagai ibu muda. Dan entah kenapa sejak dua menjak ni aku makin menyampah
dengan ibu mertuaku.
"Ala.. orang tua biasalah.. dia marah tu nak mengajar.." jelas Aznil.

"Mak Yan tu tua juga.. tapi tak adalah cerewet macam mak abang
tu!" Balasku.

"Mak abang tu dia beranak tahun ayam.. sebab tu mulut dia bising sikit..
mak Yan beranak tahun ular.. tu diam je.." jawab Aznil selamba.

"Abang ni orang cakap betul-betul dia main-main!"

"La.. betullah abang cakap.. mana ada main-main.. tak percaya tanya cicak
kat dinding tu.."

"Abang!"Aku menjelingnya geram. Aznil tersenyum.

"Okey.. okey.. apa dia.. cuba cerita…."Aznil merenungku sambil
tersengih. Ingat menjadi sangatlah lawak dia tu? Aku tengah tension ni!

"Iyelah.. sekali dua Yan bolehlah diam lagi.. ni dah banyak kali dah ni..
tadi tu.. Yan penat sangat sebenarnya sebab tu la Yan pesan abang beli lauk je
.. tapi bila mak abang tu datang siap bagi ceramah lagi pasal itu ini..
terpaksa Yan masak. Pulak tu termasin sikit dia dah bising sampai mak Yan pun
tahu Yan masak gulai masin.."Aku memandang ke arah Aznil meminta simpati.

Aznil senyum sahaja sambil menguap.

"Lagi?"

"Lagi? Ala.. macam-macamlah.. dia komplen Yan tak pandai mengemaslah..
bilik air berlendirlah.. Abang pun tahu kan Yan tak larat nak kawal anak-anak
kita ni?"Aku menanti respon. Aikk.. apasal senyap aja ni? Aku menoleh.

Aznil sudah terlena dengan asyik sekali di sebelah.

"Abang!"Aku menarik nafas geram. Dia tido pulak!!! Eii geramnya aku!!

Dengan bengang aku menutup lampu tidur.


HABIL dan Hadzil sudah tertidur di atas tilam kecil mereka. Balik dari rumah
mak tadi dua-dua merengek mahu menyusu. Dapat sebotol seorang terus baring dan
akhirnya terlena. Aku bersandar di kerusi melepaskan penat. Memang tak terkejar
kalau tak ada pembantu. Tapi, siapa lagi yang boleh ku harapkan? Itupun di rumah
mak tadi mujur ada mak uda Fina dan mak usu Ina mereka. Boleh juga aku rehat
sekejap.

"assalamualaikum kak.."Aku terperanjat. Seorang gadis sedang berdiri
di sebelahku.

"Eh.. siapa awak?"Aku segera bangun dan merapati anak-anakku yang
tergolek di lantai. Kalau terjadi apa-apa senang aku dukung kedua-duanya. Gadis
itu Cuma tersenyum.

"Saya Azizan.. " dia menghulur tangan. Apa? Azizan lagi?

"Macammana awak boleh masuk ke sini?"soalku, masih enggan menyambut
hulurannya.

"Saya datang dengan Abang Aznil tadi.. " apa? Datang dengan Aznil?

Dalam masa aku terpinga-pinga muncul pula seorang perempuan separuh umur dari
bilik tamu. Aku semakin tak mengerti. Siapa pula yang menceroboh masuk ke rumah
aku ni??

"Ini ke isteri Aznil?"soalnya sambil memandangku dari atas hingga ke
bawah.

"Iye.. mak cik ni siapa?"soalku. Belum pun sempat soalanku terjawab
mak mertuaku dah tiba di muka pintu.

"Bila kau balik Yan? Tadi mak datang tak ada.."sapanya sambil
merapati kami.

"Baru je mak.. err.. mak datang dengan siapa?"soalku hairan.
Selalunya ada bapa mertuaku menghantar dengan motor.

"Mak datang dengan Rashid tadi.. suruh Aznil jemput dia kata kamu guna
kereta.. " Mak duduk di kerusi sambil memerhatikan cucu-cucunya yang
terlena.

"Ini sepupu mak.. Mak long.. dulu masa kamu kawin dia tak datang, pergi
mekah.." mak memperkenalkan. Aku tersenyum sambil menyalami wanita itu.

"Ini Azizan.. anak mak long tu.. kawan dengan Aznil masa kecil-kecil
dulu.."Kali ini aku pula menghulur tangan. Gadis manis itu Cuma tersenyum.
Aku mula dilanda serba salah. Mak long melilau melihat seluruh kawasan rumah.

"Mak Long datang dengan bas ke dari sana tadi?"soalku, cuba
mewujudkan kemesraan sebagai tuan rumah agar tetamu tak kekok.

"Kita naik kapal terbang.. anak yang suruh.."jawabnya sambil
membelek-belek bunga kristal yang dah berhabuk dalam vase atas meja. Alamak..
mesti orang tua ni cerewet juga. Kalau tak takkan sampai ke celah kelopak bunga
kristal aku dibeleknya?

"Kite dari Taiping tadi sempat sarapan aja.. sampai airport terus naik
kapal terbang…"tiba-tiba dia bersuara. Aku lihat mak memandangku penuh
makna. Seakan mengerti aku segera ke dapur. Ayam di dalam peti sejuk
ku keluarkan. Memandangkan hari telah pukul 3.00 dan tetamu pula sudah lapar aku
masakkan ayam goreng saja. Sayur kacang buncis pula aku goreng campur bunga
kubis. Kemudian ada bebola daging di dalam peti ais elok kubuatkan sup. Aku
berkira-kira sambil tangan ligat memotong sayur.

Lagipun, sejak berkahwin, tiga masakan itu saja yang aku master. Aznil pun
bukan main memuji lagi kalau aku hidangkan dia sup bebola daging. Kalah sup kat
hotel kata dia. Rempah ratus untuk membuat sup sudah kusiapkan. Sayur juga
sudah bersih dicuci sementara ayam sedang garing di dalam kuali.
Dalam hati aku tertanya-tanya juga. Terkejut aku bila dikunjungi tamu asing
ini. Si Aznil pun satu.. kenapa tak cakap awal-awal ada saudara dia nak datang
ke rumah? Aku bermonolog sendiri. Ah, lantaklah.. yang penting perut tamu mesti
diisi dahulu..

"MAK long kamu ni nak duduk di sini seminggu dua.. lagipun dah lama sangat
dia tak ke sini. Masa kamu kawin dulu dia tak datang.. dah ada anak baru sempat
nak datang ke sini.."kata-kata emak itu membuatkan seleraku mati. Tak jadi
nak tambah nasi. Mak long di hadapanku Cuma tersengih-sengih. Bukan aku tak
suka, tapi aku bimbang tak dapat melayan tamu itu sebaiknya. Maklumlah, ini
pertama kali aku bergelar ibu kepada dua anak kembar, tentulah banyak perkara
masih dalam proses pembelajaran, terutama sekali dalam mengatur masa agar
semuanya selesai dan diselenggara dengan baik.

"Kak Long duduklah, buat macam rumah sendiri. Dian ni kalau ada terkurang
kelakuannya.. maafkanlah ye.."

"Ehh Aznil tu kan dah macam anak kita.. menantu awak , menantu kita
juga.."balas mak long sambil tertawa kecil. Azizan di sebelahnya Cuma
tersenyum simpul.

"Eloklah tu mak long.. Nil tak kisah, tapi harapnya mak long bolehlah
duduk kat pondok Nil nie.."Aznil pula menyokong emaknya.

"Pondok apa.. abang ni saja nak merendah diri, kan mak?"Hmm.. aku
terkejut. Tak sangka si Azizan yang nampak pemalu dah mula tunjuk taring!

"Tambah lagi mak long.. nasi tu.. minta maaflah.. lauk tak
seberapa.."pelawaku.

"Hehehe.. cukuplah nie.. lauk orang malas.."Aku tak jadi menceduk
kuah sup ke dalam pinggan. Mak long tersenyum-senyum sambil memandang kami.

Lauk orang malas?

"Kedai tutup hari ni kak.. hari minggu.. tu si Dian tak sempat beli
kelapa.. kalau tak insyaAllah, merasa juga kita gulai lemak dia.."emak
mertua seakan memahami, cuba memberi alasan. Aku rasa seleraku sudah mati.

"Iyelah.. lagipun, masak sup ni mudah sangat. Tak payah macam kita
dulu-dulu kan Som? Kalau nak menjamu orang datang, masak air macam ni.. sah
kena lemparlah periuk gulai dek mak kite.."sambil terlengguk-lengguk leher
mak long bercerita.

"Iye ke mak long?"soal Aznil.

Ah.. manusia tu bukannya dia boleh sense orang tu perli ke puji..

"Masakan ni moden kak long.. orang sekarang ni tak galakkan kita makan
lemak-lemak sangat.. kolestrol.. boleh kena sakit jantung.."

"Iyelah.. sekarang ni semua orang memang moden belaka suri rumah pun, dah
sibuk.. sampai nak lipat baju pun tak sempat.."Aku rasa mahu saja aku
bangun dan pergi dari situ. Entah kenapa.. menyampah sungguh aku dengan
perangai sepupu mak mertua aku ni. Dalam pada itu aku berterima kasih pada mak
mertuaku. Saat-saat kena sindir tadi, dia masih sudi menyebelahiku.

"Hairani apa kabar sekarang ni kak? Dulu dengar cerita sambung
belajar.." Emak mula mengalih topik. Mungkin sedar aku sudah menjeruk rasa
agaknya.

"Dah habis belajar dah.. sekarang ni dia sibuk buat bisnes.. " jelas
orang tua itu. Dia Cuma menguis-kuis nasi di pinggan, mungkin hilang seleranya
kerana lauk orang malas..

"Anak-anak akak berjaya semua.." puji emak.

"Kita yang mengandung dan melahirkannya.. kenalah didik betul-betul anak
kita Som.. macam kita nie.. si Azizan ni.. serba serbi kita ajar dia masak.
Jangan nak malukan kita kalau dah besar panjang tak pandai buat kari lagi..
jatuh air muka kita Som.. malu kat besan kita anak dara kita tak pandai
memasak!"

Adui.. Aku memandang ke arah Aznil yang rancak menyuap nasi.
Eii.. bengangnya aku.. bukan dia nak perasan orang tu dok menyindir isteri dia!

"Kita selalu pesan anak-anak dara kita.. belajar tinggi mana pun, masak tu
jangan tinggal!"sambungnya lagi, cukup membuatkan aku rasa meluat.

"Err.. mak long, mak, izan, makanlah ye.. Yan nak tengok budak-budak kat
atas tu.."Aku segera mengangkat pinggan.

"Sikit makan Yan.. jaga badan ke?"Mak Long menegur saat aku
mengangkat punggung. Aku Cuma senyum. Bukan jaga badan mak long, tapi nak jaga
hati sendiri. Karang, kalau hati dah sakit, mulut kita ni pulak yang rancak
menjawab.. kesian pulak kat mak long.. kena belasah dengan mulut kita ni!

"KITA masa muda-muda dulu.. tak ada pakai selekeh-selekeh macam
ni.."Alamak.. dia dah start dah.. Mak Long Siti Kembang duduk di atas
bangku berhampiran pondok tempat aku dan Aznil selalu berdua-duaan.
"Ni, muka kita ni pagi-pagi.. merah macam bunga ros.. segar.. badan kita
ni, dah siap wangi bau langir limau masa mandi.."sambungnya lagi.

Aku Cuma mendiamkan diri. Satu demi satu pasu bunga ku siram. Hari ini tak pasal-pasal
aku bangun pukul 4.00 pagi. Semuanya kerana mak sedara sepupu Aznil tu la! Mak
mertuaku sempat berpesan semalam, jaga hati Mak Long baik-baik. Jangan sesekali
menjawab cakapnya. Silap hari bulan, satu Taiping dihebohnya cerita baik buruk
menantu mak.

"Tu la mak nasihat kat Yan.. kemas rumah.. belajar-belajar menggulai..
" bisik mak semalam. Aku Cuma diam saja.

"Kalau mak ni cerewet, dia lagi cerewet.."sambung mak lagi. Hmm.. mak
lupa nak tambah satu lagi, mulut dia celupar!

"Kalau pakai kain batik macam ni, kita siap pakai kebaya pendek. Barulah
suami kita suka.. ini pagi-pagi.. pakai baju londeh.. muka pucat kusut..
macammana suami nak sayang?"Mak Long terus membebel. Hei.. aku cuba
menyabarkan hati.

"Lain kali petik bunga-bunga.. bawa mandi pagi-pagi.. awet muda.. "
Mak long melenggang lenggok ke hujung laman, memetik beberapa kuntum cempaka
merah dan menghidu baunya.

"Pagi-pagi sejuk mak long nak mandi.."akhirnya aku menjawab juga. Mak
Long mencebik.

"Bangunlah jerang air.. takkan tak boleh fikir.. kita dulu masa muda.. masa
kuat.. kita timba air sungai siang-siang. Kita penuhkan tempayan kita.
Pagi-pagi esok kita jerang air, guna dapur kayu. Lagi susah! Sekarang ni dah
senang, dapur pun petik aja.. takkan tak boleh buat?"Aku diam. Malasnya
aku nak layan kerenah orang tua tu!

"Sebab tu kita jadi janda masa umur kita 45 pun.. orang masih
tergila-gilakan kita"sambungnya lagi. Argghh!! Tensionnya aku! Cukuplah
aku dibasuh oleh mak mertuaku, ni tambah sorang lagi sukarelawan nak membebel
kat aku hari-hari. Pili paip kututup segera.

"Nak kemana tu?"soal Mak Long bila melihat aku melangkah deras ke
arah rumah.

"Anak kita menangis mak long!"jawabku. Dalam hati sabar ajalah aku

RESEPI udang harimau bersos masam ku buka.
Hmm.. tengah hari ni aku masak udang ni.. kemudian gulai asam
pedas ikan duri.. kalau nak lagi sedap buat acar timun mentah. Ada daging rusa
pemberian abah tempoh hari boleh buat masak kicap! Hmm….. complete hidangan
tengah hari!

"Nah!" Mak Long muncul tiba-tiba bersama sebiji nangka muda. Beberapa
helai daun kunyit dan kesom juga diletakkan ke atas meja.

"Masak gulai nangka campur tulang ikan masin, Yan.. teringin kita nak
makan.. Pucuk betik ni celur.. buat sambal belacan.. daging tu daging
apa?"soalnya melihat ke sinkiku.

"Daging rusa mak long.."

"Hmm.. eloklah tu.. bakar, buat air asam pencecah.. sedap!" Dia tersenyum.

Ah.. sudah! Biar betul orang tua ni..

"Mak long nak tengok-tengok keliling rumah kamu.. " terkedek-kedek
wanita itu meninggalkan aku seorang diri di dapur.

Hmm.. macammana ni? Aku mana pernah masak gulai nangka. Nak kupas nangka muda
tu pun selalunya mak yang buat. Tak pun sudah siap beli di pasar.

Aku segera naik ke ruang tamu. Telefon kucapai dan nombor telefon rumah emak
kudail.

"Assalamualaikum.."alhamdulillah.. terdengar suara emak di talian.
"Waalaikummussalam.. mak! Habislah Yan kali ni.." kataku cemas.

"Kenapa ni? Anak sakit ke?" Mak sudah menggelabah.

"Bukan.. mak saudara Aznil ada datang nie mak.. nak makan gulai nangka
muda.. macammana ni mak?..

"Masak ajelah.. susah apa.."selamba emak menjawab.

"Mana Yan tahu masak semua tu mak.."

"Kupas nangka tu.. lepas tu potong-potong.. celur dengan air panas. Lepas
tu masak macam biasalah.. kalau campur tulang ikan masin rendam dulu tulang tu
dengan air. Lepas tu bila masak jangan taruk garam dah.. biar pedas sikit..
baru sedap!"jelas emak. Hmm.. aku menarik nafas.

"Cuba sajalah.. janji boleh makan.."emak memberi semangat. Iyelah
mak.. nak beri semangat pada mak long tu supaya mengutuk aku nanti!

"Okeylah mak! Yan nak masak ni.. assalamualaikum!"Aku meletakkan
gagang. Jam di dinding sudah pukul 10.30 dan aku bergegas ke dapur untuk
memasak..

……………………………………………………..
"RESEPI baru ye?"soal Aznil. Aku diam membatu. Tangan saja tak
berhenti bergerak menyendukkan nasi ke pinggannya.
"yang ini abang tahu.. daging bakar kan?"soalnya. Aku masih diam. Nak
makan tu makan ajelah! Banyaknya soalan..

"Ni apa ni?"dia mengacau kuah berwarna ungu itu di dalam mangkuk
comel.

"Abang nak makan ke tak ni?"soalku. Meradang juga bila dia bertanya
itu ini. Macam perli je.. dah la aku kena teruk tadi dengan mak long. Aku tak
tahu nak letak muka kat mana tadi. Entah disampuk apa agaknya mak long
tiba-tiba dia mengajak kak Esah Puspa Kencana tu datang makan tengah hari sama.
Sudahlah aku kelam kabut dengan anak-anak aku tadi. Anak dia si Azizan tu,
sedikit pun tak mahu menolong. Bergayut di telefon macam bapak dia yang bayar!

Bukan dia tak tahu aku sibuk di dapur. Baru saja aku selesai menanak nasi Habil
dan Hazil terjaga. Seperti biasa bila si kembar itu dah terbangun tiada apa
yang dapat ku buat. Tapi demi mak long, aku usaha juga menyediakan apa yang
dihajati.

Malangnya.. sewaktu sedang leka melayan si Habil, tak sedar Hazil yang sedang
ku dukung dah curahkan kicap cair dalam mangkuk ke dalam periuk berisi gulai.
Tuhan saja yang tahu betapa geramnya aku. Tangannya memang cepat mencapai itu
ini.

"Hazil tau tak mama penat masak semua ni? Santan pun mama tak isi lagi
Hazil dah isi kicap.." aku berleter sendiri dan si Hazil Cuma tersengih sambil bertepuk tangan. Apalah yang budak berusia setahun dua bulan itu tahu?

"Apa yang kau masak ni?"soal mak long.

"Amboi.. resepi apa ni Yan.. bolehlah kak Esah cuba.."sampuk kak Esah
pula. Mak long mencapai senduk dan menceduk-ceduk gulai itu di dalam periuk.

"Apa ni yang kau masak? Gulai ke air longkang?"soalnya. Aku diam tak
terkata.

"Hmm.. orang zaman sekarang ni macam-macam Esah.. kita dulu masa umur 12
tahun dah pandai serba serbi.. tak heranlah kita ni umur 14 tahun orang dah
masuk meminang.."dah.. start dah burung kakak tua berleter!

"Iye ke Mak Long?"soal Kak Esah berminat.

"Ni, kita ni dulu, anak 5, badan kita ni lagi kecik dari badan awak
Esah.."bertambah-tambah gah la dia nak memuji diri tu!

"Kita dulu pun beranak kembar juga.. tapi kita boleh uruskan
rumahtangga.."dia menjelingku. Aku buat-buat tak nampak. Malas aku nak
melayan dia bercakap.

"Heran kita.. kata mak bapak buka kedai makan.. tapi anak tak pandai
memasak?"Mak long tergeleng-geleng.
"Marilah kita ke bandar Esah.."Dia menarik tangan kak Esah yang masih
mengintai apa yang kumasak.

"Kita makan kat bandar ajelah.. kita tak selera tengok masakan macam ni..
kempunan kita nak makan gulai nangka.."

"Hai.. panjang menung.."Aznil memetik jari, sekaligus menyedarkan
aku. Dia tersenyum. Tangannya memegang tanganku.

"Abang tau tak apa mak cik abang tu cakap kat Yan hari ni? Dia kata Yan
masak air longkang.."Aku memandangnya.

"Sabarlah.. bukan selalu dia datang. Lagipun, dia tu ibu susu abang dulu..
maknanya, mak abang juga.."pujuknya lembut.

"Tak kiralah.. tapi janganlah cakap macam tu.. kalau Yan tak betul,
ajarkanlah.."Aku tak jadi mengisi nasi ke pinggan sendiri. Aznil Cuma
senyum. Dia mengisi gulai nangka berkicap itu ke dalam pinggan.

"Sedap je apa Yan masak ni.."pujinya. Nak ambil hati aku la tu! Aku
menarik nafas.

"Sedap?"soalku. Aznil mengangguk.

"Okey.. abang habiskan gulai seperiuk tu.."kataku membuatkan dia
terlopong. Hmm.. padan muka!
……………………………………………………..
HARI demi hari yang ku lalui makin memeritkan bila Mak Long ada. Anak-anak semakin lasak kerana sudah pandai berjalan dan berlari. Sekarang sudah pandai hendak bermain bola. Aznil pula sibuk dengan projek tanaman herba di tanah yang baru dibeli. Jarang ada masa di
rumah. Dua tiga hari lepas dia ke Kedah, mencari benih-benih tanaman yang
sesuai bersama kawannya.

"Sabar aje la.. bukannya lama pun.. dua minggu je.. sekarang dah seminggu
lebih.. dua tiga hari lagi dia baliklah.."Embun yang baru 4 hari melahirkan anak menasihatkan. Aku cuma mendiamkan diri. Sepatutnya aku tak
menghidangkan masalah baruku kepadanya, maklumlah dia masih lemah lagi. Tapi
Embun ternyata sahabat yang baik. Masih mampu tersenyum dan sabar mendengar
masalahku.

"Syukurlah kau sebab mak mertua kau tak secerewet tu.." Kata-kata
Embun itu memang ku akui. Selama ini aku selalu bersungut dengan perangai emak.
Aku rasa seolah-olah orang tua itu busybody. Semua urusan rumahtanggaku dia nak
campur.

Tapi sekarang, ternyata Tuhan dah membalas. Aku diuji dengan seorang mak cik
yang cerewetnya macam nak mampos! Kalau mak mertua aku datang makan berlaukkan
sambal pun dia tak kisah. Cuma dia bersungut sebab aku jarang memasak untuk
suami selepas mempunyai anak. Tapi, tak adalah sampai kata masakan aku macam
air longkanglah.. rumah aku macam kandang kambinglah.. bilik dia bernyamuk agas
macam rumah tinggallah..

"Rumah kita.. tak ada bersemut macam ni.. agaknya ada bangkai tikus kat
mana-mana.. kita kalau menyapu, habis ceruk-ceruk kita korek. Tak berhabuk
rumah kita!" sungutnya bila ada semut mayat merayap di biliknya.

"Habis badan Izan ni mak.. gatal-gatal!" Si anak gadis pula mengadu.
Aku Cuma mendiamkan diri. Paling habis pun aku semburkan racun semut ke seluruh
penjuru bilik.

"Hishh.. kita tak tahan bau busuk racun ni.. tak fikir ke kita ni dah
tua.. semput pulak tu.. macammana kita nak tidur bau busuk macam ni?" Pulak
dah!

"Mak long tidur bukak tingkap.. nanti bau bunga-bunga cempaka kat luar tu
boleh cover bau busuk racun tu.."Malas aku nak layan kerenah cerewet mak
long. Pulak tu sekarang ni pantang dia tengok aku terlena. Pasti becok mulutnya berleter.

"Apa nak jadi ni.. jangan manjakan badan tu.. letih sikit tidur.. asal tak
sihat sikit cari bantal.. tu, minum air ubat tu! Jangan asyik nak telan ais
saja.. nanti kembang semua urat.. muda-muda dah tak boleh nak beranak lagi
nanti.."sebab tak tahan mendengar leterannya ku paksakan diri menghabiskan
jamu-jamu yang kak Esah jual tempoh hari. Kalau dengan emak mertua ku boleh
bertolak ansur lagi, dengan mak long ni.. sorrylah! Hancur telinga dibuatnya..
nak mengadu kat Aznil? Balik-balik dia kata sifat mak long memang macam tu..
tapi hatinya baik! Mulut je bising macam itik nak mengawan!

"Semua orang ada kurang ada baiknya Yan.. lama-lama nanti kau nampaklah
baik dia.." nasihat Embun lagi sambil menyusu bayinya. Aku mengangguk.
Mudah-mudahan.

"Aku balik dululah Embun.. anak-anak aku kat rumah tu tak tahu apa cerita”.
Selepas menghantar Azizan yang ingin balik ke UTM ke stesen bas tadi aku terus
melawat Embun. Bukan apa, malas aku nak berdepan dengan Mak Long tu. Entah apa
mimpinya nak duduk lama-lama lagi di rumah aku. Dia menjeling saja bila aku
menyerahkan anak-anak di bawah pengawasan Aznil.

AKU masuk ke halaman rumah.
Kelihatan rumah sunyi sahaja. Kembara juga tidak ada di bawah garaj. Kemana
pula si Aznil ni pergi? Soalku sendiri sambil melangkah masuk. Mesti dia orang
keluar. Alhamdulillah.. lega aku.

Tak adalah aku kena bebel lagi! Aku masuk ke kamar dan merebahkan badan.
Setelah sekian lama jarang aku ada masa untuk diri sendiri.
Dari pagi hingga ke malam sibuk menguruskan anak-anak dan suami. Aku duduk
mengadap cermin. Oh My God! Aku usap muka yang pucat. Kenapa dengan muka aku
ni?

Macam orang tak cukup darah je.. aku belek pula tangan aku. Urat-urat biru
timbul di permukaan kulit, cukup hodoh. Aku pegang pula rambut. Betul ke kata
mak long? Betul ke aku sudah semakin tua sebelum waktunya? Terngiang-ngiang
kata-kata bebelannya di telingaku.

"Makan pucuk betik ni.. awet muda.. awak tu belum masuk umur 25 dah macam
orang umur 40.. " ala.. kan ke pucuk betik tu pahit. Aku pernah makannya
dulu, air rebusan daunnya tapi habis termuntah balik. Tu baru air daun, nak
suruh aku makan pucuknye pulak? Ohh tidak..

"Asyik tidur saja.. bawa-bawa bersihkan laman tu.. rumput dah panjang..
semua nak harap suami buat.. keluarkan peluh sikit.."Aku rasa nak tutup
mulut mak long dengan bantal waktu itu juga. Tak tahu ke dia anak aku meragam
sepanjang malam dan ada waktu terluang pagi itu aku ingin mengqada balik
tidurku?

"Ni.. makan bunga ros ni.. tanam saja tapi tak tahu nak guna buat apa? Ni
untuk awet muda.."Heh.. aku tersengih saja mendengar kerenah mak long.

"Iye ke maklong? Tu Yan tengok kambing tu makan bunga ros tak awet muda
pun.." jawabku membuatkan mak long Cuma menjeling geram.

Aku menarik nafas. Perlahan aku keluar dari kamar untuk ke dapur. Semasa
melintasi bilik mak long, pintunya kelihatan renggang. Entah kenapa tergerak
hatiku untuk masuk ke dalam. Hari tu dia komplen bilik tu ada bunyi katak, biar
aku check. Bisikku sendiri sambil menolak daun pintu.

Saat pintu ternganga aku tergamam. Mak long terlentang di atas lantai bersama
kain sembahyang yang masih belum terlucut.

"Mak Long!"Aku menerpa. Tubuh tua itu ku goncang-goncang. Ya Allah!
Apa kena dengan orang tua ni? Tanpa lengah aku segera ke meja telefon.

"Hello.. abang! Balik cepat bang!"

"Kenapa ni?"suara Aznil kedengaran.

"Mak long ni pengsan!"Aku segera meletakkan gagang. Dalam hati aku
terasa cemas. Sempat kupanjatkan doa agar Mak Long selamat. Beberapa minit
kemudian Aznil tiba bersama ibu mertuaku. Dengan susah payah kami bertiga
mengangkat mak long masuk ke dalam kereta. Aku pula mengikut mereka ke hospital
bersama van abah.

Keadaan mak long agak kritikal. Kata doktor mak long kehabisan ubat dan
diserang lelah tiba-tiba. Kalau terlambat beberapa saat mungkin boleh membawa
maut. Mendengar itu hatiku terasa takut tiba-tiba.

"Malam ni terpaksa tahan di wad.. seseorang kena menjaganya.." doktor
berbangsa india yang peramah itu berkata. Kami semua saling berpandangan. Ibu mertuaku tak mungkin. Ayah tak sihat dua tiga hari ini, tak mungkin
dia meninggalkan ayah.

"Apa kata Yan aja yang jaga mak long?"usul dari Aznil itu buat mataku
terbeliak. Dia tersenyum buat tak mengerti.

"Elok juga.."sokong abah pula. Abah tu memang sentiasa sehati sebulat
suara dengan menantu dia tu

"Tapi.."

"Pasal anak-anak jangan risau.. mak ada.. " sampuk mak pula.

"Mak pun boleh tolong tengokkan anak-anak.."mak mertua pula menambah
undi. Aku pandang Aznil. Langsung tak berpeluang bersuara. Sampai hati! Aznil
Cuma senyum sahaja.

"Abang balik ambil barang-barang okey"Aku rasa nak cubit saja
perutnya. Geram! Tak pasal-pasal aku pula kena!

MAK long Cuma diam sambil menghirup sup sayur yang ku bawa. Aku turut kehilangan
kata-kata. Selama tiga hari dia berada di wad akulah yang menemankannya siang
dan malam. Habil dan Hazil ku serahkan pada emak untuk menjaganya.

"Kesian.. dia pernah jadi ibu susu abang.. temankanlah
dia.."pujuknya.

"Abang tau tak mak long tu tak sukakan yan?"

"Tak apa.. masa ni la nak buat dia sukakan Yan.."jawab Aznil
bersahaja.

"Tawar sikit.."terlontar perkataan itu dari bibir mak long. Sejak tiga hari lalu wajahnya sudah tak berseri lagi.

"Mak long tak boleh makan masin-masin.. mak long ada darah
tinggi.." jawabku lembut. Semalam doktor kata mak long ada penyakit lemah
jantung. Mana tak kena sakit jantung, darah tinggi.. nak makan berlemak-lemak
aja.. dulu kutuk sup daging aku tuh masakan orang malas.. sempat aku mengutuk
dalam hati. Ishh jahatnya mulut aku!

"Mak long nak buah?"aku menawarkan buah limau manis yang ku beli tadi.
Mak long memandangku.

"Anak-anak kita tak tahu ke kita dalam hospital ni?" soalnya. Aku
menarik nafas. Pelik juga. Sejak mak long masuk wad tiga hari lalu seorang pun
tak datang menjengah. Tapi aku malas nak ambil tahu sangat. Bukan ke dia kata
anak-anak dia terdidik semuanya? Lagipun aku cuba menjalankan tanggungjawabku
sebaik mungkin itu saja. Dia suka atau tidak terpaksa jugalah mengadap muka aku
24 jam.
Aku tak dapat menahan daripada menguap di hadapannya. Memang aku kurang tidur
sejak dia masuk ke hospital. Bila hari siang Aznil datang dan aku balik ke
rumah sekejap. Mandi, berkemas apa yang patut.. masak untuk suami kemudian baru
menjenguk anak-anak di rumah mak. Sedih juga bila terkenangkan anak-anak yang
berebut-rebut memelukku sebaik saja aku sampai ke rumah nenek mereka.

"Yan.."mak long memandangku.

"Mengantuk ke kamu?"soalnya.

"Tak adalah mak long.. Yan ni dah terbiasa tidur petang.. tu menguap
tu.."aku memberi alasan. Doktor yang merawat mak long ada beritahu aku,
jangan biarkan orang tua itu susah hati atau tersentuh. Bimbang kesihatannya
makin melarat.

Mak long mengeluh berat. Dia merenungku lama.

"Mak long anggap kamu macam anak sendiri. Mana yang tak betul mak long
tegur.. jangan kecik hati" pintanya. Dia memegang tanganku erat.

"Terima kasih kerana menjaga mak long.." pertama kali aku tersentuh
dengan kata-kata itu. Bak seorang ibu membelai anaknya. Dari kelopak matanya
aku lihat ada air mata gugur.

Alamak..

kenapa dia menangis?

"Mak long.. Yan tak ambil hati.. tak kisah.. elok juga mak long nasihatkan
Yan.." balasku. Mak long mengangguk-anggukkan kepala.

"Jangan lupa.. nanti amalkan mandi air sireh.. biar berseri sikit muka..

" Aduii.. baru aku ingat dia dah insaf, rupa-rupanya masih ada lagi!

SEJAK pulang dari hospital tadi aku terasa kepalaku berat. Aku cuba juga
berbaring dan tidur sekejap tapi peningnya masih belum hilang. Alamak..macammana
ni? Nak demam ke badan aku? Soalku sendiri dan bangun perlahan menuju ke dapur.
Dua ulas panadol kutelan lagi. Dah 4 biji makan belum jalan lagi.. Aku menarik
nafas.

Jam sudah pukul 11.00 pagi. Aku sepatutnya sudah bertolak ke hospital kerana
Aznil ada urusan dengan pembekal makanan udang kami. Aku membaringkan badan
sekali lagi di kerusi hadapan. Sungguh, sendi-sendi terasa longgar dan aku tak
mampu nak berdiri lama.

"Yan.. kenapa dengan kamu?"Kak Esah menyapa. Tak sedar bila dia memberi
salam, tahu-tahu saja sudah terjengul di muka pintu.

"Pening kepala.. macam nak demam.."jawabku sambil mengerut dahi
menahan pening. Kak Esah datang rapat. Dia memegang dahiku.

"Ehh.. kau ni demam ni.. " kata kak Esah.

"Agaknyalah kak.."jawabku.

"Kau amalkan tak jamu yang kak Esah bagi tu?"soalnya. Aku angguk.
Sejak mak long datang ke rumah ni memang berdisiplin aku makan jamu. Ulam yang
aku tak pernah makan pun aku sumbat juga ke tekak. Tak larat dengar mak long
berleter.

"Berat badan kau turun tak selepas makan jamu tu?"soalnya.

"Turun 3 kilo kak.."jawabku antara ingin dan tidak.

"Kau dah datang bulan ke belum?"soalnya. Aku menggeleng kepala.

"Agaknya kau mengandung lagi.."Apa? Aku rasa macam nak pengsan
mendengar kenyataan kak Esah. Mengandung lagi? Anak yang dua tu pun baru masuk
setahun dua bulan..

"Biar betul kak.."

"Kak Senah yang makan jamu akak tu pun kata dia mengandung dah 2 bulan..

"Apa? Ala..”

"Yan kena stoplah makan.. " kak Esah tersenyum-senyum. Aku rasa
badanku semakin lembik. Takkan aku mengandung lagi? Kak Esah ni cakap tak betul
langsung. Kata jamu ni untuk menguruskan badan.. ni bukan menguruskan badan
lagi ni.. nak menambah anak pulak jadinya.

"Nak akak tolong apa-apa?"soalnya.

"Akak tolong telefon mak saya.. saya rasa saya tak larat.."pintaku
sambil cuba memejamkan mata. Aku dah penat nak pikir semua ni!!

AKU rasa macam tak percaya.
Pada saat-saat meruncing begini aku dikejutkan dengan berita gembira. Surat
tawaran yang baru diterima tadi masih melekat di tanganku. Aku saja suka-suka
menghantar permohonan hari tu. Tak sangka pula aku berjaya menembusi
beribu-ribu lagi pemohon.

Yan dapat buat degree di USM? soalku lagi. Aznil senyum. Sekuntum ciuman
tahniah melekat di kedua-dua pipiku. Aku bingkas bangun dari pembaringan. Lama
aku merenung Aznil yang begitu gembira sekali.
Bila Yan apply semua ni? soalnya ingin tahu.
Maaf bang.. Yan sebenarnya suka-suka saja.. tak sangka pula Yan dapat buat
course ni..beritahuku. Aznil senyum.
Kalau abang tak kasi Yan tak pergi..

Siapa kata? Abang tak halang Yan nak cari ilmu. Lagipun bukan senang nak dapat
peluang macam tu.. pergilah.. abang izinkan.. Aku memeluk Aznil erat. Sungguh,
aku bahagia mendapat suami yang sangat memahami sepertinya.

Abang, semalam kak Esah datang.. dia kata.. Aku memandangnya lama.

Kak Esah lagi? Dia suruh Yan beli jamu dia lagi? Sudahlah tu.. abang rasa Yan
makan terlebih sangat jamu dan ubat-ubat jadi sakit macam ni.. Nasihat Aznil.
Bukan dia ada beritahu Yan, kak Senah yang ambil jamu dia dua tiga bulan dulu
dah mengandung.. ceritaku.

SO? Aznil masih tak mengerti.
Kak Esah kata, entah-entah Yan mengandung lagi..
Hah? Aznil terlopong. Aku mengangguk.

Yan rasa?

Aku angkat bahu. Rasanya Cuma demam biasa. Tapi kalau aku
termengandung macammana?

Ahh.. jangan percayalah.. Yan rehat dulu okey.. abang nak pergi tengok Mak
Long.. Dia menyuruh aku berbaring. Aku cuma menurut kerana kepalaku begitu
pening sejak tadi.

ARGGHHH TIDAKKK!! Aku terduduk di atas bowl. Positif?? Dalam pening yang masih
beraja di kepala aku perlahan keluar dari toilet. Aznil yang baru pulang segera
memapahku ke katil. Dia menggeleng kepala melihat aku. Sudah puas dia mengajak
aku ke klinik tapi aku enggan. Aku takut apa yang dikatakan kak Esah jadi
kenyataan. Tapi bila menguji sendiri..

Macammana? soalnya ingin tahu. Aku diam.

Positif.. Yan mengandung.. jawabku perlahan.

Iye? Aznil bertanya, bercampur gembira dan terkejut.

Kalau tak pasti kita ke klinik pujuknya. Aku memandangnya. Ingin saja kukatakan
aku belum bersedia untuk menambah bilangan cahaya mata kami. Hidup sekarang ini
pun dah kelam kabut. Aduhhh!! Aku mengurut kepala yang semakin sakit.
Yan okey? soal Aznil. Aku menggeleng kepala dan perlahan berbaring di atas
katil.

Mak menjenguk ke bilik melihat keadaanku. Di kirinya terkelek Hazil yang baru
lepas mandi.

Macammana dengan Yan? soal mak.

Entah, dia kata Hazil nak dapat adik seorang lagi.. jawab Aznil.
Apa? Alhamdulillah.. rezeki.. mak senyum. Aku Cuma mendiamkan diri.

Apa nak susah hati pulak? soal mak bila menyedari reaksiku selepas mendengar
berita itu.

Yan tak bersedia lagi mak.. jawabku berterus terang.

Dah tuhan nak bagi.. takkan kau nak buang pulak.. kata-kata emak itu membuatkan
aku terdiam.

Tak apa.. mak ada.. insyaAllah.. semuanya selamat.. mak memberi semangat. Aku
mengeluh berat. Dalam hati aku rasa nak saman saja kak Esah!!

Yan nak kemana pulak tu? soal Aznil bila melihat aku bangun dari duduk.

“Kita pergi klinik bang.. Yan tak puas hati..” Aznil cuma menurut saja kemahuanku.
Doktor Fauziah tersenyum sambil menatap wajah aku dan Aznil. Dia mencatit
sesuatu pada laporannya.

“Puan Dian cuma demam biasa.. sakit kepala tu kerana puan terlalu banyak memikir
dan kurang tidur.. saya dah periksa semua okey.. Cuma banyakkan rehat dan minum
air masak. Ujian kehamilan, puan tak hamil..” Aku mengeluh lega. Aznil nampak
sedikit kecewa tapi dia masih erat menggenggam tanganku.

“Period datang lewat tu biasalah.. bagi ibu-ibu muda macam Puan stress sikit..
jangan bimbang..” sambung doktor itu lagi. Aku tersenyum.

“Puan ada makan ubat apa-apa ke atau jamu ke?”

“Ada..”

“Ohh.. tu mungkin alahan pada tubuh puan.. tapi tak membawa mudarat.. jangan
risaulah.. saya pun mula-mula pening juga..” jelas Doktor itu.

“Eh.. doktor pun makan jamu?” soalku terkejut.

“Mak saya pakar buat ubatan tradisional.. kita sekarang ni kena jagalah Puan..
lagipun bagus.. bahan semulajadi bebas dari bahan kimia..” terang Doktor Fauziah
lagi. Aku tersenyum. Saat itu aku terbayang daun kesum, pucuk ubi, dan berbagai
ulaman yang menjadi kemestian sejak mak long hadir dalam hidupku.

“Kalau macam tu saya memang tak mengandunglah?”

Doktor Fauziah mengangguk lagi.

“Terima kasih doktor..” ucapku dan Aznil sebelum bangun. Sementara menanti ubat
siap dan Aznil membayar bil aku terkenangkan mak long. Tiba-tiba rindu pula nak
dengar leteran membinanya itu.

“Kenapa ni?” soal Aznil.
“Kita tengok mak long kat hospital bang..” pintaku. Alang-alang dah ke bandar ini
baik aku ke sana. Lagipun aku dah sihat sikit.

“Lupa abang nak beritahu. Mak long dah tak ada di wad tu lagi. Pihak hospital
pindahkan dia ke HKL untuk rawatan lanjut” jelas Aznil.

Apa?

“Siapa yang nak jaga dia kat sana?” soalku. Sedangkan di wad di hospital sini pun
seorang anak tak menjenguk, inikan pula di HKL. Aznil menarik nafas.

“Abang terharu bila Yan sanggup jaga mak long hari tu. Sebenarnya mak long tu
terkilan. Anak-anak dia nak masukkan dia ke rumah orang tua-tua. Sebab tu dia
nak datang ke sini. Abang tak nafikan anak-anak mak long semua berjaya. Tapi,
tak sangka mereka sanggup nak hantar ibu sendiri ke rumah orang-orang tua” Aku
terdiam mendengar penjelasan dari Aznil.

“Hari mak long datang ke rumah kita tu.. sebenarnya dia bertengkar dengan
menantunya. Faham sajalah mulut dia tu bising tak berkenan itu ini.. sudahnya
dia kena halau. Mujur Izan ada.. dia la telefon mak beritahu..” jelas Aznil lagi.

Aku mengangguk faham. Sedetik, wajah mak long terbayang di ruang mata.

“Mak long hadiahkan Yan ini sebab menjaga dia..” Aznil mengeluarkan sebentuk
cincin emas dari bekas baldu. Aku terpaku. Mak long!

Rupa-rupanya banyak perkara yang perlu aku pelajari di dunia ini. Sebaik saja
melangkah ke alam perkahwinan, banyak yang perlu dikorbankan. Permulaan hidup
ialah tolak ansur antara suami isteri. Bila meniti tahun demi tahun aku pasti
akan bertemu kerenah demi kerenah antara keluarganya.

Setelah masuk tahun kedua perkahwinan, aku teruji dengan sikap mertua yang
ku rasa cuba mencampuri urusan hidupku suami isteri. Tapi, bila ku fikirkan,
alangkah bertuahnya aku dikurniakan oleh ibu mertua yang mengambil berat. Aku
tak sepatutnya melulu menuduh dia cuba merampas privacy ku. Lihat saja mak
long.. memang mulutnya buat aku rasa panas hati tapi.. bila terjadi perkara
begini baru ku sedar disebalik teguran dan rungutan mereka.

Sebenarnya ilmu rumah tangga yang tersimpan pada mereka harus ku selongkar.
Mereka sudah berpuluh tahun hidup dalam onak duri dan gelora rumahtangga.
Rencah kehidupan mereka membuatkan mereka ingin melihat kebahagiaan anak
menantu, agar ikatan perkahwinan semakin utuh dari hari demi hari. Tapi, seringkali nasihat-nasihat emas mereka itu disalah erti oleh orang yang berfikiran seperti aku.

Aznil memeluk bahuku.

“Kalau ada masa kita lawat Mak Long di KL..” okey? dia tersenyum.

“Kenapa ni? Rindu ke?” usik Aznil. Aku Cuma tersenyum.
“Kan abang dah kata.. mak long tu baik kan? Cuma silapnya dia lahir tahun itik..
tu mulut dia bising..”

Urusan pendaftaran sudah pun selesai. Semua barang-barang keperluan sudah dihantar ke kolej kediaman. Aku segera mendapatkan Aznil bersama anak-anak kami yang menanti di tempat parking. Sebentar kemudian kembara hitam itu melucur laju meninggalkan kawasan Dewan Siswa Cahaya Permai dan menghala ke arah Pantai Merdeka. Kami beriringan sambil
memimpin anak di kiri kanan. Habil dan Hazil cukup riang melihat beberapa
burung-burung camar yang beterbangan di tengah laut. Abah, emak dan adik-adikku
kembali ke hotel setelah urusan pendaftaranku selesai awal jam satu tadi.

Bunyi ombak yang menghempas pantai membuatkan hatiku terasa damai. Habil dan
Hazil riang berdiri di tepi tembok sambil menuding ke arah permukaan laut.
Kelihatan ikan-ikan todak sedang bermain di gigi air membuatkan anak-anakku
tertawa gembira. Mungkin terasa geram ingin mencekup ikan-ikan itu agaknya.

“Yan…”

Aku berpaling. Aznil tersenyum sambil tangannya menghulurkan sejambak mawar
merah muda kepadaku.

“Dah lama abang tak bagi bunga pada Yan kan?” Aku tersenyum lantas menyambut
hulurannya.

“Yan.. jangan lupakan abang tau.?” Aznil tiba-tiba berpesan.

“Kenapa pula Yan nak lupakan abang..” aku memeluk pinggangnya erat.

“Yan mesti janji akan balik dengan segulung ijazah tepat pada masanya.Abang
akan sentiasa menyokong Yan..” Aznil tersenyum.

“Insyaallah. Yan cuma perlukan restu dan sokongan abang” pintaku . Aku menarik
nafas panjang.

“Abang.. Yan harap kita akan berjaya membentuk keluarga kita.Yan nak Habil dan
Hazil terdidik dengan sempurna. Apa yang terjadi selama ini membuatkan Yan
sedar betapa pentingnya peranan Yan sebagai seorang ibu”.

“Maksud Yan?”

“Yan tak mahu nasib Yan seperti apa yang telah terjadi kepada Mak Long. Yan
mahu anak-anak kita kenal apa erti kasih sayang sebenar, tanggungjawab mereka
terhadap ibu bapa dan yang paling penting, kita perlu didik mereka bukan
berkaitan akademik sahaja, tapi nilai-nilai murni dan tanggungjawab sebagai
seorang anak. Macam abang…” Aznil cuma tersenyum mendengar kata-kataku.

“Kesian Mak Long….” Itu sahaja yang terlontar dari mulutnya. Aku turut
bersimpati atas apa yang telah terjadi. Mak Long telah menghembuskan nafasnya
yang terakhir selepas dua minggu berada di HKL. Urusan pengkebumiannya juga
dibuat tanpa sempat menanti anak lelakinya pulang daripada bercuti di Eropah.
Aku menarik nafas panjang. Sedih mengenangkan Mak Long, ibu susu Aznil yang
dipinggirkan anak-anak setelah kesemuanya berjaya dalam hidup.Kata Aznil, Mak
Long yang bersusah payah membesarkan anak-anak dengan menjual nasi lemak.
Selain itu dia juga menjadi tukang cuci di sebuah motel yang tedapat di bandar
Ipoh. Suaminya seorang kaki judi, langsung mengabaikan tanggungjawab sebagai
seorang bapa.

Sehingga ke hari ini aku kesal dengan sikapku yang langsung tak terfikir untuk
menjaga hati Mak Long dulu dengan ikhlas. Andainya aku tahu apa yang terjadi,
sudah tentulah Mak Long ku jaga seperti ibu sendiri. Aznil memegang bahuku.

“Yan.. Izan telefon abang semalam…”

“Dia dan suami nak mengerjakan umrah tak lama lagi. Dia ucapkan tahniah sebab
Yan dapat ke USM…”

Aku senyum. Teringatkan gadis yang pernah merebut keharmonian rumahtanggaku
dulu. Itu juga satu ujian yang perit untukku. Tetapi, ternyata demi cinta yang
utuh, badai itu mampu kami lalui bersama. Biarpun aku pernah membencinya dulu,
tapi kini semuanya telah ku lenyapkan. Dia juga sedang berbahagia dengan suami
dan permata hatinya. Tiada yang lebih bermakna jika kita meraih bahagia atas
cinta yang tercipta atas landasan yang betul Izan!

Habil dan Hazil ku rangkul erat. Kedua pipi gebu itu ku kucup penuh kasih sayang.
Demi kebahagiaan masa depan, demi Hazil dan Habil, mama terpaksa tinggalkan
anak-anak mama ini. Mama berjanji akan menjadi contoh terbaik untuk anak-anak
mama. Aznil menepuk bahuku.

“Sudahlah tu Yan… mari abang hantar Yan ke kolej….” Aku angguk. Haripun sudah
beransur petang dan aku perlu hadir sebelum pukul lapan untuk sesi suaikenal.

Tanganku erat menggenggam tangan Aznil. Langkah kami atur bersama meninggalkan
pantai lewat petang itu.

“Yan, abang cintakan Yan..” bisiknya kepadaku.

“Yan juga… “ balasku.

Hanya Tuhan saja yang mengerti saat untuk aku berpisah dengan Takagiku ini.
Semoga rahmat sentiasa mengiringi rumahtangga kami. Berkatilah doaku ini Tuhan!
Baca lagi...

24 Jun 2011

What's Wrong With Multi-Level Marketing?




Bad Image or Bad Reality?

"Let me tell you about an incredible ground-level business opportunity," and you are invited to a house or to lunch for "a discussion." Funny enough, you feel sick in your gut that there is some hidden agenda or deception. "Probably a multi-level marketing (MLM) organization," you think. Suppose it is? Should you trust your instincts? Is there anything wrong with MLM?
This article will analyze four problem areas with MLM. Specifically, it will focus on problems of;

I) Market Saturation,
II) Pyramid Structure,
III) Morality and Ethics, and
IV) Relationship Issues associated with MLMs.

Thus, you can properly assess your "instincts."
________________________________________

I. Market Saturation: An Inherent Problem

Back to the Basics

A tutorial on market saturation hardly seems necessary in most business discussions, but with MLM, unfortunately, it is. Common sense seems to get suspended when considering if MLMs are viable, even theoretically, as a profitable means of distribution for all parties involved. This suspension is created by a heightened expectation of "easy money," but more on that later.

New, Innovative?

MLM can no longer claim to be new and, thus, exempt from the normal rules of the market and the way goods and services are sold. They have been tried and, for the most part, have failed. Some have been miserable failures in spite of offering excellent products.
Marketing innovations are not rare in the modern world, as evidenced by the success of Wal-Mart, which found a more efficient and profitable way to distribute goods and services than the status quo, providing lasting value to stockholders, employees, distributors, and consumers. But this is not the case with any MLM to date, and after 25 years of failed attempts, it is time to point out the reasons why.

Don't Some People Make Money in MLM?

First, we will analyze the "driving mechanism" of MLMs. We will detail how they are intrinsically unstable, guaranteed by design to oversaturate the market with no one noticing. We will look at why MLMs can never equalize into profitability the way companies in the real world can, so that the result will be that the organization as a whole cannot, even in theory, be profitable. When this inevitable destiny occurs, the only money to be made is not from the product or service but from the losses of people lower down in the organization.

Thus the MLM organization becomes exploitative, and many high-level MLM promoters have been shut down, the "executives" incarcerated, for selling the fraud of impossible success to others. Other, larger MLMs have survived by hiring large batteries of attorneys to ward off federal prosecutors, even bragging about the funds they have in reserve for this purpose.

The unfortunate "distributor" at the bottom is the loser, and once this becomes apparent beyond all the slick videotapes and motivational pep-talks, good people start to get a bad taste in their mouths about the whole situation.

So, yes, money can be made with MLM. The question is whether the money being made is legitimate or "made" via a sophisticated con scheme. And if MLM is "doomed by design" to fail, then the answer is, unfortunately, the latter.
But how exactly does this happen, and must it always?

Doomed by Design?

The first question is this: Is any company choosing this marketing strategy destined to fail, to degenerate into an exploitative venture, regardless of how good the product is?
To see this clearly we must go through an, otherwise, obvious and elementary discussion of how any business must be careful not to overhire, overextend, or oversupply a market.

The Real World

Any business must carefully consider supply and demand. For example, if the ReVo Corporation thinks that it will have a full-fledged fad on their ovoid sunglasses next summer, perhaps they should plan to build and distribute, say, 10M units. This involves gearing up factories, setting up distribution and dealer networks, and carefully managing the inventories at each level so that ReVo will still have credibility with their distributors, retail outlets, and the public the following year.

If it turns out that there is a "run" on ReVo products, and they sell out in mid-June, then they have miscalculated demand and will miss out on profits they could have made. The more serious problem, however, is overestimating the saturation point for the product. If they make 10M units, and sell only 2M units, this may be the end of ReVo as a company.
The all-too-obvious point here is that management of supply and demand, and keen insight into realistic market penetration and saturation are crucial to any business, for any product or service. Mismanagement of this aspect of a business will eclipse good market access, excellent product design, human resource assets, production quality, and so on. Simply stated, a failure to "hit the target" of supply and demand can ruin a company if the market is oversaturated.

Market Dynamics and the End of the Cold War

Interestingly, the issue of supply and demand is what brought the USSR to its knees. By design, the Soviet government tried to macro-manage supply, where bureaucrats would decide how many potatoes were needed, how much toilet paper, etc. Assuming these bureaucrats did the best they could, unfortunately their efforts to deliberately manipulate the control "knob" of supply and demand was not good enough. Notwithstanding their good intentions, they were usually wrong, which created huge shortages and surpluses, and led to a massive economic collapse.
Seeing the disastrous end of market naivetƩ in Russia should help clarify the fundamental problem with the MLM approach. In the real world, the profit of a company is directly related to the skill and prescience of the "hand" on the "supply knob," so to speak. In the USSR, that "hand" could not react fast or accurately enough to market realities through the best efforts of the bureaucrats.

With MLMs, the situation is much worse. Nobody is home. Even the Soviets had someone thinking about how much was enough! If the bureaucrat in Russia was having a hard time trying to play Adam Smith's "invisible hand" in setting the supply level in the Soviet Union, then an MLM "executive" is in a truly unfortunate position. Not only is there no one assigned to make the decision of how much is enough, the MLM is set up by design to blindly go past the saturation point and keep on going. It will grow till it collapses under its own weight, without even a bureaucrat noticing.

MLM is like a train with no brakes and no engineer headed full-throttle towards a terminal.
"Everyone Will Want to Buy This Product!"

All products and services have partial market penetration. For example, only so many people wish to use a discount broker, as evidenced by the very successful but only partial market penetration of Charles Schwab. Not everyone wishes to join a particular discount club, or buy gold, or drink filtered water, or wear a particular style of shoe, or use any product or service. No one in the real world of business would seriously consider the thin arguments of the MLMers when they flippantly mention the infinite market need for their product or services.

The Demand Problem: Of Widgets and MLMs

Imagine a neat new product called a Widget that will sell for $100 (a fixed price, to keep it simple). Now, while everyone could use a Widget, not everyone will. Some will be afraid of anything new. Some will be loyal to existing brands. Some will want to buy an inferior product for less money. Some will want a more expensive product for prestige, regardless of quality. The reasons go on and on, and the fact is that only "X" Widgets will sell at $100.
The question for would-be marketeers is... what is "X," and how can it be predicted to maximize profits? The fact that "X" is hard to pin down does not mean that it does not exist, and every Widget built beyond "X" will end up producing a problem for the organization. The market only wants "X" Widgets at $100. What are you going to do with your extra inventory of Widgets beyond "X" that no one wants, and the sales people you hired to sell them?

No one can perfectly predict "X," and the situation is not nearly as simple as considered here, but the objective for marketeers is to forecast "X" as closely as possible in order to provide lasting value to all parties involved: to avoid missed opportunities as well as waste, loss, or failure.

The MLM Forecasting Approach: Ignoring the Target

Who has an eye on "X," the point of market saturation at a given price, in an MLM? Well, the funny thing, or perhaps the tragic thing, is that "X" will be reached and exceeded without anyone noticing or caring.

Let's just suppose that "X" has been reached today in a particular MLM; the number of possible units sold at this price has just been exceeded, and you happen to be a starry-eyed prospect sitting in an MLM meeting listening to the pitch. Now consider: Does anyone in this company know about "X"? Does anyone care? Is the issue being suppressed on purpose for some other motive? Since we are supposing that the market saturation number "X" has been reached, everyone joining the MLM from now on is buying into a false hope. But that is not what the speaker will be saying. He will be telling you, "Now is the time to join. Get in on the 'ground floor'." But it is all a lie, even though the speaker may not know it. The total available market "X" has been reached and nobody noticed. All the distributors will lose from here on out. Could this be you? How could you possibly know at what point you will become the liar in an MLM?

Pop or Drop

Perhaps a better paradigm than the runaway train analogy offered earlier of how MLMs perform over time is this: a helium balloon let loose in an empty room with a spiked ceiling, where product quality is analogous to the amount of helium. The better the product, the faster the balloon will rise, accelerating unhindered, towards disaster. The other option would be the case of a lousy product, in which case the balloon will sink of its own accord, never getting off the ground. To be sure, equilibrium is not in the cards, except perhaps as an accident, and then only temporarily. MLMs are intrinsically unstable. For any company that chooses an MLM approach, it's pop or drop.

MLMs vs. the Real World

The basic question that needs to be asked is this: If this product or service is so great, then why isn't it being sold through the customary marketing system that has served human society for thousands of years? Why does it need to resort to a "special marketing" scheme like an MLM? Why does everyone need to be so inexperienced at marketing this! Is the product just a thin cover for what is really a pyramid scheme of exploiting others? But more on that later.
From Contracted, Protected Distribution... to Mayhem

Imagine that Wendy's became suddenly possessed by the idea that "everyone needs to eat," and opened four Wendy's franchises on the four corners of an intersection in your neighborhood. Who would benefit from this folly? The consumer? Certainly not the franchises; they would all lose. Wendy's corporate? Perhaps temporarily, by speculative inventory sales while the unfortunate franchises were under the delusion that they could all make money. But in the end, the negative image of four outlets dying a slow death would likely offset the temporary inventory sales bubble. Even the most unreflective of the hapless franchisees would think twice about doing business in such a manner again. This is why real-world distributorships and franchises are contractually protected by territory and/or market.

Again, the simple fact is that even the most successful products will have partial market penetration. The same is true for services. Demand and "market share" are finite, and to overestimate either is catastrophic.

So why are MLM promoters obscuring this? Who is in control of the supply "knob," carefully and skillfully managing the size of the distribution channels, number of salespeople, inventory, etc., to insure the success of all involved in the business? The truth is chilling: nobody.
Imagine trying to write a computer model of how MLMs work, and you will see this point most vividly. An MLM could never work, even in theory. Think about it.

The People Machine

Chernobyl had a control system that failed. MLMs have no control mechanisms at all.
Where is the "switch" that can be flipped in an MLM when enough sales people are hired? In a normal company a manager says, "We have enough, let's stop hiring people at this point." But in an MLM, there is no way to do this. An MLM is a human "churning" machine with no "off button." Out of control by design, its gears will grind up the money, time, credibility, and entrepreneurial energy of well-meaning people who joined merely to supplement their income. Better to just steer clear of this monster to begin with.
There is simply no way to avoid the built-in failure mechanism of MLMs. If a company chooses to market this way, it will eventually "hire" (with no base pay and charging to join) far too many people.

Thus, the only "control system" will be the inevitable losses and subsequent bad image the MLM company will gain after it does what it was designed to do: fail. And sooner or later we have got to stop blaming this particular MLM company or that, and admit that the MLM technique itself is fundamentally flawed.
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II. Pyramid Structure: An Organizational Problem

The Un-Pyramid

For most MLMs, the product is really a mere diversion from the real profit-making dynamic. To anyone familiar with MLMs, the previous discussion (which focused so much on the fact that MLMs are "doomed by design" to reach market saturation and thus put the people who are legitimately trying to sell the product into a difficult situation) may seem to miss the point. The product or service may well be good, and it might oversaturate at some point, but let's get serious. The product is not the incentive to join an MLM. Otherwise people might have shown an interest in selling this particular product or service before in the real world. The product is the excuse to attempt to legitimate the real money-making engine. It's "the cover."
Intuitively, we all know what is really going on with MLMs. Just don't use the word "pyramid"!
"You see, if you can convince ten people that everyone needs this product or service, even though they aren't buying similar products available in the market, and they can convince ten people, and so on, that's how you make the real money. And as long as you sell to a few people along the way, it is all legal." Maybe...
But the way to make money in all this is clearly not by only selling product, otherwise you might have shown an interest in it before, through conventional market opportunities. No, the "hook" is selling others on selling others on "the dream."

Math and Common Sense

MLMs work by geometric expansion, where you get ten to sponsor ten to sponsor ten, and so on. This is usually shown as an expanding matrix (just don't say "pyramid"!) with corresponding kick-backs at various levels.
The problem here is one of common sense. At a mere three levels deep this would be 1,000 people. There goes the neighborhood! At six levels deep, that would be 1,000,000 people believing they can make money selling. But to whom? There goes the city! And the MLM is just getting its steam going. Think of all the meetings! Think of all the "dreams" being sold! Think of the false hopes being generated. Think of the money being lost.

It Will Fail??? It Cannot Fail???

Nothing irritates a die-hard MLMer more than the preceding argument. If you point out the absurdity, for example, that if "the pitch" at an Amway meeting were even moderately accurate, in something like 18 months Amway would be larger than the GNP of the entire United States, then listen closely for a major gear-shift: "Well, that is absurd, of course. Not everyone will succeed, and so the market will never saturate."

Well, which is it? Are we recruiting "winners" to build a real business, or planning by design to profit off of "losers" who buy into our "confidence"?
During "the pitch," anyone can make it work. "It's the opportunity of a lifetime." "Just look at the math!" But mention the inevitable saturation and the losses this is going to cause for everyone, and then you'll hear, "Of course it would never really work like that." "Most will fail," you will be told, "but not you, Mr. Recruit. You are a winner. I can just see it in your eyes."

If you are a starry-eyed recruit, it will grow as presented. If you are a logical skeptic, then of course it would never really work like that.
But the dialog usually never even gets to this. The fact that MLM is in a mad dash to oversupply is largely chided as mere "stinkin' thinkin'." Expert MLMers know how to quickly deflect this issue with parable, joke, personal testimony, or some other sleight of mind.

New Solution: A Retarded MLM

Some modern incarnations of MLMs attempt to address this particular problem by limiting the number of people you can sponsor, say, to four. But the same geometric expansion problems exist; the failure mechanism has just been slowed down a bit. And now there is the added problem of even more unnecessary layers in the organization.

The claim that an MLM is merely a "common man" implementation of a normal real-world distribution channel becomes even more absurd in this case. Imagine buying a product or service in the real world and having to pay overrides and royalties to five or ten unneeded and uninvolved "distributor" layers. Would this be efficient? What value do these layers of "distributors" provide to the consumer? Is this rational? Would such a company exist long in a competitive environment?

Confidence Men and the Shadow Pyramid

The age-old technique of "con men" is to create "confidence" in some otherwise dumb idea by diversion of thought, bait, or force of personality. The victim gets confidence in a bogus plan, and, in exchange, the con man gets your money. MLMers are very high on confidence.
Since the brain inevitably intrudes itself into the delusion that an MLM could ever work, spirits drop and attitudes go sour. But this depressive state can itself be exploited. As doubts grow when the MLM does not do what recruits were first "con"fidenced to expect, then a further profit can be made keeping the confidence going against all common sense.
Thus, a parallel or "shadow" pyramid of motivational tapes, seminars, and videos emerges. These are a "must for success," and recruits are strong-armed into attending, buying, buying, and buying all the more. This motivational "shadow pyramid" further exploits the flagging recruits as they spiral inexorably into oversaturation and failure. The more they fail, the more "help" they need from those who are "successful" above them.
So, MLMs profit by conning recruits up-front with a "distributorship fee," and then make further illicit money by "confidencing" these hapless victims as they fail via the "sale" of collateral material.

Special MLM "Job" Offer: A Losing Proposition

Would a rational person, abreast of the facts, go to work selling any product or service if he or she knew that there was an open agenda to overhire sales reps for the same products in the prospective territory?

What do you think? Is this a good "opportunity" or a recipe for collective disaster?
So, as the saying goes, "Get in early!" This is a rationalization on the level of "getting in early" on the L.A. looting riots. If profit from the sale of products is fundamentally set up to fail, then the only money to be had is to "loot" others by conning them while you have the chance. Don't miss the "opportunity," indeed!
Where is the money coming from for those at the top? From the sucker at the bottom... as in every pyramid scheme. The product could be, and lately has been, anything.
The important thing is to exploit people while the exploiting is good, if you want to make quick money at MLM.
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III. Morality and Ethics: A Problem of Greed
Moral Riddle: What is Ever Present but Universally Condemned?
While issues of morality and ethics can be tricky to discuss, materialism and greed are universally condemned by every major religion, and even by most of the irreligious. This does not mean people are not materialistic or greedy; in fact, the common ethical call to not be so is strong evidence that we are.

For most people, this means if we are going to be materialistic or greedy, we would rather not be obvious about it. Thus, Madison Avenue has subtle, highly polished ways of appealing to these vices without being heavy handed. We don't mind so much... as long as it is "veiled." This hypocrisy, while sad, is the status quo. So, Madison Avenue is trying to be ever more subtle in appearing not to be manipulating our immoral "bent" towards greed and materialism.
A Blatant Appeal to Materialism and Greed

Not so with the MLM crowd. Pick up any brochure or videotape for an MLM and you are more than likely to see a cheesy, obvious, and blatant appeal to greed and materialism. This is offensive to everyone, even die-hard materialists. Typical is an appeal to "the American dream." Usually there will be a mood shot of a large new home, a luxury car, a boat, perhaps a beautiful couple boarding a Lear jet, and so on.

While this need not necessarily be part of the MLM approach, it usually is.
Such a transparent appeal should make people suspicious. "Why the bait?" "Are they trying to 'get my juices going' so that my brain turns off?" "Couldn't they show people doing more wholesome things with the money they make?" "If this is really a legitimate opportunity, why not focus on the market, product, or service instead of people reveling in lavish materialism?"
But we have reason enough to know, having read this far, why the distraction is needed. Unbridled greed suspends good judgment. When the eyes gloss over in a materialistic glaze, common sense is a stranger.

Besides being cheesy and offensive to our sensibilities, this is not a big deal for participants, right? But consider that all companies must have control over the way they are presented to the public. Thus, an MLM has the right and obligation to dictate what material is used. Otherwise any agent could say whatever he or she liked about the nature of the company, causing obvious problems. Again, it would take too much time to audit and approve each individual's idea for a presentation where the goal is mass marketing. Using "boilerplate" presentations affords the added benefit of consistency. This is basic "information quality control."

The net effect is that the MLM rep is "stuck" with the company-approved video, brochure, and presentation outline.

"Not Me, I Would Never Stoop That Low!"

In 1991, some distributors in the MLM FUND AMERICA began to produce their own, improved recruitment material. They were summarily fired, which did not please them since many of them were founding members who had "gotten in early."
Later the same year, by the way, the founder of FUND AMERICA was arrested for having generated some 90% of revenues selling "distributorships" versus product... making it clear that this particular MLM was little more than a pyramid scheme.

Job Opening: Salesperson of Sin!

Do you want to be involved in the blatant promotion of values contrary to your belief system?
In most MLMs you will have no choice. You are going to have to sit through meeting after meeting after meeting after meeting. You are going to be "motivated" to coerce your friends and family to hear "the pitch." This is the way the "dream" is planted and fertilized. Get used to it.
If you are a materialist, you only have to get over the cheekiness of the presentation. But if you do not wish to promote such ideas, if you consider them sinful, then this puts you at the focal point of a moral dilemma. Do you wish to be a salesperson for materialism?

Lack of Information Quality Control: An MLM Incentive?

On the flip-side of the issue of being stuck with the recruitment "pitch" is the fact that the MLM organization is otherwise loose, to say the least. This is part of the appeal to many, to "be your own boss."

But in practice this leads to loony product claims, many of which are deceptive and some of which can be positively dangerous.

Hyperbole is a given in an MLM. When inexperienced salespeople are turned loose to sell on full commission without supervision or accountability, what else could happen?
Since MLM organizations are notoriously flash-in-the-pan, one has to wonder why any new company would choose this flawed marketing technique. Perhaps one of the things to consider is that the MLM organization can effectively skirt the Federal Trade Commission by using word-of-mouth testimonials, supposed "studies" done by scientists, fabricated endorsements, rumors and other misrepresentations that would never be allowed to see the light of day in the real world of product promotion, shady as it is.

Thus, MLM has evolved into a "niche": it can be used to sell products that could not be sold any other way. An MLM is a way to get undue credibility by exploiting people's personal friendships and relationships via "networking." This is an intrinsic moral difficulty with MLMs that will be expanded in the last section.

MLM Sales Technique: Rumors, Slander, Defamation

Hyperbole is not limited merely to product claims, however. When MLMers turn to their competitors it can get ugly indeed. Some of the most outlandish rumors of modern history can be traced to MLMs. In recent years, for example, the international rumor that the president of a major real-world corporation was a Satanist, and that the logo of his company contained occult symbols, turned out to have a commercial motive and was traced to specific Amway distributors. These were successfully sued in 1991, but the rumor persists. And how much else of the MLM negative "sales pitch" is fabrication or outright lie? Not all the negative selling claims are as scandalous or widespread as the previous example, but the MLM culture produces so much of this stuff it would be hard to prosecute it all.

Again, what else could be expected from inexperienced salespeople thrown into an oversaturated sales market on full commission and no accountability?

Negative selling is not unique to MLMs, but MLMs have a legacy of fostering a culture of credulity, of bizarre "gossip-as-fact." After all, this is a friend telling me this!
Telling lies about people or groups is slander. Systemic and malicious slander is illegal in most civilized countries. Slander is a sin listed next to murder and adultery in Biblical texts. But how will you know when you become the slanderer by repeating what you heard in an MLM meeting?

Great Men?

Another morally questionable practice that is not intrinsic to MLMs, but seems axiomatic, is the pent-up idolatry of the leaders.

In FUND AMERICA, the "approved materials" showed what a great man the founder was, depicted the depth of his management experience, showed him in mood shots, etc. It is easy to swoon in admiration of such a powerful, visionary man, dedicated to bringing this wonderful opportunity to common Americans like us.
It turned out he was a criminal fugitive from Australia, where he had been run out of town for doing the same.

But you would never guess it from the company material. A great man.
There are more than a few MLM "executives" like this who will pop up tomorrow in the MLM du jour. MLM exploitation can be very profitable and the jail sentences light. Let the MLM "dream" buyer beware.

I have been taken to task for making this point too strongly--and do not wish to imply that all MLM leaders have criminal records--but it does pay to do some research here. Are the idols you are being asked to worship in MLM worthy of respect, or contempt? Have they been prosecuted or sued for exploiting people in the past? Have they done prison time?
Do not expect to hear the full truth in the MLM video.

Pride and the Secret Closet: Vanity and the Way MLMs Grow

"Mr. Prospect, now you aren't required to buy more than three product units, but why bother joining unless you plan to succeed? Besides, all of our products are 100% money back guaranteed."

"Hmmm... To ask for a refund, then, is to admit defeat. Others appear to be doing O.K. at this. I'm no failure! Perhaps I should go to another motivational seminar or strong-arm and alienate one more friend to join. I wasn't fooled! I'm no failure!"
So, the "inventory" and "recruitment kits," never viable, collect dust. They become a pile in the back closet or attic, a trophy to pride being unable to admit that greed seized the moment.

Back to the Pyramids: Innovative Marketing or Organized Crime?

It is generally agreed that to mislead people in order to get their money is morally reprehensible. It is labeled "theft" or "fraud," and those who do it should be punished. No one is naive enough to suggest that you can't make money at it. Crime can pay, at least temporarily.
Pyramid schemes are illegal. They are illegal because they are exploitative and dishonest. They exploit the most vulnerable of people: the desperate, the out-of-work, the ignorant. Those who start and practice such fraud, should, and increasingly are, being punished for their crimes.
But add a product for cover, and call it an MLM, and people are willing to swallow its legality.

Is this true? Really? Who says so?

The Feds versus the MLM Gang: The Other Side of the Story
It is a fact that a few large MLMs have survived against the best efforts of law enforcement officials to shut them down, spending millions of dollars to protect, lobby, and insulate themselves. But the same could be said for any organized crime. It is difficult to stop once it becomes so large.

And MLMs look so legitimate to the public, so decent. So many nice people are involved. Surely, it can't be illegal! The people lower down may even defend the very organization that is robbing them, hoping that they might get their chance to make "the big money" later.
But if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it probably is a duck. Unless it is an MLM, and then it is NOT a pyramid.
The Feds generally see it differently... when the ML (multi-level) aspect begins to eclipse the M (marketing) of products or services.

People can make money in an MLM, undeniably. The moral issue is: Where is the money coming from? Selling product? Then why not sell the same product in the "real world"?
But everyone knows that the real incentive is the pyramid aspect, and the product just the excuse to make it legal, or at least the MLM promoter would like you to believe it is legal.
The Mob and the MLM: A Stretched Analogy?
Talk to a mobster, and he will tell you that he is "merely misunderstood in his benevolent intentions." "We are just trying to 'build our business.'" "It's all a conspiracy to make us look bad." "The Feds are out to get us because they are jealous or afraid of our new way of life." "Why, look at all the good we do!" "We are looking more legitimate every day." "Here's a statement from a famous DA that the Mob is really a good organization and no harm ever comes from it." "We've even got a minister to endorse us now!"

Propaganda and MLM Expansion

The MLMers of the new millennium are starting to sound a lot like the gangsters of yesteryear. In an era where management science and the law generally condemn MLM, they've "got their own experts," from academia or law, who are "on the payroll." Confidence, remember, is key.
Regardless of all the vehement denials, MLMs are all to some extent pyramid schemes, and pyramid schemes are illegal. Sure, some are "getting away with it," but so did the Mafia for decades. It is hard to stop a juggernaut, especially one that has taken such pains to look legitimate and misunderstood, that is highly organized, and that has so much money from its victims to propagandize, lobby, and defend itself. And so the exploitation goes on.

If these guys show up in your neighborhood, you are either "in" or "out," family or target, friend or foe. Suspicion rules the day; everyone has an "angle"; greed supplants innocence. The "neighborhood" is turned into a marketplace, and may never recover from the blow.
The ethical questions remain: Are MLMs a morally acceptable way to make money? Are they--and will they continue to be--legitimate?

MLM Proselytizing: Beneath Begging?

If money is needed that badly, why not simply ask friends and family for help rather than taking money from them under false pretenses--and also selling them a bill of goods? By "sponsoring" them, you have not only conned them and profited at their expense, you have made them feel like losers, since they are not able to make a success of the hopeless MLM concept.
Once seen, only the morally blind, or consciously criminal, could continue in such a "business."
But wait, perhaps you could recruit... your mother!

Moral Inventory

By way of review, the prospective MLM initiate has to face and resolve these ethical issues:
1. Do I want to be involved in encouraging people to be more materialistic?
2. Do I want to sell a product that perhaps couldn't be sold any other way?
3. Do I want to be a part of an enterprise famous for slander, libel, and rumor?
4. Do I want to be a part of a company that may employ criminals as marketing experts?
5. Do I want to make money off my ability to convince people that an unworkable marketing
system is viable?
6. Do I want to be known among my friends and family as a person who tried to con people
with a thinly veiled pyramid scheme?
If you can answer these questions "yes," training is available... But remember that God
is watching, even if you never get "successful" enough for the Feds to notice you.
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IV. Relationship Issues: An Experiential Problem

Learning the Hard Way

MLMs grow by exploiting people's relationships. If you are going to be in an MLM, you swallow hard and accept this as part of "building your business." This is "networking." But to those not "in" the MLM, it seems as if friendship is merely a pretext for phoniness, friendliness is suspected as prospecting, and so on. There is no middle ground here, try as you might.
While this is the most difficult point to make, it is perhaps the most important. Anyone who has any experience with an MLM has strong feelings, either for or against, and this is the problem.

Polarization runs deep.

High-pressure Selling -- Reserved for Pyramids Only

When it comes to selling product, MLM sales reps are probably no more aggressive or obnoxious than ordinary salespeople. Since most are not salespeople by nature, and it is characteristic that MLMs attract few people with any experience selling this particular product or service, they usually sell through pre-fab "parties" or home "demos." Thus, sales pressure is exerted by situation, if at all.
It should be noted that when selling product, the only distinction from a real-world business is the possibility for deception due to the "looseness" of the MLM and the incentive to exaggerate claims without any accountability. Other than this, selling product in an MLM is fairly similar to selling any product in the real world.

But when it comes to getting you "signed up" as a "distributor," the MLMers get pushy and deceptive beyond the boundaries of polite social norms.

Remember, an MLM is defined by its rewarding people to recruit others in multiple levels.
"Mother, Let Me Tell You About a Fantastic Opportunity..."

Even ex-accountants are willing to practice the crudest of high-pressure selling tactics, at least when it comes to "signing people up." The end justifies the means, when it comes to getting people to come to the "meetings," where the objective is to get a materialism frenzy going at high pitch through a slick speaker or video. The reasons for this "confidence building" should be obvious by now, but here we are considering the relationship cost associated with the "success" of the MLM.

The above title is meant to be absurd. Most people, no matter how jaded, would not foist such a con on their own mothers. Even if people don't know the specifics of what is wrong with MLMs, intuition often warns us: "Don't tamper with that relationship." The first marks for recruitment are the gullible, or the "expendable" friends. But successive moral compromise, experience, and desperation... may yet lead to "good old Mom."

Never Admit You Are Wrong

Many have left high-paying jobs to "pursue their dreams" in an MLM. Having been conned so dramatically, they do not easily admit defeat. It seems easier to cling to the bad dream in an increasing cycle of desperation to make the MLM work against all odds. "Losers" at the bottom congregate into support groups, perhaps spinning-off another MLM where they can be "boss."
There is an undeniable camaraderie among MLMers. But for everyone else, "there goes the neighborhood." It is saddening to see people being encouraged against all instinct and common sense to chase after an illusory "pot of gold," but what can be done?

Counting the Cost: The First Church of MLM

Many readers will share the experience of observing MLMs divide families, friends, churches, and civic groups. Lifelong friends are now "prospects." The neighborhood is now "a market." Motives change, suspicions rise, divisions form. The question is begged: "Is it worth it?"
Especially nasty is the church situation. Will the pastor join? If not, he will take a dim view of MLM proselytizing at church functions; animosity will rise, factions will form. You are either "in" or out. If the pastor joins, then those who are not "in" will feel a little uncomfortable in this church.

A church (or any community group) can be easily torpedoed by an MLM.
Trust Your Instincts?

For most people, thankfully, the MLM experience usually ends in very quick financial failure and is then sidelined. Two possible responses are: 1) being embarrassed about participation, or 2) becoming even more intractable when the MLM has failed. You will find the latter chasing after the latest "get rich quick" scheme with similar results. "If we could have just sponsored so and so--they have so many friends--we would have made it."
Thus, there is reason for the "bad taste" most people have for MLMs. By instinct if not experience or insight, we wince at the thought of what we know will follow in the wake of an MLM. Relationships strained, factions formed, deception, manipulation, greed, loss, a closet full of videotapes, brochures, and useless inventory that "everybody wants."

Disease Alert: Beware of MLM Blindness

Apparently, it is difficult for gung-ho MLMers to see how they look from the outside. They can watch lifelong friendships unravel, churches and civic groups poisoned, the avoidance of friends and family, etc., and never see that MLM was the cause.
If you try to point this pathology out, you are treated as if you have attacked the very gospel! Perhaps for some, the MLM approach is a new gospel?

They will claim to have made "new friends," most of which are MLMers or new acquaintances who could be considered "future prospects." The shallowness of these "new friends," the stilted conversations among the "old friends," and the embarrassment, in general, for what seems clear to everyone but the MLMer go unnoticed. Callousness sets in; standards are lowered.
Of course, it could be pointed out that this might have happened anyway. Perhaps the die-hard MLMers would have ruined their friendships anyway in some other non-MLM business failure. Is the MLM really the cause, or just the vehicle?

Business failure of any type is traumatic on the relationships involved, but in most small businesses there is at least the chance of success. And this is never the case in an MLM, unless "success" can be defined as profiting off of the failures of others.

Non-MLM real-world businesses that offer products of interest to friends, family, etc., such as insurance agents and small retail shop owners, seem to be more circumspect in dealing with personal relationships in all but a few rare (and grievous) cases. But the MLMer is recognizable by duplicity of friendship overtures, overbearing glad-handing, full-time prospecting, outrageous initial deception, and social callousness. This is no accident, but rather sheer desperation. How could it be otherwise? For the active MLMer is in a hopeless bear trap: with hubris as one steel jaw and oversaturation the other.

And so the MLM relationship "bull" tramples through the relationship "china closet," blindly ruining fragile and valuable things. Some never pull out of this, figuring the coldness they experience in their emotional lives is due to some other cause than their MLM participation.

The Aftermath

One can't help but wish that the "neighborhood" could be like it once was. But an MLM storm has blown through, ruining valuable relationships with no regret or conscience. And brace yourself, another one is coming. Perhaps it is in that smiling face approaching you, or in that nice letter you just received from a "friend"?

What goes unnoticed to the MLMer is that when the neighborhood is turned into a marketplace, something precious is lost... which is not easily regained.
This aspect of the MLM experience should not be underestimated, and the reflective reader would do well to think twice about the value of friends, family, community, and church fellowship before joining or continuing in an MLM.
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Summary of What's Wrong With Multi-Level Marketing

1. MLMs are "doomed by design" to recruit too many salespeople, who in turn will then
attempt to recruit even more salespeople, ad infinitum.

2. For many, the real attraction of involvement in multi-level marketing is the thinly
veiled pyramid con-scheme made quasi-legal by the presence of a product or service.

3. The ethical concessions necessary to be "successful" in many MLM companies are stark and
difficult to deal with for most people.

4. Friends and family should be treated as such, and not as "marks" for exploitation.
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It is hoped that by clearly pointing out "What is Wrong With Multi-Level Marketing" that many might be spared the inherent and associative pitfalls by avoiding the practice.
As well, for those who insist on practicing MLM, it is hoped that this analysis will serve as a handy framework of problem areas to be avoided if and where this is possible.
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Internet Links for Further Anti-MLM Research and Information
For more, see the Frequently Asked Questions, Additional Points and Rebuttals section at http://www.vandruff.com/mlm_FAQ.html E-Mail the author of this article, Dean Van Druff, at end of this section.

NOTE: This article was written in 1990 and was one of the first to critique MLM. Now there are many voices and resources concerning “product-based pyramid schemes.” Here are a few of my favorites.
The Pyramid-Scheme-Alert (PSA) organization offers consumer information on MLMs, news of legal cases, analytical tools, insightful articles, and an opportunity to affect new laws and social change by membership and contribution. You can do your own evaluation of any MLM program or suspected pyramid scheme.
False Profits is a book that traces out how MLM participation can commandeer and derail people's religious ideals at http://www.FalseProfits.com. See also "The 10 Big Lies of MLM" at http://www.mlmsurvivor.com/fitzpatrick.htm
Believe, The Movie is a humorous take on “Network Marketing”. Both MLMrs and “anti-MLM zealots” (ahem) are both lampooned.
Dr. Jon Taylor's website includes surveys of MLM tax preparers (do they really make money?), answers the question of “odds of success" at MLM verses gambling, and provides a history of MLM at http://www.mlm-thetruth.com
Ami Chen Mills Shaking the Money Tree captures the "stink" of MLM pathology and culture most vividly. Hold your nose, and dive into major deja-vu at http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/10.03.96/cover/multilevel-9640.html
Inc. Magazine's Norm Brodsky gives us "Multilevel Mischief" which depicts how MLMs churn through human relationships at http://www.inc.com/magazine/19980601/941.html
Peter Blood's The MLM File has research posted that, among other things, shows the problem of geometric expansion at http://www.themlmfile.com.au
FTC legal and historical overview at http://www.ftc.gov/speeches/other/dvimf16.htm
Consider Procter and Gamble's perspective on the Amway "Satan Rumor".
For articles on "MLM Harassment" at work, as well as postings on Amway and MLM in General, see The Skeptic's Dictionary at: http://skepdic.com/mlmhar.html
As a closing parable - if you are not already familiar with it - please click here to read a synopsis of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Emperor's New Clothes".
To send E-Mail to author Dean Van Druff on this subject, PLEASE read the FAQ first.
Baca lagi...

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