The Internet Millionaires Club .... coming soon to Radio 4

[Clinton]

Program coming to Radio 4 on Friday.

Read about it here.

Thousands of people dream of doing just that (becoming millionaires), using the internet. They call it "passive income", or "the laptop lifestyle". In this documentary Jolyon Jenkins meets the people trying to make it work - and the others who are telling them that their dream really could come true....

It is a bigger business than you might imagine. For example at the World Internet Summit in a hotel near Heathrow, several hundred people gathered to listen to globe trotting gurus...

In the programme, Jolyon enters this world of globalised hack work, churning out dozens of articles on "How to Get Your Ex Back", "Getting Rid of Boils", and - as a low point - "Huggies Printable Wipes Coupons"...

The conclusion apparently is that "it is possible to get rich through internet marketing. But only by polluting the internet with rubbish..."

Loser! Does he not talk with people who ARE making money but who may not necessarily be selling Get Rich Quick courses? Maybe not. I'll try and tune in if I remember.

[crabfoot]

Might be interesting to see someone try to use a Huggies Printable Wipe!

Seriously, though, you can't help everybody ... especially the ones without an original thought in their heads who can't actually read and understand the instructions ...

[Kay]

I wonder what has 'inspired' this recent fascination of the British media with making money online. There was the MMO TV programme mentioned recently, and now this. It reminds me of the BBC World Click programme, which seems to specialise in telling people what loads of us knew years ago and yet they present it as though it was breaking news.

I will, of course, listen to the prog if I get the chance, but I can't help feeling that it's going to be very, very annoying.

[crabfoot]

I wonder what has 'inspired' this recent fascination of the British media with making money online.

It's all part of the modern trend towards making shows "on the cheap". The only stereotype for a cheap programme that the UK have resisted so far is the US episode where the main character appears for a couple of minutes at the beginning and end, with the rest of the programme being filled with retro clips from earlier episodes.

Then again, true cheap programming comes from STV. Only Scotland could produce Taggart - a series where the main character has been dead for years and never appears!

[grynge]

It's all part of the modern trend towards making shows "on the cheap". The only stereotype for a cheap programme that the UK have resisted so far is the US episode where the main character appears for a couple of minutes at the beginning and end, with the rest of the programme being filled with retro clips from earlier episodes.

Then again, true cheap programming comes from STV. Only Scotland could produce Taggart - a series where the main character has been dead for years and never appears!

In Australia they take a UK/USA program remove the UK/USA presenter and place in an Aussie voice to get around our Australian % content laws. The first few I saw were word for word the same from the previous presenter, but now they change it midly to suit aussie lingo.

[Clinton]

The programme isn't out yet and it's already annoying me. For example, their use of the term "internet marketing". The assumption is that Internet Marketing is the only route to making money online! This is a mistake often made by internet marketers who can't see beyond their noses. These internet marketers would like us to put them and their skills on a pedestal and honour, respect and worship their religion.

That of course fails to take into account online currency traders, domainers and a host of other experts - even thieves - and the routes they use to the money.

There are more ways to making a living on the internet than article writing. Ask Brin and Page.

[Edo]

I think we can expect more and more of these programs as the economic downturn continues. People always want a quick way out of their financial problems and becoming an overnight internet millionaire plays into that.

[Kay]

Then again, true cheap programming comes from STV. Only Scotland could produce Taggart - a series where the main character has been dead for years and never appears!

Oh, how can you say such a terrible thing? I don't know if I could ever forgive you for that (even if you did send me some Twiglets). Taggart is a brilliant prog with an excellent cast and great scripts. It's not their fault that the guy who played the title character, Mark McManus, died when the show was still in its prime. It's a tribute to all involved in making the programme how well they managed to continue so successfully and for so long after "Taggart" was no longer in this world.

Taggart is an excellent example of great TV from the Scots. Anyone who disagrees deserves to go and stand for a while in the corner for naughty people.

[Kay]

Sorry, let's get back on topic. People who don't know anything about the internet or how it works seem to think you can buy a magic recipe about Internet Marketing and get rich quick from it - or make a TV/radio programme about it to excite those who are desperate for a magic pill.

It requires a certain mindset. You have to get up in the morning and chant, "I will be rich soon", whilst rubbing your earlobes. But the great unwashed are likely to believe it, and the media hype. I'll never forget the time when xyz said to me, "It must be true! I read it in the Sunday Post!"

Many people believe what they read in the newspapers or see and hear on TV or radio. Often they want to believe in it, especially if it's a "new" way to help them get through some difficult times.

I've no idea exactly what the programme will consist of but it could lead to many flocking to fill the pockets of the MMO "gurus". Bah!

[KenW3]

Often, producers of shows like this are as clueless as n00bs, and go off to find experts in a field they have identified. Their interest is selling advertising for a sponsor to pay their salaries. Beyond this, they take no responsibility, and this is how it always has been. The only reason indignation occurs here on EP is because members understand what the show producers never will.

Most people watching this show will never take any action to further their lot in life. It will be entertainment - a dream that requires more effort than will ever be willingly expended. For a few though, a very few, opportunity will be recognised and pursued. Further research will be done, exploration of what can be may even become an obsession for a better future for themselves and their families. Eventually, some may even make their way here and be able to start to see their way through the misdirection, those who are placed to take advantage of them, and find a way to move forward.