August 5, 2011 By 33 Comments

The United Latino Rebels and Misrepresentation of Being Latinos

Some rights reserved by exfordy

I am looking for places to collaborate and share my thoughts and I find many channels with great people and not so great people. I have to say that blogging has helped me identify where I want to be and where I don’t want to be. I am so happy I decided to leave Being Latino a while back given the childish behavior of its Founder and articles published like the following.

I have had two very different experiences collaborating with two very different groups of Latinos based in the U.S. My last experience has been with a group of individuals who are very united, full of energy and passion with everything they do.

Not only are they supportive of each other but also they go above and beyond creating things to benefit others without any real benefit to themselves most of the time.

They are willing to face adversity and join as group to tackle many of the current issues that are related to Latinos. The writing and skill of most writers here is of a quality; I consider myself below their level. I admire most of the folks in the Latino Rebels group in a way they are all unique.

Here are some reasons why I admire the Latino Rebels:

Disagreement is an Opportunity for Everyone To Learn

Different to other places where I collaborated , every time we disagreed everyone expressed their point of view in a respectful way. Nobody is trying to push anyone into going a certain way.

Unconditional Support

Even when others disagree, they still step up to the plate to support your efforts. They might not agree with part of it (which is fine) but they are continously supporting what they do.

The Members are the Glue that keep it together

I decided to leave the group and once I did so I got various messages of support and letting me know that I was part of a group. This reminded me that when we break up, we lose our momentum, and our leverage towards the same issues we are all fighting for.

Respect Towards Other Groups

Although the Latino Rebels leadership has gotten a few detractors, these other individuals have a lot to learn from. In these scenarios the leadership has shown real, genuine, engagement, have taken the high road, and ignored the rest.

My Other Terrible Experience

Many months ago trying to follow the steps of my mentor Julio Varela and I signed up to write for Being Latino. They made me go through a process that I still ask myself why I submitted myself too (but I can only blame myself). Once the process ended, I wrote my first post and it took me a few days to realize the Toxic environment that I had gotten myself into. I decided to wait a while to see if it was a bad day or week. But after the third week I decided to leave Being Latino because of the negative energy that was being transferred to me via a computer.

Poorly run Fraternity (Being Latino)

They key reason I left was because they had many processes in place but could not handle the key things like supporting those that supported them. It felt like a full time job when every writer on Being Latino is not paid. I was submitted to a virtual hazing by one of the ignorant individuals in the group where he decided to harass new writers. This brought me memories of my days in college when I decided to join a fraternity. The only thing that made it different was that I am much older and did not sign up for a fraternity.

Why do I say it is poorly run? First when I addressed my concerns with the person who claims to be the King of Facebook and Engagement (Lance Rios) he clearly communicated via a Facebook message that he was not up to date on what happened in the day to day of Being Latino.

Not Being Grateful

Instead of being thankful for the time I spent writing for him he decided to act like he did me a favor for allowing me write. The conversation ended with him supposedly being offended by me expressing my opinion about him.

It’s Condescending when People Approach him with their thoughts

I guess the King of Facebook Engagement prefers people talking behind his back than addressing him directly. He clearly acted like the victim in our conversation and decided to end it. I gave him my last thoughts and I had not written to him since last February.

It Bothers Them When Others Succeed

Lance decided that being the King of Facebook he had to take control of the progress Latino Rebels has had. So he goes into the group with his “sharp engagement skills” to self promote Being Latino.

I commented on a post yesterday as a Latino Rebels Admin and Lance got defensive even though I really cared less that he commented and tried to self promote his sadly run Fraternity or Online Magazine like he likes to call it.

I decided to leave Latino Rebels since I realize I need to be focusing on some of my own personal and business efforts. It was a difficult decision to make given that I have a lot on my plate running Papaheroes.com, Veglatino.com, Cimapr.net, and this blog.

But with the news of my dad being diagnosed with cancer this morning, I decided that since I could not commit to the Latino Rebels I would remove myself from it until I could straighten many things.

Great Support from the Rebeldes

I have gotten great support from most of the Latino Rebels. But once the word got around that I removed myself from the group, I got this message from the The Ego Idiot himself Lance Rios applauding that I quit the Latino Rebels.

Not sure if Lance is aware that there is more to self promoting and attacking people that have supported you.

Here is the message that I received from Lance Rios once he heard the news and you make your own judgment of what kind of individual he is.

This is not he first time Lance acts like a child. There are many stories of Lance treating people like crap but many of us have decided to walk away. I guess today after hearing the news that My Dad ,the Rebelde who I look up too is battling Cancer, I had to write this post in honor of the Great Don Tito. I had to let Mr. Rios know that he is not as powerful as he thinks he is. Just because I was patient with him does not mean I am intimidated by his antics.

While Lance is too busy trying to divide what others like Julio Varela built, he should worry about some of the insulting content that is posted and misrepresented regarding the views of other Latinos.

Thank God for the bomb | Being Latino Online Magazine (As of the moment that I was going to Publish this they removed it from the site)

So Lance before you call someone condescending how do you feel about this racist and ignorant piece written on your poorly run blog?

 

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  • Anonymous

    Raul many people like to think they are leaders and they don’t know what the true meaning of that or collaboration. The ones who act like the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland with the “off with their heads” attitude because someone disagrees with them, show lack of maturity and selfishness. The message these types of people convey is “you are either with me or against me” and if you are against them, then they play the victim. They are the typical Ay Bendito people that I truly can not stand. 

  • Victoria Cepeda

     I could not have written a better blog Raul. While few will go on record to agree with you and tell their story, I am not afraid to do so because I was truly disrespected and offended. You and I share the same experience, with the differenc…e that I dedicated my time and writing to BL for seven months. Never expressed or disrespected anyone but got chastised and all my work removed from the site for having being straight up with Mr. Rios. Simply because I was not a coat rider and wanted to give some input. I did so candidly via E-mail. What I got in return was a personal attack after another. Still got all the e-mails.

    I was accused of everything under the stars and was bombarded by Brother Hazing himself, who called me “Dick Chaney” and worse things when I deffended one of our writers from Pa’lante that him and Mr. Rios were attacking and accusing of being a “disgruntled ex BL-blogger”. In addition, we at Pa’lante are constantly accussed of being copy cats and using Mr. Rios’ contacts. For what? I don’t know ’cause we still have our day jobs and everything we do and publish is merely for the information of the community. Not self-serving.

    In my opinion, BL has some dedicated writers and staff that are truly engaged and honorably doing their best to inform and serve their community. It’s the “cupula” that has no respect for the work some of the people that, like you and me, have volunteered to provide content.

    My downfall was to be approached by a Hispanic producer and journalist that liked my work and about whom I did an article. Brother Hazing came along to record the interview. I invited Mr. Rios to come as well but he was busy. Suddenly, I was persona non grata and attacks flew in my direction and BL’s former Managing Editor Efrain Nieves. Only because I wanted to provide input…

    Bueno, como tengo un par de ovarios bien puestos y no insulto si no doy cara es que comparto este comentario con todos los fans de Latino Rebels. I don’t care if I am accused of being a “disgruntled ex BL-blogger”. What I am not is afraid. Soy muy rebelde pero con causa :)

    Thank you for writing this. It has served me as a therapy.See More

    • http://raulcolon.net Raul Colon

      Victoria, 

      You have a new supporter and fan. Will be taking a look at the Palante Blog. 

      We need to find ways where we can find common interests and break away from competing to be the top person or the King of Facebook. 

      I guess when people sell their values and are only protecting their only interests they end up in emptiness. 

      • Victoria Cepeda

        Thank you Raul.

  • Anonymous

    brother, well written. i am new to this whole social media thing, but i agree that respect and accountability is needed. its common courtesy and the responsible thing to do. some people don’t see it that way and thats their loss. i never got to read the article on BL, but the title was a really poor choice. as i am currently writing this across town in MPLS the APIA community is celebrating 10 years of their spoken word summit and many of them are my friends. the insensitivity of thinking about how one’s writings my affect others is a must of in my book. the bomb was a horrible thing. thanking god for the bomb? even in a joking matter is offensive at the least.

    i am glad you are speaking your voice, i appreciate it. thank you for the kind words about the rebels. i think we are becoming a community which is good. Again thank you for kind words, but mostly for speaking your mind. prayers sent out so your father gets better fast.

    sometimes we gotta be podridos
    rsc 

    • http://raulcolon.net Raul Colon

      Rodrigo, 

      The article is available in PDF. As an ex Service Member I can’t believe that someone can be a huge moron. 

  • Anonymous

    We love you, hermano.

    • http://raulcolon.net Raul Colon

      I love you guys too! 

  • Method

    Truth is though Lance has some good intentions but he’s a clown. Kid acts like he’s a new yorker from the Bronx when he’s a kid from the stix. He didn’t do anything he just is good with social media and I think he really drank the Kool Aid on himself. I didn’t know to the extent he played people out, but I’m not surprised. I don’t know who he is kidding calling it an online magazine, what exactly is an online magazine anyway? He can front all he wants but the kid is a corny, corny clown.

    • http://raulcolon.net Raul Colon

      Method, 

      I have to disagree that he is good at being good at social media since he clearly does not get the social part. 

      He has played many out like I mention. He is constantly contradicting himself and playing the victim. With me I held back for a while and went my way but I guess since he had nothing else to do he is constantly tracing everyone else’s steps. 

      I only published part of the communications he has sent me. Which is a pattern he usually has with others. 

      It bothers me a bit that he misrepresents himself as someone who unites and all he wants is people to support whatever his little poor run fraternity stands for. 

      Like you although I have seen great people writing at Being Latino the others are more focused on their Ego’s than really informing. 

      Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. 

  • kickrocks

    Unfortunately, these stories are very common coming out of the BL camp. Keeping it real, Lance got lucky and started a group that had some momentum and the only thing I will credit him with is finding some (not all) talented writers to build the brand. His mistake is taking credit for what his team does, and claiming that someone else is responsible every time there is an issue.

    I remember when he use to beg people like me to make videos for him and then forbidding me from doing the same or even sharing the same video for a website that has preceded him for years. I stopped working with him when he told me that all my writings and videos that I submitted to BL can never be shared with another website, especially the website that requested to use it because he wanted to make “that website” dissapear into obscurity. I left BL and have not written or posted videos since. I am not even on FB anymore, I am disgusted.

    I agree with you Raul,Being good at social media means being the face and the spirit of your brand, not being a dictator that has his portrait as a logo of BL (reminds me of Hitler). His pitbull Cesar has a big mouth behind a monitor but in person, he is a softee only good to talk behind peoples back, even his ex recognizes that. Lance perceives what he has in his little sandbox as power, badmouthing other organizations, just being a bully.My message to LanceHating others that do good in the community will never make you or your organization any better than a few bochincheros that hang out together claiming a sandbox when there is a whole playground out there.Cannot wait to see what will happen to BL when Facebook sinks.

    • http://raulcolon.net Raul Colon

      Thanks for leaving the comments and sharing your story. There have been many like these one but only a few of us where so tired we decided to speak our mind. I thank you and  @dbb4dcdcf6416355875e0e2965e7fc4f:disqus , @8f7739ef1115b852fb56216cdaa5e5d0:disqus ,  @rscspokenword:disqus , @latinorebels:disqus , and the many others for  sharing there story.

      While Lance continues to put up a front and his childish antics and others keep quiet it only empowers him to continue this behavior.

      Kick, there are many good people out there don’t let your experience with Being Latino and Lance keep you away from showing your talent. 

      You have a supporter here. and thanks for supporting my argument.  

    • Method

      You are absolutely right about everything.  Not only that, but he and Ceasar can’t take any criticism at all.  We’re talking about guys that would be nobodies (not that they’re “somebodies”) without getting lucky.  He wants it to be a product where everyone uses his, instead of contributing to the overall cause.  At the end of the day, what product is there?  There’s nothing to be sold.  You want to sell people on pride of their heritage, like BL had to teach people about their heritage from the ground up?  It’s so opportunistic.

      I saw his response to this which was pure absolute unadulterated drivel.  Claiming to take a high road and not response to criticism is such a bitch move because it was all about being self aggrandizing, not some sort of moral issue.  Of course sycophants are always going to sweat because that’s what they do.

      In my opinion, if these issues are so widespread, it’s only a matter of time before he slips or just pisses off the wrong person.  Good point if FB tanks because there’s no Twitter presence and like I said he thinks what he has is like he invented the wheel

      • http://raulcolon.net Raul Colon

        Method, 

        I think you are giving them more credit than they deserve. The only thing they have accomplished is pretty much making a lot of people hit like on a Facebook page. That does not mean building a solid community. 

        Same reason why his website stats are supposedly confidential. My guess is that they don’t have great numbers and have to put up a front. 

        As for his response I agree looking at his comments on how many people attack him online, should be enough for raising a flag and trying to analyze if he is doing something wrong. His comment on having walk the walk are a good example on how he determines himself to have accomplished a lot even more than his readers. 

        The arrogance and his ego-idiocy are something that seem like an exaggeration. He has been pissing off a lot of people and that is catching up to him. 

        I hope that the comments here serve so that he can look back and realize that we all make mistakes and bullying people privately and then acting the victim is not the high road. 

        As you can see in his message via Facebook it was clear he was spreading hate but does not want to own up to him. When it backfired on him then he played victim and tried to write a post pointing fingers. 

        Thanks again for the comments. 

      • Dante D’Angeli

        How did they “lucky”?

      • Dante D’Angeli

        I meant how did they get lucky? Would love to know tips on being successful on social media.

        • http://raulcolon.net Raul Colon

          Dante, 

          I guess they can call it luck because they have been deceiving many with the real motives behind Being Latino. I can clearly say that if you want to be successful using social media I would follow these key factors:

          * Transparency
          * Helping Others
          * Being Faithful to Your Value System
          * Sharing what others create
          * And being responsive

          With those key factors and never forgetting to be yourself you will find benefits in using social media. I hope that helps. 

  • Anonymous

    It is interesting to note that we have already been blocked from the Being Latino page and several Rebels have also been blocked. When we did write our piece about Latino unity (which in fact called out Being Latino as a page for people to follow), we sincerely believed that the biggest problem with Latinos in general is that we let our egos get in the way and that blinds us. Even though we are still getting called from members of BL for being hypocrites, extremists, losers, rejects, and our favorite one “cafeteria communists” (what does that mean, anyway?), we have wished Lance all the best in his endeavors but we did say that we can no longer promote their content due to how we are being treated and called out for causing trouble. What is sad is that BL has very great people but in the end, its leadership and a small minority of its staff continues to belittle us and others What is also sad is that there is now a guilt by association movement that has hurt several people who are just innocent bystanders.

    We will still try to stay positive and this is the last comment we will ever say about this situation, but it is clear from what we have heard and seen, if you are not BL then you are not a “true” Latino page, which is sad because there are so many GREAT pages out there and so many good people who help each other each and every day, support each other, and believe that if you can create a true social and positive environment that will make everyone successful. That is our goal, but we are pretty certain that the negative comments about us will continue even more. But we will not be denied, no matter what.
    Like we tell everyone: there are gazillions of pages on the Internet. If you don’t like us, don’t follow us, but do you really have to attack us personally and hide behind your attacks and not contact us directly? We are more than happy to have you tell us we suck balls on our page. We have an open forum. To not do that is just pathetic and sad.

    So we say LONG live the LOSERS and CAFETERIA COMMUNISTS!!! Life is too short to harp on this. We have moved on and we will continue our mission.Peace to you, Raúl.

    Love,
    The Rebeldes

    • http://raulcolon.net Raul Colon

      It is great to see that many of us feel this way. Thanks for stopping by and leaving your thoughts again.

    • Anonymous

      i think the cafeteria communist is another synonym for coffe shop revolutionary.. aka fake, poser.
      -rsc

  • http://bellavidabyletty.blogspot.com/ BellaVida

    I can already see how expressing yourself has helped others.  Another example of why speaking out against wrongs is so important. 

    • http://raulcolon.net Raul Colon

      Letty, 

      Thanks for stopping by with this message. I appreciate all the support you have given me here and in the other blogs where you create awesome content of value for many. 

      I do agree with you that expressing ourselves via a blog when we see someone acting in a way that is not appropriate is healthy every once in a while. 

      • http://twitter.com/IvelisseArroyo Ivelisse Arroyo

        Raul, my friend, I’m just shocked by yourworstnightmare comment.  I just met you personally a less than a month ago, also lucymfel, ur beautiful baby and other PRican bloggers and I have to say I had a wonderful experience with you guys.  Even, Nelson Bermejo, who could be, if he wanted, the most arrogant person, since he’s a radio celebrity and he was the first person i met on our event and he was the most humble and kind person I could ever imagine.

        As of Julito Varela, creator of LATINO REBELS, I met him in the most sad way, when he and he’s family were grieving the loss of a little boy that spread PR news.  All this family received throughout all media was awful, I felt so bad that when i saw a msg he wrote expressing his sadness for the loss, I was happy I was able to send a reply tweet giving my condolence words to him and his family.  Since then and recently I started socializing with him, personally on FB and Latino Rebels.  I have nothing bad to say about this man neither you.

        But when i read YOURWORSTNIGHTMARE comment it just makes me furious cuz NO ONE has the right to believe that when we “HELP’ others grow the OWE US; that is UNACCEPTABLE.  The word HELP is gift from you to someone else from the HEART, meaning you dont’ own bragging rights for that, Because when you DEMAND (very differente from HELP) bragging rights then your HELP wasnt from THE HEART and that makes anybody a bad person.

        From psychology point of view this person has some criteria for Narcisistic Disorder.  He will only seek what’s is convenient and good for himself, he will take advantage of everybody and criticism is insulting to him, cuz he feels grand and perfect.  He is not a happy person, cuz he needs to feel grand in order tu survive.  In the end he will fall, trust me.  Just don’t waste more energy on this, is not worth it.  I agree with Latino Rebels.

        When you HELP someone you feel happy if with your help that person suceeded and you support them all the way.  And you will never have to beg for recognition, because ppl will thank you automatically just because what you do is genuine, humble and with an open heart.  You Raul and Julito have shown me that in just a small period of time.  You will both succeed in any endeavour you take.

        As George Lopez show got cancelled because he felt he was the King of the Latinos in TV, which it was sickk to watch him make fun of Latinos for money and sucess, this man will get his turn.  Just watch as he falls!

        You and Julito have my support, thank God I met you guys first. 

        • Anonymous

          Ivelisse, tus palabras me llenan de amor. Gracias por el apoyo. Con respecto a las mentiras y acusaciones que estoy recibiendo aquí y en la Internet, ya llevo casi cuatro años haciendo esto, como se dice en la isla, no me importa tres c-rajos. Jejejeje. Sigue siendo lo que eres, y siempre tendrás en fan boricua en Boston y ¡espero conocerte en la isla PRONTO!

          Abrazos,
          Julito

          • http://twitter.com/IvelisseArroyo Ivelisse Arroyo

            Tu eres de lo mios Julito, I dont give tres c-rajos tampoco de lo que puedan decir de mi. LOL! I look forward to meet you too! :D

        • http://raulcolon.net Raul Colon

          The funny part is that the only thing they gave me and @julito77:disqus  was the opportunity to work for free so they could continue bragging even to this date. I thankfully realized after three weeks of writing for them that I had better things to do than work for free for charity. 

          As for the comments of them giving us something they claim high numbers I think to this date from the three posts I wrote for them which I did as gift I got about 20 visitors to my site. 

          The reason I decided to out them was because they use these tactics of using nicknames and privates messages in attempt to show force. In my case I have heard the story of the Ego-Idiot and his lame and weak sidekick the small male mosquito that makes a lot of noise but does not bite. 

          Something they will never have is individuals who come out and defend them out of the kindness of there heart as you have done. 

          I owe many people for the support they have given me and in a short period of time you have done so. 

          I have to be grateful to @julito77 to have put me in contact with you. I have other people like @alexklevine:twitter ,  @jacqcarly:twitter , @margieclayman:twitter , @thebrandbuilder:twitter ,  @ricsam:twitter , @bellavida:disqus , @ricklipsett:twitter and many others that I have learned from them a lot. 

          As for the moron that left the cowardly comment disguised behind a nickname he is at his mom’s house playing xbox. We have already traced him to somewhere close to Dyker Heights in Brooklyn. Near the Gowanus Expressway. :)  

          • http://twitter.com/IvelisseArroyo Ivelisse Arroyo

            True my friend.  They will never have ppl like us saying something good for them from the heart. Just watch the timber go down on its own and get ready with hands and serrucho cuz lot of ppl will need ppl like u n Julito to get warmed up by the wood of this timber once it falls down.

          • http://twitter.com/JacqCarly Jacqueline Carly

            Awww, thank you hermanito :-) xxxooo

  • Yourworstnightmare

    Raul, I have been quiet, you
    have not heard my side of this yet. You are very ungrateful. If it were not for
    BEING LATINO, nobody would know who you are. Actually you are only trying to
    build your name of Lance’s back. You an your rebellious clan  threw the first punch and went on a
    malicious blogging spree to the biggest and best resource for Latinos on the
    web. We are making moves you can never make. Ask Heineken, Hennessy and Latino
    Fox News what they would do without Lance Rios and BEING LATINO.

    Ask your boy
    Julito who made him relevant, it was only because of his work with Lance that
    he was able to start something like LATINO REBELS. You do what you want, and
    say what you want but you get no respect in our circles buddy, in my book you
    are a effin crybaby, my only lament is I will not see you soon enough to tell
    you personally.

    YOU KNOW WHO!

    • http://raulcolon.net Raul Colon

      I guess it is the broken down fraternities chihuahua que ladra y no muerde! 

    • Anonymous

      You are one classy individual. Thanks for hating us. Your Favorite Cafeteria Communists. MUAH!

  • luis antonio ramos

    this is just right  on raul on all points…kudos hermano!

    • http://raulcolon.net Raul Colon

      Luis, 

      Thanks for the support.. Aca la orden!