Wow......something to think about. -- irish dance

[ Show ]

Support VoyForums

[ Shrink ]

VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, [3] ]

Subject: Wow......something to think about.

Author:
!

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 14:09:07 04/12/04 Mon
In reply to: caveat 's message, "Think before you transfer!" on 17:45:55 03/28/04 Sun

>Mind-Manipulating Groups:
>Are you or a Family Member a Victim?
>The following statements, compiled by Dr. Michael
>Langone, editor of Cultic Studies Journal, often
>characterize manipulative groups. Comparing these
>statements to the group with which you or a family
>member is involved may help you determine if this
>involvement is cause for concern. Place a checkmark
>beside all items that characterize the group in
>question. If you check many of these items, and
>particularly if you check most of them, you might
>consider examining the group more closely.
>
>Keep in mind that this checklist is meant to stimulate
>thought, not "diagnose" groups.
>
>We suggest that you check all characteristics that
>apply to your or your loved one's group, then print
>this page for future reference. You may find that your
>assessment changes over time, with further reading and
>research.
>
> The group is focused on a leader to whom members seem
>to display excessively zealous, unquestioning
>commitment.
>
> The group is preoccupied with bringing in new
>members.
>
> The group is preoccupied with making money.
>
> Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or
>even punished.
>
> Mind-numbing techniques (such as meditation,
>chanting, speaking in tongues, denunciation sessions,
>debilitating work routines) are used to suppress
>doubts about the group and its leader(s).
>
> The leadership dictates sometimes in great detail how
>members should think, act, and feel; how to dress;
>what to buy.
>
> The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted
>status for itself, its leader(s), and members.
>
> The group has a polarized us- versus-them mentality,
>which causes conflict with the wider society.
>
> The group's leader is not accountable to any
>authorities.
>
> The group teaches or implies that its supposedly
>exalted ends justify means that members would have
>considered unethical before joining the group (for
>example: lying).
>
> The leadership induces guilt feelings in members in
>order to control them.
>
> Members' subservience to the group causes them to cut
>ties with former friends, and to give up personal
>goals and activities that were of interest before
>joining the group.
>
> Members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of
>time to the group.
>
> Members are encouraged or required to live and/or
>socialize only with other group members

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]