Good that you found an avenue to help you deprogram. I think most of us deprogrammed a while ago, at least the parts that we found incongruous.
And actually, I can understand, how initially you might find Barry helpful in this regard as his agenda* is to uncover and expose what he sees as cult behavior. But, in order to remain on Barry's good terms you will find that you must adhere to some pretty strict guidelines, and really, as I've said before, adhere to his inflexible, two post rule. And you will have to put up with many subtle (and not so subtle) misrepresentations, and a generally mean personality. It may work for a while, but after the fifth, sixth, or twelfth year, it really starts to stink. That's why, when he left, there was a consensus that a waft of fresh air came in. Now, unfortunately, we see the expulsion of two other members, one of whom, I liked very much, in spite of our many disagreements, and another one who could best be described as Barry's sidekick. But, at least he, was pretty straightforward in his repetitive tirades. He wasn't into demeaning other members, just his usual suspects. * agenda, as I define it, is the intention to twist, or distort an otherwise honest interaction to achieve some pre-ordained conclusion. (-: What I learnt from you and Barry and others was that you can break free from the organisation if you want. This place was my exit counsellor and place to discuss cults and religions and how we got involved in any of them and why. It was cathartic and illuminating and entertaining all at once. This is what we get from different perspectives, different viewpoints. It used to be a good halfway house between cult and sanity and that's a good thing and you guys helped with that a lot. FFL was a good place to vent and get things in perspective and talk to people who were there and who know what it's all about. Buck doesn't want that. He's had an agenda to get rid of us "apostates" for a long time and it's sad that Rick let him. When one man has the right to mould the place in his own image then we all stop learning anything new, it all just sinks to some bland middle ground. Sure it's fun to talk about what movies we've seen and museums we've been to but the most instructive people have gone and this place has lost it's magic because of that. But at least you're still here to offer reasoned debate to Buck, not that he'll engage with you. I'll just get quoted a few lines of the guidelines and that will be that. ---In [email protected], <[email protected]> wrote : ---In [email protected], <awoelflebater@...> wrote : ---In [email protected], <[email protected]> wrote : ---In [email protected], <geezerfreak@...> wrote : The hypocrisy from Doug/Buck is breathtaking. What's next from you, Poland? The bloke is an arsehole. If he'd had a millionth of the things to say that the people he's just deleted have this place might limp on for a bit longer but he's just a dumb fuck who reads off the TM bliss brochure to make up for the fact he gave up free thought decades ago. You'd have to be as brainwashed as he is to think otherwise. You're making me laugh. Every time you say "bye" you keep coming back. That's fine but what's the deal here? Just can't stay away? I'm waiting to get deleted. But Captain Unity hasn't got up yet so I can play around a bit longer. Come on Buck, what's keepin' ya! There's an "apostate" who needs your attention to stop him telling the truth about things. If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/g/georgewash146824.html?src=t_freedom_of_speech George Washington http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/g/george_washington.html
