Concernedandsad,
I left Landmark over six years ago. I had taken the forum because someone whom I had considered a good friend had been pushing for a year, and swore that it would change my life. It did, but not for the better. After the forum, I did several seminars, and participated in the assisting program for about a year. By the end of the year, I could clearly see the sabotage that took place in the assisting program, and felt that it was a waste of time. I also became aware that this "friend" was reporting information back to the people at Landmark about my personal life. The people at Landmark made no secret of the fact that they were deep into my personal business.
My friend had also been a kind, compassionate, trustworthy person before she got involved with Landmark. Once she did the Introduction Leaders program, her entire character changed. She became manipulative, deceitful, and was willing to participate in activities that she would never have even considered engaging in before.
We were in a spiritual group together, and there came a time when, at the close of a meeting, she said that the group was a safe space, and that we should "know that nobody here would do anything to hurt you, unless it was for your own good."
I called her after that meeting, and told her in no uncertain terms that she did NOT EVER have my consent or the authority to make a decision to "hurt me for my own good", and that if she was even considering that, she should simply tell me to leave the group, and I would. She assured me that the comment had not been directed at me, and that she had been referring to a misunderstanding between herself and another group member, (which we were all aware of).
The forum and seminars did not, in and of themselves, upset me. I would often tell myself, when I was there, that I was there of my own free will, and that I could leave any time I chose. Toward the end, I saw how they were using personal information against me, (or at least to try to get to me), and that this information had been obtained without my consent. I have very good reason to believe that their activities in regards to me took place largely outside of the center, and this is what concerns me. I don't know how much I am allowed to say, but I will stop here, until given further instructions by the moderator.
I left Landmark over six years ago. I had taken the forum because someone whom I had considered a good friend had been pushing for a year, and swore that it would change my life. It did, but not for the better. After the forum, I did several seminars, and participated in the assisting program for about a year. By the end of the year, I could clearly see the sabotage that took place in the assisting program, and felt that it was a waste of time. I also became aware that this "friend" was reporting information back to the people at Landmark about my personal life. The people at Landmark made no secret of the fact that they were deep into my personal business.
My friend had also been a kind, compassionate, trustworthy person before she got involved with Landmark. Once she did the Introduction Leaders program, her entire character changed. She became manipulative, deceitful, and was willing to participate in activities that she would never have even considered engaging in before.
We were in a spiritual group together, and there came a time when, at the close of a meeting, she said that the group was a safe space, and that we should "know that nobody here would do anything to hurt you, unless it was for your own good."
I called her after that meeting, and told her in no uncertain terms that she did NOT EVER have my consent or the authority to make a decision to "hurt me for my own good", and that if she was even considering that, she should simply tell me to leave the group, and I would. She assured me that the comment had not been directed at me, and that she had been referring to a misunderstanding between herself and another group member, (which we were all aware of).
The forum and seminars did not, in and of themselves, upset me. I would often tell myself, when I was there, that I was there of my own free will, and that I could leave any time I chose. Toward the end, I saw how they were using personal information against me, (or at least to try to get to me), and that this information had been obtained without my consent. I have very good reason to believe that their activities in regards to me took place largely outside of the center, and this is what concerns me. I don't know how much I am allowed to say, but I will stop here, until given further instructions by the moderator.