Oh, yep. These are just my applicable observations from the first link, (the one about communist brainwashing). How creepy. I hope that many people read this thread. Who in their right mind would sign up for a weekend of this, if they had any idea of what they were getting into? Of course, what they tell you is that they are "un-brainwashing" you, and setting you "free!"
BULLSH*T!
"1. Making the individual aware of control is the first stage in changing his behaviour. "
And in the first day of the Landmark forum, the forum leader establishes his absolute authority over the participants.
"2. Realization of his complete dependence upon the controlling system is a major factor in the controlling of his behavior. The controlled adult is forced to accept the fact that ... praise, and the only social contact ..."
Yes. Though there is no dependency for physical needs, they would have you ostracized, humiliated, ridiculed by the forum leader, if you didn't accept what they were preaching.
"3. The awareness of control and recognition of dependence result in causing internal conflict and breakdown of previous patterns of behaviour. ...it is almost invariably severe for the adult undergoing brainwashing. Only an individual who holds his values lightly can change them easily."
They were always trying to cause "breakdowns."
"4. Discovery that there is an acceptable solution to his problem is the first stage of reducing the individual's conflict. It is characteristically reported by victims of brainwashing that this discovery led to an overwhelming feeling of relief..."
It seemed to me that the "acceptable solution" was to think and act like other Landmark people.
"5. Reintegration of values and identification with the controlling system is the final stage in changing the behaviour of the controlled individual...His new value-system, his manner of perceiving, organizing, and giving meaning to events, is virtually independent of his former value system."
"Giving meaning to." That's rich, in the context of Landmark. I saw my former friends "change" their values. Actually, to me, it looked more as if they had lost their values altogether, but maybe that's just me.
"a. Elicitation, which is designed to get the individual to surrender protected information, is a form of interrogation...
...The procurement of protected information is secondary and is used as a device to increase pressure upon the individual."
I think this is pretty much what they do in the "sharing." Not all of the sharing is at the front of the room. Much sharing is done when people are given the exercises to do in dyads.
No physical torture that I am aware of, however, "Another wrinkle in communication control is the informer system. "
Oh yes!!! They snitch on you IF you disagree with anything. Even the mildest criticism is reported to the center manager, seminar leaders, etc. The first person to snitch on me was my recruiter.
"5. Induction of Fatigue. This is a well-known device for breaking will power and critical powers of judgment. Deprivation of sleep results in more intense psychological debilitation than does any other method of engendering fatigue."
This has been noted in regards to Landmark over and over again.
"6. Control of Food,Water and Tobacco. The controlled individual is made intensely aware of his dependence upon his interrogator for the quality and quantity of his food and tobacco. "
This they covered, in a roundabout way, by the inadequacy of their breaks.
"c. Petty demands, such as severely limiting the allotted time for use of toilet facilities or requiring the POW to kill hundreds of flies, are harassment methods."
Well, we all know that est was notorious for that.
BULLSH*T!
"1. Making the individual aware of control is the first stage in changing his behaviour. "
And in the first day of the Landmark forum, the forum leader establishes his absolute authority over the participants.
"2. Realization of his complete dependence upon the controlling system is a major factor in the controlling of his behavior. The controlled adult is forced to accept the fact that ... praise, and the only social contact ..."
Yes. Though there is no dependency for physical needs, they would have you ostracized, humiliated, ridiculed by the forum leader, if you didn't accept what they were preaching.
"3. The awareness of control and recognition of dependence result in causing internal conflict and breakdown of previous patterns of behaviour. ...it is almost invariably severe for the adult undergoing brainwashing. Only an individual who holds his values lightly can change them easily."
They were always trying to cause "breakdowns."
"4. Discovery that there is an acceptable solution to his problem is the first stage of reducing the individual's conflict. It is characteristically reported by victims of brainwashing that this discovery led to an overwhelming feeling of relief..."
It seemed to me that the "acceptable solution" was to think and act like other Landmark people.
"5. Reintegration of values and identification with the controlling system is the final stage in changing the behaviour of the controlled individual...His new value-system, his manner of perceiving, organizing, and giving meaning to events, is virtually independent of his former value system."
"Giving meaning to." That's rich, in the context of Landmark. I saw my former friends "change" their values. Actually, to me, it looked more as if they had lost their values altogether, but maybe that's just me.
"a. Elicitation, which is designed to get the individual to surrender protected information, is a form of interrogation...
...The procurement of protected information is secondary and is used as a device to increase pressure upon the individual."
I think this is pretty much what they do in the "sharing." Not all of the sharing is at the front of the room. Much sharing is done when people are given the exercises to do in dyads.
No physical torture that I am aware of, however, "Another wrinkle in communication control is the informer system. "
Oh yes!!! They snitch on you IF you disagree with anything. Even the mildest criticism is reported to the center manager, seminar leaders, etc. The first person to snitch on me was my recruiter.
"5. Induction of Fatigue. This is a well-known device for breaking will power and critical powers of judgment. Deprivation of sleep results in more intense psychological debilitation than does any other method of engendering fatigue."
This has been noted in regards to Landmark over and over again.
"6. Control of Food,Water and Tobacco. The controlled individual is made intensely aware of his dependence upon his interrogator for the quality and quantity of his food and tobacco. "
This they covered, in a roundabout way, by the inadequacy of their breaks.
"c. Petty demands, such as severely limiting the allotted time for use of toilet facilities or requiring the POW to kill hundreds of flies, are harassment methods."
Well, we all know that est was notorious for that.