rrmoderator wrote:
"It's better that the troubled person either prove objectively that such stalking actually exists..."
I agree with this completely. What you have to understand is that it is like trying to catch a peeping tom. That is now becoming easier for people who have security cameras mounted around their homes. For those who cannot afford that, it is still difficult. Up until recently, catching them was extremely difficult, because when seconds count, the police are minutes away. Many voyeurs were able to continue their activities for years before they were caught because of this.
"There have been proven situations when groups called "cults" like Scientology and NXIVM stalked and harassed their perceived enemies. There are police reports and court records to substantiate this."
I hope that, as these groups are investigated, their typical methods of operation will be noted, and other groups will be investigated.
Also, the "patients" need to be looked at. When an LGAT states, on their own consent form, that psychiatric casualties have occurred, even among participants who had no history of mental illness, that would draw my interest. There are factors, such as signalment, that might point the way. Most schizophrenics, for example, are diagnosed in their teens or early twenties. When someone in their 40's suddenly starts exhibiting symptoms, with no previous history, maybe that case should be revisited. Also, are there other signs of mental illness? Can the patient carry on a perfectly lucid conversation with the psychiatrist/therapist about any/all other topic(s), showing no sign of mental illness? Is the "craziness" limited to when they speak of their LGAT/cult experience?
Mental illness obviously exists, and cults can exacerbate it, I am sure. I just wish that professionals dealing with people exiting cults would put a little more effort into separating the wheat from the chaffe.
"It's better that the troubled person either prove objectively that such stalking actually exists..."
I agree with this completely. What you have to understand is that it is like trying to catch a peeping tom. That is now becoming easier for people who have security cameras mounted around their homes. For those who cannot afford that, it is still difficult. Up until recently, catching them was extremely difficult, because when seconds count, the police are minutes away. Many voyeurs were able to continue their activities for years before they were caught because of this.
"There have been proven situations when groups called "cults" like Scientology and NXIVM stalked and harassed their perceived enemies. There are police reports and court records to substantiate this."
I hope that, as these groups are investigated, their typical methods of operation will be noted, and other groups will be investigated.
Also, the "patients" need to be looked at. When an LGAT states, on their own consent form, that psychiatric casualties have occurred, even among participants who had no history of mental illness, that would draw my interest. There are factors, such as signalment, that might point the way. Most schizophrenics, for example, are diagnosed in their teens or early twenties. When someone in their 40's suddenly starts exhibiting symptoms, with no previous history, maybe that case should be revisited. Also, are there other signs of mental illness? Can the patient carry on a perfectly lucid conversation with the psychiatrist/therapist about any/all other topic(s), showing no sign of mental illness? Is the "craziness" limited to when they speak of their LGAT/cult experience?
Mental illness obviously exists, and cults can exacerbate it, I am sure. I just wish that professionals dealing with people exiting cults would put a little more effort into separating the wheat from the chaffe.