If I can put in my own two cents worth;
I think Corboy writes from the heart. He has stated that his own life has been effected by a cult and I think he wants to share the intricacies of how he felt in order to help others.
Of course, what Corboy says might not be relevant to each and every person who's life has been effected by a cult.... but I find his intentions very sincere.
Some people who have been involved with cults look back on their time in the cult and say that it wasn't all bad - like "I yam what I yam" who has posted in this discussion, a few pages back. I find her account sincere, too. It's really difficult for me to accept that someone could gain any benefit at all from being involved in a cult, but if she says that she did benefit and we have to acknowledge her account.
SadGame, you might be feeling stressed about anyone who uses persuasive language to explain their point of view, because you are 'suspicious' that you might fall under their influence, in a similar way to how a cult leader can influence us.
I actually have the same problem. Up until I came under the influence of Moo and his mind control techniques, I never had this kind of worry in my life!
I was the type of person who would just laugh at politicians and the kind of bombastic persuasive language that they would use to railroad an interviewer on tv, for example. I only found this kind of thing amusing.
If I read a book that I thought was hogwash, I would think to myself "how did that book ever find a publisher? That person who wrote it does not sound educated!"
Now, I actually do see plenty of times in my personal life where I have come under the influence of other people's opinions, especially group opinions, and at those times, they did manage to influence how I felt and what I thought, without me thinking critically about what was going on!
One example I can think of now is a job I used to have in a large public institution where there was a cultish atmosphere. You had to say and do things like everyone else in order to fit in and be accepted.
Another example was a personal relationship where I was gaslighted to the point where I became confused and unhappy.
If I hadn't have had the experience of coming under the influence of Moo, then I doubt I would be able to question these prior experiences to the same degree.
So, SadGame, I think you are right to question everything, at this point in time.
It is healthy to be questioning things.
I think Corboy writes from the heart. He has stated that his own life has been effected by a cult and I think he wants to share the intricacies of how he felt in order to help others.
Of course, what Corboy says might not be relevant to each and every person who's life has been effected by a cult.... but I find his intentions very sincere.
Some people who have been involved with cults look back on their time in the cult and say that it wasn't all bad - like "I yam what I yam" who has posted in this discussion, a few pages back. I find her account sincere, too. It's really difficult for me to accept that someone could gain any benefit at all from being involved in a cult, but if she says that she did benefit and we have to acknowledge her account.
SadGame, you might be feeling stressed about anyone who uses persuasive language to explain their point of view, because you are 'suspicious' that you might fall under their influence, in a similar way to how a cult leader can influence us.
I actually have the same problem. Up until I came under the influence of Moo and his mind control techniques, I never had this kind of worry in my life!
I was the type of person who would just laugh at politicians and the kind of bombastic persuasive language that they would use to railroad an interviewer on tv, for example. I only found this kind of thing amusing.
If I read a book that I thought was hogwash, I would think to myself "how did that book ever find a publisher? That person who wrote it does not sound educated!"
Now, I actually do see plenty of times in my personal life where I have come under the influence of other people's opinions, especially group opinions, and at those times, they did manage to influence how I felt and what I thought, without me thinking critically about what was going on!
One example I can think of now is a job I used to have in a large public institution where there was a cultish atmosphere. You had to say and do things like everyone else in order to fit in and be accepted.
Another example was a personal relationship where I was gaslighted to the point where I became confused and unhappy.
If I hadn't have had the experience of coming under the influence of Moo, then I doubt I would be able to question these prior experiences to the same degree.
So, SadGame, I think you are right to question everything, at this point in time.
It is healthy to be questioning things.