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Financial success indeed - the only people who get that are the con-artists selling the crummy product!
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I got out of Landmark in June 2007 when I finally realized that they are a cult and the negative impact on my life that being in Landmark was creating. The thing that got me out of Landmark is that the woman that I'm dating started pointing things out to me that didn't make sense. So I stated questioning what was going on. She was persistent otherwise I might still be in there.
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Zorro
I got out of Landmark in June 2007 when I finally realized that they are a cult and the negative impact on my life that being in Landmark was creating. The thing that got me out of Landmark is that the woman that I'm dating started pointing things out to me that didn't make sense. So I stated questioning what was going on. She was persistent otherwise I might still be in there.
Another friend of mine had pointed out the same things but I was too caught up in the Landmark BS to believe her. I eventually stopped being her friend and now only occasionally talk with her.
My other friends knew something was up but didn't say anything.
So my own advice to people who have friends and loved ones in Landmark or thinking about joining Landmark is to be persistant. Point out the obvious, such as changes in behavior, job performance, and just plain reality. Also be prepared to face the fact that your loved one may not leave Landmark and also may stop associating with you.
When I left Landmark I contacted the friends that I made in Landmark and tried to convince them to leave. None of them have left. But one seems to be toying with the idea. I sadly realized the friends that I made in Landmark are so caught up in it that they may never get out of it. Also a lot of them tried to get me to go back to Landmark.
Which brings up another aspect. If you have a friend or loved one that does leave Landmark. There will be pleanty of Landmark people trying to get the person to come back. Including Landmark staff. So at this point you need to stand your ground and support the person.
When you friend or loved one leaves. You need to be there for them emotionally. They will be lost, confused, and angry. They will need someone to talk too so be ready to listen. Also, try to get them to go and get professional psychological help from a trained psychologist. They will most likely need it.
Luckily for me I have many friends I could talk to about it. They were there for me and were glad I was out of Landmark. I have also done a lot of getting over Landmark on my own. I've come a long way but I still have a ways to go unfortunately.
I will also offer this to those out there being approached by Landmark people or have friends and family in Landmark. Ask me about Landmark and I'll tell you what I know about it and my experience. I took the Forum, Advanced Course, and most of the SELP, a couple of seminars, the Communications Course, and most of the Advanced Communications Course, I also assisted a couple of times, and was a group leader during a couple of the 10 week seminars I took. So I have recent first hand knowledge of the organization and what goes on.
Landmark definately isn't what it's purported to be and can definately damage people if they are vulnerable. Also they can influence anyone if the right circumstances are present. That's what happened to me. I was one of those people that thought I couldn't be taken and I got sucked in and messed with.
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ON2 LF
Welcome back to free living again, zorro. It is encouraging to know that you would still make it out in spite of how deeply involved you were. How were you able to begin questioning what was going on, when at the time the discrepancies must have seemed absurd to you?
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ajinajan
Did you know that Landmark Education has been investigated twice in France by the French Federal labor bureau, and three times in the United States by the Federal Department of Labor? Actually, the most recent investigation in the United States concluded in 2006 out of the Texas branch of the United States Federal Department of Labor.
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ajinajan
Did you know that Landmark Education has been investigated twice in France by the French Federal labor bureau, and three times in the United States by the Federal Department of Labor? Actually, the most recent investigation in the United States concluded in 2006 out of the Texas branch of the United States Federal Department of Labor.
Ajinajan,
The Landmark branch you are referring to is the exact same branch that I voulteered / assisted at.
They wanted me to commit to an assisting agreement. I actually had to fill out some paper work when I volunteered to help out at a couple of seminars.
I helped to set up chairs, man the phone a couple of times, and do what I call some gophering around the facility for some nit noid crap.
They try to get people to sign up for an "Assisting Agreement" where the individual agrees in writing to volunteer to work there for several hours through out the week.
When I volunteered I was shocked at how disorganized the event was and how uptight and annoyed the staff looked. They looked frustrated. I was like where are all the shiny happy faces that I'm used to seeing. The only shiny happy people there were us drones moving chairs and setting up tables.
I was also thinking to myself "How is this supposed to help me have a break through. How can moving chairs and aligning name tags in a row cause me to have a breakthrough. The only breakthrough I got was how the ILP leader treated grown adult men and women like a bunch of snot nosed elementry school children." I found it to be humiliating to the participants. I also found it riduculus that the one of the higher up staff members would get upset if the name tags weren't aligned in a certain way or the ink pens weren't laid out a certain way. I mean come on people, this is absurd. I guess it trains people to get bogged down in details so they can't think for themself and become fearful of not doing something right.
I refused to volunteer anymore because of how much time I was devoting to Landmark. It was starting to cut into my life outside of Landmark. I have a lot going on all the time and really like my free time for myself. By this time I had all but cut out participating in my hobbies and other pursuits. When I wasn't working at my job it seemed I was doing Landmark BS related to the seminars I was participating in.
To reiterate, if you decide to lodge a complaint, you can contact them by phone or by mail, and they will keep your identity confidential during the process. You may be entitled to backwages for any time you spent volunteering arranging chairs and making nametags and pens straight on the table. You may also be entitled to reimbursement for any and all attorney's costs during that time.Quote
Texas
Dallas District Office
US Dept. of Labor
ESA Wage & Hour Division
The Offices @ Brookhollow
1701 E. Lamar Blvd., Suite 270, Box 22
Arlington, TX 76006-7303
Phone:
1-866-4-USWAGE
(1-866-487-9243)
Curtis L. Poer
District Director
Houston District Office
US Dept. of Labor
ESA Wage & Hour Division
8701 S.Gessner Drive, Suite 1164
Houston, TX 77074-2944
Phone:
1-866-4-USWAGE
(1-866-487-9243)
Martin Barrow
District Director
San Antonio District Office
US Dept. of Labor
ESA Wage & Hour Division
Northchase 1 Office Building
10127 Morocco, Suite 140
San Antonio, TX 78216
Phone:
1-866-4-USWAGE
(1-866-487-9243)
Nicasio Flores
District Director
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The final straw came when I was in the Advanced Communications course. I had already made up my mind that I was through with Landmark. But what sealed the deal for me was an exersie that we had to do where we were told to stand up and sit down reapeatedly for what seemed like an eternity. The instructor told us to "Choose Sit" then "Choose Stand" a friend of mine refused to sit. Then was manipulated to sit down by the instructor. I got pissed but continued with the exercise. After it was over we were asked what we saw. People spoke up. The instructor told us that we don't have control over our own lives and that everything in the world manipulates us and that basically the only thing we can do is choose to follow along. This really ticked me off. So I confronted the instructor about it and told her that "No one tells me what to do. I make my own choices and that I choose whether or not I want to do something." She told me that that was not the case and I don't have a choice. So I rebutted with the remark to the effect of "So your telling me I don't have a choice and that when Landmark tells me something that I don't have a choice and that I have to do it." Her reply was "Yes! You don't have a choice!" and that I have to do what I'm told (to sum things up). I was like "F*ck You!" I didn't say it but it was clearly written all over my face. The whole interaction brought silence to the class, you could have heard a pin drop in there. The instructor got pissed and was a real bitch to the class during the rest of the evening.
Oh and by the way what else came to my mind during the exercise? Can you say Jonestown! LOL That was one of the first things that popped into my mind when we were asked what we saw in the exercise. Maybe it was because the class was a few weeks after the anniversery of Jonestown who knows, but anyway that's what I thought about it.
The Advanced Communications Course sealed the deal for me. Through it I finally got to see that I was clearly and purposly being manipulated and brained washed. I was pissed and freaked out. I felt like Neo waking up to reality in the Matrix!
Theres some more Red Flags, such as the constant push for people to recurit. I could write a novel here...but it would take up too much space. LOL...
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ON2 LF
Also, your posting here prompts me to want to be more patient with the friend I lost to landmark. I know she doesn't have anyone left if she leaves landmark (not that she has any friends there). Thanks for choosing to post here, and like sonnie-dee, you present a good case as to why lekkie's 'outside' friends should not walk away from them forever.
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ZorroQuote
ON2 LF
Also, your posting here prompts me to want to be more patient with the friend I lost to landmark. I know she doesn't have anyone left if she leaves landmark (not that she has any friends there). Thanks for choosing to post here, and like sonnie-dee, you present a good case as to why lekkie's 'outside' friends should not walk away from them forever.
ON2 LF,
The participants can get really wrapped up in trying to "clean things up" with their friend, relatives, etc. Because of this there is a possibility that your friend will try to clean things up with you at some point and want to "share" with you. Everytime your friend "shares" with you is an opportunity for you to bring her back to reality.
I've seen people start talking to people that they shouldn't or talk about things better left alone and come back to the seminar in shambles and crying. They would get up and "share" with the class. I really feel sorry for these people now. They were / are in need of professional counseling. Not in the care of someone trying to play psychologist. I strongly feel that not only were these unfortunate people retramuatizing themselves the whole ordeal affects the group of people in the class room possibly traumatizing others in the process. I've seen people start crying when people get up in front a class and tell what happened. Really disturbing when I think about it.