Quote
gc4062
While I never led the forum itself (Guy is your resident expert on that topic), I led a number of other programs that follow it, as well as training introduction leaders, and other program leaders.
As a sort of unwritten code amongst former staff and program leaders, we never discuss the actual techniques used to mess with your head, as it could easily be picked up and used by other less than honest types.
Much of the trickery/techniques used have been discussed in other threads, and just recently some of our newer members online have discussed some of the manipulation of language and other items that are used to mess with your head.
The more successful staffers and course leaders could twist any situation back to the point that you believe it is all your own fault. You'll never win an argument with them, there are too many lines available that will shut you down rapidly (the one I used to hear used most often was "you really ought to look at who you are being right now").
Much of the material you might find interesting is contained in other threads in this forum. Sometimes a little difficult to follow when some go off on a tangent in the middle of a topic, but you'll find a great deal of useful information. It's the grab a coffee and smoke 'em if ya got 'em time :) Then once you've worked through all the material here, go up to www.culteducation.com and have a read through the volumes of material on landmark there.
The environment is just one part of it, the language another, the behavior of the leader another. Work it all in together, and you'll get an idea of how the walking, talking, jargon-spewing robots have played with you.
I have been reading on here for about a year as a lurker(wasn't ready to get really vocal yet). I have seen it in bits and pieces I just don't know if there's one single place I could point to where the manipulations are in place.
GC, forgive me for saying this as I truly value your posts immensely. I think it's a copout not to disclose the techniques and manipulations they use. If people know how they are being manipulated it makes it much easier to fight that manipulation. Could unethical people take that information and use it to their advantage? Surely. But Landmark's techniques are not unique, they are not original. They have borrowed from many other fields(NLP, Erickson hypnosis, etc) If someone wants these techniques, they are freely available in any number of books, tape sets, web sites.
I think it would be instrumental to see exactly how each part of the "training" is scripted. The document from Kopp on the room setup is awesome. A little hard to read at first but very interesting none the less.
It makes it easier for those of us who are willing to be vocal against the LGAT's to support ourselves. ie my conversation/debate on the awareness page guestbook.
[
pub.alxnet.com]
The LGAT's can always claim that they don't psychologically manipulate people until those who were a party to that manipulation expose exactly how it was done and why. I have a good idea of how it was done, but I wasn't a part of it, so my testimony wouldn't be as strong as someone on the other side of the stage.
Just an observation, I am willing to respect your decision even if I don't entirely agree.
Marcos