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I'm not trying to be obnoxious, I'm honestly not sure what you're saying. Do you feel people should not do Landmark? Or that, if they're aware and sophisticated, they should, because they can get something out of it?
[i:9cd0436fc2]digression on my background with est and Landmark[/i:9cd0436fc2]
I have not done the training.
one (possibly two... I have not asked my father if he took Landmark or est... for all I know, his second wife and my step-brother have done it, I don't know) of my parents has done Landmark. my sister has done Landmark. two of my uncles (on opposite sides of the family) did est and stayed with and worked with est and its sucessor organizations from 1975 to 1995. a few years ago he persuaded his wife to take Landmark.
a family who knew my famly from years ago took est. some people I met earlier this year also took Landmark.
the people who seem to have gained the most from it (my uncle's wife and the family) had the most going for them before they went in.
conversely it had an effect on my sister which by the end terrified me. (and when I say terrified, I mean terrified.) she took the course earlier this year without teling me beforehand as she knew that I would have tried to warn her away. (in spite of which her change still shocked me.) Landmark had many good effects on her. she did seem more awake or alive than she had for as long as I could remember and I can't and won't ignore the fact. she did sound a little more spacey but more open, more rational. by the time that she had comopleted the course she demonstrated unquestioning loyalty and faith in LEC to an extent which I would not even have believed. she tried to use my concern for her as a way to convince me to go to her graduation event. matters got personally worse between us later after my fear had ebbed.
my uncle, as I said, took est in 1975 and hung around for twenty years. let me just say that a large part of my aversion to est and Landmark comes about via his actions towards me over the years. (it would help if I had any clear memory of him pre-1975. most or all of my memories of him come from post-1975.)
I also have a late '70's memory of a super-fascist counsellor sort of some description doing mind games on a group of me and other "emotionally disturbed children". physically it did not take place in an est-like setting, however I do not totally discount the possiblity that I may have gotten enrolled in "est for kids" or something. the facilitator did without doubt make use of LGAT pressure tactics.
earlier this year I got involved in a struggle with my uncle, his wife and my sister (and to an extent, my mother and other uncle) every one of whom have taken Landmark. they opposed a course of action on the grounds that I might put myself in danger.
they hoped to either force me or persaude me to change my mind and
this very much flavored my opinion of LEC.
in addition the topics of thought reform and persuasion have fascinated me since forever.
[i:9cd0436fc2]my main points[/i:9cd0436fc2]
I do not think that anyone "should" or "should not" do LEC. I do not like all-or-nothing statements of that sort. I do value knowledge and value the spread of knowledge among as widely and broadly as possible.
if you do take the training you will (IMHO) reward the wicked.
est did not and Landmark (again IMHO) does not teach morals.Landmark, like any relevatory experience,it can reveal hidden parts of a person to the light, parts which often hold power, which they may or may not use wisely.
apart from which, it can suck you in and make you a tool.
I feel tired now. so I will go back and make a second reply later.