Plug and Play People by By Annalee Newitz, AlterNet. Posted January 22, 2002 Quote 'Lately I've noticed that the concept of "plug and play" has extended into the realm of human interaction. 'People talk about wanting to hire a "plug-and-play engineer" who can churn out uncreative but stable bits of Java, C++, or whatever. Or, describing somebody who
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

OneTaste has gotten a lot of blog-press from their NYT article. Unfortunately, some of the analysis of it, is not too deep! Like many things, they seem to take what is said at face value. OneTaste says its all about the female orgasm and sensuality. Is it? Or is it much more complex than that? OneTaste is a for-profit business corporation. But they market it like a "commune". Its
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Spread it wide...spread it wiiiidddeee.... (Your wallet)
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The OneTaste wikipedia entry (lie) that said Daedone studied "briefly" with Vic Baranco has been undone, which is good. But it does prove, there are OneTaste members who are trying to rig the Wikipedia entry for OneTaste with false information, as much as they can get away with. Why are they so dishonest? What is their problem? Aren't they supposed to be about "honesty&q
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

and of course, right BEFORE this fake-article was released, there were about 50 edits done to the Wikipedia entry for OneTaste. (someone linked to this thread, which the Wiki fixers deleted, of course). They also deleted the Criticism section of OneTaste, which is complete nonsense, since even at Yelp SF there is tons of criticism of OneTaste. They also have the outright lie in wikipedia, th
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

also notice how they deliberately ignored...the cost, the pricing. Notice how expensive the prices were listed in this thread for some people, where others could "donate their labor" whatever that means. They make it sound like the Pope approves of OneTaste, like its some type of marriage counselling, when its nothing of the sort. Its obviously a type of Swingers Open-Sex philosphy,
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

well, well, well...the grand old lady the New York Times has reprinted a infotainment "article" advertisement on OneTaste and Nicole Daedone. Its like reading this forum, but without hard facts, and more advertising copy. Clearly, this is one of those "articles" where some PR company, well connected and VERY expensive, mines their Rolodex to get a story done, to shape the P
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

SFBMoore, thank you for the info. Its helpful when former people of a group are able to take the time to write out some of the details of a group. That will help a lot of people over time. This is the best way to combat these various cultlike groups, to expose the facts of what is going on. People have a RIGHT to know what is going on in these groups, when it is deliberately kept secret by
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

yeah, if you read those threads, its very clear that HAI teaches people to conceal and lie to the "outside world" about what is going on in there. That is a common tactic in these groups, of course. also, all these "levels" with these groups, just serve the purpose of repeat business, bring people back for more workshops. Again, a common structure to make more $$. Its pr
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

There are some new critical reviews of OneTaste Urban Retreat Center at Yelp. A recent one is archived below, as they seem to be getting some negative reviews censored and removed from Yelp. Its interesting that the "homeless people" work is identical with Vic Baranco and Lafayette Morehouse years ago, as mentioned previously in the thread. There are many people who appear quite i
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Just wanted to say "great work!", AC. You are really digging into some core stuff here. It is a bottomless pit. Keep it up. Several tips: the Norcal fusion of the military/industrial complex, the psychedelic counterculture, and "sex cults" of the One Taste variety is a long and sordid history. You are not finding something "new", but simply the way things work i
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

That message from the PSI member above, is a very standard technique. Verbal shaming. This is the reason the leaders of LGAT groups like PSI, Landmark, Vic Baranco (OneTaste, Nicole Daedone), Scientology, Byron Katie, and many others, all do so-called "charity" work for children, or food for homeless people. It has many pay-offs for them. Its good PR, it keeps people busy, good
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

The People Farm reference is important in this story. On the People Farm homepage, there is the quote that the Ranch is a "human relations laboratory." That is the exact same language as Nicole Daedone, and Vic Baranco. There is so much going on its hard to sort it out. But they claim they are doing "sexual research" for many reasons. One is to try and give everything a
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Red Flag List from Heartless Bitches International Website The devil is in the details. This list gives 156 Red Flags. Scroll down and read #156. Then, go to the top and read your way down.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

A tip to researchers: Anyone who wants to educate themselves as to the kinds of questions to ask when researching any sort of in-group that claims it is cutting edge, and re-arranges sexual boundaries as a way to create a new society, should get and read People Farm by Steve Susoyev. The events described happened thirty years ago and the group no longer exists. Half the battle is learn
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Regarding the article from CG quoted above by Anticult: QuoteNicole: Yeah, it’s holistic. And I think a sex therapist — and this is just my assumption — would begin with an idea that there was something wrong, and I don’t necessarily think that anything’s wrong with anybody . "and this is just my assumption." here ND is, presuming to speak of what sex therapists do, and admits
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

These people truly are unbelievable, but believe it. They certainly have no shame, or even the most basic level of ethics or disclosure. One wonders what the price for an article in Common Ground is? Chandanni Miglino, one of the "writers" of the above Common Ground advertising article pretending to be a real article, is a follower of the Golden Guru OSHO-Rajneesh, who ran another
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

probably some former members of the San Francisco area underground sex-party, swinger, orgy scene might be able to shed some light on this. There is an article where Daedone talks about being in Hawaii in a sex-community, one assumes that is Vic Baranco's sex cult in Hawaii. Notice also the tuition is $12,000. With special arrangements for "work trade". (take a wild guess on t
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

OneTaste is doing ads on Craigslist for courses in Jan 2009. Notice how someone from OneTaste NYC wrote in Wikipedia that OneTaste is based on nominal fees for "members"? An utter deliberate bald-faced lie. Why don't the "honest" OneTaste people correct that? They are running ads for the 5 day program, that cost $1200 for members, and that does NOT appear to include ac
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

It is impossible to stay high all the time. Why? Because feeling high happens when a nice burst of the right neurotransmitters saturate your body. Eventually those neurotransmitters get depleted. What comes up, must go down. A feeling of confidence (often equated with enlightenment) cannot last, either. You feel confident only in relation to whatever situation you are in.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

yes, its the same old salespitch, that someone can teach you to stay high all the time, and end all your suffering, this time with the eternal orgasmatron. Nicole Daedone in that video, says that she was disappointed that each time the enlightenment "high" didn't last, and she can teach you how to make it last...for a price. One hopes people realize this is utter nonsense. Its
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I know a young woman who said she lives part time at OneTaste. Sex or OM's or anything similar was never mentioned. She mentioned group discussion seminars only. She has no idea that I did some background reading on the group. I really do not understand all this and don't know if she is actually allowing random men to "stroke" her as if its no big deal. Not something I
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Another article from the Heartless Bitches International site. It reviews an article by a self proclaimed 'Seduction King' that was published in 1997 in Studio. According to the HBI review, this upstanding citizen went so far as to mention his techniques. Thus, it is a warning to all, especially young persons, that feelings of love, and even ecstacy, can be produced by some
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

It's the same old utopian enlightenment promise, in a sexualized form. Get and stay high all the time, transcend the pain and boredom of everyday non-enlightened human life, glorify the ego by focusing on one's "experience."
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

There is a previous link in which Robert Kandell stated that Nicole Daedone had studied under Victor Baranco for 7 years. Since that info was linked to, that has also been removed from the internet! CENSORED!! (by Robert Kandell, he deleted everything at Tribe since it was linked to, what else has been censored?) according to Robert Kandell... "She has spent the last seven years devot
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

It would be interesting for some folks in SF to do some research on whether or not, or to what extent Reese Jones may or may not be involved in financing OneTaste. Anyone out there have any info either way? for example, a journalist could look into the leases related to OneTaste, the Folsom Street SF site, warehouse and adjacent spaces where massages are offered, spaces around the Blue Chalk C
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Someone from OneTaste NYC has just gone and rigged the Wikipedia entry for OneTaste on 21 December 2008. It was done by someone in New York City, their ISP, location, and other information is available through checking the IP address on Wikipedia. Notice how the Wikipedia entry was changed on Dec 21, the same day the information came out that a certain person named REESE JONES was alleged
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Written by a person who has been in polyamorous relationships: An article that may give assistance in discerning when a relationship or group is worthwhile or not. Poly People I Can Do Without
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Its interesting on the now "secret" Robert Kandell blog, he talks about how his relationship with his own father has gone down the crapper due to OneTaste. [74.125.95.132] There does not seem to be any sense that Kandell might even consider that the criticism he is getting from his family is valid. His own family appears to be telling him that what he is doing is so wrong, they don�
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

A little bird has dropped some info about OneTaste and Robert Kandell, and who may be the moneybags behind the scenes. of course, at this moment its not proven, but it could be researched. word is that money for the Stinson house and the Onetaste NYC expansion came from someone named REESE JONES. (founder of Netopia (sold to Motorola), board member of Chabot, and limited partner in the
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"