Again, a really good book recommendation, vivian111, Cialdini nails it. Just to be thorough though, this book has become a handbook for tough, hard-sell salesmen everywhere, who don't just read the book as an exercise, they use the techniques in the field against their customers.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Yet more on the appeal, with some interesting comment from Sheila Polk. DeathRay has been moved again and might get out by next April:
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

What has this to do with Dave McKays Jesus Christians? You had a final reply to your original intrusive questions--give it up.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Re the taking of these cases to court, in the UK only about 6% of reported rapes ever get as far as court, despite strenuous efforts to make the process easier on the reportees (I believe the figure is similar in the US also) There are complex reasons for this low figure which it is not pertinent to go into here. I don't think this figure will increase radically anytime soon, however much w
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I'm not answering on behalf of Corboy, who I'm sure can speak up adequately. However, I would take any conclusions that you might reach about Campbell with a pinch of salt. Not that I doubt her account at all--she was undoubtedly reporting the events as she saw them, thats what a memoir does, so the events had her spin on them. The questions I would ask myself when trying to unen
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

When you find your friendly legal person, get an explanation on what constitutes a body of evidence--it doesn't all have to be documented and nailed down. Judges and juries have the same type of brain as everyone else, as easily swayed by emotion as anyone elses. Going to law is about winning and a good lawyer uses everything in his arsenal in his attempt to win. So a combination of hard
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Basically, you are asking how to bring a class action suit. If it were me I would first look for a friendly and dedicated legal person who is interested in the general subject of righting wrongs, not in collecting a large paycheck. You can find these types working for various NGO's, or by talking to the relevant NGO's to get pointed in the right direction of a legal person who might
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

More on the appeal:
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

'By filing in criminal court.' By eventually filing in criminal courts after sometimes decades of doggedly fighting the organised denial of the church and the disbelief of all around them---much as Sile is attempting to deny Sogyal's misdeeds here. There were a lot of litigation changes along the way also, to allow these cases to be eventually heard and decided in a criminal
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The first (of many, I'm sure) appeal is in: courtesy of Bonnie on the Droid's site.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

'Tony couldn't do this without you' ---too true, it sounds a mammoth operation. 'he appreciates that you've stepped up to another level,' ---passed another sucker test? 'he makes sure you have one-on-one interaction with his personally-chosen Crew Director.' ---big of him, in exchange for operating his business scam for free. 'Why are
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

I don't think that this forum is the place to fight the battles over intellectual property rights that Dialogue Ireland might or might not have with a French magazine. If the magazine wants to pursue that with DI that is their business and DI can respond as they see fit. Red herring, Sile. Regarding the safety of 'higher' practices--they are not safe, they pose risks and
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Its not really a viable question. People take to religious beliefs as they fulfil a very human need for certainty in an uncertain world. So whether or not we would be better off without it doesn't answer the real everyday needs of humanity as a whole. Humanity is made up of a bunch of individuals always, and each individual has varying needs that change over time as circumstances dictate, s
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

The 'hippy dippy' vibe reminds me of an Eagles song from my misspent youth:
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

That's a really good article, vivian 111, on extremist traits.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I count it a large victory, Zeuszor. He has lost his young stormtroopers, and without them to pull in others he has nothing but his fading, oily-tongued charm. Oh.... where's Cherry? An Irish/American punk bagpipe band to rock the Wanker to sleep on:
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Seems the Wanker has been doing his homework and going for some 'jive'---he offered this poor lady his sermon on the five fingers. He's a tryer, you've got to give him that. Still trawling for a bite, even in his 'retirement' from running a cult. I hope this is a lady with some experience of the world behind her, and that she knows a scorpion when she sees
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Here's some hybrid jive, a real mish mash, but it works for me.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

A very good post from La Vaughn on the sentencing, that also picks up on Ray's educational claims ( 'a few hours short of a psychology degree' ) when considering how the judge reached his decision. Well worth reading for the insights, and with a short clip of his appalling tearful performance when pleading for mercy, mercy he utterly failed to show for his victims.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

An interesting comment string (link above) on the Droid site, decoding what is on DeathRays admittance sheet: Solar Flare said: How about Edu. = 4 and Voc. = 0 ? Lanna said : PrisonTalk.com user 1031 says Edu. 4 means his education needs are “Functional literacy needs (8th grade).” This is one step above “E5 Low IQ (possibly exempt)/ Foreign national.” Once he learns how to read
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Donations are required because now it is just a battle of who has the longest pockets or the greatest patience, like all casino games--- and Wikileaks/Assange--which is about freedom of information-- is relatively potless, so the underdog here: Going to law is about winning, not about ideals, truth or justice. Not all battles are won or lost on the same, level, field of endeavour. And all id
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The whole Getting Help (button at the top of the page) section of the site is useful, here's a sample: I think you shouldn't give yourself too much of a hard time with regard to getting your friend out of the cult, people get involved for complex personal reasons and then get caught in a trap. Educating yourself helps, though.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

He had a fair bit of help from supporters in high places also--which rapidly dissipated, allowing his prompt capture when membership of the EEC became a possibility--membership that is now turning into a bit of a poisoned financial chalice for some. Seems that the security services knew where he was all along. Not to detract from your point though, some of his patients found him to be a very
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Your book looks interesting from what I can see, vickithewitch, and your opinions and experiences of Ole Nydahl would be of interest, I'm sure. I think, though, that here we look more closely at behaviours and their results on other people than at particular spiritual beliefs--I'm not much of a believer in anything myself although I like your artwork very much. Deconstructing myt
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I'll have a look at your book, Verica Stojimirovic, though I'll keep my mask on, if you don't mind. I haven't generally found it to be much of a hindrance yet.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Interesting speakers, I'll watch the rest and let you know if I spot the Wanker in the audience or lurking in the shadows anywhere. Liberté, égalité, fraternité!! Xenophon's name keeps cropping up too, he's been working to introduce legislation against the Co$ amongst others as I recall.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

That's what ”free speech” is then, these days, No, free speech is what you've just done--aired your opinion. Opinions can be informed or uninformed, and as we all know, everyone has got one. Free thought is what I am doing right now, deciding if it is worth my effort to explain to you the difference between an emotionally charged rant and a careful look at the facts that have so
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I found it up elsewhere, try 'Louis Theroux', 'Weird Weekends', 'Enlightenment'
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

When something is 'implied'--does the implication come from the speaker or from the hearer? I know that I put my own spin on what I hear, based on what I already think I know and understand because it is already in my memory banks. It is often quite startlingly different from what the speaker intends to convey--assuming that you can get a truthful answer out of him when you questio
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

You might like this one, Malcolm--as a peace offering of sorts, a true story as well, and instructive about the changing and hardening of attitudes over time: The story, in which the young Adolf, then a reservist corporal, was a notable opponent of the truce:
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"