Re: New database: horror films

From: Hiram Gonash <okfreddy_at_hotmail.com_at_hypermail.org>
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2004 15:24:02 -0000

And my interest in cults started about the time...ummm...when some
friends tried to get me (and Keith and Susan and Jennifer) to take
est.

Fond memories of going to the Graduation/Intro lecture and not being
allowed to leave without (a) either signing up for the course or (b)
facing a merciless barrage of antagonism if you chose not to sign up
for the course.

I chose (a) but stated I didn't have any money, credit cards, or a
checkbook with me. They provided me a blank check! All I had to do was
fill in the bank number when I got home. Such foresight! I escaped the
lecture relatively unscathed, went home, and - ooops - never filled
out the check. A week later I got a call from est asking for the money
and ended up talking to the person for two hours (seriously) on why I
should take est. It boiled down to me needing to get "it". I replied
that I already had "it". They countered with I needed to make sure it
was the right "it". I parried and counterthrusted with "No, YOU need
to make sure you have the right 'it' so you need to take MY seminar
for $100. What a deal!" And that ended that.

Keith, on the other hand, chose (b) and found himself literally
surrounded by a bunch of est goons who simply wouldn't take his "No!"
for an answer. Very non-estian actions for those folks. I still don't
know how he got out of it without bloodshed.

And I remember a Samohite named Glen at the Graduation. He wanted to
be a policeman...

Definitely bad times at Ridgemont High, though I think I gained a
girlfriend at the time out of the situtation. Hmmm.

-H.G.

--- In OliveStarlightOrchestra_at_yahoogroups.com, "Michael Marinacci"
<mikalm_at_i...> wrote:
> > Wow. Brings back memories.
> > Hmmm... are most Olives also est'ified?
> >
>
> Not I, O Pallid One.
>
> Actually, my fascination with cults and brainwashing probably
started with
> the rise of est and the more authoritarian elements of the "Human
Potential
> Movement" during my Seventies teenhood. The phenomenon of wealthy,
> well-educated hipsters -- people who would have run screaming from
anything
> resembling traditional Judeo-Christian spirituality -- subjecting
themselves
> to far more oppressive, mind- and soul-raping treatment at the hands
of
> various self-appointed gurus, is a phenomenon that still puzzles me.
>
> I guess everybody's got to believe something. Me, I believe I'll
have
> another beer! :-)
Received on 2004-07-23 08:24:17