The great thing about the Olive Starlight Orchestra is, we cult-proof
people. Hanging out with us provides just a little bit of extra insurance
against getting involved with any kind of dangerous sect.
Though a few of you do have non-olive friends, which is a hazard: you become
more potentially vulnerable to cult recruitment because of that.
Does everyone remember how great it is to go on cabin trips--or just hang
out in our parents' houses--and stay up talking until 4:00 a.m.? That's a
little anti-cult insurance right there.
I'm really concerned, though, about those pnorners who have left the fold;
most of them ended up in cults. Such a tragic waste.
--Q.M.
Good to have you back, Brandy and Caroline.
* * * * *
I think it's agreed that one man's cult is another man's salvation.
So, just what is a "cult"? In my opinion, the following factors
distinguish a "cult" from a "social club":
1) The members speak a slightly different lingo.
2) They have profoundly different views from the mainstream.
3) They have many restrictive rules.
4) They watch you closely.
5) They discourage contact with 'outsiders'.
6) They won't let you leave.
7) They keep repeating that it's the best thing going on.
8) Everyone is deprived of sleep and/or food.
9) After other members leave, they call it a sham.
10) Ex-members are always maligned.
Based on these definitions, I can say with certainty that my last job
(SyVox Corporation) was in many ways like membership in a cult. I was
sleep-deprived and not allowed to leave when I wanted. The CEO kept
telling us how great the firm was in spite of obvious shortcomings.
And people who left the company were regularly bad-mouthed by
management at every company meeting.
John
--- In OliveStarlightOrchestra_at_yahoogroups.com, "Michael Marinacci"
<mikalm_at_i...> wrote:
> > And of course my favorite, Zen Master Rama, aka
> > Dr. Fredrick Lenz, who broke up a lot of families
> > and actually stole my next girlfriend:
> >
> > http://www.rickross.com/groups/lenz.html
> >
>
> Do tell. I was always amused by Rama's come-on for his pseudo-Zen
> workshops: "Zen Gives You the COMPETITIVE EDGE!"
>
> He's also the only cult leader I can think of who offed himself without
> taking a bunch of followers with him. Details at:
> http://www.rickross.com/reference/lenz/lenz4.html
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Received on 2004-07-26 12:34:20