A geography lesson

[sqbr]

So, the second event I went to was an Introduction to the Landmark Forum" at the request of my brother Michael.


A few weeks ago Mike rather carefully mentioned he'd joined them and had found it really rewarding. From his description I was a little worried they were a cult, after looking them up I decided they probably aren't Crazy Bad, just maybe a bit dodgy. So I went to the introduction to see for myself.

I and my mum were split into two separate groups. Mine had four of us: me, a couple in their early twenties, and a woman in her thirties, all of us here at the request of friends or family in Landmark. The leader was a fairly likable 19 yr old girl with a somewhat less genuine-seeming middle aged man as her backup (it was apparently her first time as a leader) We were asked why we came and what we knew about the organisation, as my first step in remaining unbrainwashed I was polite but honest ("I'm checking out what has Michael so involved and reassuring myself you're not a cult. I've read mixed opinions on the internet")

The first half was basically a self help seminar where we identified something we didn't like about our lives, and were encouraged to take a long hard look at what behaviours and attitudes were causing it, and the kind of person we want and need to be (with the logic that once you become that person, everything else will fall into place) This was actually reasonably well done, if a little intense. The speakers felt like they were trying a bit too hard to appear open and happy, and it felt rather by rote compared to, say, the time I visited a counsellor at uni.

The second half was the hard sell. We were told about the Forum and they went on about how rewarding they'd found it, the breakthroughs they had etc. Once they'd given the overview they basically badgered us in turns to sign up. For an hour. (we could leave at any time, and the woman did, but mum's group was running over time so I waited). For example:
Us: "I can't afford it" (It's $500)
Them: "How would you feel if the forum could give you *insert life goal here*? Wouldn't it be worth it?"
Us: "I want to discuss it with my partner first"
Them: "Often we find that the one thing you really need to change is what holds you back. If you need money 'Oh I can't afford it', if you want to be more spontaneous 'I want to think about it'. *I think: but I don't want to be spontaneous* You have to be willing to make changes in your life, to commit to your Possibilities(tm)(*). While you're here in the Introduction your mind is open, when you get home life comes crashing back in and you'll find yourself stymied by doubts and never get around to it." (only with more jargon)
Us: "But really, I just don't have the money"
Them: "well, let's think of a way you could get the money..."

They were superficially open to me asking questions and politely telling them when I thought they were wrong, but eventually started completely ignoring me to focus on the couple. I had a hungry-sleepy headache (if it were up to me there'd have been biscuits) so napped briefly then wandered off to find mum and Michael and we went home.

I'm not sure what mum thought, she mainly went on about how nice the woman sitting next to her was. Michael seemed ok with my reservations and just thanked me for coming rather than giving me the "OMG you HAVE to come to the Forum" I was worried about.

All in all they remind me of Nutrimetics, Amway, herbalife etc: businesses with a reasonably effective product which use the hard sell, guilt on friends and family, and the "You too can make it rich!" pseudo-pyramid scheme with a whiff of cultishness. (Note, I smell such a whiff about most religions too, I'm actually a fairly hardline sceptic in that regard)

It seems their brand of self help can be both beneficial and dangerous, but as long as it doesn't do Mike any harm I'm ok with it.

That said, I have an automatic distrust for anyone or thing that tries to manipulate me, and they were definitely trying to do that. To get back to the intro to this post, if I had gone when I was younger I might conceivably have fallen prey to their pressure (which is distinct from being rationally convinced of the program's merits) but if nothing else two years of guilt and manipulation from my Evil Ex have made me very aware and resistant to anything like that.

Finally, I came across this page which had interesting things to say about it.

(*)Ok, so they don't (tm) "Possibilities". They do say "Rackets(tm)".

Comments

[leahcim.livejournal.com]

Wikipedia also has some information. But yeah, your description also reminded me of Amway.

[alias_sqbr]

Which my brother is/was also involved in *sighs for my brothers*

[nico-wolfwood.livejournal.com]

Them: "well, let's think of a way you could get the money..."

If they'd said that to me I'd probably have replied along the lines of "Well, I could rob your cash box... That would certainly break me of my inhibitions!"

[alias_sqbr]

Heh :)

[alias_sqbr]

Also, as Cam has pointed out, I should have said "My main problem is I'm too spontaneous, I keep making these snap purchases which sound good at the time but I regret later" :)

[strangedave.livejournal.com]

My impression is dodgy, but could be worse. Their life change stuff seldom lasts, but mostly they just take their $500 and move on rather than try to keep milking people.

[mandragora2003.livejournal.com]

Hey, it changes their lives for the better. They're the richer by $500, right? So *obviously* it works.
I agree; dodgy, but ultimately, not as bad as they could be.

[ataxi.livejournal.com]

"as long as it doesn't do Mike any harm"

Um, look, I'd say if you think some sort of intervention would be more damaging than letting it "run its course" (assuming it will run its course eventually), don't bother. If not, I'd suggest trying to get him out of it. It sounds like a bunch of crap to me.

Just my two cents. I think in terms of life change anyone would get more value from reading a random book on philosophy, for free.

[alias_sqbr]

At the same time he's an adult and has to be able to make his own decisions, even if I think they're dangerous. I am letting him know how I feel about it and keeping an eye on him, though.

[velithya]

The novels Liz and I were talking about at her party: Shadow of the Templar, by Mooncalf. If you hit up "The Novels" link on the left there, you'll get to a page with the first two novels: The Morning Star and Double Down (which I have yet to read). Enjoy :)

[(Anonymous)]

And here I am spending all my time maintaining an _EMAIL_ server...

Cam

[alias_sqbr]

Thanks! Will check out when I feel like a new novel.

Also, return the Bab5 tapes :)

[stephbg.livejournal.com]

I went along to one of those at the request of a friend somewhere around 1989. The details are a bit fuzzy (Do *not* talk about Fight Club) but I remember being frightened by how Happy(tm) all the regulars were. I don't recall they put any particular effort into recruiting me - I was probably radiating either too much disapproval or poverty. I certainly ran screaming.

[alias_sqbr]

I'd say it was the disapproval, since they went after a fairly poor couple who looked like they might submit much harder than they went after me.