The truth is that someone here (an e-premie) expressed a slightly different point of view than the generally accepted viewpoint that prevails on this forum, and a few people stepped up and agreed with it. It didn't seem to have been done in a condescending manner like you posted above Danny. I never saw the "boo hoo, shame on you all for falling for m, you silly fools....get over it already" or "it is YOUR OWN fault for buying into the guru thing.... so quit blaming the guru for your stupidity" ... or "it's time for you to move on with your life and quit posting your anger at m."
That was your spin on what was being said to make it look like you were being attacked by premies. But it's been almost 2 weeks now and this seems to be the only thing that is being discussed here - because it really hit home. If you didn't feel that there was any truth to it you would have let it go long ago. Make your cracks about the "new age revisionism" or whatever psycho babble you want, but there is no guilt trip being laid on you by anyone but yourselves. Nobody should feel guilty for being conned, and that was not implied by anyone except for the people who responded negatively to Livia's posts. Many also mentioned how embarrassed they were by their cult involvement, and how I (I'm using I Cynthia) was adding salt to the wound by rubbing it in. I never felt embarrassed, I've felt pain and confusion for giving my heart & soul to something I truly believed in but don't feel it was an embarassment, and was only expressing my opinion of my own involvement. That may have been confronting to you, and maybe there is something in yourself you need to look at. I know that most of the personal attacks you and others have made toward me have given me good cause to rethink things.
From where I sit your theory of whoever gave the most lost the most is total bullshit. I gave alot and I also received alot. There are people who saw this as a good experience - I know you think they are in denial, but that's the reality. Yes I did have a good experience much of the time- I admit it. It's hard for me to believe that people who were involved for 30 years were suffering the ENTIRE time. That they never experienced ANYTHING! That is what the general opinion seems to be here; That in the midst of your 30 years of getting conned, you were being miserably tortured and the entire time was nothing but wasted years which will take a lifetime to recover from. I don't believe that at all. If you are honest, you have to admit that there were some pretty good times. There was also alot of confusion, alot of heirarchy, backstabbing social climbing - that's the same everywhere.
I am no longer involved, but do not feel comfortable calling myself an ex-premie. And if this forum is here because you want to help people leave - believe me, it doesn't help the majority of those who are leaving. The ex-premie website has alot of information, but it seems on this forum, too many people are still stuck back in the 70's (Hilltop and his endless supply of 30 year old quotes and photos) and that is not where people are at who are leaving NOW. They stuck around this long and have already dealt with all of that. You are here dealing with your own issues, and anyone who is not 100% with you on that is ridiculed and leaves. Nobody needs that shit when they are trying to figure things out. There are alot of people here who always are helpful, even when they disagree, (Joe, even though you think I am one with elan vital, and Pat, JHB, Lexy and others) but not enough for someone to want to keep coming back.
I personally think that alot of you are only here for yourselves. I mean if someone comes along with questions or their own point of view, you just run them out. This is your way of staying involved with something you just can't let go of yet. And to rationlalize that, you say you are here to protect unsuspecting people who may be walking into a con.
