Hi Dant!  I remember the huge fuss there used to be (maybe still is) about real-live reporters (or anyone suspected of being) and the special "trainings " we were given if it was suspected one of them had infiltrated an event that was "by invitation only", and "private" and so on.  It's funny to think about that now, and how if someone--a Master say--really wanted people to hear his message and spread the word, why would reporters be such a threat!  Bring them on, I would think, if you believe that what you are teaching is a good thing, and that this is the way to reach peace!  I'm amazed at why I myself didn't question this tactic of dealing with reporters like they were spies!  We had to approach them with great care and ask if they had been invited, and if not, they were shown the door.  Maybe an interview would be granted to them later, after the fact, and VERY carefully worded, you can bet your boots!  If need be, we were to do a few karate chops, throw them over our shoulders and put them outside the doors--which would then be locked!  Well, maybe not quite, but that was the feeling conveyed.  They were definitely personae non gratae! (Have I got my Latin plurals correct here?)  How strange really.  And yet not.  Because of course the gig would be up if any non-indoctrinated folk were allowed to see, and see through, what was going on in there!

Control, control!  Classic hallmarks of a cult!  (Calling it "quality-control" fooled a great many people, most of the time--but it was nevertheless pure and simple control!)

~shelagh