I am giving advance notice of my absence on Friday's train. I am travelling by motorcar...
I'm going to give my seat to, um, let's see... who's sitting up nice and straight...? Ummm...
Tina! Do me proud, EvilOne!
Good Night Quito
-
Well, tonight is our last night in Quito. Tomorrow we head homne via Lima
Peru and San Salvador, El Salvador, hopig to arrive around 10;30PM
We had a great...
16 years ago
10 comments:
I wont be there tomorrow either- but I will see everyone on Monday. Have a great weekend!
Well, if Christy isn't going and (gasp) Phil isn't going, what's the point? I'm not going either!
Christy.. I didn't believe you over dinner on Monday night, but you were right..
.. you ARE the group's leader in fashion, style, grace, poise, intellectualism, empathy.. whence you go, there goest they as well... I'm impressed..
(and yes, I know you're all thinking.. "hey.. this bozo dosen't ride with us.. get him the heck off our blog!".. I'm going .. I'm going.. ;-)
Jeez, Dale... you forget baking prowess. It's fashion, style, etc and BAKING!
People... don't listen to him... I didn't say any of that! I know in my heart that we're a communal entity, a body without a head, a social democracy...
I am not your leader in any sense... but the tithing must continue. I insist on that. It's for your own good. Trust me.
Ok Dale..
Definition of a Cult:
1. centralized control by a charismatic leader
2. an us-versus-them mentality that isolates
3. a lack of tolerance for dissent
Compiled list:
1. Control-oriented leadership – leader claims to be an all-knowing, liberated being.
2. Hierarchical structure with an elite inner circle – including leader’s assistants.
3. Group leader not accountable to any authorities, as are, for example: military commanders, and ministers, priests, monks, and rabbis of mainstream denominations.
4. Polarized us-versus-them, black-or-white mentality causing conflict with wider society.
5. Manipulation of members by alternating guilt/anxiety/fear/ostracism and attention.
6. Group perception of being spiritually unique/elite and separate from normal culture.
7. Mind-numbing techniques (such as meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, denunciation sessions, and debilitating work routines) are used to suppress doubts about group and leader.
8. Sexual abuse - leader uses power to sexually exploit members.
9. Economic exploitation of members by leader and assistants.
10. Confidentiality of members private affairs (legal, medical) violated by leader and assistants.
11. Members’ subservience to group causes them to cut or weaken ties with family, friends, and personal goals and activities that were of interest before joining group.
12. Reliance on outside professional help, doctors, therapists, etc., discouraged.
13. Leader poses as self-sacrificing divine agent who only promotes members’ well-being.
14. Service is inner directed toward the group not the surrounding community.
15. Revamping of members’ cultural/moral values to suit leader’s lifestyle and program.
16. Conformity to group’s/leader’s values, life style, mode of dress, diet, esthetics, and so on.
17. Promotion of dependence on group/leader – often disguised.
18. Important personal decisions must be approved by leader – members seek his blessing.
19. Phobia induction vis-à-vis leaving the group/leader.
Who the Hell is this Dale anyway? Aren't we due for a ritual ceremonial sacrificial slaying to the gods soon? I know of a good level train crossing...
(By the way, I'm available for #8)
Well, Other.... you would know about level crossings... didn't you lose your head at one a few months back...?
And nice try. You're not eligible for #8 until we've gone to the edges of the envelope on #9. Tithe, baby, tithe! And that goes for the rest of you, too.
Such interesting comments, I note....But,Dale-whoever you are:
You really need to be corrected.
Christy is the Blog Bitch. :):) The Administrator. That is her primary role.
She can have you removed and extracted at any point but she clearly is not chosing to do so, thus I figure there is some reason she is letting you remain on this blog for the ride....probably there is some truth to Phil's comments above....hhhmmmmm....
You all are way too much fun.. wish we had a Go faster train in Ottawa.. ;-)
And phil.. you seem suspiciously well versed in the inner workings / mechanics of cults..
aspirations perhaps?
NOW I KNOW WHO YOU ARE, DALE !!!!!!!!!!! I feel so much better now....I thought you were someone else, but you are....well, you are DALE, aren't you??!! Did you hear and see that lightbulb go on, Miss Christy?????
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