I don’t know what internal demons are plaguing you, and I do hope you get some healing. The approach you present is unpleasant and, yes, emotional. When you cool off and stop attacking everyone around you as beneath your esteem I’d be delighted to accept your apology in person.

Until, then, have a happy new year and please take a break from the site. You clearly need one.

Thanks I will check those out. I like reading these days now that I can read anything I want. I was actually a little nervous when I got your book as silly as that seems now. Hey, I found another Hubbardism stuck in my subconscious.It was “never evaluate for the preclear”. My wife and friends made post Scientology were never taught this and thus when I say,do, or am about to do something that may be stupid or foolish, they tell me. I am thankful for that. Saves me some grief or embarrassment sometimes if they are right.
Happy Holidays Jon, and I hope your new year goes the way you wish it.

Sorry, Cialdini’s Influence is the very first book I recommend to anyone who wants to understand how we are influenced. Pratkanis and Aranson’s Age of Propaganda comes next. Both are excellent guides to selling and the perils thereof.

I didn’t actually wage war – though it was certainly waged against me – I have only ever wanted to help those ensnared by this damaging system. Thank you so much for your kind words!

Reclusive is good – I had 17 years of it before coming back and I look forward to strolling around the bamboo forest again with my lover on my arm …

I had to look up Cialdini. I’ll have to check him out. I was about to explain my view on consumerism but I think it might reveal more than I want to about myself. Scientology may be a wounded animal but can still be quite dangerous I believe. I’m not out to wage an all out war like you did.That took great courage and you did the world a big favor.
Me. I’m more reclusive these days and like it that way.

Glengarry Glen Ross is an excellent film, and should be added to the list (anything with either Jack Lemmon or Kevin Spacey in tends to be worth watching). I’ll check out Used Care and Wolf of Wall Street. There is so much edutainment out there (and what an awful term that is!).
As to the necessity of consumerism, I’m not quite so sure. But, indeed, salespeople are often genuinely pleasant (as long as you count your fingers after shaking hands). My dad was an export sales manager and used none of the tricks. He was also the most honest person I’ve ever met. Yet he managed to shift huge amounts of goods (sadly, for very little personal return).
And, the more we understand the tricks the safer we are. I’m like Cialdini, I know I’m gullible, and that makes it slightly harder to con me (sometimes!).

That’s what I do, never look for a reward. Merry Christmas, Jon.

“Suckers” was an excellent movie about car sales as well as “Used Cars”with Kurt Russell. I would also recommend” Wolf of Wall Street “for stock brokers and Glengarry Glen Ross for Real Estate sales. I understand your concern with the deception aspect but salesmen make the money move. Why else would anyone buy a Chia Pet. Ginsu Knives ,a Bentley,or the latest style of shoe. Sales people are also some of the funniest people I’ve ever met. And the easiest to sell to. You do get the occasional bad apple that has to be removed.
Very true about Dale Carnegie and your observation is spot on.
I’ll have to check out “Nature of Existence”
Very funny about the reges…. Lifting that veil is important in recovery so a person can spot manipulation as it happens or look back and see what happened to them.

YAY.. I’m in!

Let’s do the best we can to help others, then, though I tend to think that virtue is its own reward (the state of Smug, as my friend Mitch used to put it, while he was developing the Way to Smugness). I just can’t see it working – the mechanics are too complex and only those who are moral will induce the penalties. I favour a more simple approach – compassion and humility. I’ve managed a little of the former and at least I know that the latter is probably a good idea! May all of your karma be good and seasons greetings, my friend.

Thanks so much. Such a fine photo of an OT. However, I wish him well, even though he wished me only harm (in this lifetime at least). May he be reborn as a non-Scientologist.