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 Now online (2)recycle chambre noire ...and 297 guests Last 5 registered Oplandisks nothingstar N_loop yipe foxtrotromeo Browse members... |
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ok, this is supposedly a "self help" group/organization... but its been called a cult by many... I want to know if any of you know about it... and if so... what are your thoughts... I ask because my sisters best friend is a member... |
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I have never heard of this before. Are you aware of the TV show 'Six Feet Under' Zeus? If so, is 'The Landmark Forum' somewhat like 'The Plan'? |
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sorry... dont know the show this forum is like, this weekend seminar, that is supposed to help you become confident, and take control of your life... fix your flaws... thing is, most people that attend, end up join the org, and attend shit loads of seminars, and even end up joining to org itself. ill try to find a link... |
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ok, heres the site itself... now ill go try and find some articales on it |
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"supposed to help you become confident, and take control of your life... fix your flaws..." Sounds like 'The Plan'. In the Plan people that are unhappy with their lives rebuild there lives. They imagine their life as a house and they have to rebuild their 'house'. But of course that's only fake... I'll have a look at the site, and whatever articales you find. I'm rather inerested in things like this. Have you noticed any changes in your sisters friend? |
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"Landmark Education Corporation is a global educational enterprise recognized for a unique educational technology that delivers unprecedented results in a very short amount of time." It sounds rather dodgy. I'm not too sure about it. I've read the whole site, it wasn't that big. |
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i had a very hard time finding negative stuff about it on the net... most of the search results were member pages... people who had done the forum, and made websites ranting and raving how good the forum is... here is the articale i read awhile back... yeah... the friend... first off... ALLS she does it try to get my sister to join... no matter how many times my sister says no. She, joined the organization... goes there ALL the time for seminars (pays of course) but she also works there... its freaky seriously... she will not stop asking my sister to "just try it" |
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yeah... anyone? |
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That was a very interesting read Zeus. I appreciate the link. I am shocked that Mr Fight Club Chuck P. went there!! And he says if it wasn't for them he probably wouldn't have started writing. No Fight Club *shudders* (Near the beginning when it said that place, 'Cornal' or something, I thought it was going to say Cornwall :) Well, if your sister has said no I think her friend should leave it at that. $375 is quite a lot of money, it could be a huge money making scam. You say she works there, maybe they get commission for every new member they snare? I dont know the person so I guess shouldn't say things like that, but it's something to consider. On the other hand it could be very good and she just wants your sister to be apart of something really good. But isn't it for people who want to change their life? Is your sister happy with her life? Well I guess you can't anwer that for her of course. I'd be careful about it. If your sister keeps saying no and her friend keeps on asking, well I just don't think that's right. |
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oh my god... stay away from them! I have actually been to a landmark forum. I have never before wasted so much money in such a short time :-/ Zeus, i really recognize what you're saying about your sister's friend who keeps asking your sister to join and won't accept no! That is THE most annoying thing about the landmark organization. 't was about 2 years ago when i spent 3 months as an intern with this woman... she was a graphic designer who was just a eh... "one man company" so to say, she didn't work for a big firm, but had started her own graphic design-agency, and i got to spend my internship with her. Everything was fine for the first couple of week, but then she started talking about "the forum" as she always called it. Shit i'm going to post this in multiple messages again as i always seem to write longer stories than these posts can handle :-p |
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She had obviously noted that i am rather shy and have not very well developpe social skills. And she kept saying i MUST go to that forum and it would CHANGE MY LIFE FOREVER. That forum is supposed to be like a new starting point for the rest of your life or something. I said no i'm not interested (it all sounded rather freaky to me), but because i was her intern i had to see her everyday, and everyday she would ask me again. I found it shocking how agressive she was. After a while she also got her husband (who had also been to the forum) to help her convince. And they used to sit me down for these looooong conversations, and pointed out to me how shit my life was and that i looked som unhappy, they really knew how to work my weak spots and made me cry (and they exclaimed: oh my, this is such a beautiful moment you're being so open!). And they kept telling me how everything could change for me and my life would be much better if i did the forum |
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And they were soooo persuasive, that they eventually talked me into it. At the moment i stopped saying "no" and changed more to: "oh i don't know... well maybe...", she immediately pulled out a registration form and made me sign it. When i think back it was really quite shocking how the almost forced me into it. The forum itself was... well... everything you would expect from such a forum. The "coach" would talk to us (a large group of people) for three days long, and everyone was invited to come up to the microphone and to "share" with the rest of us... which basically meant talk about all the problems in their life in a really honest way. I didn't dare go upfront and talk too, but okay i must confess it was very special to hear people be so open. Everyone has some sort of a problem, and i did see everywhere around me how it helped people to talk about it. |
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"I found it shocking how agressive she was. After a while she also got her husband to help her convince. And they used to sit me down for these looooong conversations, and pointed out to me how shit my life was ... they really knew how to work my weak spots and made me cry (and they exclaimed: oh my, this is such a beautiful moment you're being so open!). And they kept telling me my life would be much better if i did the forum" Fucking hell, that sounds insane. Why are these people so gad damn agressive?! What's wrong with them? Why can't they take no for an answer. This sounds a lot like a cult, fucking hell. It's almost like they have been brainwashed or something, no shit. Theres something fucking weird about this place. |
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Every once in a while you had to turn to whoever was sitting next to you (always a complete stranger), and the coach said something like: "for the next 5 minutes you have to tell the person next to you everything you don't like about your life!" or... "you have to tell the person next to me what you are most afraid of!" and things like that. This was easily the best part of the forum, it was amazing how you could into deep and meaningfull conversations with complete strangers. I actually really liked that (even tho it was scary as hell!). But after that the forum started to become rather creepy (in my eyes anyway). The "secret" of landmark is that they say you can do whatever you want... just set yourself a goal, promise yourself you'll do it... and keep to that promise. And then they tried to push you into taking immediate action. Literally, they had telephones, and you had to call whoever you had a problem with (some people who hadn't seen their father for years, or husbands/wives they'd been neglecting... anything) and talk it out right there and then. And the atmosphere was really strange... when some-one is constantly screaming: you can do it! pick up the phone! call them! The you'll do things you wouldn't normally do. |
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It might work for some people, i don't know... but i found it very unpleasant! I tried to focus on not getting "carried away" like i saw people do everywhere around me. In the end i didn't call my mother in the middle of the night ;-) They were pushing at that, but luckily i said no! That coach had really talked me into it that i had a huge problem with my mother... but really i don't, our relationship is just fine. I'm glad i didn't call her at 3 a.m. (!!!) and say things i would probably regret forever. The only thing i did was to write a letter to a friend of mine. And i promised i would send it after the forum. But when i got back home and re-read that letter a couple of days later when i was "sober" again i found it rather ridiculous :-o I just threw it away. It's amazing how they can push you to do things you don't really want to do. And the end of the forum was the worst... they gave everyone the "assignment" to talk as much people as possible to also take the forum. Because it'd be good for "everyone that you love, you really should allow them to experience this!" And also for personal growth it is a good thing to train yourself in persuading people (they said!), That is why everyone who attended is so goddamn pushy, the forum tells them to do so! |
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They also tried to talk me into taking another forum... a follow up. Before i had done it they said: "this forum will change your life!" and after it was over they said: "Well this was really only the beginning, the next forum will REALLY change your life!"... it's sick. They got people who really couldn't afford it to already sign the contract for the 2nd forum. They said: "if you really want something, you have to be commited to it! You must not think: i don't have enough money. Instead you have to think: I really want this, so i will do it! I will get the money somehow!" I can't imagine how all those people felt the next day when they weren't on that high anymore and realized what they had done. Even to this very day (2 years later) i get telephone calls from them every couple of months, saying there is some sort of a forum nearby and would i please come... it really does remind me of a scary cult sometimes. Hm... i hope no landmark-members are into aphex twin ;-) If you've been to a forum you're not supposed to tell anyone what goes on in there. If they found out i told you guys they would probably hunt me down :-p |
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Anyway Zeus, at some point in time I'm sure your sister's friend will try to talk you into it as well. I would definitely advice you to say no (and you're sister as well). The best way to do it is probably to tell them very clearly you are happy with your life as it is, and are not interested in taking the forum. Don't just say no, but explain why you don't wanna do it. They should be able to accept that (i hope). Of course you could also be more rude, but you probably want to stay friends with that guy! So i think this would be the best way. If you show any sign of doubt that you might be interested, they will start working on that. Never anwser any of your sister's friends questions with "well i don't know" or "i'm not sure" or anything like that. And resident evil... i think you probably could compare it to brainwashing. They are constantly working at you... and also after the forum is over they keep in touch. If you are allowed to have a few days rest and calmly think about it, you would probably see how much crap it is that they're saying (i did). But their secret is that they just keep talking to you and keep pushing you to go further... quite a nasty organisation :-/ If you ever have some sort of problems in your life, just go to a psychiatrist, NOT the landmark-forum. |
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"Literally, they had telephones, and you had to call whoever you had a problem with and talk it out right there and then" That is what happened during "The Plan"!!! I think maybe the writer's of Six Feet Under maybe making fun of The Landmark Forum :) "they gave everyone the "assignment"" Sounds like Fight Club, with Tyler handing out Homework :) Your post's were really good surrounded. I have never heard of this before today, I now feel like I've gone through it thanks to your detailed post's. And I still have $375! "Before i had done it they said: "this forum will change your life!" and after it was over they said: "Well this was really only the beginning, the next forum will REALLY change your life!" It sounds like they are running some money making scam-cum-cult thingy. I am glad I know why they are so pushy to make people join. I'd certainly stay away if you have a weak mind. Surrounded, your attitude sounds good (don't get sucked in) but I'm sure someone in a depressed frame of mind and not thinking clearly would be completly sucked in. People have problems and a lot of people want to slove their problems quickly. It's not right. Three day's to change your life, give me a break. I feel sorry for all those poor buggers losing money. Probably a lot who can't afford it too. Thats really low. A documentry crew should take hidden cameras in and film what's going on. Why can't you tell people about what it's about? Sounds so much like a cult-scam. Surrounded, I can just imagine the Landmark forum chasing you for telling us, Simpson stlye with the angry mob and everything!! |
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i'd really like to see that show "six feet under" :-p It sounds intruiging! Hehe, so is it a comedy show? I'd love to see them making fun of the forum ;-) I bet i would recognize lots of things and probably laugh my ass off :-p Yeah... lol, it's very interesting that the writer of Fight Club attended the forum! That explains so much... hehe, with his organization, and the dedication of the members of 'project mayhem' even to do things they would normally never do! I can clearly see now how landmark might have inspired him :-D Yeah, it is very easy to get sucked into it... it sounds like such an easy anwser to all your problems, and they keep promising that everything will be alright if you do what they say. I can see why so many people get carried away with it. I would imagine the hunting down to go more in an X-files style ;-) Someday soon a man in a black suit (dark sunglasses) will probably approach me and say he wants to take me for a ride ;-p yeah, it'd be really interesting to have someone film it with hidden cameras! I'd love to see them exposed. The part about not being able to tell what goes on in there is really low. This woman who convinced me also said all the time: "i can't tell you how they do it, but promise me, it will work for you!" So you go in there expecting some sort of a miracle... |
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Also, you pay a HUGE amount of money to take the forum, and for lunch you still have to go out to a restaurant and pay for your own food, i had to sleep in a hotel (paid for by myself, ofcourse), and they even charge you for every lousy cup of coffee and/or tea! It's disgusting... all they need is to rent a space and some microphones... there's no way they need SO much money. Their profits must be gigantic! You would expect if you pay so much that food and places to sleep are included :-/ |
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I'd probably describe Six Feet Under as a dark comedy. But theres also a lot of drama in it. It's one of my favourite programs and one of the best televison ever made in my opinion. It's from the writer of American Beauty, and it shows. I can't recommend it more highly. The Mother (Ruth) is the one that has gone to 'The Plan'. She learnt about it ... wait for it ... from some one she knows. He wasn't "you gotta go, you gotta go" but I felt he almost emotionally blackmailed her ("I'd feel really great if you came if me"). Now she is totally in a weird mood, and her family are a little scared ("What the fuck is wrong if you?"). Watch it, you won't regret it! I almost bet my life that you'll love it! =D |
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Your spot on about Project Mayhem! No food! Not even a fucking cup of coffee or tea!! That's so wrong. The head of the company probably has a house filled with money and he goes swimming in his pool filled with money. I really hope they get what they deserve. |
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but i'm not sure we can get it over here in holland... i'll check the tv-guide, i would love to see it! American Beauty was one of my favourite movies :-) The emotional blackmailing doesn't really sound "landmark-ish" so to say... they focus more on why it would be so good for YOU. They'll probably say something like: "you are very special to me, and i really think you deserve this oppurtinity." Sigh... to think how much CD's i could have bought with all that money ;-) |
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probably not resident evil... most people who've taken the forum are probably very happy with the results (or at least their coach or other landmark-friends tell them everyday they should be ;-)). I doubt the "anti-landmark" people will ever be with enough to do something about it. The followers are really like a flock of sheep who can't take a step back and think about what they're actually doing and how landmark is controlling their life. They're happily paying huge checks to be able to take part in yet another forum. I can't wait to see Fight Club again ;-) I'll probably look at it from a totally new perspective now! |
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Sounds like Scientology crap |
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i've heard alot about Scientology, but i have no idea what it actually is! |
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www.xenu.net |
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that's pretty creepy :-s And rather ridiculous when they start talking about aliens that have taken over our bodies! Oh my god, i had no idea this scientology was so serious... and people actually believe that shit? geez... |
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