(Please note: these are only
suggestions. You may want to
analyze each of them to see if
they have any value to you and
if necessary, add some of your
own.) "The subjects easiest to influence
are usually young, trusting,
gullible, and non-critical people
from protective backgrounds or
people who may be particularly
vulnerable because of some recent unsettled transition (my
note: survivors may also fit in
this category)...the rejects are
likely to be individuals who have
easy access to accurate, critical,
or counterbalancing information. Insolent, self-centered, street-
wise, highly critical or
recalcitrant individuals are
generally culled out..." Though
everyone is susceptible to some
degree. 1) Try to find out both sides
of the story. 2)Learn about propaganda
and mind control techniques
and learn how to recognize
them. If necessary, learn to
avoid those using these
techniques (this may be online or offline.) The media
and advertisements may be
a good place to start either
learning about these
techniques or avoiding them.
At times, advertisements don’t even discuss the
product or its attributes at
all. 3) When in a potential
situation where you can be
MC’ed or propagandized,
learn how to recognize the
feelings of going into a
meditative state and learn some of the techniques for
getting out of these states.
(Details are at "Conference
trigger management and
safety" are available via E-
mail, snail mail (for $1.00 US only) or at http:// members.aol.com/ smartnews/page5/
NBpresentation99.htm) I
believe that avoidance of
these situations is usually
the best way to keep from
being MC’ed or propagandized. 4) The user of propaganda
or mind control techniques
may exhibit a "lack of
morals," lying and/or
disregarding the rules of the
debate, list, group or society. This is similar to the
"us vs them" or may be
justified by "the ends justify
the means" arguments
organizations may use, see
SMART #29 (Cult Information Article.) 5) Try to use your gut
feelings. If something
doesn’t feel right, step
back or remove yourself
from the situation. I believe
that a legitimate group or organization will give an
individual the time and room
to make their own choices
(see "Emotional
Manipulation" above). I believe the following
statement also applies to
being MC’ed and/or fooled
by propaganda. From
FactNet, "No one "joins a
cult." People recruited into destructive groups think
they are doing something
else, something beneficial
and worthwhile. Anyone can
be recruited given the right
sales pitch and the right conditions in one’s life. We
are all potential victims."
While I believe it is
necessary to learn from our
mistakes, I think that feeling
too much guilt doesn’t help. It may be necessary to
make an amends when safe.
This may be simply by
getting healthy and possibly
educating others. As always, please use your
own judgement and try to
research everything as fully
as possible. Don’t accept
anything anyone says
simply because they say it or claim to be an expert or
whatever. Try to check it
out for yourself. I am not an
expert, and I am continually
learning new things about
myself and the above topics.

only if u can properly edit ur post