waysider

He claimed his "class" promoted harmony in the home. How would he know? The only harmony he created was a long string of duets in the motor coach.

Bunch of kids playing "grown-up".

I'm often intrigued by the way people who weren't there suddenly know exactly what happened. People who weren't in the Corps or FellowLaborers or on HQ Staff somehow know what it was like to be there. Fascinating.

Let's try it this way....You can't judge a book by lookin' at the cover.

Absolutely. Opinions can and do vary all across the board. I think, though, that behavior trumps opinion on these matters. You may be of the opinion that someone is a class A yet their behavior reveals them to be a class B. I'm just sayin'.

I tend to see Corps participation as a sort of barometer for The Way's health. Right now, the weather forecast looks rather dismal. Boo Hoo... I'm so sad.

With all the big dollar figures that have been tossed around in the news lately, 54 million seems like such a pittance. I'm just sayin'.

Yeah, he could have just said he came up with the same idea as Dave Thomas, through independent research. (like he did with Bullinger and 4 crucified.) hahahahahahaha!

Now that's better! Unfortunately, Wendy's opened their first restaurant in 1969, two years after PFAL was filmed.

Yeah change *word over the world* to *word under the table*. Instead of"WOW!", we're left with "WUT?" :huh:/>

He's never been among my favorites. I lean more toward heartfelt expression than flashy technique. BTW...Jimmy Dawkins died yesterday. Now THERE was a guy with a unique sound. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgwP7GyMeJw

Chronic sleep deprivation It does all sorts of wacky things to your mind and body. It was standard M.O. in the various Way programs, though not typically seen at local levels. Try running on 5 hrs. sleep for a week....or a month. Now imagine running on 5 hrs. sleep for years on end. It takes its toll. Here I am, almost 40 years after the fact, and I still wake up automatically after 5 hrs. sleep. The difference now is that I can roll over and go back to sleep instead of rushing off to some meaningless meeting.

I was in FellowLaborers (Did my whole two years and then some) The 50 of us lived in a block of rented townhouses, 6 to a townhouse. (No mingling with local populace allowed) We got up at 5:30 AM. (5:00 AM if you had a morning responsibility, such as breakfast prep.) Had a morning fellowship in one of the basements, where we sat cross-legged on the floor. ("Mannies", announcements, etc.) After that, we ran our mile or did exercises if the weather was too extreme. (No big deal....gym glass type stuff) Next we moved on to breakfast in the "houses" with our smaller house groups.... Get ready for work.... Work 8 (required) hours at a secular job, with a view toward using the job as a springboard to promote PFAL. After work, move on to dinner with all 50 members at Limb HQ, using proper (Way) etiquette. Each house had an appointee who was responsible for prepping dinner, dishes, silverware, etc.) Work on Limb assignments until 9 or 10....Drive back to townhouse compound and meet in night twigs for 1/2 hour. Wash dishes and prep meals for next day.....oh, look, it's midnight....Gotta hit the sack because it's lights out and there is to be no talking after 12......Get up next day and do it all again.

You probably know this but in the U.S., polecat is another name for skunk. :o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2U2hxJkk594 :o

I hope all goes well for you, my friend.

I can understand why Leonard used Maggie Muggins....use a character the audience can identify. But why would VPW use a character most of us had never heard of? Oh, wait, don't tell me. Was it because he was a moron?

Probably not but, it sure has a nice ring to it. :P

Hey, Garth, long time no see. You have a good point about opinions and science. A good part of the information available on the subject is just opinion and there isn't nearly as much scientific data as I'd like to see. The problem is, though, you have to call it something and "yo mamma" was already taken. So, we call that kind of stuff a "cult" and work with the specifics as best we can. Like you, I think the word "cult" is used too loosely to describe things that don't fit the criteria, flawed as it may be. That's why I emphasize the need to look at the criteria, the specifics of the abuse and manipulation being discussed and see if one's experience is similar to others. If it is, then we can discuss the similarities without giving it any sort of name.

Yes, it's relevant because it reinforces the importance of boundary recognition. We're conditioned to believe that those who are above us in authority will make the right choices. And, it's true, to a degree that we have to, especially in the ninth grade and early adulthood. As adults, though, we have to rely on our moral compass and past experience to arrive at logical, reasoned decisions. Sometimes people do these things because they didn't learn the correct lesson from previous experience and they perpetuate the behavior. Discussions like this help to break the cycle. (IMO)

I think it is important to look for and at the previously noted characteristics that define a cult before declaring a group or movement to be one. For example, Rocky Horror Picture Show is often referred to as being a "cult movie". But, upon closer examination, we find the defining characteristic of a cult to be missing. For the most part, when people leave the movie theater, they don't find themselves pondering the meaning of the film or subverting themselves to a charismatic leader or reveling in "special knowledge" or recruiting new converts. Like the horror movie ads said in the 1950's, "It's only a movie.".

Maybe that's it, they catch us at a moment of vulnerability.

Leave of absence/Dropped from active Corps (In other words, "tripped out")

Very cool!

I suppose so, Jerry, but it reminds me too much of how The Way used that technique to rationalize other obvious contradictions such as the six denials, etc.