Rocky

A worthy goal. Not answerable in quick sound bites. I suspect this is why ideally it's something to start building for children early in life. Among possible objectives/steps: Realization of the fact: everyone gets conned. That's what magicians do just for entertainment. Perhaps a foundational reality to teach could deal with how a person's attention is diverted to what others want to convince you has happened, will happen, or is really now happening. Further, discussion of the role of early childhood education focusing on critical thinking skills. Then, post secondary education exploring the reason broad liberal arts courses are graduation requirements, including humanities, social sciences, foreign languages, philosophy and mathematics. IOW, in my view, there's no easy fix. Doesn't mean there's no fix, it's just not easy. Might boil down to motivating individuals to become life long learners... which for many gets set aside when the necessities of life crowd them out.

Nice sarcasm by both chockful and waysider.

I accept your criticism with humility. Thank you.

That depends. If you continue to respond by telling me what (you assume) I'm thinking, I might lecture more.

Cool. It's probably safer to not assume you know what is going on inside my head.

Are you sure?

A likely story.

Oh really? (Physically) Healthy atheists? (rhetorical question) I neither request, nor expect response.

“You will face many defeats in life, but never let yourself be defeated.” -Maya Angelou I like this quote. We will face many defeats in life. It is one of the reasons for living our life. We are meant to face challenges. And to learn from them. I think the first way in not allowing ourselves to be defeated is by recognizing challenges will occur. We will not, and cannot, win every challenge which comes our way. So, my challenge for you is to figure out a way to face those defeats, but not let yourself be defeated. Find the wins in every challenge you are nearly being defeated by.

If you're referring to Lonnell Johnson, he wasn't a token anything. He's a smart, industrious gentleman. As far as I know, he's still upright (alive). https://www.lonnelledwardjohnson.com/ Three athletes I remember Loy latching on to and promoting were Tony Phillips (MLB utility infielder), Tony Collins (NFL running back) and Irving Fryar (another NFL player). All three of them had significant problems post TWI and did not laud their PFLAP grad status.

Not without someone like you providing feedback to say such a thing. Has it not ever occurred to you that your interactions with bait and hook trolls like Mike and JohnIam might be counterproductive? To clarify, I sense, because of your feedback, you find my "running commentaries" at least irritating. I hope not overwhelmingly so.

Why do you think your comments are necessary? I post mine because I can and suppose you have similar motivation. I'm not supposed to be anything. It just seems to work out that way. I do appreciate how you don't mean to attack me. I just seems that way... but it doesn't bother me.

Much like they did with professional athletes in major league sports, and with people who provided large financial donations.

Such is the wonder of iron sharpening iron. I LOVE how THIS kind of interaction enhances healing for readers. Thank you.

Alas and alak... nothing posted on this thread, especially in the last week or so, has anything to do with Loy C Martindale having his own spin off ministry. I'm confident I am not the only one to recognize this fact. However, it DOES look (un)surprisingly similar in structure to threads wherein Mike drops a line with bait and successfully hooks to push buttons of greasespotters. As our good friend T-Bone has mused, isn't it reasonable for (perhaps non-troll) GSC readers to address such by rebutting and exposing such fallacies as we see herein from JohnIam? To which I mostly shake my head in wonder. Then I ask myself, does anyone (i.e. newcomers) actually read those rebuttals? Do we ever get feedback from those ostensible newcomers?

Sigh... heavy sigh.

I always think of March Fo(u)rth as Walter Cummins Day. He would always make the joke about how it's the only day which is also a command.

Me too.

It seems this thread has devolved into politics. How'd that happen?

Wonderful insight. I have no doubt many who separate from the cult will eventually find a tribe to which they feel comfortable belonging. LOL... I spend a lot of time in front of my computer... and with books... and with friends/family at times. My reflections on people's social needs stems from seeing how it's much easier for people to leave twi, at least with less exit trauma (loss of social network, especially) if they see the light at the end of the tunnel. In contrast, there are those who leave the cult when they are personally fed up. Charlene exquisitely described how that was her journey. As have you. I'm thankful for the way we can bounce ideas off of each other (not just you and me) and the accumulated bounty of wisdom and insight is much greater than just the sum of 2 plus 2 equaling 4.

The bottom line is this: for Mike this is a social exercise of some sort. He almost certainly feels (especially after making a donation for the upkeep of the site) like he belongs here. Those who take his bait and get hooked, take his bait and get hooked. He is exceptionally skilled at pushing YOUR buttons. Ultimately, it's always going to be up to you to what extent you continue to engage with him. Your comment with the questions is certainly thoughtful. I remain convinced Mike will continue to yank your chain as long as you let him. Which is probably going to be a long time. Further, I remain convinced the only way to incentivize Mike taking a LOOONNNNGGG vacation is to ignore him. Selah

IMO, this is nothing more and nothing less than another expression of Mike's undisciplined imagination.