I don't begrudge those evil-doer bloggers who prefer to remain anonymous. There are many good reasons to do so, especially for fear of retribution - real or imagined. But I prefer not to be anonymous. I want the world to know who I am. And what I went through. And to expose my opinion of Sharon to the world and to her followers, who are victims. If one or two can be enlightened to leave, that's great. If none, well . . . Sharon won't live forever, even though she thinks she is God.
I was a member of the Gans group for over 20 years. I didn't realize it was really a cult until I took the step, out the door. Ironically, that's when I finally felt and tasted the very freedom that had eluded me during my 20 years of "working on myself." In the topsy-turvy Gans world, lies are used to keep people in. She drills this into people to become fearful of leaving, to be fully dependent upon her, and to doubt oneself. Its kind of an invisible knot that she ties around her followers. She didn't invent this method of abuse but she is very good at it. Sharon's motives are clear to every single former member, but completely hidden to anyone still there.
I hope you like the posts. I want people to leave the cult. To the extent I make factual claims, I endeavor to be accurate. If you think anything is inaccurate or is bothersome, don't hesitate to contact me here.
Happy New Year,
Spencer
Remember that story about the magician and the sheep? How the magician put a spell on the sheep so they'd believe they were eagles and lions or whatever, so that they would stick around and let the magician slaughter them? Because otherwise they'd understandably run for their lives? Turns out the story's true, it's just that our beloved wise and transcendently benevolent teachers failed to clarify exactly who the magicians were. It's quite apparent once you break the spell and step out the door, and (apparently) impossible to see when you're under hypnosis. Rather audacious to tell someone exactly what the con is, in order to con them. Is there a word for that? Ought to be. Meanwhile, check out the Wikipedia entry on psychological manipulation. Anything sound vaguely familiar?
ReplyDeleteYou can also called it being Madoffed. He promise people they would make a lot of money. He made people feel lucky to be there. He did this by creating an air of exclusivity. Instead of making a lot of money, they lost a lot.
DeleteTo be clear. Not a single thing was ever said by Sharon or her minion which wasn't a con. Everything was exactly opposite of what it meant. You can't name one that wasnt. All was said in order to keep people in their seats, perpetuate the cult, and accumulate fabulous wealth for Gans. As a semi-leader, I was privy to many an office discussion. These long sessions consisted mostly of insulting the intelligence of members and identifying their weak, vulnerable spots in order to seize on them. Folks, the only thing that Sharon loves about you is your rear end in a seat and the wallet you keep by your rear end.
To Anonymous - Re. "The Magician and The Sheep". After I left the Boston branch of "School", I looked back on the moment when Bob relayed that story and realized he was telling my "class" exactly what "School" was doing to us - we were being hypnotized, lined up and sheered. "School" was readying us for its slaughter -- which essentially meant that our lives were to be devoted to the "School" cause of recruitment and income generation. It was stunning, really.
DeleteGood Morning, Spencer Schneider - Congrats for dropping the weight of secrecy! I don't begrudge anonymous bloggers either; but I've found that there's an enormous amount of recovery in refusing to keep secrets. There's power in standing in the light -- yep, this happened, I did it and this is what I've learned. Imagine if every ex-"student" were to refuse to keep "School" secrets -- it simply would not be able to continue without it's invisibility cloak. Thank you for exposing the cult.
DeleteGSR
Thanks for the encouragement, SS! And thanks, too, for suggesting my new awesome handle, a real love handle. Call me Tuchas. (Some years ago -- never mind how long precisely -- having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me in life, I thought I would stumble about a little and see the cultish part of the world.) We all know who the white whale is, don't we? Oops, there I go with the cynicism again. Please, SS, don't flush these fresh Tuchas droppings!
DeleteYou are exactly correct. Not one true "idea." Even the idea of "ideas" isn't true. Lord only knows what Gurdjieff and Ouspensky were thinking. Gansiepoo and Bobby Boy certainly do not. What they know is how to exploit decent, vulnerable, slightly damaged people who have some money in the bank. White people. Straight white people. The "younger teachers," who tend to be honest sheep but true, and deeply hypnotized, lend the whole charade an air of emotional legitimacy, while the fatass magicians lean back in their overstuffed chairs, popping pills and sneering. These true sheep, however, must strenuously compartmentalize, as (among other things) they oversee the continuous process of lying, spying, and informing on their fellows called "sustaining." Yeah, and the Soviets called the murder of the Poles in the 1930s "land reform."
Dear Tuchas,
DeleteIf I ever meet you I will kiss you right on the cheek, because you are so smart and funny.
With my old cult friends, now, after we discuss the ways in which the cult made our lives worse and how much better we are now, sometimes someone will say shit like "but I miss some of the ideas -- which were pretty good." Really? This is crazy talk.
When pressed by me for examples, not one, after debate in the light of day of rational conversation can withstand the slightest scrutiny. Lets take the cornerstones of the "work". Relaxation and SR. Im sorry folks but relaxation was not invented by the G or his cronies. And the way Gans practices it - making people toil away all night on dangerous construction projects - is not very relaxing. Self remembering. What the hell is it? Define it to me. Tell me how its done. They'd never answer or explain it. Fred (RIP) particularly loved to attack people who asked for instructions on how to do it or asked what it is. And one of my favorite ideas - everything is your fault, and everything good in your life is because of being in the work. Oh, and you will lose the work when you leave. Yes, you do. That be a good thing. Ha ha. Kisses my tuchas person.
I was soooo sick over the holiday, and tried to go the therapy. My shrink said I shouldn't come. We had a big discussion, and I mentioned how, in the CULTY CULT CULT, one was Encouraged to go to class (stay out late, not rest, spread disease) because one would be less in false personality and more open to 'hearing'. She almost bust a gut laughing. She does this every time I tell her some trope from school that they stole from psychiatry, usually an old, disproven chestnut as above, or something not to be held rigidly (LIKE AS A RULE), such as "It's never a matter of money or time". My understanding is that the sad dragged-tail fatgirl Mrs. Jabba had quite a bit of analysis in her extreme youth (family stories), so it certainly seems like she Does Listen to Someone! Keep it going Spencer! You are my Hero!
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