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In Reply to: repost from a psychologist - at Goth's request posted by Acheick on November 22, 2002 at 18:50:30:
Certainly mind control was a large factor, as I said below it accounted often for about 60, 70, 80% of what was done. But this fellow seems to be operating on the assumption that mind control was TOTAL, which it was not.
I believe it was often a high percentage in us when we were the cult but it had the potential to increase (after breakings) and decrease until it got so low we got out of the group? Would ANY of us have ever left the cult if mind control had remained constant, total at 100%? I don't think so. But he says:
"Those who are sucked into an ultra-authority will act according to what the LEADERSHIP demands of them --they are not acting independently.Or in other words, they are not acting the same way in which they would have, had they been free of the manipulation."
To a large extent true. I did things in the group that I'd never do now because they're downright dumb. But other things I could have avoided even in the group, and I think we can all say the same. We can't blame all our individual deeds ONLY on Berg. For example, can we not blame some on upper level leaders like Sam Perfilio and others? Of course we can. Well then, can we blame wrong actions on middle level leaders? On lower level leaders? On ourselves?
I believe that cult mind control accounts for a lot (and that Berg and upper leaders therefore take the MOST blame) but I think each of us knows in our hearts how much we also are responsible for. If Goth's conscience is completely free, more power to her! There were people in the group who were more victims than others, and who didn't beat their kids mercilessly or abuse them, or turn into inhuman, merciless Mobots. Goth seems to be one of those, from what she's said. But each of us has to look at our own hearts, not to condemn or beat ourselves, but just to have an honest look.
The psychologist says:
"Therefore, the anger of those who were bor in the group is misdirected."
Does he tell this to SGAs? He should if they respect him. I agree with him that to simply hate all FGAs en toto as a people group is wrong. But they have every right to blame the MANY FGA abusers. If they choose to forgive, wonderful, but the fact remain that SGAs as kids had their daily lives directly influenced and damaged by lower level people who were largely under mind control but STILL did things they should not have done, part or much of which they bear responsibility. Some childcare workers were merciless. I've known many compassionate and sane ones and I'm sure they SGAs know the difference between adults as well.
"The real perpetrator is the leadership -- the real Leader, not those who seem (underlined seem) to be in leadership positions but still answer to the Leader."
Wrong. I disagree. Sam Perfilio & Joseph Peloquin & Sara Davidito cannot simply say they were obeying Berg. These guys were horrible leaders who caused immense damage and must bear much of the responsiblity for what they did. Yes, Berg bears a large part, but in all honesty we must all shoulder our own personal share, after the mind control is accounted for.
