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In Reply to: Pure dictatorial control posted by MG on June 11, 2003 at 13:57:26:
The 5 homes that I have visited in the last 10 years since I have been involved with the exer community have all been a picture of disunity and discouragement. Cheap, grungy furnishings with a heavy smell of provisioned (rotting) fruits and vegetables and bleach in the air, and MO quotes and schedules taped to the walls. The adults were usually absent (out clowning, etc.), and the children and teens were left home to do chores.
There was no pretense of interest in me -- to find out if I was a "sheep" or a "10:36-er", etc. When I showed up, everybody just sat on the couch watching TV. The "show home" was different, of course, as was one other CM home in which I knew some of the people, and they wanted to put their best foot forward. Still, it was bad. The house was crumbling and they had a bad roach problem. They were living on a diet that was at least 50% eggs (from a provisioning contact), and the kids were starved for anything "system", from Coca-Cola and cheese crackers to non-WS-approved music.
It was heartbreaking, really. But as I thought about it, it wasn't much different than when I was in. The difference is that now, the adults that I know are in their 50's, some of them have children younger than their grandchildren. Some are absolutely in denial about what the future holds for them, but some can't help but read the handwriting on the wall that says that they will soon be of no more use to the Family. Some with health problems are actually being demoted to FM status, or being asked to leave "for the good of the work". Remember the loyal workhorse in "Animal Farm" who thought he was being sent off to the hospital in an ambulance, but it turned out to be a vehicle from the glue factory?
