(March 31, 2016 at 7:06 am)Anka Wrote: And after you become aware of these negative aspects you can find it too hard to leave, especially for numeraries.
Joining a group you come to think isn't doing the good you thought they were is a dissonance-creating moment and there are a lot of cognitive hurdles to overcome in leaving them.
Quote:Most of them are recruited at the most vulnerable moments of their life
High-pressure, high-demand groups often recruit at just this time because it's easier to convert members that way. If you're happy and content with life, where's the impetus to join such a group? The draw isn't as strong. But if you can target vulnerable people you've struck gold.
Quote:The only excuse I have for myself and how I could be so blind is the simple fact that new members of OD are always making just an initial commitment without knowing any of the details of OD life are treated as full members. Instead of allowing new recruits to examine the details of membership and then re-evaluate their commitment, OD just deliberately withholds information and then strikes with a great pressure on new recruits to remain in OD, even if they object to one or more aspects of OD life.
You don't need to make excuses for yourself. You've described how this group walks its members into the organization with baby steps, and before you know it you're in over your head and can't remember how you got there. You weren't blind, you were being shielded from seeing things that might have raised red flags.
I'm glad to hear that you left a group that you were very unhappy in, and welcome to the forums.
Teenaged X-Files obsession + Bermuda Triangle episode + Self-led school research project = Atheist.
