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Lulu's avatar

Wonderful article, thank you.

I agree this is something that should be looked into further but I am too cynical to believe that it would be allowed (or acknowledged if it were) as it would provide too many de-programming routes for the majority.

I’ll add my understanding of how I personally believe I became part of the non-compliance group as many will be in a similar situation to me. It’s something I have thought long about, why don’t I think what they think etc, as for me it has been (and still is) an uncomfortable part of my life and one reason why I have no friends and have always found it hard to get along with others in a meaningful way. Loneliness sparks introspection in most of us I think.

I grew up in an abusive home, with a drunk father who beat my mother. As a child I was afraid a lot of the time and learnt to hide, distrust everyone and rebelled in the only way I could - not doing what I was told. Even today if someone tries to tell me what to do, as opposed to ask me, I automatically don’t want to do whatever it is! (I recognise this isn’t particularly helpful in most cases!)

At school I was an outsider because no one could come to play at my house, we had little money and my social skills were poor due to lack of good examples. This meant I didn’t develop the social group programming in the same way as other children.

I firmly believe that the distrust of others that my upbringing taught me, along with the lack of social interaction and therefore programming, is what allows me to see the lines of control and, if I choose to, step outside of them.

I also believe that people who had safe, happy, uneventful childhoods are the ones most likely to fall victim to control as adults. They were taught that other people can be trusted to keep them safe, they have never had reason to doubt, question, challenge or fight for their own safety and sanity. I obviously wish that we could all have happy, safe lives, and do not wish abuse on anyone, but the flip side of that comfort is often a dangerous and short sighted naivety.

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DuAnne Redus's avatar

When I was a young mother, I followed church rules: god first, others second, me third. I remember the day I realized those rules were upside down! I confessed to my children that they should be at the top of the list. That one new belief changed how I began to honor myself not selfishly, but self care. A new truth.

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