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from Monday, January 24, 2005 - 20:21 (Agree/Disagree?) It's sad how everyone jumps down someone's throat when they try to say something positive. But I guess that is what freedom of speech is all about. (reply to this comment)

from Speedx3dave Monday, January 24, 2005 - 19:57 (Agree/Disagree?) Chicks with a healthy attitude have healthy Sex! Lets talk about sex. (reply to this comment)

from moon beam Saturday, June 12, 2004 - 13:32 (Agree/Disagree?) You have a healthy, positive attitude which is inspiring. (reply to this comment)

from banal_commentator Saturday, June 12, 2004 - 13:07 (Agree/Disagree?) Article Review: This article provides a rare and refreshing doze of positivity compared to the drone and the moan of other articles on this site (not to undermine the trauma of those that write depressing articles, however) Banal Observation: I find it amusing that an article called "We Only Live Once" (yes, capitilization is necessary) was written by someone called "Eternity." (reply to this comment)

from Baxter Saturday, June 12, 2004 - 12:41 (Agree/Disagree?) Let's not starting fetching our flails just yet; I think this is more about being able to say that you're gaining control of your life, regardless of who's listening. Obviously, not everyone will want to hear it. I mean, we all have our own problems. Still, I think it is probably important for you to be able to do this, as the process of regaining ( or simply gaining) your own sense of self-direction and purpose is a long and difficult one, and it does help to be able take stock of your progress. If this is just one way of reaffirming the fact that you're still live and kicking, then I say good on you. I'm pretty much in the same place you are now. I've been out a while now, had my time floundering and I'll be starting university after summer brake. It does feel good to be able to look behind you and shout ' look how far I've come!'. Still, be careful of preaching. And here I go, preaching away at you for preaching. (reply to this comment)

From Baxter Saturday, June 12, 2004, 12:42 (Agree/Disagree?) 'Let's not START fetching our flails just yet' I hate my own typing!(reply to this comment)

from Christy Saturday, June 12, 2004 - 08:46 (Agree/Disagree?) When you do get around to going to college, maybe you should try out for the cheerleading squad. I can see it now: Go Ex-Cult Kids, Go! You Can Do It! Just Try Harder! Ok, maybe I'm just too tired and hung-over to appreciate the pep rally spirit. (reply to this comment)

from Jerseygirl Friday, June 11, 2004 - 11:15 (Agree/Disagree?) Just one quick question--are you making a little more than 30K now? (reply to this comment)

From Prisma Friday, June 11, 2004, 22:50 (Agree/Disagree?) Does that really matter? Apparently 30k isn’t that far from her dream or maybe it's the dream of dreaming.(reply to this comment)

from Zed Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 22:19 (Agree/Disagree?) This does sound like a "testimony". Are you in TF? I disgree with "We can waste so much time in life feeling sorry for ourselves and looking at all the things we lack in and what we dont have rather than being aware and thankful that we are luckier than most people in this world. There is an enormous percentage in this world who cannot even read at write and were born into poor families" for the following reasons. 1. I can do whatever the hell I want with my own time, even "feeling sorry" for myself. That's the way it works outside TF. It's only a waste of time if I say so. 2. I like to remind myself of what I don't have and what I lack. Thats how I make plans. You make it sound like such a bad thing. Before shopping for groceries I have to look in my fridge to see what I don't have (ie. need). 3. Next time I hear someone say they were robbed, raped, and abused I'm going to remember the lesson you taught me and say "At least you can read and write. You're luckier than most people in this world." (reply to this comment)

From Eternity Friday, June 11, 2004, 06:22 (Agree/Disagree?) Hey you totally can do whatever the hell you like with your time, but by feeling sorry for yourself it aint gonna help you get anywhere. As for it sounding like a testimony, I just re-read what i wrote and yup it sounds like one but after reading 30 different stories from people saying they can't do anything because of their lack of education and what a bunch of losers we all are because of it, I begged to differ and had to write the positive side of an ex-member with a lack of education. (reply to this comment)

From Challenge Friday, June 11, 2004, 07:10 (Agree/Disagree?) Can you list them? You may become more credible if you point out the actual "30 different stories from people saying they can't do anything because of their lack of education and what a bunch of losers we all are because of it." Since you wrote that definition, your list cannot include stories of people who are working to do something despite their lack of education and who are remarking on the challenges they face.(reply to this comment)

From highonhigh Saturday, June 12, 2004, 19:15 (Agree/Disagree?) I would like to read the 30 stories too, because I couldn't find them.(reply to this comment)

From Vicky Friday, June 11, 2004, 12:21 (Agree/Disagree?) I second that! Where are all these whinge stories??? I don't recall reading them...(reply to this comment)

From Eternity Friday, June 11, 2004, 06:22 (Agree/Disagree?) Hey you totally can do whatever the hell you like with your time, but by feeling sorry for yourself it aint gonna help you get anywhere. As for it sounding like a testimony, I just re-read what i wrote and yup it sounds like one but after reading 30 different stories from people saying they can't do anything because of their lack of education and what a bunch of losers we all are because of it, I begged to differ and had to write the positive side of an ex-member with a lack of education. (reply to this comment)

from Pete Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 20:19 (Agree/Disagree?) Go for broke. More power to you. (reply to this comment)

from Educated Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 13:25 (Agree/Disagree?) Thanks for sharing your success. Somehow I get this vibe though that you're holding yourself out as a "good sample" to a bunch of "out-of-it murmurers." Also, when I personally assert the things that were done to me that were wrong, it is always with a view to adding to the impetus for change. I also appreciate the identification with other people's experiences and the travails they survived make me feel less alone and their ability to continue on gives me hope. You "proceeded in proving that to myself and the rest of the ex members i knew who had left that told me I was over ambitous had less of an education then they had and would never succeed" you hang out with the wrong exers, dude! I had no education but I worked and have a lot now, but I sure as hell NEVER tell anyone who has not yet gotten as much education that they would never succeed because of it! I spend all the energy & time I can trying to impart what I have lerned about how it's done. FYI, I am not "favorable" to the Family (that's in their words, and it means overlooking the wrongs people commit under color of The Family's authority and usually fostered if not ordered directly by TF leadership). You say "I worked long hours from the bottom proving to my co-workers and employers that I had a desire to learn everything they knew and would take over small projects to get the experience that I needed in order to work my way up." That's the way to do it. Just to make sure I'm clear, you're not saying that the people who feel they were cheated educationally in TF are unwilling to do that, are you? "I then decided that if I believed I could work anywhere I wanted" Are you saying that what it takes to work anywhere you want is to "believe?" I am all for cheering each other on and supporting each other with what we know, but I am getting this vibe from your article that you're chiding somebody and it's a bit off-putting. Especially since this is not a site where TF honchos who make the educational decisions hang out and you're saying "...I want to go University because I have a desire to learn as much as I can while I'm here in this world but not because I feel I was deprived of education in the family." In that sentence you sound like one of the people TF gets to write testimonies for their pubs (is this a reprint?). As far as being "luckier than most people in this world," I disagree with the use of "most." You should say we are luckier than people in the worst-off countries. Even then, some people endured trua atrocities in TF, so the generalized "we" is not appropriate. I am all for the attitude you express when you say "I have my fair share of problems and set backs in life but everytime I experience one of those I make sure I learn as much as I can out of it and use it to move forward." Are you claiming you're the only one who does that & the rest of us on this site don't? Your tone is a bit preachy. And BTW, I don't want to "change my life" that I have now. I'd rootin tootin sure love to change my childhood but I'm not dumb enough to think I can. Anyway, I don't want to dis having a "can-do" attitude. I am all about that and my credentials show it, especially when matched against my origins. What I don't go for is the premise that wrongs should be kept silent. I think things should be named for what they are and lights should be shone even under the ugliest rocks. Go check a bookstore and you'll see that MovingOn is not the only spot in the world full of people who won't just put up and shut up! Defending our own human dignity and protesting the outrages is not a worthless act of selfishness, especially at this time when the machinery we escaped soldiers on, often trampling our loved ones. (reply to this comment)

From give it a rest Thursday, June 10, 2004, 22:23 (Agree/Disagree?) (reply to this comment)

From Educated Thursday, June 10, 2004, 13:38 (Agree/Disagree?) P.S., the only people who told me I'd never make it in "the system" because of my upbringing were the Uncles and Aunties in The Family, and the Letters, including these little pubs called "Traumatic Testimonies." All the exers I am friends with boost each other non-stop. But we don't feel obligated to squelch the sounds of our struggle. Have you ever watched Serena Williams play tennis? *Heard* her play tennis?(reply to this comment)

From Educated Thursday, June 10, 2004, 13:35 (Agree/Disagree?) (reply to this comment)

from exister Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 13:17 (Agree/Disagree?) So you're in showbiz. How interesting. Below is my list of careers that indicate you are simply rehashing your cult skills instead of acquiring new ones. 1. Stripping - Remember dance night? 2. Showbiz - All that is required for showbiz is a fawning need to please others. Most of us were forced to humiliate ourselves by singing in front of a crowd at some point, so rehashing that experience for money can't be that challenging. 3. Real Estate Sales- Anyone that charges you 6% for something that you can do for yourself is a snake oil merchant. Anyone who charges you $1 for a piece of paper with cult babble written on it is an apprentice snake oil merchant. 4. IT support - Computer Science is hard. On the other hand setting up networks can't be much harder than banging on whatever obsolete hardware they had at that combo home you were raised in. 5 Human Resources - People who pretend to know about people. Doesn't that describe every quack shepherd in the Family? Good rule of thumb. Ask yourself, "What would The Family do?" Then do the opposite. (reply to this comment)

From jpmagero Friday, June 11, 2004, 00:16 (Agree/Disagree?) As a Systems Admin I disagree about what you said re: IT support. Some of the brightest people can have a hard time doing the simplest tasks on a computer and setting up a large computer network is not as simple as you make it out to be. Granted there are many low level "IT support" Help Desk positions where there is not much skill involved where they all follow a script. These days so much depends on the computer systems and network security to guarantee the integrity of the business data.(reply to this comment)

from Jealous Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 13:02 (Agree/Disagree?) So you actually got science up through 11th grade? Lucky you! (reply to this comment)

from Joe H Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 12:51 (Agree/Disagree?) Wow. So many mixed emotions. I'm happy for your success, but can you spare us the self-help shtick? Turn tape over now. (reply to this comment)

From Prisma Friday, June 11, 2004, 22:43 (Agree/Disagree?) Joe, I'm so disappointed you didn't bother to comment on the lack of impressive grammar or sentence structure. Where is your sense of self?(reply to this comment)

From Ty Erdovjo Saturday, June 12, 2004, 15:22 (Agree/Disagree?) Dear Prisma, Do not be disappointed. Our Joe has been taking some small steps towards recovery lately and we are pleased with the progress he has made! Presently he is battling one of his greatest challenges so far: namely to resist the urge of constantly desiring to be in the center of attention. We encourage this endeavour and would hereby like to recommend all devoted gjitters to do the same. Ty Erdovjo Director of the GJIT Fund (reply to this comment)

From Judith Beck Sunday, June 13, 2004, 20:39 (Agree/Disagree?) For some strange reason, I seem to have a core belief that "gjitters" is incorrectly capitalized and punctuated. Judith and Aaron T. Beck Knight of Pythias Lodge #57 GJITCBT Scholarship Fund and Refreshments Subcommittee Chair(reply to this comment)

From Ty Erdovjo Monday, June 14, 2004, 01:57 (Agree/Disagree?) Dear Joe, Impersonating dear Judith is not going to help you. See you back at the center, son! Ty Erdovjo Director of the GJIT Fund(reply to this comment)

From Judith Beck Monday, June 14, 2004, 05:23 (Agree/Disagree?) I can assure you that Joe is not the one "impersonating dear Judith." -- Judith and Aaron T. Beck Knight of Pythias Lodge #57 GJITCBT Scholarship Fund and Refreshments Subcommittee Chai(reply to this comment)

From Prisma Friday, June 11, 2004, 22:43 (Agree/Disagree?) Joe, I'm so disappointed you didn't bother to comment on the lack of impressive grammar or sentence structure. Where is your sense of self?(reply to this comment)

From Shackled Thursday, June 10, 2004, 18:08 (Agree/Disagree?) Same feelings here. I'm glad you've done well for yourself and are happy with what you got but spare us the lecture. I believe the majority of us, at least active ones on this site, are either studying or working towards a goal. You came across as if we aren't and you have the answer for us. It aint how you see it. (reply to this comment)