I decided to do this page as a part of a project I’m working on. The results of this project will appear in my little corner, soon. Hopefully...
I believe this is a much needed section which will clarify some important questions people have been asking me.
So, here goes.

Table of contents:

a) Is the Forum a cult?
b) Is there a potential harm in the Forum?
c) Are they hiding things from the outside?
d) How do I treat a friend/relative who’s “in it” & doesn’t stop nagging me to join?
e) I went, now I feel like I’m-a-fixin’-to-die, what do I do?
f) What is wrong with a company which makes money without breaking the law?
g) Everybody’s happy about it, aren’t they?
h) Hey, g, why should I trust YOU?
i) I don’t get it. Are you pro or con?
j) What type of Forum experience do you have?

a) Is the Forum a cult?

Some elements detach the Forum and Landmark from being called a cult.

1. Landmark is a company. It exists for profit. Simple as that. How many cults you know define themselves as companies?

2. There is no “Supreme Leader”. True, there are local leaders. True, EST was conceived around the figure of Werner Erhard. But Erhard is no more part of the system and the focus has never been around a certain figure. The leaders play an important part in Landmark, but not the traditional Jim Jones role.

3. There is no “Landmark Myth”, no holy scripture, no Landmark deity. The supernatural is missing. So, technically speaking, the Forum is not a cult.

That said, it is a bit like comparing a dolphin and a shark. Sure, one is mammal, the other lays eggs. But that doesn’t mean they have nothing in common. It’s up to you to decide if it’s the friendly creature or the dangerous one.

b) Is there a potential harm in the Forum?

There is a potential harm in most everything we know. The Forum is no exception. The question is not “Can I be harmed of it?” but “How likely am I to be harmed of it and in what sense?”.

The FAQ is not the right place to answer these questions. I address them in my article and will further discuss them in the future.

c) Are they hiding things from the outside?

Most certainly they do. A lot of the Forum “magic” is drawn from curiosity. Which is mainly good for them, bad for you. As far as I’m concerned, there are no positive surprises in mind games. And it works so perfectly, that unless you’re an observer (a thing they despise), you can’t even tell all the processes around you.

d) How do I treat a friend/relative who’s “in it” & doesn’t stop nagging me to join?

Three practical choices, in my humble opinion (in no particular order):
1. Leave this person, thus avoiding the “nuisance”.
2. Join the Forum, thus risking becoming a “nuisance” yourself, but at least you’ll know what it’s all about.
3. Lead your own life, make your own decisions, regardless of the nag. Hopefully, with some persuasion and patience it will all wear off in time.

e) I went. Now I feel like I’m-a-fixin’-to-die. What do I do?

Please, don’t ask me for professional help, because I can’t help you. I can give clues, or direct you to your nearest counselor. Also, there are places which deal with cult related experiences and “de-programming”. I will consider give links or addresses, but I will not be held liable for any of the consequences. You do what you do at your own risk

f) What is wrong with a company which makes money without breaking the law?

The law is not a bulletproof vest for your brain or pockets. There may be nothing wrong with such a company as Landmark, but there is something definitely wrong with you if don’t care what your money is spent on. 

g) Everybody’s happy about it, aren’t they?

Landmark sure is happy. Landmark wants you to be happy, too. Gotta keep the cash flow. Can’t do that with unhappy customers. They CLAIM for an incredible success rate. I find it somewhat unreliable. I’m not saying people are lying about being satisfied. At the time of finishing the Forum the mind is not exactly straight. You may become happier, you may become depressed, perhaps suicidal. You can’t just ask people leaving the Forum how they feel. It’s a question to be answered over time.
I’ll say this: I don’t expect people who visit my site to have a premonition about the Forum. People go there because they’re interested. Then they write to me. So, judging from my “Reader’s Response” page I must conclude that it’s actually around the 50-50 area.

I’ll discuss this issue further in the future.

h) What is your relationship with Landmark?

Platonic. Just kidding. None, whatsoever.

h) Hey, g, why should I trust YOU?

Don’t! As I stated before, these are MY opinions. Don’t like ‘em? Fine. I do think my page contains pretty good guidelines regarding the Forum and the likes. However, I may be wrong. It’s not that I’m asking you for money or anything. I just think you can’t be too cautious with these things. But I can’t tell you to be cautious about the Forum and not about this page. All I’m saying is “confide in your own mental abilities”. You be the judge.

i) I don’t get it. Are you pro or con?

I used to think it was quite obvious. But when I started to receive replies from readers, I started to understand how close I was to objectivity. I’m trying to view the Forum phenomenon in some sort of a lab environment. I don’t want to discredit Landmark or anything. That’s why you won’t hear anything like “go!” or “avoid!”. I am deeply concerned, however, about their “technology”.
I’ve taken the somewhat presumptuous stand of educating you, boors!
Of course I have my own private opinion about the Forum itself. But I keep it to myself. It’s not important (When I say "opinion", I mean my opinion whether the Forum is good or bad). The important issue here is, how do you make a proper, unbiased decision about such delicate matters. After all, your mental health is no playing game.

j) What type of Forum experience do you have?