This episode really didn't advance the story much. In it, we find Mark and his wife getting into something related to Witness Protection, Sarah swearing a lot and Catherine Oxenberg worrying about India. So what?
2 Reviews
Oxenberg
billsoccer21 September 2020
All I Can Say Is Wow....
helenahandbasket-9373421 September 2020
There's so much I'm thinking after this episode, but it can easily be summed up with 'WTAFF is wrong with people?!?!'
It's really no small coincidence that the main group of people NXIVM swooned over was wealthy and/or involved in the artistic community.
Wealthy, because well, I think we all know why.
Actors/film makers/producers/etc., because there's a deep-seeded need for validation; what better way to validate someone than with constant ego-stroking combined with grooming to accept what a sane person sees as completely unhinged behavior.
At its core, especially with someone who appears in front of a camera, is the need to feel appreciated. Look no further than the Oscar acceptance speech by Sally Field 'YOU LIKE ME!! YOU REALLY LIKE ME!!!' and you see not only something that makes regular people cringe, but the insatiable need to be loved/accepted/validated/needed.
Make no mistake, Keith Raniere is evil incarnate, but the real antithesis of sanity is Nancy Saltzman.
Why, you might ask? Because she had the training to be able to bridge that gap for Keith of going from creepy conman to all-knowing 'guru' with her linguistics education. She knew exactly what buttons to push, words to say, manipulation to manifest to tailor Raniere's speel to meet the needs of anyone put in front of him.
She was the ultimate puppet-master- the teacher behind the teacher. There's a reason it was her words on video-because she could give generalized statements that reeled in everyone, and could see immediately the need for it to be a woman, with a soothing tone, oozing compassion, and are more easily trusted. Women are seen as nurturers in society- mothers/grandmothers/sisters/daughters-all convey trust, and the deliberate methodology she employed was successful.
The whole time, I (as an 'ordinary' person) see this and think 'why do we never see a homely person? Why is everyone always so fit? So attractive? At the very least financially secure?' And this is where Keith fits- he knew the market he needed to gain wealth. He knew that to attract a larger audience, you need people who, in society, are in an elevated position, almost idolized by some. And he definitely had a 'type' for women he desires.
Between Raniere and Saltzman, I place more blame behind Saltzman as she was the means to an end. She made his con as successful as it was. But make no mistake, Raniere is a grifting conman who, if not for her Svengali-ism, would still be conning, just to a smaller audience. But he'd still likely be on the loose.
I'm very sorry for Catherine's plight for her daughter and I DO empathize; my problem is within the relationship itself. Had mom not taken daughter to see this drama, she's not there. As parents, our job is to be the protectors of our children, the ultimate protection. Our children rely on us their entire juvenile existence so it's no wonder that her child willingly trusted her mother and dove in, head first. When we become so narcissistic that we put our needs in front of our relationships with our children, the failure is set in motion. Yes, this is an extreme example of how badly things can go, but it's a wonderful lesson to all parents that the path to hell is paved with good intentions.
I do applaud each former members bravery in coming forward to name and shame this cult, and absolutely agree with Meier (NYT reporter) in that, if not for your public admissions, this will not end. It cannot be enough to extract yourself- to come into the light and be seen is necessary for prevention and absolution. Those that can't forgive you are simply pebbles on the beach- step over them, climb if you have to, and move forward.
This is one of the most well-done episodes thus far, and has given me pause to reflect on how easily some are manipulated and managed into positions of, not only vulnerability, but utter destruction.
It's really no small coincidence that the main group of people NXIVM swooned over was wealthy and/or involved in the artistic community.
Wealthy, because well, I think we all know why.
Actors/film makers/producers/etc., because there's a deep-seeded need for validation; what better way to validate someone than with constant ego-stroking combined with grooming to accept what a sane person sees as completely unhinged behavior.
At its core, especially with someone who appears in front of a camera, is the need to feel appreciated. Look no further than the Oscar acceptance speech by Sally Field 'YOU LIKE ME!! YOU REALLY LIKE ME!!!' and you see not only something that makes regular people cringe, but the insatiable need to be loved/accepted/validated/needed.
Make no mistake, Keith Raniere is evil incarnate, but the real antithesis of sanity is Nancy Saltzman.
Why, you might ask? Because she had the training to be able to bridge that gap for Keith of going from creepy conman to all-knowing 'guru' with her linguistics education. She knew exactly what buttons to push, words to say, manipulation to manifest to tailor Raniere's speel to meet the needs of anyone put in front of him.
She was the ultimate puppet-master- the teacher behind the teacher. There's a reason it was her words on video-because she could give generalized statements that reeled in everyone, and could see immediately the need for it to be a woman, with a soothing tone, oozing compassion, and are more easily trusted. Women are seen as nurturers in society- mothers/grandmothers/sisters/daughters-all convey trust, and the deliberate methodology she employed was successful.
The whole time, I (as an 'ordinary' person) see this and think 'why do we never see a homely person? Why is everyone always so fit? So attractive? At the very least financially secure?' And this is where Keith fits- he knew the market he needed to gain wealth. He knew that to attract a larger audience, you need people who, in society, are in an elevated position, almost idolized by some. And he definitely had a 'type' for women he desires.
Between Raniere and Saltzman, I place more blame behind Saltzman as she was the means to an end. She made his con as successful as it was. But make no mistake, Raniere is a grifting conman who, if not for her Svengali-ism, would still be conning, just to a smaller audience. But he'd still likely be on the loose.
I'm very sorry for Catherine's plight for her daughter and I DO empathize; my problem is within the relationship itself. Had mom not taken daughter to see this drama, she's not there. As parents, our job is to be the protectors of our children, the ultimate protection. Our children rely on us their entire juvenile existence so it's no wonder that her child willingly trusted her mother and dove in, head first. When we become so narcissistic that we put our needs in front of our relationships with our children, the failure is set in motion. Yes, this is an extreme example of how badly things can go, but it's a wonderful lesson to all parents that the path to hell is paved with good intentions.
I do applaud each former members bravery in coming forward to name and shame this cult, and absolutely agree with Meier (NYT reporter) in that, if not for your public admissions, this will not end. It cannot be enough to extract yourself- to come into the light and be seen is necessary for prevention and absolution. Those that can't forgive you are simply pebbles on the beach- step over them, climb if you have to, and move forward.
This is one of the most well-done episodes thus far, and has given me pause to reflect on how easily some are manipulated and managed into positions of, not only vulnerability, but utter destruction.
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