"It's Miller Time!" The Mindset of Cult Leaders

Substituting one source for another, the very sick and manipulative
narcissist is drawn to vulnerable folks who can be more vulnerable
(both from being an addictive personality, and from the difficulties
experienced coming out of active addiction.)

Narcissists (or sociopaths) are predators who feed off the pain of
others, and enjoy adding to it. Places like 12 Step programs are a
perfect hiding place and breeding ground for such creatures.

Listen to the video and discover some of the warning signs to be on
the lookout for. They're everywhere, but they thrive in an environment
like A.A. and N.A., where the idea of 'questioning' the program
is frowned upon.

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Easier Said Than Done

Unfortunately, demanding authenticity

won't make it happen.

We seem to be living in a world

that is more and more duplicitous

and false as the days go by.

Dealing with entire groups of addicts

is a pretty sure way of coming into contact

with some of the most unscrupulous

and unsavory characters around.

The majority of people in 12 Steps may be dry,

but the rest of their routine is pure show.

Just because someone says they are

a good person, presents themselves as rehabilitated,

promotes themselves as compassionate,

has the pretense of selflessness, and

postures as a spiritual person, that

does not make it so.

When dealing with sociopaths, narcissists,

pathological liars, con men, and zealots,

that's especially true.

No matter how sincere they seem,

no matter how charming and convincing

they are, and no matter how hard they work it,

a lie is still a lie.

No matter how beautifully it's crafted.

Fakes get away with hurting folks

precisely because they are so good at

what they do.

But a flawed copy can never replace an original,

and a hustle can never stand in for the real thing.

Don't believe the hype;

of course a con man is going to tell you

he's honest and sincere.

I've never met one yet that announced they were

getting ready to fleece you.

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Sleight of Hand

Most things are not what they seem. That's
a given when you see the world as it really is.

But most of us would like to hope that a place
like a spiritual recovery group or a religious
institution would have a few more folks who
are genuine and true in their ranks. Tends to
work out that the reverse is true.

It only makes sense; you get a bunch of
avowed thieves, liars, con artists, manipulators,
hucksters, emotionally bankrupt, self-involved
individuals together and what do you expect?

There's no oath that those present are going
to do right by any set of standards. There's
no authority in place to oversee or maintain
morality in the groups. It's every person for
themselves.

And, like the 'real world,' those who are the
best at what they do are the predators that
climb to the top of the heap. Maintaining a
masterful level of lies and illusion helps
someone
skyrocket to the top of the recovery heap so
that others are tricked into wanting the same
pretense of serenity, the same mock humility,
the same illusion of success.

When you find out it is all for show, it's
much too late in the game.

The 12 Step groups are a clearinghouse for
some of the worst of humanity, now focused
on using their deception skills and subter-
fuge for convincing people they are  great
human beings, so that fools will open up
to them and be taken advantage of and
kicked around by these emotional
vampires and head cases.

It's the same old story, just with a shiny
new twist. And a smorgasbord of vulnerable,
hurting, sick people to be at the mercy of
another (presumably) dry drunk sociopath
with a need to control and use
others in order to feel alive.


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