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- Jul 19, 2004
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- 29,622
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Anonny:
It takes a lot of courage to 'own' some measure of responsibility and admit you essentially cheated yourself during this period in your life. I'd like to congratulate you as much or more for that as for successfully digging your way out and moving on.
I've seen such stubbornly-maintained and self-destructive situations in a number of 'addicts' (broadly defined) - many if not most of whom never managed to break out of the futile loop - even in light of obvious and self-acknowledged physical or psychological disintegration. I've seen what happens when one fails to back off, break out, and move off to a safe distance.
On a more general note ...
Your experience illustrates the potential toxicity that arises when someone begins to exploit a fortean / paranormal theme for profit. Time and again over the last half-century I've seen quite interesting subjects and incidents devolve into fodder for someone whose livelihood relies upon hooking and maintaining a credulous clientele. This is most disturbing when the clients / readers / followers are seeking relief and / or guidance rather than (e.g.) entertainment, thus making them vulnerable to protracted fleecing.
It takes a lot of courage to 'own' some measure of responsibility and admit you essentially cheated yourself during this period in your life. I'd like to congratulate you as much or more for that as for successfully digging your way out and moving on.
I've seen such stubbornly-maintained and self-destructive situations in a number of 'addicts' (broadly defined) - many if not most of whom never managed to break out of the futile loop - even in light of obvious and self-acknowledged physical or psychological disintegration. I've seen what happens when one fails to back off, break out, and move off to a safe distance.
On a more general note ...
Your experience illustrates the potential toxicity that arises when someone begins to exploit a fortean / paranormal theme for profit. Time and again over the last half-century I've seen quite interesting subjects and incidents devolve into fodder for someone whose livelihood relies upon hooking and maintaining a credulous clientele. This is most disturbing when the clients / readers / followers are seeking relief and / or guidance rather than (e.g.) entertainment, thus making them vulnerable to protracted fleecing.