Landmark is a Rip Off
To their credit they do use some
sophisticated concepts they have borrowed from socio-linguistics, anthropology,
and esoteric traditions (i.e. Buddhism, Sufism, Kabala, etc) that for many
people are very interesting and can be a turning point in their view of
life; however, you can learn about these concepts by reading couple of books
(or if you have the chance take some socio-cultural anthropology and socio-linguistics
courses). My point is $600 is way too much when you can learn them (in a more
profound and scientific way) by reading academic books.
Aside from these abstract concepts,
Landmark is a scam. They have purposefully designed the course in three consecutive
full days to overwhelm the analytical side of your brain. They intentionally
start the day (when the brain is at its best) by not so important topics in
order to tire you off. By the afternoon, when peoples critical faculty have
shut down they start their brainwashing sessions. This also helps people not noticing
the tens of self-contradictions and logical fallacies in the coachs speech (just
one actual example: he
first says that all the problems in
the world today are an ex-solution; for example, air pollution caused by cars
today once was a solution to horse feces on the streets. A few minutes later,
however, he convinces the audience that if they want to be big people they
need to play big, and playing big means they need to find big problems to solve.
The already tired audience are blinded to the contradictions of his two
arguments: if solution for every problem will turn into a new problem, then
what is the point? Logically speaking, solving a big problem means creating
another big problem! And of course, he refuses to answer any conceptual
question precisely because he does NOT want people to think critically.
Critical thinking, by definition, nullifies brainwashing, which is the major
mechanism operated in Landmark.
breakthroughs or breakdowns?
They make people recall a dramatic experience
in their past which usually make them cry. Generally speaking, human beings experience
a feeling of lightness in their chests after they cry. The landmark coach
shrewdly uses this opportunity and calls it a breakthrough and make the
person believe that they are transformed as of now.
Landmark works like a religion:
Another technique they use in
Landmark is the same that many religions use: if you are a non-believer there
is something wrong with you. This technique particularly works for those who
strive to gain approval by the group. The
weaker personalities who cant stand standing alone and always run with the
crowd since deep down they dont trust their own judgments and/or their own
abilities. They also designed the system in a way that whatever you accuse them
of, they project it back on to you. So less courageous personality types prefer
to shut their mouth or even worse convince themselves that they do not see any
problem with the coach or other enlightened Landmark grads. Simply put: the
system works on the principal of one who doesnt see the kings clothing is
stupid
Two classes in Landmark:
Landmark is constituted of two
classes: the cons (the very few paid employees) and the fools (the volunteers).
They make extra money by making their already brainwashed graduate students
work for them for free. They also save money by advertising through their
students rather than more conventional methods of advertisements.
They lie:
As an anthropologist (who also have
some socio-linguistic background), I was fully familiar with the concepts used
in the course (the only useful and non-bullshit part of the course). So I went
to Jerry---the coach--- and told him that I did not gain anything new from
Landmark Forum. He said he would help me to have a breakthrough and if it
didnt work he would give my money back. So he started shooting random attacks
at me just to see which one works. He called me a liar, a smart rat, sad,
lonely ...(I dont even remember the rest)...none worked because deep down I
either knew they were not true or my ego was not threatened by them. Long story
short, at one point I self doubted myself and I gave in. He shrewdly used that
momentum and made me open up to him to tell him some bitter memories of my
life. He then told me that I had trust issues. So, I declared I was letting
go off my mistrust while symbolically I let go of a piece of chalk. Being emotionally
tense, I then shed a few tears. Less than 10 minutes later, however, when I
calmed down and started thinking straight again and reviewed the whole thing, I
realized I still mistrusted Jerry and Landmark even more than before. I went
back to Jerry and told him I still didnt trust him so I did not have a break
through, so I want my money back. His answer was you did have a breakthrough
because you cried! Apparently, In landmark vocabulary emotional breakdowns
means breakthroughs. Not to mention the paradox here.
Conclusion:
I dont deny that some people could
improve their life to some extent after taking the Landmark Forum. My quality
of life improved in the past couple of years as a result of studding
anthropology and socio-linguistics as well as my readings on Sufism and Buddhism.
However, as I said earlier, the only useful part of the forum (these concepts) can
be found in academic (or good popular) books which in total cost less than $80.
So, unless you cannot read books, spare yourself $500 and dont expose yourself
to brainwashing machine of Landmark. They dont only make financial damages,
but they have potentials to make psychological damages as the coaches are very
skilled in breaking down people, especially if you resist and challenge them.
VnMaxwell
Atlanta,#2Consumer Comment
Thu, August 12, 2010
I just wanted to comment on one thing that was said, since i took a landmark forum class a couple of years ago, and found it to be pretty typical of self-help courses i've looked into. in my experience, you don't have a breakthrough at landmark through crying or an emotional release, people had 'breakthroughs' when they saw they could do something they thought they couldn't before. people would then figure out what action they were going to take that they didn't see before. I had a couple of these breakthroughs - your mileage may vary - but it wasnt' related to crying, emotional release, people being 'broken down' or anything like that - it was more like people having insights that helped them.
Jim
Somerville,#3Consumer Comment
Tue, August 10, 2010
Google "Landmark Forum Scientology". Landmark uses Scientology techniques, which are very dangerous. Many of the exercises induce hypnotic states. Scientology is a fraud which has bankrupted many people. See www.xenu.net for more details.