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The CCP considers Falun Gong/Dafa to be a cult. And in some instances they can certainly appear that way. A long time ago I had a chinese-american girlfriend.

by yardie 8y ago

The CCP considers Falun Gong/Dafa to be a cult. And in some instances they can certainly appear that way. A long time ago I had a chinese-american girlfriend. And as we were walking past a Falun Gong demonstration in NYC she remarked they were a dangerous cult. I asked why she would think that and her response was that their practitioners self-immolate and only a lunatic would do that. I've carried that thought with me ever since. Only recently have I discovered the immolation demonstrations were, yet again, CCP propaganda.

PhasmaFelis 8y ago
The "dangerous cult" thing would have been bullshit even if the immolation stories were true, though. Self-immolation and other suicide protests are a well-known way to bring attention to an overlooked cause. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-immolation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-immolation
- yardie 8y ago
  I think there are far better ways to bring attention to a cause and stay alive. Immolation is a one and done thing and it may not leave the intended result. Jim Jones[0] was an activist but do you think any remembers him for that? No, he's remembered as a mass murdering cult leader. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Jones#Mass_murder_in_Jonestown https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Jones#Mass_murder_in_Jones...
  - PhasmaFelis 8y ago
    I don't know if it's an effective tactic, but when a desperate, oppressed person chooses to peacefully martyr themself as an act of protest, dismissing them as a "dangerous lunatic" seems deeply short-sighted. And it has so little to do with Jim Jones brainwashing and murdering 900-odd people that I'm really not sure why you brought that up.
saiya-jin 8y ago
Simplistic view unfortunately. In most cases, self-immolation is the expression of utter hopelessness, desperation when basic, core values central to your life are taken away and the person doesn't see how to continue. The people doing it are not brainwashed. And apart from few isolated cases, they are not crazy either. I would never ever do anything like that (or suicide for that matter), but as in most matters, things are more complex than first glance might tell.

by yardie 8y ago

PhasmaFelis 8y ago

The "dangerous cult" thing would have been bullshit even if the immolation stories were true, though. Self-immolation and other suicide protests are a well-known way to bring attention to an overlooked cause. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-immolation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-immolation

yardie 8y ago
I think there are far better ways to bring attention to a cause and stay alive. Immolation is a one and done thing and it may not leave the intended result. Jim Jones[0] was an activist but do you think any remembers him for that? No, he's remembered as a mass murdering cult leader. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Jones#Mass_murder_in_Jonestown https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Jones#Mass_murder_in_Jones...
- PhasmaFelis 8y ago
  I don't know if it's an effective tactic, but when a desperate, oppressed person chooses to peacefully martyr themself as an act of protest, dismissing them as a "dangerous lunatic" seems deeply short-sighted. And it has so little to do with Jim Jones brainwashing and murdering 900-odd people that I'm really not sure why you brought that up.

saiya-jin 8y ago

Simplistic view unfortunately. In most cases, self-immolation is the expression of utter hopelessness, desperation when basic, core values central to your life are taken away and the person doesn't see how to continue. The people doing it are not brainwashed. And apart from few isolated cases, they are not crazy either. I would never ever do anything like that (or suicide for that matter), but as in most matters, things are more complex than first glance might tell.