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I think the point of the article is that it's not as bad, or their word, "Dickensian," as people think. The article is missing some hard numbers: how many are c

by barce 14y ago

I think the point of the article is that it's not as bad, or their word, "Dickensian," as people think. The article is missing some hard numbers: how many are choosing the lifestyle? How many of those that do are engaging in criminal / disruptive activity? It's pretty cool you got to check out a commune in Lake county.

yid 14y ago
> It's pretty cool you got to check out a commune in Lake county. It was a little creepy, to be honest. They have pictorial banners up in the woods, without any words. I was only allowed into the bookshop, and every single book and CD was by the commune leader. Every single one. Edit: I'll add some detail here since people seem to be interested. Lake County is a very, very remote area a few hours north of San Francisco. The commune has been functional since the 60s, sucking up its members' wealth in exchange for living under the direction of a charismatic leader. While a generation lived under this leader's direction, their children suffered the brunt of the eccentricity and thoughtlessness that the era inculcated. The one incident that I recall hearing about is when several children (including the person I was dating) in the 8-12 age range were randomly ordered to live with different parents on a whim, and the families complied. A significant fraction of the kids of that generation are somewhat screwed up, with causes ranging from heroin addiction to the effects of sexual abuse as children. It put a very dark tint on the rainbow of the 60s for me.
- php_on_rails2 14y ago
  It's really easy to get into one of those communes. There are tons of messageboards if you know where to look. For all their back to nature blather, they love their resource-sucking smartphones as much as you and I. The best argument for their "conservation" is really selfishness in disguise. Let's save this unraped land for future generations... to exploit for rare earth minerals. Honestly, outer space is the only way out.

by barce 14y ago

yid 14y ago

> It's pretty cool you got to check out a commune in Lake county. It was a little creepy, to be honest. They have pictorial banners up in the woods, without any words. I was only allowed into the bookshop, and every single book and CD was by the commune leader. Every single one. Edit: I'll add some detail here since people seem to be interested. Lake County is a very, very remote area a few hours north of San Francisco. The commune has been functional since the 60s, sucking up its members' wealth in exchange for living under the direction of a charismatic leader. While a generation lived under this leader's direction, their children suffered the brunt of the eccentricity and thoughtlessness that the era inculcated. The one incident that I recall hearing about is when several children (including the person I was dating) in the 8-12 age range were randomly ordered to live with different parents on a whim, and the families complied. A significant fraction of the kids of that generation are somewhat screwed up, with causes ranging from heroin addiction to the effects of sexual abuse as children. It put a very dark tint on the rainbow of the 60s for me.

php_on_rails2 14y ago
It's really easy to get into one of those communes. There are tons of messageboards if you know where to look. For all their back to nature blather, they love their resource-sucking smartphones as much as you and I. The best argument for their "conservation" is really selfishness in disguise. Let's save this unraped land for future generations... to exploit for rare earth minerals. Honestly, outer space is the only way out.