Some thoughts on PA
Some people keep complaining about the term PAvidian (which, incidently, I've never used myself before this post) but in some ways, I feel it's almost apt.
The more I read the PA boards and see the torturous convolutions many of the well-meaning authors pull to keep their faith in their publisher, the more it reminds me of the followers of a certain restrictive religion in which I grew up. The religion wasn't up front with its followers about its origins, it often required a lot of hard work and investment in time and energy with very little personal or spiritual reward, and followers were quite often certain that they were being unduly persecuted for their beliefs. One wasn't told all the details of certain religious vows and promises made until after one had already signed the contract so to speak. People who left this organisation were quite often villified one way or another, and friends who were still members would quite often shun them from that point forward. Attempts to show how leaders had lied to them or didn't know what they were talking about was considered persecution to many followers, or part of a grand spiritual conspiracy.
If you take this analogy further, those who did leave often went through several stages of denial (I can't believe they lied to me), anger (those %^$&!), and eventually acceptance and moving on. Many people experience a desire to aid those they feel are trapped without the knowledge that they now possess. Some approach it more tactfully than others, I will admit.
When I think of the PA authors, I'm reminded of my family, every one of them with the exception of one cousin, still belonging to this religion I've mentioned. Many of their needs aren't being met by this organisation, while a few are perfectly happy.
I personally bear no ill will towards any of the PA authors myself and I really don't think anybody on this board does either. What we do resent is an organisation representing itself as one thing to people who don't know any differently. When those same people that we are trying to help go through some pretty strange logical contortions, I understand why--they've invested a great deal of time and energy down this path already. Many of them want to know or think that they've not been taken for a ride.
........
I'll be blogging this thread--I heart the Googlebombing.
