Question D

[Jonetta]

The murder investigation leads the team to Unity Farm and Jake Black. What sort of vibes did you get at first encounter? Any concerns about Jake in particular?

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

It's a cult! Spidey senses going off for sure with this one. And Jake is too smooth not to be guilty.. of something. Murder... we shall see?

[Sharon]

I knew it was going to be bad news. Cult stories always make me anxious because they are so real. Besides I live in Clearwater, the home of Scientology's mother ship. I can see this happening.

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

I thought it was kind of interesting that Kim dismissed that it may have been a cult so quickly. She said something like.. This is the Black Country, we wouldn't have a cult here. Often these type of organisations hide in plain sight and none must have come into Kim's area before maybe? She is usually so suspicious so I just thought her attitude didn't quite ring true.

[Sharon]

I was a little surprised too. I think it is because Kim associated cults with Jim Jones and Charles Manson. She didn't see a Jones Town in the Black Country as it is too metropolitan.

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

Sharon wrote: "I was a little surprised too. I think it is because Kim associated cults with Jim Jones and Charles Manson. She didn't see a Jones Town in the Black Country as it is too metropolitan."

Or maybe she didn't see it as a British thing? I guess a lot of the major cults have been in the US.

[Robin]

I agree with both of you. I was very surprised that Kim wasn't on alert when she heard of a possible cult nearby. I could see Bryant shrugging it off if he wasn't busy worrying about Peter Drake, but I thought Kim would jump right in.

As soon as Kim and Bryant tried to get a look into the cult, I was suspicious. Jake Black was just too slick. He was so cordial, explaining what their community is doing, etc. No one is going to be that nice to cops that are looking around.

[Jonetta]

Yeah, Jake was a little too smooth for my sensibilities. I bought into him as the leader of a cult-like group immediately, especially because he tried so hard to normalize it through persuasion instead of the benefits of the Farm. And, he maneuvered them away from where they wanted to go.

I was perplexed about Kim’s ready dismissal of the possibility. After thinking about it, I could only surmise that her practical mind couldn’t imagine something like this.

Sharon, do you see strange stuff at the Scientology compound?

[Sharon]

They don't have a compound per se as they have bought so much property in the city.

I do know a little about questionable practices from when I worked at the City of Clearwater. I saw police documents about the Lisa McPherson death. Honestly, I'm surprised they are still around, but they tie people up in law suits and harass anyone who questions them until they break. They destroy people's lives.

It is strange seeing all the Flag Ship lemmings walking around downtown. They do everything as a group. They have taken over the city, literally.

You have to be careful doing a search for medical help here because you can get pulled into one of their groups without knowing it.

In my opinion David Miscavige is the perfect cult leader. He is attractive, charismatic, and he doesn't think twice about taking down anyone who says anything negative about the "church." He has used Hollywood perfectly to attract members. None of the stars give up all their money and possessions, but the members not in the spotlight give everything to the church.

[Jonetta]

That’s just horrible. It’s no wonder all of Tom Cruise’s wives have fled so quickly.

[Lynn]

There is a book out that I've seen on Booktube lately about the language of cults. I've not read it, but apparently it talks about the wording and phrasing used by people trying to influence others. It sounds like it contains a powerful argument for how much that language is used in our society.

[Lauren]

Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "I thought it was kind of interesting that Kim dismissed that it may have been a cult so quickly. She said something like.. This is the Black Country, we wouldn't have a cult here. Often these type ..."

Yes, I was also surprised that Kim dismissed it so quickly.

The whole Unity Farm concept gave me the heebie-jeebies and the description of Black's mesmerizing blue eyes had me shuddering.

Marsons did some excellent research here into the psychology and linguistics of indoctrination.

[Jonetta]

I thought she did, too, as I got a real education.