NXIVM

Did I Sign Up For This?

NXIVM’s Trick

NXIVM’s big trick was incrementalism. Bit by bit, members made little adjustments and compromises until the horrible was no longer offensive, and even possible. It started with the first “class” where attendees were asked to put their hands together and thank someone or other. The next step was some female empowerment group that taught that women were emotional and men were logical. What holds the spell initially seems to be good manners. No one felt comfortable jumping up and yelling “bullshit!” or making the friend who invited them feel bad.

This Flapjack Octopus wants to talk to you…

As an obnoxious and contentious person, standing up in the middle of a group and challenging the speaker is something I have done a lot. While it has led to people wincing when I enter the room, I have no regrets.

What happened at NXIVM shows the incremental type of indoctrination can lead a group of educated and talented people to sit still while their Chief Weirdo compares having se…