HBOs The Vow, Seduced on Starz, shockingly similar to The Cvlt of TRVMPISM

[FindingNamo]

I was surprised how much the Starz documentary on the NXIVM cult, with it's focus on its impact in the lives of India and Catherine Oxenberg and more input from cult experts, added to the discussion of the horrifying techniques and abuses of the NXIVM cult, which had just been discussed on HBO's nine-part series, The Vow.

What struck me is the similarity of techniques the leader of NXIVM foisted on unsuspecting people,. none of whom were stupid, who ended up in over their heads and had been pushed so hard it never even occurred to them that they were in a dangerous cult. It's shockingly similar to the many die hard TRVMP followers who clearly, against all mounting evidence of his high crimes and misdemeanors, do not recognize that are being victimized by their leader again and again.

I see people wondering if Trump followers are stupid, low IQ or what? People wondering how they could still buy his BS? Well, they're trapped in a cult like the people in NXIVM, the women in DOS. If/when they manage to break free of their intellectual chains, they will have to process for a long time to figure out how they could have fallen for such  a long con. How could they deny evidence they've seen with their own eyes because a man wearing Noriega Orange Foundation pursed his cat-butt lips and told them not to believe what they see but to believe what he, and only he tells them.

What makes people vulnerable to cults? What techniques have the TRVMPists used? They have undermined the law, traditions and institutions. They have broken the government to prove that the government is broken. They have convinced some people that the stock market is worth sacrificing your parents and grandparents for. 

It's really tragic. But no cults last forever. No cult leaders live forever.

 

[Broadway Joe]

Which one would you recommend to watch? I'm interested because people keep talking about these but not sure I want to invest in watching both.

[FindingNamo]

I watched The Vow first and Seduced after.  Seduced is a smaller time investment and gets the gist of things, with a real focus on the Catherine Oxenberg situation.  The Vow is more about a few of the leaders who got out and tried to warn others.  I think if you love Seduced, you might feel yourself drawn to The Vow anyway. Seduced feels more complete, if that makes sense. The Vow feels like there was a last minute decision to make a second season.