I was contemplating the following:

"the definitive place of gathering 4 all who
love life, love God, lovesexy...
a new collective mindstate of unity, love and truth so great
every human will want 2 join"
  —love4oneanother.com main page

"4 the sake of coherence and unity, it was decided that it would b better if everyone in the L4OA team wrote in the same language."
  —Pierre Igot, Emancipation digest #163

"Join the collective... find out the latest chapter in r ongoing xperiment in truth."
  —love4oneanother.com

Welcome to Brainwashing 101! The zany class where we investigate the beginnings of a full-scale cult. And we don't even have to travel far! Just fire up your web browser and point it at our patients--those who have divested themselves of their souls for a chance to take orders from The Man. No, I don't mean God (although many of the subjects seem to be confused about this,) I mean Prince. The Artist Formerly Known as Prince. . Marshal Applewhite. Whoops!

The previous paragraph may be tongue-in-cheek, but I think you know what I'm getting at. Take a loot at the following checklist of "cult characteristics" according to the AFF, an organization that studies cult behavior:

• The group is focused on a living leader to whom members seem to display excessively zealous, unquestioning commitment.
  Hmmm... methinks this applies...
• The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members.
  See the third quote.
• The group is preoccupied with making money.
  Let's see l4oa's balance sheet, they're a charity, right?
• Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished.
  Read the chat transcripts.
• Mind-numbing techniques (such as meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, denunciation sessions, debilitating work routines) are used to suppress doubts about the group and its leader(s).
  OK, this one probably doesn't apply, but I don't know what those truth angel guys were smoking when they came up with the whole "Living in Ma'at" thing.
• The leadership dictates sometimes in great detail how members should think, act, and feel (for example: members must get permission from leaders to date, change jobs, get married; leaders may prescribe what types of clothes to wear, where to live, how to discipline children, and so forth).
  See first quote.
• The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its leader(s), and members (for example: the leader is considered the Messiah or an avatar; the group and/or the leader has a special mission to save humanity).
  See second quote.
• The group has a polarized us-versus-them mentality, which causes conflict with the wider society.
  Certainly applies to Jehovah's Witnesses. Applies as far as alt.music.prince is concerned :-)
• The group's leader is not accountable to any authorities (as are, for example, military commanders and ministers, priests, monks, and rabbis of mainstream denominations).
  Where's my freakin' Crystal Ball? What is l4oa's tax exempt number? Why can I not return items 1800NF shipped me that were incorrect but I was charged for?
• The group teaches or implies that its supposedly exalted ends justify means that members would have considered unethical before joining the group (for example: collecting money for bogus charities).
  This is straight off the AFF website, folks...
• Members' subservience to the group causes them to cut ties with family and friends, and to give up personal goals and activities that were of interest before joining the group.
  How many websites were asked to be shut down for l4oa?
• Members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of time to the group.
  OK, prince.org is kinda a cult for Kevin and myself too :-)
• Members are encouraged or required to live and/or socialize only with other group members.
  Don't think if they weren't invited to live at Paisley, they wouldn't...

So, why do intelligent, seemingly sane people do things that just seem, well, crazy? Being part of a larger group, something larger than oneself is often a good enough reason. Most fans want some sort of greater connection with the artists they admire, if for no other reason than to show their appreciation. In general, there's nothing wrong with that, of course. Maybe because I am somewhat entrenched in the fan community, I just see the extreme cases more often... but it's strange to me how many Prince/ fans (excuse me, "friends") are willing to radically change their views, abandon old beliefs, change their habits, simply because something different is the man's flava of the week. I like the man because he produces fantastic, meaningful music, has an interesting persona, and gives me a knockout show when I see him live. I already have a spiritual leader I'm happy with; when I allow into my life, it's because I want a rock star.

I suppose it just boils down to my belief that a lot of folks following the L4OA party line aren't being true to themselves. It's a shame if so, because although 's music is a very important part of many of our lives, it's not nearly as important as our individuality, our sense of self, our mental autonomy. I don't like the thought of a 'collective', of "one voice." I hold my own beliefs and opinions too dear, I guess.

But then again, who am I to comment? After all, they're his "friends".

I'm just a fan... and that's short for 'fanatic', right...?

Ben Margolin
ben@prince.org

by Llluv01 Llluv01@aol.com - Mar 15, 11:11am

hmmm ok well i believe u r over emphasizing just about everything. is there something wrong with having a charity and wanting love 4 all ? All of the friends fans or what ever i know and i know alot believe in jesus god love. He spreads that word and it is a common belief, not only among friends fans or whatever, but among society. The more people blieve in the goodness of God the better the world will b. So why not try 2 get others 2 blieve as well and make thier lives more meaningful. Its not all about money its his job 2 make music. Do u work? Do u like nice things? If u didnt a a pc with online would u care about this whole thing?

Have you noticed by teller teller@home.com - Apr 30, 12:24pm

I've noticed that Pierre hasn't released hardly any commentaries since he joined the borg. Did he lose his voice? Or did he SACRIFICE it? Collectivism is the foundation of Communism. It's a fact.

Think you guys are a bit nuts by bulls bulls@worldchat.com - Oct 28, 04:48pm

Hello everyone... Im a pretty big Prince fan...i have a bunch of his albums and enjoy his stuff. I wouldn't put him in the class of Depeche Mode but he is up there. I think prince fans do need to chill out a bit and be a bit more opened minded and realize that the world doesn't revolve around whether Rave is a hit album or not. Peace

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