In regards to the media, it is not always the best thing to trust because the information you read isn't always necessarily true. The media twists things a bit to catch readers attention, and it usually twists things in a bad way. I have discussed the way media portrays certain things and how it isn't always in a positive way in many of my classes. In this case Synanon is an example of something that isn't portrayed in a a good way through the media. But then again the actions of the leader and members of the group play a big part in why they have a bad reputation.
Synanon was not always seen as a cult to the media. It happened when they started making changes because they were becoming more popular and more people were interested in what this rehabilitation center was all about. They started off as a healthy organization and then slowly evolves into what the media portrayed as a cult. It was when Dederich switched everything up that the community started to question Synanon's practices. Synanon started facing legal issues and was received bad press which was giving them a bad image. The reason the press portrayed Synanon in a poor way was because of all the violent acts they were putting on the community. Two synanon members places a de-rattled rattlesnake in the mail box of attorney Paul Morantz, who was defending a woman who was abducted by Synanon. Morantz was bit by the snake and had to be hospitalized for six days. These are the kinds of action that gave Synanon its bad reputation and all the negative comments from the press and community.
I believe that if Synanon did not make drastic changes that made people question their beliefs then they could have been more successful and would have lasted longer. Many people were interested in what Synanon members were doing, but then there leader saw there popularity as a way to make money and ask for donations. This is what lead to the fall of Synanon.
I came across this website that had valuable information. It gives a good brief history about Synanon, but it also compares it to Peoples Temple. It shares the similarities between the two leaders, as well as the differences.
Link for the Website
I completely agree with you. The media really does have ulterior motives. After all, its their profession, so they tend to cater towards one specific view while completely forgoing another which is why the facts usually get lost in translation. In addition, its always interesting, as a result, to see how the media changes its "facts" so quickly and viewers do not really acknowledge that they are essentially being lied to. It really makes me wonder, however, if its fair for media to pressure people into mainstreaming themselves in order to not be considered a "cult". Either way, I have a feeling, at least one entity will be upset,as people always are when things are different, so I suppose it does not really matter.
ReplyDeleteInteresting question - do "cults" mainstream themselves so as to avoid pressure from the outside? Good work.
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