Jonestown documentary.

[Stripey PJs]

Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple. Last night's SBS Hot Doc. Anyone else catch this riveting Stanley Nelson doco?

It rarely sensationalised, it just presented. The archival film footage was fascinating, the interviews from survivors and the 'victims' relatives harrowingly lucid, and those audio tapes...damn. "Quickly now, quickly, quickly, quickly."

Emotionally, I'm exhausted.

 

[CF]

yeah I did watch it. It always amazes me how people fall for such charismatic leaders and do what they say without question. Jim Jones was a meglomaniac. Very well done doco and worth a look.

that part where the Congressman said to the crowd of Jonestowners "Are you happy here?" (something like that)...they all cheered for about 15 minutes....then the next day they start handing him notes to say, "Get me out of here!" Then when he takes a few back to the plane Jones sends people that shoot them all even the Congressman. His Secretary saying she laid on the tarmac playing dead and one of Jones goons walked up and shot her at point black range. Scary stuff.

 

[Brasil2007]

I remember seeing a film about that when I was a kid - I was astounded when my dad told me it was a true story.

There's something in the psychology of quite a lot of people which makes them want to be told what to do. Scary stuff.

Disappointed I missed the doco. I don't watch much TV during the week now that Fox Footy has gone **** up.

 

[fugsy]

I don't think I've actually heard of this Jonestown thing. May need to acquire this documentary.

 

[Prismall32]

I don't think I've actually heard of this Jonestown thing. May need to acquire this documentary.

Didn't see it but remember the tragedy well. Time magazine had the most horrendous photos and actual account. The warning was that America should never allow religion to dictate where people die in its name - a sad failure of history.

 

[fugsy]

Just got put up as a torrent for those who missed it...I'll probably watch it tonight.

 

[Stripey PJs]

that part where the Congressman said to the crowd of Jonestowners "Are you happy here?" (something like that)...they all cheered for about 15 minutes...

"I've had people approach me and say the Peoples Temple is the best thing that has ever happened in their lives..." ROOOAAAARRR.

I found it bleakly ironic that over Congressman Ryan's shoulder was hung Santayana's famous saying; "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." This was not the first, nor will it be the last, socialised cult/social-engineering experiment to go down in flames. I was frustrated by the arrogance of the reporters challenging Jones in Guyana. It's difficult to criticise those who've been murdered, but I do so out of anger at their slaughter: where the hell did they think they were? At a political press conference? "Protected by the congressional shield"?? Bullshit -how many political figures were assassinated in the 60's and 70's? That confrontation was poorly handled.

Just got put up as a torrent for those who missed it...I'll probably watch it tonight.

Cool, Fugs. I'd strongly recommend it to anyone interested in sociology. I'm sure the complete audio of the massacre would be floating around cyberspace, too. We didn't get the usual contributions from distanced academics, no hypothesising, no 'answers' to theoretical questions, just interview after interview of idealistic ex-temple members doing their best to describe -after a couple of decades of heavy introspection, I'm sure- why their Utopian ideal collapsed. But strewth, listening to Stan reliving his son being forcefed cyanide ("they're only crying because it's bitter tasting") and his wife convulsing in his arms after he'd shared so much of his positive experiences of the Temple, how it had shaped his life and become a home, was gut-wrenching. What a complete betrayal.

Pentecostals be warned: if your Rev starts tossing the Bible across the room, it's time to switch Churches.

 

[darren forssman]

forgot it was on but switched over at 10.40pm and was glued to til the end.

very erie.

 

[thejester]

I don't think I've actually heard of this Jonestown thing. May need to acquire this documentary.

Same hear, read up the Wikipedia article and it is all sorts of ****ed.

 

[The rabbi]

"I've had people approach me and say the Peoples Temple is the best thing that has ever happened in their lives..." ROOOAAAARRR.

I found it bleakly ironic that over Congressman Ryan's shoulder was hung Santayana's famous saying; "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." This was not the first, nor will it be the last, socialised cult/social-engineering experiment to go down in flames. I was frustrated by the arrogance of the reporters challenging Jones in Guyana. It's difficult to criticise those who've been murdered, but I do so out of anger at their slaughter: where the hell did they think they were? At a political press conference? "Protected by the congressional shield"?? Bullshit -how many political figures were assassinated in the 60's and 70's? That confrontation was poorly handled.


Cool, Fugs. I'd strongly recommend it to anyone interested in sociology. I'm sure the complete audio of the massacre would be floating around cyberspace, too. We didn't get the usual contributions from distanced academics, no hypothesising, no 'answers' to theoretical questions, just interview after interview of idealistic ex-temple members doing their best to describe -after a couple of decades of heavy introspection, I'm sure- why their Utopian ideal collapsed. But strewth, listening to Stan reliving his son being forcefed cyanide ("they're only crying because it's bitter tasting") and his wife convulsing in his arms after he'd shared so much of his positive experiences of the Temple, how it had shaped his life and become a home, was gut-wrenching. What a complete betrayal.

Pentecostals be warned: if your Rev starts tossing the Bible across the room, it's time to switch Churches.

When I saw Jones do this I thought that it was the beginning of the end. It said to me that he had dethroned God and enthroned himself. It was interesting that about that same time he suggested that his followers could call him their "god". Throughout the doco you could see him gradually deteriorate. I have to agree Stripey. The "one man band" type of charismatic leadership has its dangers. I prefer this system where the leader is responsible to a group of leaders. It has the checks and balances that the "one man band" style does not have.

 

[Brasil2007]

When I saw Jones do this I thought that it was the beginning of the end. It said to me that he had dethroned God and enthroned himself. It was interesting that about that same time he suggested that his followers could call him their "god". Throughout the doco you could see him gradually deteriorate. I have to agree Stripey. The "one man band" type of charismatic leadership has its dangers. I prefer this system where the leader is responsible to a group of leaders. It has the checks and balances that the "one man band" style does not have.

Tell the pope that would ya?

 

[Stripey PJs]

Tell the pope that would ya?

Now now, Brasil, the Pope's infallible.

Rabbi, theological teaser: if the only existing Heaven is one created by ourselves on Earth, which "other side" were our kool-aid sippers supposed to be "crossing over" to?

 

[fugsy]

Now now, Brasil, the Pope's infallible.

Rabbi, theological teaser: if the only existing Heaven is one created by ourselves on Earth, which "other side" were our kool-aid sippers supposed to be "crossing over" to?

This one

 

[The rabbi]

Now now, Brasil, the Pope's infallible.

Rabbi, theological teaser: if the only existing Heaven is one created by ourselves on Earth, which "other side" were our kool-aid sippers supposed to be "crossing over" to?

I don't know the answer to that one Stripey. It seems that in the end Jones was an insane egomanic full of his own self importance. As for the idea that "the only existing heaven is the one created by ourselves". That is your premise not mine.

 

[Stripey PJs]

I don't know the answer to that one Stripey. It seems that in the end Jones was an insane egomanic full of his own self importance. As for the idea that "the only existing heaven is the one created by ourselves". That is your premise not mine.

My premise?? That quotation was taken from JJ's Bible-tossing sermon.

Sorry, Rabbi, I could've explained myself better. I was highlighting Jones' hypocrisy; conveniently denying a spiritual heaven to usurp God's authority within his Church, yet relying on his devotees' fundamental belief in an afterlife to persuade them to quaff poison. He's having his kool-aid and drinking it too.

(lol @ Fugsy)

 

[thejester]

Out of interest: did Darth usually wear bling?

 

[thejester]

Yeah, never mind.

 

[Solstice Raver]

Out of interest: did Darth usually wear bling?

The bling was always there. Darth was a bad mudda

"I find your lack of faith disturbing", "join me and together we can rule the galaxy" or my favorite "You do not understand the power of the dark side".

Hmmm, Star Wars is the cult leaders bible, so to speak.

 

[fugsy]

This thing is still sitting on my computer, haven't had the time to watch it yet