Precis 3 Web Cult
Stephanie Thimothe
Précis #3
There is an article on line describing an estranged relationship between a young man and his family and a less the normal situation for a family and a creator of an online radio show. In this article there is a young man named Tom who seemed to have had a normal life that he was unhappy with. He was part of a big family that had a mother, stepfather, two full brothers, and two half sisters. Though it seemed that he was surrounded by love, Tom decided that this was not the family for him. Tom had found a radio show online that he felt shared the same ideas and same feelings as he did.
Tom had discovered a Podcast broadcasted out of Canada called Freedom Radio ran by a man named Stefan Molyneux. Stefan had quit his software job in order to become a full time host on a podcast radio. Stefan charges each member $50 a month which basically enables him to continue his life as a podcast host. Stefan, though not an educated psychologist gives advices and his opinions on his radio show. People call into his show to receive advice on current issues or to share ideas. For those who claim to find issues within their personal lives Stefan tells them his opinion on the situation, and then offers them the option of defooing.
Defooing is a term that Stefan came up with that explains the process of ridding yourself of your current surroundings. Tom who was only 18 felt as defooing was an option for him. Tom did not feel happy with his family nor did he feel connected to them. Tom claimed that he did not love them and did not feel the need to love them. When Tom had presented his situation to Stefan and Stefan decided to encourage Tom to leave. Stefan reassured Tom’s thoughts and helped Tom feel at ease with his decision to leave. Tom made allegations of his father being abusive, and intimidating. Tom said that the mother was so passive aggressive that she would allow the father to do what he wanted. Tom claimed that he felt alone and unappreciated in the house.
Tom’s mother stated in the article that she was very unaware of her son’s unhappiness. She saw he son no different from other boys his age. Tom’s mother claimed that though the father does get loud he was never belligerent, Tom’s brothers and sister seem to side with the mother. Tom’s mother has been on a quest to make this Stefan’s “cult” known. She unlike other parents who have had children, who chose to defooe, has made her situation very public. Tom has refused to speak to his parents and he will only speak to the press if Stefan is there. Tom denies that Stefan is manipulating him in any way. Tom feels more liberated and happy after he has left his family.
The current state of the family is that the mother and father are now divorced and Tom’s siblings are left sad and confused. Tom has no plans going home and is very comfortable with the life style that he has chosen. Unfortunately his family is not, they all hope that he will be coming back home soon. No charges have successfully been brought upon Stefan because there is no physical gathering for his “cult.” Also Stefan brings in 50,000 listeners but not all of them are regulars, he receives a profit but not enough to make him rich.
I personally think this Tom child is definitely not thinking straight. At the same time I am very aware of the fact that I do not live in his house therefore I do not fully understand his situation. Tom should have tried to find another source of comfort besides excluding himself. However this seems to be a method that works for him. If this is what it takes to keep tom happy and safe then I guess this is what should happen. Though I do not agree with what and how Tom did what he did, I can see that this works. I would never want anyone to feel stuck in a situation that did not work for them causing them to do something dangerous to either harm themselves or others. I just don’t agree with the fact that he is letting someone who has no degree and barely knew him tell him more about himself.
I will say that Stefan should be very cautious with what he does or says on his radio program because I can see this situation becoming very ugly and very dangerous as well. Someone might want to harm him or one of his listeners because they might misinterpret what he is advising. I do not mind him sharing his opinions but I do mind on how he is doing it. People are very impressionable so you need to be aware of your affects on them. I think Stefan enjoys the power his station brings him and Tom was just one of his puppets. I know I am not a psychologist therefore I cannot tell the real effects of how Stefan helps or hurts his listeners but I do think he should stop while he is ahead.
