Verago

I'm a little bored this summer, and I've got oodles of .txt, .pdf, and others full of information on a wide range of subjects.
Just post here what you'd like to me research for you, and I'll find all the relevant information, double check it for accuracy, and show you where I found it.
If the information you're looking for is in one of my files, I'll host it on my website and let you download it.

I know that we have the Research forums for this, but with this, I pretty much guarantee results. Unless, of course, you ask me to find something totally obscure.

I await the first request...
Ethanael.

COMPLETED REQUESTS:
Cult Recruiting Techniques


SPECIALTY TOPICS:
Mythology--Specifically and especially: Greek, Roman, Norse, Celtic, and Latvian.
Languages--I have dictionaries and glossaries in: Latin, English, German, and Old Norse.
Psychology--Criminal Psychology and Psychological Disorders.

ALSO...
If anyone would like to submit a .txt or a .pdf, post here, and let me know. I'd really appreciate it, and you'd be helping to build up a nice compendium of information we can all use.

Ilan Bouchard

Kudos to you for offering this.


Now.... find me the philosophy of Kazakh Khan, the renowned tea chef!
(Just kidding, by the way. Wouldn't want you to do all the research for nothing. But I will definitely think of you if I need research within the next few months.)

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Ruthless comments encouraged!

Verago

No problem.
I mean, it's not a problem doing this.
It would be a problem looking for Kazakh Khan...I just checked it on all the search engines I know (12+) and nothing came up.

mememe

It may well be obscure, but I'm hoping you like a challenge???
What I really need to know,and have as yet been unable to find out, is the price of a single adult train ticket from London Paddington to Torquay in 1962.
I would be forever in your debt if you could find that out...I drew a complete blank.

mememe

Ilan Bouchard

Yep... I made up the name.

__________________
Ruthless comments encouraged!

Verago

You're a tricky one, Ilan...

And mememe...I will begin searching.

EDIT:
Mememe--I couldn't find exactly what you were asking for. Information that specific is, sadly, hard to come by. In this case, frighteningly so.
I checked 25 pages of google, used 4 different search techniques, and used several other search engines, though not as extensively. I didn't find any relevant pages.
Sorry.


Also, to my top post, I'm going to add my Specialty topics, being things that I am very interested in, have a good knowledge of, or have text files on.

Talia_Brie

Verago,

Cult leaders (like David Koresh and the New Davidians for example). I'm particularly interested in any outlines of the methods these people use to indoctrinate, or recruit followers.

Let me know what you come up with.

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mememe

Verago thanks for trying...that was very sweet of you. If I can return the favour anytime, just ask

mememe

Verago

Mememe: Nah, it would've been sweet if I had actually found something.

This sounds interesting. Will begin searching after breakfast...

EDIT:
Here's what I found...

They use
-Peer pressure

-They get people to say,"I'm my own boss." When they begin saying this,
they might say something like,"Well, why not?" When approached by a cult leader. This is generally a tactic used on teenagers.

-Social Modelling:
Society is built on customs; if the cult leader gets you accustomed to other customs, or you are already accustomed to some of the cults customs, you become an easier target.

-If you are supposed to do something for the cult, and you don't, you might have a large group of people dissappointed or upset, even though they say it's not with you, the person in the cult, especially the newcomer, will generally feel the obligation to repay their 'wrongdoing'.

-If the group gives you food, shelter, attention, etc., you generally feel obligated to repay the debt.

-If you tend to respect authority, and/or are generally very humble, it would be easier for you to be immersed in a cultist organization, especially if the cult leader tends to be charismatic, intelligent, strong, the opposite sex, etc.,

-If they make you feel wanted, you will have a higher tendancy to do their bidding. This includes 'you' parties, celebrations every day, joyful singing, giving you the 'best' spot to sleep...etc.,

-If you can be made to feel that your life is incomplete now, and that joining the cult will 'complete' you, and you just suffered a loss (Death in the family, g/b-friend just broke up with you, arguement with the parents...etc.,), you tend to give in easier.

They might appear to be a healer, a wise man, a prophet...they might say they denounce all material wealth, etc., Though a lot of times, they are worth lots of money from donations by the cult followers.

Talia_Brie

Thanks heaps, man. That's excellent.

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Verago

No problem. Need anything else, let me know.

Talia_Brie

Here's a challenge for you.

I need a labelled, cross section diagram of a Dutch East India Company ship. Preferrably the Batavia. You might also search under VOC ship Batavia. The labels need to be in English, because I can't read Dutch.

There were also an English East India Company, and a similar diagram of one of those ships would be ok if that's all that's available.

These ships would have been sailing between Europe and Indonesia in the late 16th century, through to the early 18th century.

Good luck

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Kikster

probably this has been asked a zillion times... sorry if I'm being repetetive, but here's the thing...

I need to understand the british school system a little better. the protagonist in my story studies at a boading school in london. I want him to be a "senior", and I know that in britain they have some exams they have to pass at the end of high school before going to a university... only I don't really know the following:

how they number their grades
what the exams are called
what are these exams about
when does the school year finish

also this story takes place in 1977. I don't know if anything changed since then....

that's it... thank you so much in advance!!!!

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I have bursts of being a lady, but it doesn’t last long. (Shelly Winters)