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G'day everyone.
If Landmark Education calls, Hang up.
I suspect after last nights telephone call, Landmark Education telemarketers may be targeting cycling clubs or groups to hook people into their seminars. If the enclosed telephone dialogue is anything to go by.
The following is a 'without prejudice' synopsis of the telephone dialogue that occurred.
At 9:00 pm last night I answered what I thought was a HBBUG telephone inquiry from a female person .
The early part of the conversation contained pauses that caused me to concentrate on what I heard her say, as well as pick up the call centre chatter in the background.
I said hello.
Pause
A female mumbled her name, saying she was from Williamstown.
I again asked her name.
Pause
She again said it in a mumble and went on to say she was a graduate of Landmark Education and that she is interested in cycling.
I asked if she wanted to become a member of the HBBUG.
Pause
She said she was interested in community development work.
I asked her how that was going to benefit cycling in the west.
Pause
She then changed her tactics.
She asked me directly, If I wanted to improve my relationship with council?
Being aware my response to this question would require me to provide a total stranger with information about the lobbying I do and relationships I have with councillors and council officers, which I regard as 'Commercial-in-confidence', I answered, No.
She then began probing me for information about what I would see happen for cycling in the west.
So I threw her a bone a red herring, something for her to hook herself on. I said I would like to see a bicycle mechanics course being run in the west.
She went on the attack saying what am I going to do to achieve that dream.
I said Landmark Education should run such a course.
She then started to use negative motivation techniques on me by applying guilt/blame/responsibility to the dream she said I had.
She made no comment on that point, but replied by saying that this is your dream.
I said, This is something that Victoria University could run at one of their TAFE Colleges.
She said, there must be people in the bicycle group who would like to have access to a bicycle mechanics course.
Perceiving she was trying to assess the HBBUG members list, I replied No.
She then restated, The bicycle mechanics course is my dream.
I had a feeling I had the Landmark Education name before.
So I walked out to the kitchen to ask my wife about Landmark Education,
While saying into the telephone, It had no real interest for me as far as my direction is concerned. My dreams are elsewhere.
I then said to her, would you excuse me for a moment?
I asked my wife do you anything about Landmark Education.
With that her jaw dropped as she sucked in air and then said, what do they want.
The look on her face caused the penny to drop for me and the memories of the family crisis that my wife's involvement with Landmark Education caused, came flooding back.
Into the telephone I said Hello.
She said yes.
I said, I remember who Landmark Education is. I have researched them and the word to describe them according to some of the chatrooms I have visited, is CULT. I prefer to have nothing to do with such an organisation. Good bye.
I then told my wife what they wanted. Which is what I have cited above in good faith.
During this telephone conversation I felt as if I was playing 'Battle Chess' in real time on the interpersonal chess board. I did not like the experience!
Be warned!
Noel C. Dyson
Convenor HBBUG
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