i respect your opinion and thank you so much for sharing it. You make a good point and have valid concerns. i can only answer them for myself just as others will need to examine the issues for themselves.

My view is that each person needs to decide for themselves whether they are ready to read, write, or talk with someone about their experiences--whether they're related to ritual abuse or not. In the past i worried about contaminating my memories and i avoided any and all discussions, articles, etc. i did that for about 15 years. Knowing i went through it but not daring to look at it. As maddening as that was--to have extended this nightmare that long--i respect that i either couldn't do anything differently or i had a therapist that was way too timid. i'll go with it being on me. i still avoid details like the plague sometimes. Other times, i'm desperate to know i'm not alone, i'm not insane, i'm not making this up. i've not found myself taking on other people's experiences in any other venue of my life, including emotional, physical, sexual, and spiritual abuse so, really, the fear that i might take on ritual abuse memories that aren't mine is most likely based in survival tactics. It's probably easier to think i claimed experiences that weren't mine than to admit they really happened to me. When i was ready, i looked at the LA Women's Task Force on Ritual Abuse report. i found a lot of the things my mind kept hammering me with. i also found a lot of things i hadn't thought of. i've not since taken those things on as my own.

As for it being unfair to ourselves and/or our systems...i'm myself and i'm a part of my system so what i want and need are just as relevant as what other parts need. i don't think it serves me or my system to push it away for the rest of my life. i've been doing that even when i don't want to and all it seems to be doing is prolonging my pain. What's more...i'm a stubborn one. They said i can't tell. i refuse to live by their rules. Don't let the bastards win is my motto. If anything, i think it would be better if my system could lay it all out so we could all see the truth for what it is and deal with it.

On another note, i had asked for a sub forum for r.a. and it was suggested to me that i just start a social group on the topic because i appear to be the only one interested in this stuff. Well...i'm NOT the only one and i'm not happy that i'm perceived as the only one. What does that imply? i feel quite marginalized...misunderstood...delusional...tsk tsk boy she's off isn't she?

The world doesn't believe me. How can it when no one tells?