The "blame the victim" thinking that ex-members experience is common among all victims of trauma. In fact we live in a society that is filled with this mentality. And we were a part of an organization that reinforced this thinking every time they blamed the rank and file for the Borg's mistakes.
The effective use of mind control techniques is not dependent on a person intelligence. And I know you know that. The techniques are very effective. That is why they use them and keep refining them.
I was just looking at some of the study material they have on their website. Wow it sure is condensed from the days of the "Truth" book. An individual is immediately programmed to stop thinking. Read the paragraph and find the answer and read it. There is no real opportunity for discussion - just quote it back. Go to a meeting and it is the same thing. No thinking required. And that is exactly the point. No thinking required. Just recite what you are told. Which is one of the main reasons that JWs cannot provide answers when asked to explain their beliefs. They all recite the same answers - almost word for word. Again - no thinking required.
A second point is that we live in a society where we are bombarded with information. As a result I think many of us experience information overload. We sit in front of our TVs and zone out. Information flows through and past us. Some information we retain but most gets lost in the massive amount of information directed at us.
One day someone comes along and in a careful, methodical, and even simplistic way presents some more information. It may be that the presentation alone is enough to make us more susceptible to the message and the mind control technique used on us - personal and simplistic. We may be at a vulnerable point in our lives. We may be searching for something better or different. We may be simply not paying attention or questioning the validity of what we are being told. We may also innocently believe it when we are told that those answers will be explained later.
Remember one of the mind control techniques is information control. And the Borg is a master at using all forms of information control to both get their members and maintain the ones they have.
The wonderful thing about the net is that unlike TV or other forms of media that bombard us daily a person can stop the action and really take in the information that interests them. If it doesn't interest them, they just need to click a button. Unlike TV the Internet is not passive. It is interactive. And unlike the Borg method of indoctrination there is no person around to interrupt or control a person's thought processes while taking in the information.
I believe the methods used by the Borg to indoctrinate new converts are much more powerful than most people realize.
But I also believe that the Internet just might be the beginnings of their demise - at least in countries where the Internet is readily accessible. The Borg’s ability to control access to information when people can get it in their homes when no one is looking will have to weaken.
Ultimately we, the victims, are not to blame for being victims.
One more thought here is that it is normal for people to want to blame someone when something bad happens. The ability for many of us to point the finger at the Borg and say it was your fault is limited to forums such as this or discussion with others who understand - mostly because they have "been there"
It is also normal for victims to want some kind of accounting, explanation or even apology. Well, in this case we know that is not going to happen. So in the absence of the Borg taking responsibility for their actions and the harm they have caused us, many if us will turn the finger and point it at ourselves. After all, someone must take responsibility and when they don't we do - live good victims.
But we did nothing wrong.
And we are not responsible for being victims of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society AKA Borg
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Rejoice in the healing and not in the pain.
Rejoice in the challenge overcome and not in the past hurts.
Rejoice in the present - full of love and joy.
Rejoice in the future for it is filled with new horizons yet to be explored. - Lee Marsh 2002