O. DISRUPTIONS, ATTACKS AND CRITICISM OF RC
O.2. Handling Attacks in the RC Community[176]
Attacks are not tolerated on Co-Counselors nor on the Re-evaluation Counseling (RC) Community. All Co-Counselors are expected to quickly interrupt both attacks and gossip.[177] In preparation, Co-Counselors need to counsel on whatever obstructs their ability to do so.
The RC Community defines an attack as either an organized attempt to disrupt the functioning of the Community or a smear[178] of an individual Co-Counselor. Trying to get others to support one’s upset with a Co-Counselor or the Community is also an attack.
It is not an attack to
- think that an error has been made;
- be upset with someone;
- question others about their thinking;
- argue for a different point of view; or
- use Guideline M.5. Handling Oppressor Patterns, including Sexual Misconduct, and Addressing Mistakes, Disagreements, and Criticism, to address issues and concerns.
It is a mistake to criticize our Co-Counselors or try to force them to be our counselors on issues or upsets, but that is not what is meant by an attack.
If the attack concerns a constituency-based issue, the ILRP of that constituency should also be contacted.
Co-Counselors who participate in an attack must stop the attack and apologize. An apology is necessary to begin to restore the relationship and trust. Counseling resource should not be offered to them until after they have stopped the attack and apologized.
REASON
We understand from experience that attacks are not attempts to correct mistakes. They are enactments of distress recordings and are not acceptable behaviors within the RC Community. An underlying motivation may be to attract attention and get counseling help with a distress. An attack is not an effective way to get help or to resolve disagreements or difficulties. Upsets and disagreements need to be acknowledged and handled or they may become attacks. (See Guideline M.5. Handling Oppressor Patterns, including Sexual Misconduct, and Addressing Mistakes, Disagreements, and Criticism)
Attacks are harmful to the RC Community and to the Co-Counselor targeted by the attack. They restimulate and confuse people. They disrupt the functioning of the RC Community and the targeted Co-Counselor. Any attack should be quickly interrupted to end the disruption. Underlying issues cannot be addressed during an attack. When the attack has stopped, the process described in Guideline M.5. Handling Oppressor Patterns, including Sexual Misconduct, and Addressing Mistakes, Disagreements, and Criticism, can be used to address the situation.
Co-Counselors involved in an attack must be responsible for their actions and for any confusion their actions may have caused. This helps everyone involved to resolve the situation. Responsibility includes
- acknowledging that a mistake has been made,
- apologizing for having participated in the attack, and
- committing to discharging the distresses that caused it.
[176] This Guideline has the force of a requirement for being part of the RC Community.
[177] Gossip is casual or thoughtless conversations about other people, often involving details that are not confirmed as true.
[178] Damaging the reputation of an individual by false accusations or by vilifying their mistakes.