RickshawFan
Verified Outdoor Recreation Specialist
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The “retreat” styles itself as a community. People go there for weeks. Their sleeping arrangements seem to have little privacy. Above all, there is worship and a religious orientation. People seem to be on top of each other all day (with mandatory lessons and worship). IMO this is a context where you would expect people to be aware and to care.I think we can agree to disagree. I don't think a comparison between a ship on the open seas and a building on land are even remotely the same. If someone goes missing who lives in a 28 story apartment building they might get some activity of people actively putting up posters but I don't know how far that goodwill would extend to actively looking for the person. Sure, the residents will talk about it and hope for the best but many won't be personally invested. Even less so, in a resort/retreat in another country unless you presume that you might be in danger, too.
But does being missing equal foul play? It depends. Is there someone who works there who takes an active and unwanted interest in you? You might say something to LE if that's case. Other than that, I can see it from two points of view: dismay that someone who is staying at the same place you are has gone missing and hope their disappearance isn't related to the location (which may affect you) and the view that an anonymous person has gone missing and it happens to people in unknown places and at home.
Does that sound cold and unfeeling? I think it depends on many criteria. Where do you live? In a bedroom community near a big city where you don't even know the people on your street because you're a long distance commuter to work? In a rural area where you know everyone miles around? In a small community with very few outlets for entertainment so gathering spots allow interaction with people from other small communities? All of those things have an impact on your viewpoint, IMO.
As for a woman's height, I believe that many factors weigh in as to whether you are perceived as the perfect victim. If you are a woman who lives alone but leaves a window open in your home or apartment it doesn't matter how tall you are when you have someone like Paul Bernardo who raped dozens of women in the Scarborough/Toronto area in the 1990s. If you are living a high risk lifestyle like prostitution or drug use you are more likely to be a victim of violence regardless of how tall you are. If you consume enough alcohol in a bar and lack situational awareness because of severe impairment you open yourself up to violence and assault, regardless of your height. If you walk down a street at night looking at your phone instead of your surroundings you may open yourself up to a surprise attack where your height, sobriety and fitness have no impact on your survival. Many crimes are crimes of opportunity, not thought out beforehand, so many criteria can impact what makes you the perfect victim in that moment.
Isn’t the whole point of yoga (the stretching thing is a western, modern, invention) to be in tune with the universe? It’s supposed to be life affirming, yes?
But I’m gathering not…
LE and mom haven’t said anything about interviewing staff or participants at the retreat. I find this extremely odd.
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