Talk:Love bombing/Archive 1

message: Lousy article. No explanation of how expressions of love could be used to manipulate someone -- not that I'm denying that it's possible, just that the article ought to explain the HOW rather than assuming it's too obvious to mention.
And housewives? This is the first time in 25 years I've heard this.
Also, I've never heard of 'love-bombing' in a sales context (i.e., getting you to buy goods or services). I've only heard it in the context of NRM recruiting, specifically the Unification Church.
I have heard UC members use the word themeselves, in a positive context. --Uncle Ed 17:56, 22 Sep 2004 (UTC)
thread_title: Early discussion

message: My best guess is that the practice began in Oakland, where it was criticized by the press and/or church opponents and dubbed "love bombing" - somewhere between 1975 and 1979. Then we adopted the term, heedless of its bad connotation; it's easier to say, "Let's love bomb this guy, maybe he'll come up to the camp" than to say, "Let's all gather round this guy and shower him with attention, maybe he'll come up to the camp". (Note this is only a guess; my having been on-site, so to speak, does not automatically mean I have a sociologist's credentials.) -- Uncle Ed (talk) 20:11, Mar 4, 2005 (UTC)
* But here's an early Children of God disciple's account, using the term in reference to activities circa 1970, complete with the complaint about even being allowed to go the bathroom alone! 
* And another CoG reference from the BBC. 
And that would fit Singer's attribution of it to an "early, youth-oriented" group... (I don't think of the Unification Church as specifically youth-oriented.) Dpbsmith (talk) 21:59, 4 Mar 2005 (UTC)
replies: text: Well then, it would look like the article could do with more emphasis on flirty fishing and similar "thermonuclear option[s]" ;) (Sam Spade | talk | contributions) 01:33, 5 Mar 2005 (UTC)
thread_title: Origin of the term

message: I've heard the term love bombing used to refer not only to the practices of religious cults but to some political groups as well. Here in Britain there were Trotskyite groups that were said to use female members to recruit men (by sleeping with them) back in the 70s. I don't recall which though, or whether it was just a rumour, and I wouldn't want to hazard a guess. But someone might want to check out that angle. Mattley 13:33, 8 Mar 2005 (UTC)
replies: text: Alright! yet even more super-sexy thermonuclear lovebombing, this time w a commie angle no less ;D (Sam Spade | talk | contributions) 14:06, 8 Mar 2005 (UTC)
replies: text: Are you sure the phrase used really was "love bombing?" All the descriptions I've read of activities called "love bombing" make it sound as if the referent is for the phrase is huggy, quasi-maternal, behavior. Agape, not eros. One of the ambiguities is that it is not clear what distinguishes "love bombing" from activities seen in "legit" denominations, or various fraternal or quasifraternal organizations or twelve-step programs or "support groups" like Weight Watchers. Or the early Christians' "kiss of peace."  Dpbsmith (talk) 14:23, 8 Mar 2005 (UTC)
replies: text: Well I'm sure it was called love-bombing by the people who mentioned it to me. But I've no idea how widespread it is as a usage. I suspect it's pretty marginal, inherently really given that it's probably specific to small sections of the left and ultra-left. I'll chase it up. Mattley 15:51, 8 Mar 2005 (UTC)
thread_title: Lefty Love bombing

message: Let us not forget that Wikipedia practices love bombing too which is even an official policy called "be friendly to newcomers". Andries 20:14, 24 July 2005 (UTC)
thread_title:  Be friendly to newcomers