Do I think Raniere manipulated those women? Absolutely. Do I think it never occurred to them that beating, humiliating, branding, insulting and blackmailing people is wrong? Uhm. They were not raised in a cult where abusive behaviors are considered normal and a twisted set of moral principles is instilled in people from infancy: they joined NXIVM as full-grown adults, at a time in their lives when they should’ve been able to distinguish good from bad (and bad from terrible). And they were not poor, friendless, illiterate outcasts without a family, a job or a home, either: they were highly educated, wealthy women with families and careers. Of course, being wealthy and educated does not necessarily protect you from being influenced by the wrong people, ending up in a cult or being coerced into something you don’t want to do, but I find it hard to find extenuating circumstances for them.