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Richard D. Bartlett@RichDecibels• almost 2 years ago

imagine you're an earnest but slightly weird + bit lonely, extremely online person who joined a couple of twitter events and suddenly found belonging & rapid personal transformation (plus maybe some drugs & free love). how would you know you're not being pulled into a cult?

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9/19/2023

Visakan Veerasamy@visakanv• almost 2 years ago

Replying to @RichDecibels

@RichDecibels the most important test is that you're free to walk away from it all

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9/19/2023

Richard D. Bartlett@RichDecibels• almost 2 years ago

Replying to @visakanv

@visakanv why would I walk away when I am feeling better than I ever remember feeling

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9/19/2023

Visakan Veerasamy@visakanv• almost 2 years ago

Replying to @RichDecibels

@RichDecibels you wouldn't, but it remains the most important test regardless

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9/19/2023

Visakan Veerasamy@visakanv• almost 2 years ago

Replying to @visakanv

@RichDecibels in my case the reason I have learned to care about having a diverse ecology of being is that I have experienced the annihilation that comes when an all-consuming communion collapses. someone who hasn't yet experienced that may not know to watch for it, but it comes for us all

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9/19/2023

Vivid Void@VividVoid_• almost 2 years ago

Replying to @visakanv

@visakanv @RichDecibels @MasterTimBlais

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9/19/2023

qwweryo@qwweryo• almost 2 years ago

Replying to @RichDecibels

Honestly might be hard to tell... start w/ how many apply:- Controlling information and comms- Manipulating experiences to appear spontaneous but are planned- Black and white thinking; anything not with the group is against it- Sins, as defined by the group, must be confessed- The group's beliefs are considered the ultimate truth- Custom terminology- Personal experiences that conflict with the group doctrine are dismissed- The group decides who is worthy and who isn't, often leading to social exclusion

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9/19/2023

qwweryo@qwweryo• almost 2 years ago

Replying to @qwweryo

@RichDecibels And then some more obvious things:- Do they ask for money- Is there a formal leader/doctrine- Do they try to keep you from your previous friends & family

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9/19/2023

Loopy@strangestloop• almost 2 years ago

Replying to @RichDecibels

@RichDecibels there's no central authority

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9/19/2023

Richard D. Bartlett@RichDecibels• almost 2 years ago

Replying to @strangestloop

@strangestloop you say that as if it's obvious to see where the authority is?

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9/19/2023

Loopy@strangestloop• almost 2 years ago

Replying to @RichDecibels

@RichDecibels could you explain your point like i'm five? i'm not grokking

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9/19/2023

Richard D. Bartlett@RichDecibels• almost 2 years ago

Replying to @strangestloop

@strangestloop it's possible to obscure who has influence in a group. if I were doing that, I might create some useful misdirection by saying things like "there's no hierarchy here" 😍 do you see what I mean?

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9/19/2023

Loopy@strangestloop• almost 2 years ago

Replying to @RichDecibels

@RichDecibels i see

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9/19/2023

Richard D. Bartlett@RichDecibels• almost 2 years ago

Replying to @RichDecibels

it is very amusing to me I started this cult conversation at the same time I started telling people to join our community-building course 😅 https://t.co/yCFhIpDeGI

Richard D. Bartlett@RichDecibels• almost 2 years ago

"I never would have believed how quickly you can develop trust & belonging with a group of strangers" if you wanna learn how easy it is to create this kind of connection between strangers, join the Microsolidarity Practice Program cohort starts Oct 3 https://t.co/jmTgFZgMN4

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9/20/2023

Rick Benger@rickbenger• almost 2 years ago

Replying to @RichDecibels

@RichDecibels 1. stay longer than one 'season' 2. see how it goes down when people leave or disagree 3. watch how core folk behave when they don't get what they want, and how this is communicated and digested 4. take a break (weeks/months). Then dip back in. Has your feeling changed? Why?

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9/20/2023