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Yes. Yes they are.
Those still supporting Trump do not care that Syrians are being slaughtered because in a cult, any atrocity can be rationalized away if the leader tells you it can. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/10/14/are-you-happy-now-trump-supporters/
Those still supporting Trump do not care that Syrians are being slaughtered because in a cult, any atrocity can be rationalized away if the leader tells you it can. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/10/14/are-you-happy-now-trump-supporters/
I used to be in a cult, so let me explain how a few things work:
One of the key tactics of a cult is to control information and belief.
It is key that cult members believe that any information from outside the cult is dangerous.
Not just wrong, but dangerous.
One of the key tactics of a cult is to control information and belief.
It is key that cult members believe that any information from outside the cult is dangerous.
Not just wrong, but dangerous.
See the thing is, everyone thinks that ethics are innate, and to some extent, they are.
But more than anything, ethics are socially learned and centered on the general consensus of the surrounding community.
Our ethics are malleable in the right circumstances.
But more than anything, ethics are socially learned and centered on the general consensus of the surrounding community.
Our ethics are malleable in the right circumstances.
When I say that ethics are malleable, I don't mean that people can do bad things without remorse.
I mean that the DEFINITION of what is good and what is bad can be reprogrammed.
People can do horrible things while thinking they are being ethical.
This is what cults do.
I mean that the DEFINITION of what is good and what is bad can be reprogrammed.
People can do horrible things while thinking they are being ethical.
This is what cults do.
The key to reprogramming ethics is to give people alternate narratives.
People don't just change their ethical systems at the drop of a hat. They have to believe there's good reason.
A directed narrative is a means to providing someone reason to shift their ethics.
People don't just change their ethical systems at the drop of a hat. They have to believe there's good reason.
A directed narrative is a means to providing someone reason to shift their ethics.
So what any good cult leader will do is provide people in the cult with a narrative that runs counter to the general narratives in public.
But how do you get people to accept your narrative rather than the stroonger external one?
Convince them outside information is dangerous
But how do you get people to accept your narrative rather than the stroonger external one?
Convince them outside information is dangerous
A cult leader will tell their adherents that the general narrative is a lie.
They will do this by pointing out the natural fallacies and inconsistencies that accompany any narrative, even if they don't undermine the whole thing.
But they'll insist that it does.
They will do this by pointing out the natural fallacies and inconsistencies that accompany any narrative, even if they don't undermine the whole thing.
But they'll insist that it does.
If a cult leader can convince his flock that ANY part of a standard societal narrative is flawed, then they can insist that the whole thing is not to be trusted
Once they have established mistrust, they can then position themselves as the one that warned them and worthy of trust
Once they have established mistrust, they can then position themselves as the one that warned them and worthy of trust
Once THAT trust is established then the cult leader can substitute their own narrative for the generally accepted one.
And then they reinforce and reiterate that anyone outside the cult is lying and malicious.
Outside information is poison.
Only trust the leader.
Fake news.
And then they reinforce and reiterate that anyone outside the cult is lying and malicious.
Outside information is poison.
Only trust the leader.
Fake news.
The thing to remember is that a cult leader never actually has to come through for his followers
He just has to create a false danger from which his followers believe he is protecting them
They don't see that they were never in danger from this thing, only that it didn't happen
He just has to create a false danger from which his followers believe he is protecting them
They don't see that they were never in danger from this thing, only that it didn't happen
If you can get people to:
1. Believe there are dragons, and that they are planning to attack
2. Believe that you are the only person who can keep the dragons at bay if they put you in charge
3. Agree no dragon attacks occurred during your tenure...
Then you are a hero
1. Believe there are dragons, and that they are planning to attack
2. Believe that you are the only person who can keep the dragons at bay if they put you in charge
3. Agree no dragon attacks occurred during your tenure...
Then you are a hero
