If your ideology prohibits you from accepting objective reality, you are probably in a cult.

Notes:

• Today I want to talk to you about cults, or tribal mentalities in general.


• If your ideology prohibits you from accepting objective reality, you are probably in a cult.


• Firstly let's define what a cult is (source - https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cult) :
  
  
  
  
  1. a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious
  
  
  2. a great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (such as a film or book)
  
  


• It is that second definition that interests me, as it is far more widespread today.


• People form cult-like devotion to a person (movie star, singer, billionaire), an idea (religion, politics, activism), or other such sporting, technology, or economic movements all of the time.


• When you look around you, and at yourself, you will see examples of this behaviour everywhere.


• A lot of it is harmless, but when it goes too far, it can become dangerous.


• Here are some warning signs:
  
  
  
  
  1. If the ideology prohibits the devotee from accepting objective reality.
  
  
  2. If it encourages the demonisation of non-believers.
  
  
  3. If it causes actual harm to devotees - physical, mental, financial.
  
  
  4. If it causes devotees to outright reject opinions, or even facts that do not align with their chosen ideology.
  
  


• A few years ago, it seemed that everyone was worried about cults and they received lots of coverage in the media.


• Now arguably cults have become so mainstream, that we hardly speak about it anymore.


• When we are all in some form of cult based upon the looser, non-religious definition, it starts to become a meaningless label.


• If it does not hurt you or others, it is fine.


• If up becomes the ultimate expression of fundamentalist group think however, you should reject it and find a better tribe.


• Think for yourself, and don't view the world through the lens of another.


• What I am working on this week:
  
  
  
  
  • Alpha Framework version 4.0 with support for PHP 8.2 - hitting CI/CD issues resolved!
  
  


• Media I am enjoying this week:
  
  
  
  
  • The Cosmic Puppets by Philip K. Dick.
  
  

Notes and subscription links are here: https://techleader.pro/a/634-Tech-Leader-Pro-podcast-2024-week-7,-You-are-probably-in-a-cult