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posted by janrinok on Tuesday October 22 2019, @12:25AM   Printer-friendly
from the are-we-a-cult-too? dept.

Submitted via IRC for Runaway1956

According to Netflix documentary by Vox: Reddit, 4chan, Gab and Bodybuilding.com are "cult-like"

A wide variety of accusations and criticisms coming from different political and ideological corners are being leveled at social media these days, but referring to them as giving rise to “cult-like” communities might be a first.

Netflix has posted a full new documentary on YouTube that deals with various well known and notorious real-world cults, gives survivors a chance to share their experiences and also provides commentary aimed at explaining what a cult is, how it functions, and what motivates its leaders and followers.

But those who make it to the last five or so minutes of the documentary might be in for a bit of a surprise: “Cults, Explained” refers to several large and small social media platforms and online message boards as creating and hosting “cult-like” communities, although, not by name.

Instead, the reference is illustrated by a graphic that shows the logos of some very diverse online places: 4chan, Reddit, Gab, Facebook, and Bodybuilding.com among others. Cults are known to grow around a charismatic leader, who keeps the whole operation together – something that the documentary acknowledges and explores.

However, its makers state that online places of gathering are also legitimately cult-like, even if they are, as the narrator explains, “without a need for a leader.” But the film doesn't at all delve any deeper into why or how this may be the case.

[...]The documentary finds fault with the nature of these communities that are said to provide a place of understanding and kinship to those who are alienated from society or otherwise disaffected. This may be sometimes true, but does it warrant the “cult-like” label?

The film goes on to say that these communities are bad for people simply because “they provide a home, they provide someone to listen to them.”


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  • (Score: 2) by krishnoid on Tuesday October 22 2019, @03:48AM (3 children)

    by krishnoid (1156) on Tuesday October 22 2019, @03:48AM (#910147)

    The film goes on to say that these communities are bad for people simply because “they provide a home, they provide someone to listen to them.”

    Michael David Crawford had us to listen to him, but don't forget, he had to fake his own death [sarcasm] to escape the cult.

    I miss him.

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  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by aristarchus on Tuesday October 22 2019, @06:15AM

    by aristarchus (2645) on Tuesday October 22 2019, @06:15AM (#910196) Journal

    he had to fake his own death

    If only this t'were true, I would feel much better. Soylentils! I implore you! Do not take MDC's name in vain! He was the best of us, the true Soylentil, and now he is well and truly gone. We must respect his memory, his contributions, his sacrifice. Few Soylentils have given as much to SoylentNews. Stand down, imposter.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 22 2019, @07:52AM (1 child)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 22 2019, @07:52AM (#910213)

    part of him seems to have survived under the name of jmichaelhudson.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 22 2019, @11:00AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 22 2019, @11:00AM (#910237)

      Not the stable part. MDC was paranoid but it was a phantom health issue that drove him over the edge. The other guy could attack a Victoria's Secret.