This sort of point-by-point refutation is the same sort of thing that would happen in a church that was trying to defend against allegations of cultyness.
I don’t think lmm’s list of reasons was utterly compelling—good, but not utterly compelling—but I don’t think it would matter if it were a perfect list, because there will always be a defense for accusations of cultyness that satisfies the church/forum.
It is more interesting watching it happen here vs. the church IMO because LW is all about rationality, where the church can always push the “faith” button when they are backed into a logical corner.
At the end of the day, it is just an online forum. But it does sound to me (based on what I can gather from perusing) like there are a group of people here who take this stuff seriously enough so as to make cultyness possible.
I’m sure the “LW/cryonics/transhumanism/basilisk stuff is so similar to how religion works” bit got old a long time ago, but Dear Lord is it apparent and fascinating to me.
This sort of point-by-point refutation is the same sort of thing that would happen in a church that was trying to defend against allegations of cultyness.
Ah, the perennial dilemma of how to respond to an accusation of cultiness. If one bothers to rebut it: that’s exactly what a cult would do! If one doesn’t rebut it: oh, the accusation must be unanswerable and hence true!
I completely understand. And I know mine is pretty cheap reasoning. But it just reminds me of what happens in a similar situation in the church. Feel free to ignore it. As I said, I’m confident it has probably been played out by now. I’m satisfied just to watch in awe.
This sort of point-by-point refutation is the same sort of thing that would happen in a church that was trying to defend against allegations of cultyness.
I don’t think lmm’s list of reasons was utterly compelling—good, but not utterly compelling—but I don’t think it would matter if it were a perfect list, because there will always be a defense for accusations of cultyness that satisfies the church/forum.
It is more interesting watching it happen here vs. the church IMO because LW is all about rationality, where the church can always push the “faith” button when they are backed into a logical corner.
At the end of the day, it is just an online forum. But it does sound to me (based on what I can gather from perusing) like there are a group of people here who take this stuff seriously enough so as to make cultyness possible.
I’m sure the “LW/cryonics/transhumanism/basilisk stuff is so similar to how religion works” bit got old a long time ago, but Dear Lord is it apparent and fascinating to me.
Ah, the perennial dilemma of how to respond to an accusation of cultiness. If one bothers to rebut it: that’s exactly what a cult would do! If one doesn’t rebut it: oh, the accusation must be unanswerable and hence true!
I completely understand. And I know mine is pretty cheap reasoning. But it just reminds me of what happens in a similar situation in the church. Feel free to ignore it. As I said, I’m confident it has probably been played out by now. I’m satisfied just to watch in awe.