I found this amusing because by those standards, cults are everywhere. For example, I run a professional Magic: The Gathering team and am pretty sure I’m not a cult leader. Although that does sound kind of neat. Observe:
Eileen Barker:
When events are close we spend a lot of time socially seperate from others so as to develop and protect our research. On occasion ‘Magic colonies’ form for a few weeks. It’s not substantially less isolating than what SIAI dos. Check.
I have imparted huge amounts of belief about a large subset of our world, albeit a smaller one than Eliezer is working on. Partial Check.
I make reasonably import, on the level of the Cryonics decision if Cryonics isn’t worthwhile, decisions for my teammates and do what I need to do to make sure they follow them far more than they would without me. Check.
We identify other teams as ‘them’ reasonably often, and certain other groups are certainly viewed as the enemy. Check.
Nope, even fainter argument than Eliezer.
Again, yes, obviously.
Shirley Harrison:
I claim a special mission that I am uniquely qualified to fufill. Not as important of one, but still. Check.
My writings count at least as much as the sequences. Check.
Not intentionally, but often new recruits have little idea what to expect. Check plus.
Totalitarian rules structure, and those who game too much often alienate friends and family. I’ve seen it many times, and far less of a cheat than saying that you’ll be alienated from them when they are all dead and you’re not because you got frozen. Check.
I make people believe what I want with the exact same techniques we use here. If anything, I’m willing to use slightly darker arts. Check.
We make the lower level people do the grunt work, sure. Check.
Based on some of the deals I’ve made, one looking to demonize could make a weak claim. Check plus.
Exclusivity. In spades. Check.
I’d also note that the exercise left to the reader is much harder, because the other checklists are far harder to fudge.
I found this amusing because by those standards, cults are everywhere. For example, I run a professional Magic: The Gathering team and am pretty sure I’m not a cult leader. Although that does sound kind of neat. Observe:
Eileen Barker:
When events are close we spend a lot of time socially seperate from others so as to develop and protect our research. On occasion ‘Magic colonies’ form for a few weeks. It’s not substantially less isolating than what SIAI dos. Check.
I have imparted huge amounts of belief about a large subset of our world, albeit a smaller one than Eliezer is working on. Partial Check.
I make reasonably import, on the level of the Cryonics decision if Cryonics isn’t worthwhile, decisions for my teammates and do what I need to do to make sure they follow them far more than they would without me. Check.
We identify other teams as ‘them’ reasonably often, and certain other groups are certainly viewed as the enemy. Check.
Nope, even fainter argument than Eliezer.
Again, yes, obviously.
Shirley Harrison:
I claim a special mission that I am uniquely qualified to fufill. Not as important of one, but still. Check.
My writings count at least as much as the sequences. Check.
Not intentionally, but often new recruits have little idea what to expect. Check plus.
Totalitarian rules structure, and those who game too much often alienate friends and family. I’ve seen it many times, and far less of a cheat than saying that you’ll be alienated from them when they are all dead and you’re not because you got frozen. Check.
I make people believe what I want with the exact same techniques we use here. If anything, I’m willing to use slightly darker arts. Check.
We make the lower level people do the grunt work, sure. Check.
Based on some of the deals I’ve made, one looking to demonize could make a weak claim. Check plus.
Exclusivity. In spades. Check.
I’d also note that the exercise left to the reader is much harder, because the other checklists are far harder to fudge.