…no?!? ETA: you could get the “learning small skills” benefit this LessWrongie claims to have gotten by, I dunno, learning how to play chess. Without having to enter a Scientology org. And they wanted to do more courses with the Scientology public speaking course???
It’s not a cult folks, it’s definitely not a cult…
In secondary school we were doing a unit on religion and one day when the teacher was out we watched a documentary about Jonestown, pretty horrible. Ended with the Jonestown tapes. It became clear at the end that most of the other girls in my class had never heard of Jonestown and were really shocked by how it all ended. I don’t know if I can go back and look at it all again. Interesting though if only for their relationship to SF politics.
@dgerard I have no idea how to post in awful.systems from my mastodon account, even replying can be a bit weird, as I can reply, but only if I find a link to a post here first (on masto.ai).
that’s a great idea! in the meantime before we write that post, this archived reddit thread has some details on how to do things here from mastodon. in brief, I think starting a new toot, tagging @SneerClub@awful.systems, following that with the post title, inserting two newlines (aka start a new paragraph), then writing the post body and posting that should work. keep in mind that markdown probably won’t make the trip over!
@dgerard Don’t put too much effort in for me. I already am a bit weary of SC now being boosted to people who follow me on mastodon. Risk of people either getting into LW or thinking sneerclub wants you to go ‘talk to’ the Rationalists is a bit high.
That I have also seen people use the word TESCREAL (urgh, not a fan of the term) against leftwingers who are just into nuclear power, or who fear degrowth will only affect the poor is worrying.
Yeah it is the classic cult characteristic. Synanon members putting a snake in someone’s letterbox is another example. Also Hare Krishnas, MOVE, etc etc.
Not just Scientology; Peoples Temple, Aum, or Shining Path all apply too.
Edit: they also have more money and political influence at this point then the above. this isn’t good imo.
@saucerwizard @maol Remember when of the directors of MIRI suggested people go to scientology courses? (but only if you are mentally strong enough!) https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/qwdupkFd6kmeZHYXy/build-small-skills-in-the-right-order
…no?!? ETA: you could get the “learning small skills” benefit this LessWrongie claims to have gotten by, I dunno, learning how to play chess. Without having to enter a Scientology org. And they wanted to do more courses with the Scientology public speaking course???
It’s not a cult folks, it’s definitely not a cult…
I know journos are looking again, finally, but like Peoples Temple was taken down that way.
(also I really recommend reading Raven or the PBS documentary on Jonestown).
In secondary school we were doing a unit on religion and one day when the teacher was out we watched a documentary about Jonestown, pretty horrible. Ended with the Jonestown tapes. It became clear at the end that most of the other girls in my class had never heard of Jonestown and were really shocked by how it all ended. I don’t know if I can go back and look at it all again. Interesting though if only for their relationship to SF politics.
Yeah, that part was very interesting.
oh gawd your turn to repost that LW classic
@dgerard I have no idea how to post in awful.systems from my mastodon account, even replying can be a bit weird, as I can reply, but only if I find a link to a post here first (on masto.ai).
@self perhaps we need a “how to post from mastodon” guide
it’s possible but you have to do particular things I think?
that’s a great idea! in the meantime before we write that post, this archived reddit thread has some details on how to do things here from mastodon. in brief, I think starting a new toot, tagging @SneerClub@awful.systems, following that with the post title, inserting two newlines (aka start a new paragraph), then writing the post body and posting that should work. keep in mind that markdown probably won’t make the trip over!
@dgerard Don’t put too much effort in for me. I already am a bit weary of SC now being boosted to people who follow me on mastodon. Risk of people either getting into LW or thinking sneerclub wants you to go ‘talk to’ the Rationalists is a bit high.
That I have also seen people use the word TESCREAL (urgh, not a fan of the term) against leftwingers who are just into nuclear power, or who fear degrowth will only affect the poor is worrying.
Yeah it is the classic cult characteristic. Synanon members putting a snake in someone’s letterbox is another example. Also Hare Krishnas, MOVE, etc etc.