My Life, et. al

[lydamorehouse]

 I'm currently reading a book called CULTISH: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell.  It's a book that Mason brought home from college and had in his discard (as in to go out to the Little Free Library) pile. I picked it up because a friend of mine just shared a story about a friend of hers from college who was in a cult in the 1990s.  I'm not normally a person who is super into all this sort of thing, but I mean, I did watch all of  the 2015 movie, Going Clear about Scientology.  The book is a little frustrating because it was written in 2021 and the author skirts around taking seriously Trump's language as fantaticism (even while mentioning it) and that doesn't play well post Insurrection and current administration. Like, girl. You could have punched up HARDER. You were, in fact, on to something.

Ironically, I've been spending my free time doing something that feels cult adjactent.

I'm on the programming committee for this year's Gaylaxicon which I have mentioned a dozen times in other contexts. But, my current work has involved trying to recruit local professionals to attend. I feel a little bit like I'm standing on a soap box evangalizing, hoping to get some curious people to sign up! (Seriously, have you thought about attending?? It's a fun con! You don't have to be queer to go!  Membership is currently the low, low price of $80!!) 

 It's also been kind of time (and energy) consuming.  

Very cultish. 

Anyway, I am currently waiting for my brother-in-law to text or call to let me know that he's done with his MRIs. This whole week has been a series of tests for him (and, as it happens, the rest of my family.) So, I've been the Rounds Lyft driver, only without the pay. Ah well. That's what family is for. 

Comments

[anirrationalseason]

I remember reading Cultish a couple years ago as I've always been super fascinated by cults. The stuff about Peloton and how companies like them seem to intentionally employ cultish language to promote their brands was an especially interesting thing I learned from that book--I guess I never realized how even "secular" organizations could tap into the psychology of cults like that. (Definitely makes me side-eye MLMs even more than I already do!)

[lydamorehouse]

I read an absolutely FASCINATING article (which I think is behind a paywall) in the Atlantic about Amway in particular and the .. ah crap. The word has left me. The actual religious concept that the good are rewarded with riches and the poor are somehow morally failing.

[bibliofile]

Prosperity gospel? Yeah, what a truckload of bullshit, that is. Talk about victim blaming!

I read Cultish a few years ago, and I liked that it covered a bunch of ground that I hadn't really considered before. (Especially as I haven't had much direct experience with cults, maybe it's better not to wait.) Worth reading in (checks notes) 2023, well before the latest presidential campaigns started.

Have you talked about it with Mason? I wonder what a young person thinks of it. (Well, and also I wish I'd known some of everything sooner, but that's kind of eternal isn't it.)