Check list for cult status

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by KeithE, Feb 4, 2015.

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  1. KeithE

    KeithE Initiate (0) Sep 10, 2013 Illinois

    The attached list are generally accepted descriptions of cult like behaviour. If you can answer most of these questions with a yes then you could be described as part of a "Cult of Craft Beer Enthusiasts". When speaking of a "leader" consider either people that are running well regarded breweries, or highly ranked beers. The "group" would be defined as other craft beer enthusiasts. I was surprised at how many I said yes to!



    The group displays excessively zealous and unquestioning commitment to its leader and (whether he is alive or dead) regards his belief system, ideology, and practices as the Truth, as law.

    ‪Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished.

    ‪Mind-altering practices (such as meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, denunciation sessions, and debilitating work routines) are used in excess and serve to suppress doubts about the group and its leader(s).

    ‪The leadership dictates, sometimes in great detail, how members should think, act, and feel (for example, members must get permission to date, change jobs, marry—or leaders prescribe what types of clothes to wear, where to live, whether or not to have children, how to discipline children, and so forth).

    ‪The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its leader(s) and members (for example, the leader is considered the Messiah, a special being, an avatar—or the group and/or the leader is on a special mission to save humanity).

    ‪The group has a polarized us-versus-them mentality, which may cause conflict with the wider society.

    ‪The leader is not accountable to any authorities (unlike, for example, teachers, military commanders or ministers, priests, monks, and rabbis of mainstream religious denominations).

    ‪The group teaches or implies that its supposedly exalted ends justify whatever means it deems necessary. This may result in members' participating in behaviors or activities they would have considered reprehensible or unethical before joining the group (for example, lying to family or friends, or collecting money for bogus charities).

    ‪The leadership induces feelings of shame and/or guilt in order to influence and/or control members. Often, this is done through peer pressure and subtle forms of persuasion.

    ‪Subservience to the leader or group requires members to cut ties with family and friends, and radically alter the personal goals and activities they had before joining the group.

    ‪The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members.

    ‪The group is preoccupied with making money.

    ‪Members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of time to the group and group-related activities.

    ‪Members are encouraged or required to live and/or socialize only with other group members.

    ‪The most loyal members (the “true believers”) feel there can be no life outside the context of the group. They believe there is no other way to be, and often fear reprisals to themselves or others if they leave (or even consider leaving) the group.
     
    #1 KeithE, Feb 4, 2015
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  2. chip26

    chip26 Initiate (0) Mar 5, 2014 Illinois

    That was a good read, I definitely see some cultish aspects in the craft beer community, but in the end it is just a hobby that everyone is passionate about. (And I don't think we have to worry about the speaking in tounges part)
     
    #2 chip26, Feb 4, 2015
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  3. Premo88

    Premo88 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,670) Jun 6, 2010 Texas
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    one of us!
    one of us!
     
    #3 Premo88, Feb 4, 2015
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  4. SFACRKnight

    SFACRKnight Grand Pooh-Bah (3,348) Jan 20, 2012 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Gooble gabble gooblae gabble
     
    #4 SFACRKnight, Feb 4, 2015
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  5. LehighAce06

    LehighAce06 Pooh-Bah (2,240) Jul 31, 2010 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Have you seen all the acronyms on the ISO:FT board? I think that one actually is checked off! ...among quite a few others, particularly if you take a somewhat loose interpretation ("living with" only those in the cult could be looked at as not talking about the 'other' site, or the 'm word' beverage, for example)
     
    #5 LehighAce06, Feb 4, 2015
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  6. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,884) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Whew, I'm clean! That's a relief...
     
    #6 TongoRad, Feb 4, 2015
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  7. rozzom

    rozzom Pooh-Bah (2,620) Jan 22, 2011 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    "The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members"

    Yes - that would be those "best beer to convert bmc/non-beer/wine drinker" threads.

    Also the bit about ends justifying the means leading to bad behavior is fairly spot on - just look at the whatever thread about latest release of sought after beer X.
     
    #7 rozzom, Feb 4, 2015
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  8. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

    Interesting read and fun to play with, but don't take it too seriously.

    Some of those criteria are meant to be taken more literally, eg, commitment to the beliefs and ideas of a single leader and/or idea.

    Indeed, when reading some things that take place on BA I'm reminded of this one:

    http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cargo_cult

    So the world of some BA folks does indeed bear many similarities to cults, both ancient and modern, including some religious splinter groups as well. :slight_smile:

    (But then most groups who come together around a common idea or activity bear similarities to a cult.)
     
    #8 drtth, Feb 4, 2015
    Last edited: Feb 4, 2015
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  9. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

    :slight_smile:


    Thinking to self: Hmmm, seems a classic case of denial if my Intro Psych Professor was right.

    <Strokes imaginary mustache and goatee>

    So, Tongo, can you tell me a little more about how you don't fit? Why don't we begin with your recent BIF box?

    <adjusts pen and notebook, preparing to take notes>
     
    #9 drtth, Feb 4, 2015
    Last edited: Feb 4, 2015
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  10. funkybottoms

    funkybottoms Initiate (0) Jun 11, 2010 Virginia

    FTFY
     
    #10 funkybottoms, Feb 4, 2015
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  11. cavedave

    cavedave Grand Pooh-Bah (4,157) Mar 12, 2009 New York
    In Memoriam Pooh-Bah Trader

    Turns out I am not a member of a beer cult, but I appear to be a member of a music cult
     
    #11 cavedave, Feb 4, 2015
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  12. DaveHack

    DaveHack Maven (1,433) Mar 28, 2011 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    This is totes redonk.
     
    #12 DaveHack, Feb 4, 2015
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  13. fredmugs

    fredmugs Initiate (0) Aug 11, 2012 Indiana

    The group immediately shoots videos in response to Budweiser Super Bowl ads.
     
    #13 fredmugs, Feb 4, 2015
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  14. KeithE

    KeithE Initiate (0) Sep 10, 2013 Illinois

    I got the idea for looking up the definition of a cult after reading the thread "Is good sipping beer best enjoyed alone?" Some of the remarks though understandable seemed a little odd and it reminded me of an almost religious experience with the practice of sipping a beer home by yourself. Funkybottoms.. Thanks for fixing it. It is even better now!
     
    #14 KeithE, Feb 4, 2015
  15. gopens44

    gopens44 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,560) Aug 9, 2010 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    The behavior found in the "brewery release people" subset can certainly find itself in a few of those descriptions. I stay away from brewery releases because I don't know my tolerance for being near cultish behavior. There's always the fear that they'd have me in robes and a shaved head clanging away on a tambourine before I knew what hit me.....
     
    #15 gopens44, Feb 4, 2015
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  16. TonyLema1

    TonyLema1 Pooh-Bah (2,890) Nov 19, 2008 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    "The group has a polarized us-versus-them mentality, which may cause conflict with the wider society."

    SCORE!!!
     
    #16 TonyLema1, Feb 4, 2015
  17. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,884) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Damn, that photographic evidence! (The guys down at the International Guild of Misanthropes are gonna have my ass for that kind of thing...)
     
    #17 TongoRad, Feb 4, 2015
  18. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

    <makes a note in notebook>

    So Tongo how do you feel about there being photgraphic evidence?

    <strokes invivible goatee thoughfully>

    Are you still feeling like an outsider?
     
    #18 drtth, Feb 4, 2015
  19. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,884) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Man, this is worse than the time I tried to leave the Institute of Selfosophy and was dubbed a ratfinkovitch in the process- you guys just don't let up :slight_smile:.
     
    #19 TongoRad, Feb 4, 2015
  20. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

    :slight_smile:

    <makes several notes while stroking imaginary moustache with other hand>
    Thinking: Holy Moly Batman! My Psych Professor was right there is some denial going on here. Seems a bit of repressed hostility as well.

    <looking up from notebook towards Tongo>

    So you feel you are being harassed by some people and they are pushing you or shadowing you?
     
    #20 drtth, Feb 4, 2015
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