The Skeptical Mind : ZetaTalk, The Grand Conspiracy 1995

Cult characteristics and ZetaTalk

Subject: Re: Cults and Sects in the US.
From: John Doe <not@home.com>
Newsgroups: sci.astro

A popular anti-cult writer, Marcia Rudin, has listed fourteen commonly accepted characteristics of a cult:

Compare this with zetatalk, it fits almost like a glove.

1. Members swear total allegiance to an all-powerful leader who they believe to be the Messiah.

[If any member voice another opinion, hi/her is kicked out, the posse vote, no need to comment on the last one]

2. Rational thought is discouraged or forbidden.

[Jan's moderation of tt-watch and the general attitude towards critisism]

3. The cult's recruitment techniques are often deceptive.

[The lieder's sci.astro archive etc etc...]

4. The cult weakens the follower psychologically by making him or her depend upon the group to solve his or her problems.

[I saw this happen to a 17 year old in tt-watch some year ago, disgusting, i managed to talk some sense into him by email, he has since left the zetacult, and choosen to spend his money on education instead. ]

5. The cults manipulate guilt to their advantage.

[Happend all the time erlier in tt-watch, but not since Jan's heavy moderation of the list]

6. The cult leader makes all the career and life decision of the members.

[http://www.skepticalmind.com/personal_stories.html]

7. Cults exist only for their own material survival and make false promises to work to improve society.

[The STS and STO hypocrisy, hard to find anything more service to self then tt]

8. Cult members often work fulltime for the group for little or no pay.

[That's the main idea with the tt lists, making contributions without any pay, i have seen complaints about not having the time to bring the daily newsletter, and the contributor feeling ashamed for that. =)]

9. Cult members are isolated from the outside world and any reality testing it could provide.

[Jan's moderation of tt-watch, and Lieder's sci.astro "archive" ]

10. Cults are antiwoman, antichild, and antifamily.

11. Cults are apocalyptic and believe themselves to be the remnant who will survive the soon-approaching end of the world.

[Bullseye]

12. Many cults follow an "ends justify the means" philosophy.

[No need to comment on that]

13. Cults, particularly in regard to their finances, are shrouded in secrecy.

[Jan nolastname internal auditor's refusal to answer specific questions :)]

14. There is frequently an aura of or potential for violence around cults.

12 out of 14 possible!

Subject: Re: Cults and Sects in the US.
From: John Doe <not@home.com>
Newsgroups: sci.astro

A popular anti-cult writer, Marcia Rudin, has listed fourteen commonly accepted characteristics of a cult:

Compare this with zetatalk, it fits almost like a glove.

1. Members swear total allegiance to an all-powerful leader who they believe to be the Messiah.

[If any member voice another opinion, hi/her is kicked out, the posse vote, no need to comment on the last one]

2. Rational thought is discouraged or forbidden.

[Jan's moderation of tt-watch and the general attitude towards critisism]

3. The cult's recruitment techniques are often deceptive.

[The lieder's sci.astro archive etc etc...]

4. The cult weakens the follower psychologically by making him or her depend upon the group to solve his or her problems.

[I saw this happen to a 17 year old in tt-watch some year ago, disgusting, i managed to talk some sense into him by email, he has since left the zetacult, and choosen to spend his money on education instead. ]

5. The cults manipulate guilt to their advantage.

[Happend all the time erlier in tt-watch, but not since Jan's heavy moderation of the list]

6. The cult leader makes all the career and life decision of the members.

[http://www.skepticalmind.com/personal_stories.html]

7. Cults exist only for their own material survival and make false promises to work to improve society.

[The STS and STO hypocrisy, hard to find anything more service to self then tt]

8. Cult members often work fulltime for the group for little or no pay.

[That's the main idea with the tt lists, making contributions without any pay, i have seen complaints about not having the time to bring the daily newsletter, and the contributor feeling ashamed for that. =)]

9. Cult members are isolated from the outside world and any reality testing it could provide.

[Jan's moderation of tt-watch, and Lieder's sci.astro "archive" ]

10. Cults are antiwoman, antichild, and antifamily.

11. Cults are apocalyptic and believe themselves to be the remnant who will survive the soon-approaching end of the world.

[Bullseye]

12. Many cults follow an "ends justify the means" philosophy.

[No need to comment on that]

13. Cults, particularly in regard to their finances, are shrouded in secrecy.

[Jan nolastname internal auditor's refusal to answer specific questions :)]

14. There is frequently an aura of or potential for violence around cults.

12 out of 14 possible!