Community or “Cult”: Decoding the Dynamics of 14 Unusual Groups
Any group that bands together over a set of firm beliefs is at risk of appearing too insular. So then, where does the line lie between community and cult? One way to measure this is by examining how extreme the group’s practices are, but cults aren’t always religious or faith-based.
Here are 14 cult-like groups that take community bonding to the max, as confided by one online forum.
1. Mommy Groups
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The first user vents over mommy groups and how “judgy” members can be off-putting. It’s “like a cult within a cult,” they describe. “Breastfeeding? If you aren’t nursing till four? Bye!”
2. Apple Users
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Apple users – they’re everywhere! I’m one. Chances are that you are too. But there are those who take their love of Apple to the extreme. They worship Steve Jobs and are unable to see past their devices.
3. Child Beauty Pageants
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One viewers says, “I find beauty pageants insanely disgusting and exploitative.” Another agrees, “Little Miss Sunshine exposed it all when I watched it as a kid.”
4. Neighborhood Homeowner Associations (HOAs) and Condo Associations
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People online are happy with basic services such as lawn care and snow removal, but after that, they want to be left alone. One viewer shouts, “No I will not host the ritual at my place again this month!”
5. Academia
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This account comes from a current Ph.D. student. The Ph.D. candidate explains academia is similar to an MLM, with the promise of a better life and establishing a great job.
They say academia is the closest thing to a cult because they encounter mid-30-year-olds in their 20th year of school without any money to their name and overworking in mediocre jobs to make ends meet so they can pursue their academic goals. Do you agree with this?
6. Greek Life
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Scream Queens satirized the idea of Greek Life. Yet, millions of college students pledge to a fraternity or sorority each year. According to this respondent, the Greek Life cult boils down to “paying money to join a group that has you dress the same, talk the same, chant in rhythm, and engage in humiliating/degrading behavior.”
7. Disney
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One person shares that they live in Orlando and find those who worship Disney resemble cult members. The cult isn’t just Disney fans, but those who make it their entire personality, what with purchasing every release from Disney, living at the amusement parks, and interjecting a fun fact about Walt Disney’s dreamland in each conversation.
8. Multi-Level Marketing
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MLM schemes employ workers, for little or no pay, to sell a specific product with a promise to move up in the company and make the big bucks. Those who work for MLMs try to enlist friends and family to join forces and work for the company to spread sales and increase revenue. Examples of MLMs include Tupperware, Mary Kay, and Avon.
9. Kardashian Fans
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A lot of people don’t care to keep up with The Kardashians. Besides the royal family, the most famous family has over 20 shows dedicated to their lives and built multi-billion dollar industries in the beauty scene. “The fact that people like the Kardashians made even a single dollar with zero actual talent is all the proof I need that this world is doomed,” a respondent writes.
I mean, to each his own. I did just order my newest swimsuit from Good American.
10. Astrology Fans
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Have you ever been asked the age-old question, what’s your sign? After answering, did someone explain the intricacies and meanings behind every life decision you’ve ever made and your personality traits? Several individuals claim that astrology and zodiac sign fans belong to a more sinister cult affiliated with pseudoscience.
I don’t know… I like astrology personally.
11. Tesla Owners
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Tesla fanatics worship Elon Musk and believe he cannot harm anything or anyone just because he invented an electric car company and is the CEO of Twitter.
“I love the car, but the company and its CEO make me sick to my stomach sometimes. I’d go with a different brand if superchargers weren’t so convenient. People make a lot of false correlations thinking that I just love Musk when in reality, I’d rather talk about anyone else,” share one person.
They go on, “It gets so bad sometimes that when I’m at a supercharger minding my own, other Tesla drivers will often walk up to my window to just talk about Musk,” a Tesla owner who doesn’t worship Musk shares.
12. Politics
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“Parties promise and never deliver, but people keep voting them over and over, forgetting what happened and hoping the future will be different,” a contributor says. Several people agreed with this belief, arguing politics shouldn’t be reduced to picking the lesser of two evils but rather eliminate the evil and elect the good.
Amen.
13. Stephen King Fans
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Stephen King is a great horror writer, but his work has some questionable titles, like most writers. A bibliophile expresses that most Stephen King fans he encounters shun anyone who airs any opinion about the Maine-based writer.
Speaking of Steven King, have you been to The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, where The Shining (1980) was filmed? It is said to be one of the most haunted places in the world.
14. Cryptocurrency
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Cryptocurrency is a digital currency that operates without any banks or third-party involvement. Users flock to cryptocurrency due to the absence of authority over funds; however, most people involved in cryptocurrency need help explaining the basics.
“I Love It Here!” 20 Best Small Towns in America for Your Bucket List
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Are you seeking a respite from the busy and noisy urban lifestyle? Look no further than America’s small towns. From the quaint and charming to the downright quirky, small towns across the country offer unique experiences and attractions. Here are 20 of America’s most famous. Where are you going next?
“I Love It Here!” 20 Best Small Towns in America for Your Bucket List
15 Dangerous U.S. Cities You May Reconsider Visiting or Moving To
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You’re excited about planning a trip or considering moving to a new city. Still, you need to learn more about your destination. So it’s beneficial to keep up-to-date about how safe your chosen location is. We all know cities have their vibe and cool stuff, but there’s also the not-so-fun side of potential risks. Violence and property crimes make up the issues currently facing the following cities.
15 Dangerous U.S. Cities You May Reconsider Visiting or Moving To
15 Cities an American Can Live Comfortably for $2500 USD/Monthly in Europe
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When you think of the great European cities, Prague, Paris, Vienna, and Munich might be among the names that come to mind. But, as phenomenal as the European cities with the highest appeal are, they may be better vacation spots than homes if you’re looking to live on $2,500 per month or less.
We have uncovered 15 culturally vibrant, modern, and reasonably priced European cities that you could call home (if only for a month) on an average salary.
15 Cities an American Can Live Comfortably for $2500 USD/Monthly in Europe
13 Craziest Urban Legends the World Believed Before the Internet
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Before the wondrous world of the internet, did you believe in any urban legends? Maybe you thought “Bloody Mary” would pop out of the mirror or swore you heard Bigfoot stomping through the woods on your camping trip (well, Bigfoot is real). Here are 13 urban legends others swore by long before the Internet took over the world.
13 Craziest Urban Legends the World Believed Before the Internet
Once is Not Enough: 15 Destinations Travelers Want to Visit Again
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Even though there are 193 countries and two independent nations, some destinations keep calling us back time and time again. Whether because of the people, the food, or the beautiful views, there are some places travelers always return to.
Once is Not Enough: 15 Destinations Travelers Want to Visit Again
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Source: Reddit
I think most cults are dangerous, don’t you guys ?
This was an interesting read by our writer, Gabrielle.