If youve been in crypto for more than a few weeks you have probably run into, what can probably be put on a scaling system, lesser or greater cultish behavior.
What is a cult anyway? Some of the main characteristics are the following:
Charismatic Leadership
Exclusive Beliefs
Isolation
Manipulation
Financial Exploitation
Fear and Intimidation
Lifestyle Change
Absolute Loyalty
Exploitation of Vulnerability
Secrecy
Access to special knowledge
If we were to look at some notorious, well known cults that exist or have existed all of these things could be more easily applied to them than to crypto itself.
But lets look at crypto now. Could any specific crypto communities fit the bill so we can realistically call them a cult.
Most of us here do showcase some of these behaviors in lesser or greater quantities but in most cases that is not enough to assign this label.
For example I wouldnt say the Hive community is a cult.
We lack a charismatic leader or leader of any kind. We dont exploit people, quite the opposite, we dont promote exclusivity or isolationism, we dont proclaim priviness to any special knowledge, spread fear or intimidation. Beyond the loyalty aspect Hive simply doesnt really fit the description.
Some other crypto communities might though...
I think you probably could have guessed this would be my go to example because its obviously an easy target. These mad-lads are akin to Scientologists in my mind.
While cults usually try to be more secretive and picky about who joins them, often preying on the weakest parts of society, Maxis have a different tactic, they are open to all and inviting.
In that part they would differ from a traditional cult.
Caitlyn Jenners uglier sister
If we would take it up a notch we arrive to the one and only Richard Heart. A little chubby man with 0 taste that flaunts the wealth he collected from a group of people so insanely devoted to him that if Richard literally pulled money out of their wallets in front of them while telling them:
Im better than you.
... they would feel blessed for being chosen.
The charismatic leader requirement is checked. Cult of personality is check. The absolute devotion is check. The insanely aggressive response by members to any criticism is visible.
Preying on the weak minded and foolish is the basis of everything.
When it comes to crypto, I would say that the Hexicans fit the description of a cult most closely. And I have known plenty of people on Hive that left Hive to join the HEX cult. Most of them fit the same profile. They were very open to new things without doing much research. They put "feelings" above reason. Showed inclination to follow leaders.
We used to have a few "gurus" on Hive like that lunatic with glasses that wrote long posts, I cant remember his name, that used similar tactics on people... The approach is always the same, the people attracted oftentimes fit the same profile.
What are some more crypto cults you guys noticed.... so I dont ramble on here. The post is too long anyway. 馃槀
