• @just_another_person
    link
    04 months ago

    Is venture a guess that a long-term study could prove that the Internet being more widely available makes this time in history more popular for cults. Easy communication with the masses to identify with and lure in at-risk people has certainly completely different than any other time in history, at least for casting a wide net to sucker in followers.

    • @afraid_of_zombies
      link
      24 months ago

      You know that religion is a thing right? Virtually the entire human population worshiping long dead warlords (Mohammed, King David) cult leaders (Buddha, Krishna, Lao Tzu) and wholly fictional characters like Jesus.

      • @just_another_person
        link
        04 months ago

        Yes, but communicated to large groups over looooong periods of time. That is not necessary right night, increasing efficiency to broadcasting a message. Hence the “Golden Age” tag here.

        • @afraid_of_zombies
          link
          24 months ago

          Maybe. The other argument would be that since cult leaders can spread it fast counter movements can also attack fast. Plus since there is more information in the system the counters are more readily available. Pretty easy to convert some illiterates near starvation level of your magic man, lot harder to convince people who have Aristotle.

          If you got data I will be happy to look at it.

          • @just_another_person
            link
            14 months ago

            I don’t think data is even necessary in this case. Person A from any Internet connected place on the planet can communicate with the entire population of the Internet connect earth. This was never possible before.

            • @afraid_of_zombies
              link
              14 months ago

              Nor was it possible to find a billion hours of people talking on YouTube about why X is a bad idea.