TheAncientGeek comments on Cult impressions of Less Wrong/Singularity Institute - Less Wrong
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Eliezer addressed this in part with his "Death Spiral" essay, but there are some features to LW/SI that are strongly correlated with cultishness, other than the ones that Eliezer mentioned such as fanaticism and following the leader:
Sorry if this seems over-the-top. I support SI. These points have been mentioned, but has anyone suggested how to deal with them? Simply ignoring the problem does not seem to be the solution; nor does loudly denying the charges; nor changing one's approach just for appearances.
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Leader(s) are credited with expertise beyond that convenrional experts in subjects they are not conventionally qualified in.
Studying conventional versions of subjects is deprecated in favour of in group versions.
Also:
Associated with non-standard and non-monogamous sexual practices.
(Just some more pattern-matching on top of what you see in the parent and grandparent comment. I don't actually think this is a strong positive indicator.)
The usual version of that indicator is "leader has sex with followers"