Comment author:David_Gerard
10 December 2010 02:15:12PM
*
10 points
[-]
Not all, just enough. Weakening their mental ties so they get their social calibration from the small group is the key point. But that's just detail, you've nailed the biggie. Good one.
and Less Wrong has never done anything like that.
SIAI staff will have learnt to think in ways that are hard to calibrate against the outside world (singularitarian ideas, home-brewed decision theories). Also, they're working on a project they think is really important. Also, they have information they can't tell everyone (e.g. things they consider decision-theoretic basilisks). So there's a few untoward forces there. As I said, hope they all have their wits about them.
/me makes mental note to reread piles of stuff on Scientology. I wonder who would be a good consulting expert, i.e. more than me.
Not all, just enough. Weakening their mental ties so they get their social calibration from the small group is the key point.
No, it's much more than that. Scientology makes its members cut off communication with their former friends and families entirely. They also have a ritualized training procedure in which an examiner repeatedly tries to provoke them, and they have to avoid producing a detectable response on an "e-meter" (which measures stress response). After doing this for awhile, they learn to remain calm under the most extreme circumstances and not react. And so when Scientology's leaders abuse them in terrible ways and commit horrible crimes, they continue to remain calm and not react.
Cults tear down members' defenses and smash their moral compasses. Less Wrong does the exact opposite.
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Not all, just enough. Weakening their mental ties so they get their social calibration from the small group is the key point. But that's just detail, you've nailed the biggie. Good one.
SIAI staff will have learnt to think in ways that are hard to calibrate against the outside world (singularitarian ideas, home-brewed decision theories). Also, they're working on a project they think is really important. Also, they have information they can't tell everyone (e.g. things they consider decision-theoretic basilisks). So there's a few untoward forces there. As I said, hope they all have their wits about them.
/me makes mental note to reread piles of stuff on Scientology. I wonder who would be a good consulting expert, i.e. more than me.
No, it's much more than that. Scientology makes its members cut off communication with their former friends and families entirely. They also have a ritualized training procedure in which an examiner repeatedly tries to provoke them, and they have to avoid producing a detectable response on an "e-meter" (which measures stress response). After doing this for awhile, they learn to remain calm under the most extreme circumstances and not react. And so when Scientology's leaders abuse them in terrible ways and commit horrible crimes, they continue to remain calm and not react.
Cults tear down members' defenses and smash their moral compasses. Less Wrong does the exact opposite.