Come join us in Clement and Pekoe for a lively discussion on cults. Specifically, we'll be discussing the following LessWrong / Medium posts:

• Unwitting cult leaders by Kaj_Sotala
• Every cause wants to be a cult by Eliezer Yudkowsky
• My experience with Leverage Research by Zoe Curzi 
• Notes on Brainwashing and Cults by gwern

I asked GPT4_Eliezer^[1] for his "thoughts" (human Eliezer is probably busy with ainotkilleveryonism). Below are a selection of them:

Ah, an ACX meetup! It sounds like a delightful event...

Remember the importance of careful thought and the virtue of epistemic humility. Engage in meaningful conversations, challenge your beliefs and those of others, but do it in a manner that respects the truth above all else. It's not about winning a debate, it's about refining our map of reality, updating our beliefs to match the territory of the world out there.

Cults are an important subject to consider, particularly in relation to rational thinking. They're usually characterized by high levels of social cohesion and commitment, often tied to a charismatic leader and a set of beliefs or practices that deviate from mainstream society. From a rationalist perspective, they can serve as an excellent case study in how our minds can fall into systematic patterns of bias and error.

Thanks GPT4_Eliezer! I couldn't have put it better myself. 

If you're thinking of coming along, you can also join our WhatsApp group where we organize the meetups and discuss things in the general vicinity of rationality. 

1. ^{^}

   The prompt being "Can I ask you question, and you respond in the style of Eliezer Yudkowsky?"