Notice...

[#59]

...any similarities with some of the so-called BF website denziens?

http://www.sossobriety.org/cults.htm

[#59]

Cult Leaders

5 Points to look out for in your group leader

Authoritarian approach and intolerance of questioning or criticism. Lies about and insults opponents.

Leader shows anxiety about the world, speaking of threats or conspiracies against the group.

Leader regularly accuses dissatisfied members who leave of having something wrong with them, having personality disorders or being transgressor and deserters.  

Ex-members have similar stories of abuse and ill-treatment by the leader(s).

The group/leader is always right and followers never feel they can be "good enough".

[#59]

Cult Watch

10 Points to look out for in your group members

Obsession about group or the leader putting it above most other considerations.

Member’s individual identity becomes increasingly fused with the group, the leader and/or God followed by the group.Cloning of the group members or leader’s personal behaviors.

Emotional overreaction when the group or leader is criticized. Seen as evil persecution.

Belief that the group is "THE WAY" and they have a mission

Increasing dependency upon the group or leader for problem solving, explanations,  definitions and analysis, and corresponding decline in real, independent thought.

Excessive hyperactivity and work for the group or leader, at the expense of private or family interests. Drifting away from family and old friends

Preparedness to blindly follow the group or leader and defend actions or statements without seeking independent verification.

Demonization of former members or members of alternative groups.

Desire to be praised for doing the right thing and fear of public rebuke

Unhealthy wish to be seen with or aligned publicly with the leader(s) of the group

[#59]

This thread has been cleaned up and resurrected as it truly is a pertinent item for discussion, especially in the "field" of bigfooterty.

[#59]

Cult Leaders

5 Points to look out for in your group leader

Authoritarian approach and intolerance of questioning or criticism. Lies about and insults opponents.

Leader shows anxiety about the world, speaking of threats or conspiracies against the group.

Leader regularly accuses dissatisfied members who leave of having something wrong with them, having personality disorders or being transgressor and deserters.  

Ex-members have similar stories of abuse and ill-treatment by the leader(s).

The group/leader is always right and followers never feel they can be "good enough".

It has been noted some of these "leaders" are masquerading under yet another set of sockpuppet alias' as "Shadowfolk" and "Blackscope".  To the best of my estimates, this makes ~12 sockpuppets utilized so far.  Sad, very sad.

[#59]

One of the facets of BF Cult Mongers is their reaction to being lampooned by those that might employ critical thinking to the subject.

They almost always go into pitbull attack mode as evidenced by the covey of blogs so dedicated to the character assassination and defamation of those they perceive as "evil".  The more pertinent and truthful the comments made by the latter group the more vicious the reaction.

The extent to which some of them go (as evidenced by the time & energy simply generating the graphics) is truly disturbing when reasonable people consider such reactions in total.

People with expertise in psychology have studied these incidents and conclude the host of mental health issues many of these individuals brought to the table even before engaging in BF efforts are simply an extension thereof by way of the manifestations they present in the so-called BF Community.

In other words, they were pretty much f---ed up way before taking up the BF gig.

And what's really disturbing is many of these people truly believe what they're doing is perfectly "normal".

[#59]

Another apparent tactic often employed:

post #330
William Parcher Show me the monkey!
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,680    

This topic has been revived on the BFF. Most interesting is that the BFF King just found a sockpuppet colony. Nine different screennames had matching or overlapping IP addresses. How can this happen? Because the BFF Admins and Mods are clueless about their sockpuppet situation in the forum. Last year, they busted a MABRC sockpuppet ensemble with DriverOperator having four different names. They are not attentive and proactive with flushing out the socks. Green light at the BFF for sockpuppeteers.\ *

* taken from the JREF forum

[Lefty]

A healthy skepticism is needed for any scientific study. Also noticed a select number of Bigfooterists argue vehemently their personal beliefs, but never venture outside of their computer room, to test their beliefs or even collect any evidence. There's nothing wrong with having a theory, but that demands that one go out and test the theory, without "skewing" the evidence purely in their favor. Cults seem to be on the rise, which employ a group think mentality, and ensnare those, who need to belong to "something", anything.