How Do You Start Your Own Cult?

This is a question that has intrigued me for some time now.

You see, it’s fairly easy to see how you can people to join your group once it’s grown a bit, and you can see how people can be coerced into becoming “followers” when there are some heavies to throw their weight around, using intimidation tactics, for example.

But how, exactly, do you get your very first member?

Do you press-gang family members or friends? Aren’t they going to tell you to go forth and multiply – the only sane response?

Even if you’re totally depressed and at rock bottom, why would you choose to follow somebody (especially a stranger) who’s had a message from some “divine entity”?

How desperate do you have to be to tag along and become this “guru’s” first recruit?

Is it a case of get in early and have a position of power within the new cult?

Is it herd mentality at work – some primeval desire to belong to something, anything, however weird or bizarre it may be?

And if the solution to happiness and success is to give away all your worldly possessions (usually, to the cult leader, of course), then why do you need to join a cult to do this? Can’t you just donate your stuff to a charity, which would be a much more worthy recipient, and get on with things? Why complicate matters by joining a cult if that’s all you want to achieve?

And where is the tipping point, when does a small band of delusional misfits become large enough to be called “a cult”?

All fascinating questions, and as always, all without any sort of logical answers – so if you have any, please feel free to comment, below.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, I’m not thinking of starting my own cult – I clearly wouldn’t know where to begin (even if I wanted to)!

BELIEVE IT OR NOT:


Powered By Odd Facts

Yanked Out Of Dreamland

For reasons I won’t go into here, I know that my sleep habits are unhealthy: I don’t go to bed until the early hours of the morning (maybe 4:00am or later), I don’t get to sleep for more than three hours at a time, for the most part, and there is too much light in the room when I do get some sleep.

That last one may surprise you, but it’s a proven fact now that the invention of the light bulb, and other devices that provide some illumination in the dark, are adversely affecting our health. (See Lights Out for more information on this and other sleep issues.)

But none of this is what I want to talk about here – not directly, anyway.

It seems as though one of the many mysteries about our brains is why we dream, and one theory has it that it’s our body’s way of assimilating the day’s activities and experiences – a time to forge new connections and make sense of everything.

So, here’s my question: if you are consistently awoken while you’re in the middle of a dream, what effect does that have on you (apart from leaving you permanently tired, of course)?

It seems to me that if the above-mentioned theory is true, then this has to have some impact, psychologically, emotionally, or just in terms of mental ability.

If your brain’s attempts at resolving the day’s issues are continually interrupted, aren’t there going to be some consequences?

If the day’s filing activities, if that’s what’s going on, are never completed fully, then what’s the effect on your long-term memory and associative recall?

And that what about the physical recuperation that might be going on while you sleep? It doesn’t seem that two to three hours is going to be enough, so that too will take its toll.

They say too that if you ask your unconscious (or subconscious, depending on which theory of the brain you subscribe to) a question, then it will eventually come back with an answer, but again, if this process is interrupted because you’re abruptly awoken, instead of being able to come to naturally and gradually, will it ever get the time to finish this task?

So many questions, and if I weren’t so tired and my unconscious could get enough time off from making sure my conscious mind and body are working OK, then maye it would give me the answers I’m looking for?

In the meantime, it’s nap time again – for a couple of hours, if I’m lucky.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT:


Powered By Odd Facts

Eidetic Memory

While many people may not be familiar with the term “eidetic memory” (unless they happen to enjoy watching the TV show, Criminal Minds), they probably have heard of “photographic memory”.

This conjures up all sorts of images, but what exactly is a photographic memory, and is it as useful as people think?

There are, of course, two aspects to memory – Read more…

BELIEVE IT OR NOT:


Powered By Odd Facts

Are Bullies Getting Smaller?

I was thinking yesterday about bullies – don’t ask me why, as I couldn’t tell you, but maybe I was recalling what it was like when I was at school and bulled frequently for a year or so.

Anyway, here’s my thought.

Assuming that:

1. Bullies typically prefer to bully somebody smaller than themselves (e.g. because it’s easier and safer).
2. People who are bullied tend to continue this activity themselves (e.g. because that’s how they think people behave, or for revenge, or because it stops them being bulled).

… then this should lead to an ever-decreasing size of bullies.

Which in turn should lead to smaller and smaller people being bulled.

Which means the number of people available to be bullied should decrease.

Which should ultimately lead to the complete disappearance of this cowardly behaviour.

Now, as there are clearly no shortage of bullies around these days, that presumably means my assumptions are flawed, somewhere.

Any thoughts?

BELIEVE IT OR NOT:


Powered By Odd Facts