Former Cult Member Answers Cult Questions From Twitter | Tech Support | WIRED

To hear more from Dr. Janja Lalich, watch our latest video where she compares online conspiracy groups and cults >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RqNe5IrpP8

A cult with just two people is called an abusive relationship.

"When are we ever gonna get a cult leader who's a good guy"? -somebody who's VERY susceptible to being brought into a cult

I love how WIRED combines very interesting questions with absolute dumbest questions I've ever seen

I grew up in a church that basically devolved into a cult. After my family got out, i was so legitimately shocked to find how kind and accepting other churches were in comparison

I love that she calls Manson 'Charles' like his disapproving grandmother.

"Maybe they just don't like you" the way she said this is just pure gold LMAOO

She would be an amazing teacher, she corrects people without any condescension and explains things so well and in an engaging manner. I could listen to her all day

“Hi, I’m Dr. Janja Lalich. I was once in a cult” crazy opening

"Cult leaders are not gonna be chill." seems fair.

As a person born in a cult, don't forget that some people are born into cults! It's often not a choice. The "average person" can get roped into a cult, too.

As someone currently trying leave a cult (held back by parents), I appreciate all the different point of view with all these questions

5:23 "maybe your neighbors aren't starting a cult, they just don't like you" 😂💯 SAVAGE AF w

Ending a cult by democratically voting out the dictator like leader is a surprisingly heartwarming story.

"When are we gonna see a cult leader thats really just a chill guy?" I dont think this person understands the type of cults we are talking about here.

What scares me about cults is that I recognize my own susceptibility to them. Like, I'm not saying I am going to join a cult tonight, but my humanity makes me vulnerable. Like, come five years down the road, I've lost my job, my partner has left, my finances are a mess and life has got me beat down. Here comes some narcissist that promises me heaven. How tempting would their offer of deliverance be? The reality is that I don't know, and that scares me, and should scare all of us. It's easy to make fun of cults, but we are not so different after all.

10:48 I'm definitely not an expert, but I know people who'se family or themselves were part of a cult, and something she didn't point out is that some cults persuade you to join, not by offering you to change the world or a greater purpose, they simply grant you something they know you need with urgency. This initial offer may come in the form of financial aid, housing, a job, or just a general sense of safety and stability, at least in the beginning. This generates a sense of gratitude, debt or even reverence pretty quickly. That is part of the reason why some people have a hard time leaving, they are attached to the first impression of the cult being the generous benefactor/savior that helped them out of a tough situation or that they have a pending debt with them that they will never finish to pay.

Get this woman a PODCAST

I love her completely logical life progression. I left a cult… now I’m a sociologist specializing in cults.

I love how she alludes to Scientology soooo many times throughout this video without actually naming Scientology. That Joaquin Phoenix film is about L.R. Hubbard and Scientology, as well.