[manxman]

Interesting article, but I think the issue is that we are at an inflection point in human history where there are particular groups trying to manufacture sociopaths.

There are certain cults (I speak specifically of freemasonry but there are many affiliates) that seem to make a thing of trying to manufacture sociopaths through the application of behavioural psychology and coercion to Stockholm syndrome victims into joining their agenda but also to induce sociopathic behaviour.

Those inducted are led to believe that they are on a righteous path, are part of a special few that have the true knowledge (while the rest of society are ignorant) and that the agenda is ultimately for a greater good. Of course this greater good is used as the justification for a tyranny of little people; pretty much like every other sociopathic agenda through history. The only difference is that this time it's happening on a scale that's unprecedented, it's the cause of much of the strangeness in politics and indeed within the media and is all about re-engineering the human condition.

I've long held the belief that trying to prevent something often manifests it for we focus our energy on it. These sociopaths suggest that the world is heading for catastrophe and that's part of their justification for breaking the system for their perceived greater good. I offer the suggestion that this is uncharted territory and I suspect those behaving despicably thinking they are working to a righteous agenda may well go to their graves realising they created a greater evil than humanity has ever known. But of course such sociopaths never believe THEY are the problem - it's always everyone else, right?

[jehb]

> Those inducted are led to believe that they are on a righteous path, are part of a special few that have the true knowledge (while the rest of society are ignorant) and that the agenda is ultimately for a greater good.

You reference cults in the paragraph above, but honestly this sounds like a generalized recruiting message from everything from corporations to militaries to organized religion.

[manxman]

Given that the tactics use by masons seem to be an interesting amalgamation of military tactics, corporate tactics and organized religious tactics your analysis is indeed spot on.

One might even suspect you're an insider.

[runjake]

Agreed that cults are bad, but Freemasonry doesn’t[1] recruit people.

And they’re too busy arguing about what to serve at this week’s meeting to apply behavioral psychology to victims in order to recruit them into their agenda of (presumably) world domination.

Have you considered that perhaps your source of conspiracy theories (those red herring terms you use give it away) is doing it to you?

1. It sometimes happen but is widely frowned upon.

[manxman]

I'd suggest Freemasonry is just the interoperability layer. It's layer 3 cult-networking to allow disparate and traditionally incompatible cults to participate in an Open Conspiracy (as in H.G. Wells) fused with B.F. Skinner's Walden 2. I would have once suggested Walden Two was a farfetched work of fiction but it is apparent that the dystopia is all too real.

[Euphorbium]

You described every religion.

[suoduandao3]

>But of course such sociopaths never believe THEY are the problem - it's always everyone else, right?

You really closed the loop on that one.

[switch007]

> But of course such sociopaths never believe THEY are the problem - it's always everyone else, right?

Yup. The all-too-common combination of sociopathy and narcissim.