Freedomain Radio is basically a cult.

[Pizzly]

Now, I really dislike Stefen Molyneux because I think he is hurting the liberty movement by moralizing and pushing faulty ethics/psychology. I'm not the smartest guy, but I can't help but feel that way. So I was on Reddit earlier, and I had made a quick argument about how FDR is a cult:

a. A religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader. b. The followers of such a religion or sect.
This doesn't quite sound right. I suppose one might argue that Stef's
A system or community of religious worship and ritual.
This would be the Freedomain Radio community.
The formal means of expressing religious reverence; religious ceremony and ritual.
I suppose one might argue that the way individuals watch his videos or listen to his podcasts might count as worship of Stef, and looking at the comments section you often get nothing but praise and idolizing.
A usually nonscientific method or regimen claimed by its originator to have exclusive or exceptional power in curing a particular disease.
This doesn't quite fit in with FDR. Stef makes some incredible claims in regard to child rearing psychology though.
a. Obsessive, especially faddish, devotion to or veneration for a person, principle, or thing. b. The object of such devotion.
Reading the comments Stef gets, and Stef's joy at reading those comments, show an incredible amount of veneration for him.
An exclusive group of persons sharing an esoteric, usually artistic or intellectual interest.
Obviously this counts, the FDR community is supposedly devoted to philosophical, psychological and other various fringe interests.
I'll admit the definition seems to allow for many things to be called cults, but I'll add that Stef is a bully and he's egotistical. Him, and especially his listeners, will attack dissenters emotionally. They do this by using moralizing arguments based on Stef's UPB (FDR's bible). His egotism shows in the way he lives off of donations (he has mocked individuals who listen to his free shows without donating), his constant promotion of his show and books (I can let this one slide, everyone needs to promote), the way he reacts emotionally to criticism, and his speech from Porcfest was awful in this regard.

It's certainly not the best arguments I've made, I was basically just trying to explain why I feel FDR is at least cult like. Stef's emotional bullying (with things like his "against me" argumentation) and community veneration (the guy is funded via donations, I honestly am bothered by this) seem to suggest cult like tendencies. He has suggested on his radio show that people leave families that have differing beliefs, it's called deFOOing. The response to my post seems to only reinforce my beliefs.

Yeah, sure, you can argue all those things if you (1) make up a definition of "cult" that includes organizations that are NOT CULTS, (2) then pretend that every single point you list in your definition fits FDR against the facts, (3) then you make up false and unsubstantiated accusations about Stefan such as "emotional reactions to criticism" (which are not only false but, as the video linked here demonstrates, the reality is actually the DIAMETRIC OPPOSITE).
That is the essence of slander.
Face it, you'd come across as MUCH MORE HONEST if you just said "You know, I hate Stef, that's it". That would be perfectly fine. But to attempt to rationalize your hate using LIES and FABRICATIONS? That's just fucking disgusting and venal. You ought to be ashamed of yourself.
Slanderer.

There is an incredibly high chance I am wrong about Stef's philosophy and psychology, but I think it's completely fair to recognize Freedomaing Radio as a cult.

[BonerJoe]

We already had this thread once before.

[Pizzly]

We already had this thread once before.

Search feature isn't exactly helping me. I'd resurrect a thread if I found it existed already.

[mikehz]

I really like Stefen, and think he's an excellent communicator. I enjoy Freedomain--most of the time. But, the guy sometimes gets too caught up in conspiracy theories for my tastes. I don't think everything is actually run via malicious plots by evil-doers bent on screwing everyone over. I think problems generally arise from people with good intentions doing stupid things.

He really lost me when he came out as a 911 Truther.

[Cognitive Dissident]

He really lost me when he came out as a 911 Truther.

Doesn't really bother me that people believe that stuff...I'm more bothered when they get all evangelical about it.  The "I don't care because the government can be shown to have done all kinds of evil things, and what were you planning to do about it, anyway?" route has been fairly successful for me in making it go away.

[John Shaw]

He really lost me when he came out as a 911 Truther.

Um, link? I've never heard him say any such thing so I'd love to hear this.

What I have seen him do is show up on Alex Jones, (I don't listen to Alex Jones but he's posted the interviews on FDR.) an act that I'm no fan of but can be justified if you're looking for new listenership I guess.

[Pizzly]

He really lost me when he came out as a 911 Truther.

Huh? I know he's said it's kinda possible, given governments (including the US) have done false flag attacks before, but I'm pretty sure he isn't a truther.

[Turd Ferguson]

He really lost me when he came out as a 911 Truther.

Um, link? I've never heard him say any such thing so I'd love to hear this.

What I have seen him do is show up on Alex Jones, (I don't listen to Alex Jones but he's posted the interviews on FDR.) an act that I'm no fan of but can be justified if you're looking for new listenership I guess.

Yeah, I heard him on AJ a few months back. You got the sense that he would just kinda go along with AJ on the 911 thing but in a somewhat joking way, so as to be at least a little respectful, yet still have an out if it were ever brought up by someone later on. I listen to AJ maybe 4-5 times a month because he gets some pretty good guests every now and then.

He had Frank Serpico on just last friday and I thought that would be a good one.............. nope. The guy came off as a complete nutcase, going off on all kinds of wild tangents about GMO foods, the feds following him through a snowstorm as he was walking his dog.... and sounded like he was talking into an empty coffee can. Couldn't really make out 7 out of 10 words he was saying. His explanation?........... He hasn't done a phone interview for years, so he doesn't have a phone with a handset to talk into...... just a speaker phone.  WTF Frank?? You can get a GE corded phone with decent quality sound for 8 bucks at walmart. Use it for the interview and bring it back the day after if you're gonna be that big a cheap ass.

[John Shaw]

Asking the question that I asked was a little unfair, because I've listened to everything on FDR (Seriously, but I started in 2006, so I didn't have to catch up) and have worked with Stef on several videos and have had fairly long interactions with him.

I know with quite a degree of certainty (I'd say over 99.44%) that the dude isn't promoting the 9/11 truth stuff. I would like to see a link to what led Mike to think that, though, because I know he's a sharp cat and I'm sure there's some sort of misunderstanding.

For the record, my interactions with Stef have been largely positive. There were a couple bumps in regards to creative stuff (Disagreements about how quickly I edit and how many cuts I use) that were hammered out fairly easily the second I mentioned them. Also, getting hold of the dude when you're trying to collaborate on something is difficult. He can send you and email, you can respond within five minutes, and two days later you'd hear back from him.

Not major shit. I'm sure most people who work with me have similar complaints.

Stef's just this dude. He's got some great ideas in regards for the liberty thing and I'd say that his ideas are a good influence on the community of ration freedom lovers. I give him credit for that and I'd call what he's doing a sort of post objectivist revision on Rand's work that has significant value. He's certainly plugged up some of her more egregious holes in ethics as far as I'm concerned.

Personally, knowing of FDR has improved my life and made debate with statists far simpler, which has freed me of months, if not years of my life.

Also, I am not a member of a cult.

[Turd Ferguson]

I would like to see a link to what led Mike to think that, though, because I know he's a sharp cat and I'm sure there's some sort of misunderstanding.

Also, I am not a member of a cult.

http://wp.alexjonespodcasts.com/2011/april-2011/monday-7-11-2011-the-alex-jones-show-with-stefan-molyneux

also last december

http://www.informationliberation.com/?id=33524

[sillyperson]

Dude, I thought you were in *two* cults

[BonerJoe]

Doesn't denying that a cult leader would actually do something imply that you're in the cult?

[John Shaw]

Doesn't denying that a cult leader would actually do something imply that you're in the cult?

Would me denying that Bonerjoe would initiate force make me a cult follower of Bonerjoe and Bonerjoe a cult leader?

From my experience of the dude, it seems odd.

I'm listening to the nasty Alex Jones to hear what was said. I listened to it before but I don't recall the content.

[BonerJoe]

But I am a cult leader.

[John Shaw]

But I am a cult leader.

OH FUCK.

*Slashes wrists to meet his god*

Also, wasn't there some sort of thing at PF where he griped at you or George about not having veggie foods?