[WikiEN-l] Just what *is* Jimbo's role anyway? - personality cult

[Seth Finkelstein]

> Marc Riddell
> OK, Seth, I will (predictably) bite :-) - what psychological aspects
> are you speaking of?

	Well, I didn't join this list to be a troll, and I suspect if
I go into detail, many members won't take it kindly. I also don't want
to deal with The Attack Of The Strawmen, where every statement has to
be guarded against being made a strawman because someone will feel
they've scored a big victory by knocking that down.

	Note something like Wikipedia essentially requires someone
high-up to be Chief Crap-Taker, otherwise it'll rip itself apart in
the factionalism that comes from having a lot of worshipful people who
will eventually argue vociferously over the correct way to practice
the faith.

	Look at it this way: Why *does* someone join a cult? And more
importantly, why do they *stay*, doing free labor? Stark coercion, of
the sort if-you-leave-we'll-hunt-you-down-and-kill-you, is extraordinarily
rare. Much of the process is about manipulating a psychological need.
Transcendent purpose, internal status, external dangers - these are
all deep human triggers.

	The "Essjay" story has it all on display, if anyone doubts
the existence of such factors.

-- 
Seth Finkelstein  Consulting Programmer  http://sethf.com/
Infothought blog - http://sethf.com/infothought/blog/
Interview: http://sethf.com/essays/major/greplaw-interview.php