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Comment by pdabbadabba | Hacker News Reader

> Need of a support group or working for the surveillance apparatus does not imply idiocy, no more than you just implied being addicted to a substance implies the same.

This is not a fair reading of GP's comment. The reason he said that people working for the NSA are not idiots is because people tend to imply that the only reason they continue working at the NSA is that they are idiots. GP was pointing out that there are other possible reasons, including that they are of the considered opinion that what they are doing is not wrong.

For addictive substances there is an obvious alternative reason why people might need a support group to help quit: addiction! But I don't think anyone argues that NSA employees are addicted to snooping, so one is compelled to search for an alternative explanation.

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>GP was pointing out that there are other possible reasons, including that they are of the considered opinion that what they are doing is not wrong.

And that would be sign of involvement in a cult, because that is how cults work.

There are no human activities immune to the proclivity towards so-called reasoned association with idealistic/authoritarian ideology as a means of life experience. And it is precisely because of this fact that we must not allow the intelligence apparatus to gain so much ground in terms of having control over society.

You might think that its okay to have spymasters, spying on everyone. But in a culture of effective, total secrecy between a people and its masters, who are actually supposed to be serving the people, there is much, much danger.

Offering those 'in the cult' a way to re-integrate with society is the very first door towards resolution. If those doors are closed, we have the conditions ripe for exploitation by those who are, in fact, masters of infiltration, usurpation and total control over any human group. This is the power that the NSA/GCHQ cult-members have today.

You cannot do politics by saying "everyone who disagrees with me is in a cult". That's pretty much exactly what McCarthyism was.

You can overload cult with whatever psychosemantic meanings you wish, but let's compare the NSA's behavior with a checklist of cult behavior:

[X] The group displays excessively zealous and unquestioning commitment to its leader and (whether he is alive or dead) regards his belief system, ideology, and practices as the Truth, as law.

    - "Keeping the US safe" über alles, even the law and the wishes of society.

[X] Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished.

    -  Directly corroborated by Snowden

[X] The group has a polarized us-versus-them mentality, which may cause conflict with the wider society.

    - Snowden again, and to a lesser extent, the leaked newsletter from earlier.

[X] The leader is not accountable to any authorities

    - NSA lied before congress. Zero accountability. Also the "loveint" thing.

[X] The group teaches or implies that its supposedly exalted ends justify whatever means it deems necessary.

    - See: Every time an NSA spokesperson makes a statement

[X] The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its leader(s) and members.

    - See: Recruiting ads, the newsletter, etc.

List from [1], and not including things I either couldn't substantiate or didn't think fit.

[1]: http://www.csj.org/infoserv_cult101/checklis.htm

There are also a lot of items on that list that do not fit. As far as I know, you can quit/retire from the job -

The leadership induces feelings of shame and/or guilt iin order to influence and/or control members. Often, this is done through peer pressure and subtle forms of persuasion.

‪ Subservience to the leader or group requires members to cut ties with family and friends, and radically alter the personal goals and activities they had before joining the group.

‪ The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members.

‪ The group is preoccupied with making money.

‪ Members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of time to the group and group-related activities.

‪ Members are encouraged or required to live and/or socialize only with other group members.

‪ The most loyal members (the “true believers”) feel there can be no life outside the context of the group. They believe there is no other way to be, and often fear reprisals to themselves or others if they leave (or even consider leaving) the group.

EDIT removed (was editing the wrong comment).

quit/retire from the job? Ummm .. no. If you are an NSA analyst who suddenly quits, you will be put on the observation list and the Spy-Apparat will be directed towards your life activities .. for the rest of your life .. to ensure you do not violate the mores of the cult you left. [X]

Leaders inducing shame/guilt: Yeah, this is being done every single time the leaders get in front of Congress/Parliament and say "if you don't let us do this, there will be terror attacks and people will be killed". Its not shame/guilt thats being used, but rather: TERROR itself. [X]

Cut ties with family/friends: doesn't matter, with TotalSurveillance (tm), the cult can know everything they want to know about your family/friends in a matter of seconds. No cults have ever had that power - we're talking Cult 2.0 here. [X]

Bringing in new members: yes, they recruit the hell out of people. [X]

Preoccupied with making money: have you ever seen the NSA budget go down? It only goes up, year after year - or else: TERROR. [X]

Inordinate amounts of time: if you're a spook, you live for the company. End of story: [X]

Required to live/socialize with other group members: if you have secret clearances, you are required to report any contact you make with peace groups, protestors, anti-MilitaryIntelligence groups, etc. Unless its your job to infiltrate and usurp such groups, association with them - upon discovery by your case officer - results in immediate reduced clearance status. [X]

"True Believers": 'if we do not do this, the TERROR begins'. [X]

The 5-eyes nations are in the grips of a fascist cult.

| There are no human activities immune to the proclivity towards so-called reasoned association with idealistic/authoritarian ideology as a means of life experience |

This is true; it's why lots of car salesmen think that plaid jackets and bling is cool. Culture is usually just an excuse for bad behavior.

Halvar Flake suggested in a talk that some people working for spy agencies are (or kind of might be) addicted to hacking. Or the agencies themselves.

http://www.isaca.org/chapters2/Norway/NordicConference/Docum...

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