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November 21, 2002
Is this a cult?
By QBlog in Quixtar
No, Quixtar is not a cult but it's often compared to one and there are many similarities but it cannot be simply defined as a cult.
This comparison is made about many aspects of the business but the one aspect of the business that seems most "cult-like" to me is the sense of persecution that they receive from people who "just don't understand" this business. They are involved with what is basically an unpopular (unpopular in the general sense) business and get a "thrill" from that unpopularity.
With other Quixtar members they feel they belong and are understood and each time someone "doesn't get it" they smile, smirk and nod at each other thinking that they know better and this poor soul just doesn't understand. Well that poor soul may not understand but that doesn't mean that the Quixtar person has any more understanding either.
I've seen this before. Religious organizations thrive off of this type of misunderstanding. As long as there is a core group of supporters to comfort and congratulate and support each other then they continue growing and feeling like they are doing something worthwhile. And maybe they are. But they often are also closing themselves off from the rest of the world and reality and take on an "us v. them" mentality.
Again, this isn't a cult. It's just got some similar elements. Other business like Apple, have some similar mindsets. An Apple fanatic is equally disturbing. I just feel that nobody should remove themselves from society and become incapable of objective discussion about anything.