Bgagger

When finding out how 'peoples temple of the disciples of christ', caused over 900 people to commit ritual suicide. Back in 1978.

You thought. Wow. That is very strange and unnerving. But it must have been a one time thing. Right? Surely, these kinds of weird cults don't just, pop up...

Then you get 'flat earth society'. That is convinced the earth is a disk. Despite it being common knowledge the earth is round for at least a thousand years. And you think, how can so many people be this ignorant and delusional? In face of an abundance of tangible facts.

Then among many others, along comes scientology, creationism, anti-vaxers, anti-abortionists and then maga.

At some point, you stop being surprised. You stop questioning that these people are for real.

But every time, they grow in number of followers.

So, that alone could be a cause to stop and not only recognize this pattern. But most importantly ask. Why?

Why does this particular culture keep producing these insane movements?

So what is going on? Is it the result of an old Soviet initiated, covert influence program with the goal of destroying democratic societies from within? By causing the people to mistrust both each other and their government. On some level, possibly. There is enough evidence of such wide spread influence campaigns still happening today. And not only from moscovia. But even if there is some truth to that, it could hardly explain the frequency and extent of these cults. There is probably much more to it then that. In an age that is supposedly ruled by science, progress and enlightenment. Why does this keep happening?

Through the Internet, social media and a well oiled culture export machine. These ideas then spread to the rest of the world. Inspiring fundamentalists and conspiracy theorists everywhere to follow the same MO. Gathering followers and deceiving them for the cult leaders self-serving ends.

But they seem to start from one place. Where they remain wide spread and influential. And they don't stop coming.

If they arose from a dictatorship country, or a theocracy. That would not be strange at all. In places like moscovia, where cults of personality have been par for the course for hundreds of years. Or Iran, where mystics and priests rule over the entire society.

Both of which is certainly worse. Dictatorships are always the worst. THE WORST. But just because something can be worse. Does not mean these ideas are not corrupt and destructive all the same.

Anyhow, that is not the case here. These movements all come from a place that claims to be the leader of world democracy.

Despite only allowing two political parties, that can't cooperate. (I know that's not by law, but all the politicians want it that way. So it has become by design none the less.) Which is not how most democracies work.

And where the number of votes from the people, do not decide the outcome of elections. Neither local nor national. Which is not how most democracies work.

Where bribes are legal. Just re-branded as 'lobbying' and 'campaign fundraising'. Which, again, is not how most democracies work.

So, are these cults caused by a society that re-enforces this dysfunctional political system? That is built on a foundation of mistrust, greed and personal ambition at any cost?

Are the followers uneducated? Is a lack of common rational schooling causing them to be more susceptible to these radical ideas?

Maybe banning some books can fix that. Since it seems to be a popular approach. Let's start with 'Dianetics', 'The Art of the Deal' and 'Facebook'.

Oh, wait. Large scale censorship and prohibition has already been tried. And always horribly backfire. Remember the good old days that caused the likes of Al Capone and his lawlessness or chairman Mao with his mass starvation to rise to power? The author of 'Mein kampf' was an avid supporter of book burnings.

Let's not do that again.

Maybe should do something about poor education though. So people can not only read, but more importantly be critical of what they are reading... Since poor education can already be tied to poverty all on it's own. And poverty then leads to crime as nobody can get a legal job, then starvation once everything has already been stolen.

Or are they already poor? And so desperate to cling on to something because their daily lives are falling apart? Reasonably they shouldn't be. Seeing as they live in the richest country on earth. Some of them are well off enough to fund entire cult organizations by lobbying.

Is it a nation wide ideology that focuses heavily on being individualistic? Where everyone feel entitled to become rabid fanatics, to the point of becoming malicious.

In a society where anyone can make it big but only a handful ever do. And the ones that do all have rich parents.

Where somehow a sperm has the same legal rights as a child? (not yet in all states, but give it some time.)

But that still has the widest gap between rich and poor in the world.

And the largest part of it's own population in prison, compared to any other country.

Oh and continuously breaking new records in gun violence, despite having less guns then some other countries. But still more civilians with guns then most countries that are in an active state of war.

One common denominator in all of these cults is that they all have religions connotations to some extent. Are at least motivated by religious arguments or in some cases are entirely religiously driven. Are religious people more inclined to believe utter non-sense, in spite of overwhelming evidence in reality?

You tell me.

Just don't start with the argument that religions are inherently peaceful. Most wars in human history has either been endorsed by, or directly motivated by religion. What is the difference between a muslim holy war, a jewish holy war, or a christian holy war?

There is no difference. Only different sides, all gleefully killing each other while claiming the 'true' version of the same god is on their side. Funny how god is always on every army's side at the same time, even as they face each other. Regardless of that armies objectives and motivations. Does that say something about god? Or does it say something about gods priests?

What is it about this society that makes these cults not only start, but grow and fester so radically?

It doesn't happen just anywhere, not on the same scale and over such long periods of time...

The worst religious cult in Sweden in modern times for example had 90 members at it's peak and resulted in one single murder and one attempted murder. And that cult does not exist anymore.

The largest white supremacy demonstrations in Sweden took place shortly after Trump came into power in the USA. Which nobody considers to be a coincidence, since the white supremacy movement themselves said that the coming of Trump marked the start of 'their time to shine'.

Or is it something else? Digital echo chambers? Inbreeding? Incels? Rampant capitalism? An increase in scammers and con-men, some of which are the richest people in the world?

Whatever it is. It's getting worse every year. And it keeps spreading.

Maybe humanity is just becoming dumber. That would be the saddest, but most straight forward answer.

1. Generative AI tools have become one of the most quickly and widely expanding technologies since the Internet itself. It is not an exaggeration to say that genAI is having a bigger impact on the way we do things then social media. AI is exploding way faster then facebook did and for more people.

2. genAI will continue to become more common and used for more things in the next few years. However, it is easy to think that using AI is as easy as just pressing a button. And then you have AI goodness that makes everything more better.

3. As with any new technology however, it is not that simple. How and why you implement AI is more important that the fact you are using it. And the result will not always live up to expectations. In fact, new technology does not only create new solutions, but also brand new problems...

5. The first problem is cost. The most advanced and competent AI systems cost a lot of money. There are plenty of free AI services all over the internet already. Some can be amusing for a bit before you get bored of them. And most of them are shit or simply don't work. Pretty much all of them don't do what they advertise.

6. But the technology and businesses around it is maturing quickly. So you should keep an eye on it.

8. The second problem is that most readily available genAI tools are generic tools. They are not trained for a specific purpose nor use data that is relevant for what you want it to do. There is no good kinky BDSM AI because nobody has made one. You can feed a general AI some kinky words, but the results it spits out are at worst dubious and barely usable (if at all at) and hilariously weird at best. So temper your expectations when it comes to reliability and quality. At present AI tools should not be used by anyone as a solution to a problem. Rather it should be used as a tool to help you get there quicker. If you are a creative person, you can use AI tools to make a first draft. For example use a story generating AI as a starting off point to give you some new ideas. And then write your own story based on those concepts. To make a story that is actually good. If you want an AI to play around with for some goofy fun. I can recommend: https://beta.character.ai/

9. Also there are some very serious issues that will need to be worked out in the coming years. Like how people are using ChatGPT and expecting it to always spit out accurate facts. It does not! ChatGPT also does not reveal it's sources. You do not know where it is getting it's information from. That makes it inherently unreliable. So use it like you would Wikipedia, can be alright for a quick overview. But does not replace a serious reliable source from a knowledgeable expert. As an alternative to ChatGPT when it comes to looking up facts, I recommend https://www.perplexity.ai A similar service that DOES link it's sources. So you can be critical of them.

10. Now I have not even approached the moral implications of using AI tools and then claiming the result as your own work. Essentially though, it is the equivalent of copying a Wikipedia article and handing that in as your essay for school. It takes no effort. You have not learned anything from it. And you can not take any credit for it. And it will be in a weird format for it's intended purpose.

11. That is not to say AI tools can not be useful, but we need to find new routines on how and why we use them, how to judge the result and what it means for things like copyright. Don't use AI just to be lazy. Use it as a stepping stone on your way. Another tool in your toolbox. Like a browser. Or an editing software. It is a means, not the end.

This Saturday (September 30), I will be hosting a Nabber's Empire Donator exclusive chat session about a current in-development top-secret project. https://ne.bgagger.net

As part of this event I will also be streaming some content on Picarto. My picarto streams remain publicly open. So it is technically (the best kind of true) true that anyone crazy or bored enough can stop by and check out what's going on in the stream.

Be aware though that I will prioritize answering questions and discussing feedback on the closed Nabber's Empire Donator chat channel.

I'm not saying that you should donate any amount of money to support the Nabber's Empire project. The best Bondage themed MMO you will ever see, because the mainstream industry is never going to make one.

But it's appreciated if you do. And I'm not going to love you if you don't.

So I'm counting on you to do the right thing. Which is to support Ukraine.

So that's it. We where given the choice to make enemies or be made into enemies. To hate or be hated. Sweden is now ending a 188 year old tradition of being neutral in war. A tradition that has never been forced upon us by anyone else. A tradition of choice.

For 208 years Sweden has been at peace. Using our position as a third party to mediate and deescalate conflicts. Always promoting peace and stability in the world, leading by example.

While whole nations have been leveled to the ground. Cities turned to nothing but smouldering rubble by bombs. People persecuted, enslaved and butchered. For what? The honour of planting a flag on a mound of dead bodies. Declaring countless broken lives as a victory. Having to spend a lifetime rebuilding among the broken ruins, just to get back to square one. Doesn't matter which side won. The reward is always ruins. That where once houses.

Sweden has remained standing free while others have beaten each other to death. For a glory that is always hollow. Time and time again. Always asking why. Why chose death? Why destruction? Why hate? For what...

When the next war comes. We join the fray. To revel in bloodshed. To not ask questions anymore. Just pick which side to kill.

How long will it take? Before another lunatic decides it would be a brilliant idea to start yet another war. The odds are clearly in favor of madmen. Chasing glory. Cackling gleefully as the world burns. Madmen who does not ask if to have war, but when.

It's time to wake up from the dream of peace. And smell the Sulfur. Join the rest of humanity that want's so badly to divide and destroy itself.

1. Don't take it personally. (When you do, you will only end up hurting yourself.)

2. If you don't have anything constructive to say. Then don't say anything at all. (The amount of useless stinking shit we have to wade through in comment sections everyday is already obscene. Don't add to the pile of human waste. If you want to say something, say something that is actually meaningful, useful or helpful. Nobody likes a troll, not even other trolls.)

3. Always read what you have written before posting. (If it sounds stupid when you read it out loud. That's because it is. Stop and think again.)

4. There is no rule 4. (Do not mention rule 34, it will find you.)

5. Stay safe. (Use a decent password, that you never share with anyone. Have anti-malware software installed. Yes, on that device too. Enable two-factor authentication. Yes, it's a hassle. Just do it.)

6. Be critical of everything. (Always check more then one source of information before you decide what to believe. There are lots of people out there that are either morons, or deliberately lying to you. Just because it's on the Internet doesn't make it true. And just because you want something to be true, doesn't make it true either. First go on the Internet, then live in the real world.)

7. The Internet is made for sharing. (So don't just leech, contribute. Get creative. The Internet is what we make it. Help make it a place full of cool stuff that you want to hang out in. Don't share illegal things though, unless you live under a dictator then laws are usually made for good reason.)

8. Don't spread something that you know is a lie. (Especially someone else's lie. The truth will eventually surface and you will hate yourself for denying it later.)

9. There is no excuse for intrusive nor sneaky advertisement. No. Just no. (Ad's are not necessarily evil. Just advertise yourself in places where you are relevant. No spying, profiling or shoving your greedy commercial into peoples faces who are not interested in your crap. If you have a worthwhile thing to sell, enable customers to find you. Be open, honest and believe in your product.)

10. If you are a scammer, swindler or cracker. Then fuck you. Go die in a fire. (That is all.)

11. Remember that history repeats itself. (All the stupid shit humanity has done is on the Internet. Take your time. Learn from it. Then don't repeat those mistakes. You idiot.)

12. Be true to yourself. (And stay kinky. You know you are. At least admit it to yourself. Just remember to not hurt anyone else. There is no kink without consent!)

13. Fuck Putin. (Spell it right. And never forget it.