I've been pondering this for awhile now, whether PA shows cult-like signs. I haven't seen that much that would imply PA is intentionally aiming for this, but their "followers" definitely are.
I'm not reerring to 99.999% of those who have published with them, only a .001%, the true "cheerleaders" of PA. These "cheerleaders" all but worship PA, you know the people I'm referring to. This dedication seems to go far beyond brand-loyalty and into a totally different realm.
I'm not gonig to go as far as to claim I am an "expert" on cults or cult-like behavior, but I have had a deep fascination with them and have studied them thoroughly for years. A common missconception is that cults derive all of their power from a messianic leader. This is not always the case. In many cases, it is the followers, those who proselytise the most, who can be the driving force for recruitment. I will cite the topic we were discussing in the PAMB Quotes thread:
http://bb.publishamerica.com/viewtopic.php?t=26813&start=15
This loyalty seems to go far beyond normal horn-tooting. Think of it like Elvis. Elvis never wanted a cult following, but he got one anyway, due mainly to his fans. (A great deal of marketing also contributed.)
But too much cheerleading can be a double-edged sword, as we've all seen with Tom Cruise. While it may empower those who already follow, it emboldens critics that much more. This is what I hope will happen with PA, that those blowing the most smoke will actually help to further prove what PA is really all about.
So the question is, do you think PA exhibits cult-like aspects? Do you think PA is doing it intentionally or that it's just a matter of some over-zealous followers?
I'm not reerring to 99.999% of those who have published with them, only a .001%, the true "cheerleaders" of PA. These "cheerleaders" all but worship PA, you know the people I'm referring to. This dedication seems to go far beyond brand-loyalty and into a totally different realm.
I'm not gonig to go as far as to claim I am an "expert" on cults or cult-like behavior, but I have had a deep fascination with them and have studied them thoroughly for years. A common missconception is that cults derive all of their power from a messianic leader. This is not always the case. In many cases, it is the followers, those who proselytise the most, who can be the driving force for recruitment. I will cite the topic we were discussing in the PAMB Quotes thread:
http://bb.publishamerica.com/viewtopic.php?t=26813&start=15
This loyalty seems to go far beyond normal horn-tooting. Think of it like Elvis. Elvis never wanted a cult following, but he got one anyway, due mainly to his fans. (A great deal of marketing also contributed.)
But too much cheerleading can be a double-edged sword, as we've all seen with Tom Cruise. While it may empower those who already follow, it emboldens critics that much more. This is what I hope will happen with PA, that those blowing the most smoke will actually help to further prove what PA is really all about.
So the question is, do you think PA exhibits cult-like aspects? Do you think PA is doing it intentionally or that it's just a matter of some over-zealous followers?
