We are sorry to inform you that you are in a cult
It’s an interesting piece, and I think it’s intended to be satirical (and done rather well).<p>But, I grew up in an <i>actual</i> cult. The comments here to the effect of “everything’s a cult” and “startups are cults” and “HN is a cult” - oh gosh. Nothing could be further from the truth. HN is not a cult, folks.<p>I’m glad people can make those jokes though, because I immediately know they didn’t experience what I did. They have never experienced the ongoing heartbreak of losing your entire <i>world</i> when you leave - your family, your friends, your job, your social life, your religion, your <i>everything</i>. People who get out don’t tend to make light of it.<p>In any case: know that there are actual cults in operation, and they do tremendous harm. The “everything’s a cult” stuff allows them to operate more freely these days.