My first thought was that I want to run a sex cult. Because my brain always goes to a joke first. But in all seriousness I feel like a sex cult would be a lot of work to keep up and I don't think I have the motivation or energy for it. I don't even think I could be part of a sex cult. They'd be like, time for the orgy, and I'd be like nahhhh...maybe I'll just hang out over here with a coffee. I had a threesome in college and even that was a bit much, trying to do things for two people. Theres more pressure and more work. I'll have my coffee and wife, please.

We prefer the term swingers club.

Edit: I love the idea that the sole downvote I see atm implies he/she/they prefer sex cult.

Intelligent and Sophisticated people can also be emotionally vulnerable.

Hell I’d say the prevalence is even more so among the intelligent.

Yes and no. We all go through periods in our lives when we’re emotionally vulnerable. For the barrier at the entry, it's not necessarily true. Most cults seem ordinary at first; the deeper someone gets involved, the more specialized language and rules they have to follow, and the harder it can become to recognize how much their perspective has changed.

It’s like the familiar “boiling frog” comparison: the water doesn’t become dangerously hot all at once. The changes happen gradually, so each new demand or belief can seem like only a small step from the last. By the time the situation feels alarming, the person may already be deeply invested and accustomed to conditions they would once have rejected.

This isn’t really a question of credulity at all.

I'm not all that bright, but I'm far too skeptical to get sucked in. As to status and hierarchies and obedience, aw hell no, not going to play along.

So would I get rejected right off, or are there strategies to hook people like me?

EDIT: Read some more comments and realized that, were I single, a sex cult could snatch me easily. I'll put up with quite a lot to get laid regularly.

perhaps you need to spend more time with the nature in Alaska