If you need your group in order to feel worthy, loved, or sufficient, you’re probably in a cult.

Cult leaders trap members in shame cycles by imposing abnormally strict codes of conduct (usually joining the discord, thigh highs, lewding, vrfu's, anime avatars in VRChat), victim blame/guilt members for their shortcomings, and then positioning themselves as the unique remedy to the feelings of guilt which they themselves created.

Cult members are made to believe they are insufficient or unworthy on their own and that the only way to become worthy is to confess their shitposts to the group or leader. The leader then becomes the meditiator of Chan culture and the foundation of the member’s self esteem.

Leaders who can make followers feel bad about anything can use shame to manipulate followers into doing anything, even if it’s against their own self-interest or better judgment.

[spoiler]Sound familiar, /vrg/?[/spoiler]