About The AYC Archive Project
  • What is The Attic Youth Center?
  • The Attic was intended to be a “safe haven” for LGBT youth in Philadelphia. Yet at the time of writing this, it has cultivated an unsafe and cult-like environment. At first, I was neutral and felt okay about the Attic. In fact, as I found my peers disliking the place more and more, I probably remained the most optimistic person there regarding how I felt there.
  • Why make this?
  • I am planning to keep everyone's identity anonymous from the public. Although to be frank, I am not completely confident I can remain anonymous for long. Especially since, if the staff at the Attic ever find this website, they’ll likely be able to tell who I am. I just hope people (including the Attic) can respect my anonymity since I want to be able to move on after creating this.
  • If anyone for any reason needs a name to refer to me as, just call me Andy. I stole that name from a classmate I knew in my 2nd school (middle school).
  • I don’t really want to keep on dwelling and I am working in therapy to recover and heal from the damage that’s been done. It’s been hard for me to escape and completely cut every single tie and connection I had to that place. And now, I've finally free of that place.
  • I hope people are willing to listen to our stories. And if this reaches anyone who may be feeling similarly or in a tough situation, I hope this can be helpful in any way. I hope this website helps, whether it’s providing more awareness, preventing people from getting hurt by cult-like environments, or helping to remind people that it’s possible to leave unhealthy environments.
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What is a cult?

This is for those that may not be all that knowledgeable on cults.

I assume most who are reading this are at least somewhat familiar with cults. However, if by any chance, you aren’t all that knowledgeable about cults, I will be sharing how I would characterize a cult.

While many don’t necessarily need to read this section, I do feel like it would be helpful to attempt to try to understand what cults are and how high control abusive groups are like.

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While a cult is hard to define or identify as there’s no clear-cut definition or criteria, we can still recognize one by certain common characteristics.

In this section is a list of the common characteristics cults tend to share and some misconceptions. The list of characteristics is limited but I tried to include the most prominent characteristics of cults.

Misconceptions

  • Not all cults are religious however a large number of them are religious. Likewise, not all religions are cults. Cults can be based politically, therapy based, self help focused, etc.
  • Cults are not actually uncommon. They can be everywhere from your local church or my local youth center.
  • People don’t get into them on purpose or because they’re bored. Most people may get into them by accident or through a person they know and trust.
  • Stupid or crazy people aren’t the most vulnerable to cults. Anyone can get into a cult, no matter how smart you are or how sane you are.
  • Not all cults have secret ceremonies/rituals/practices. Although some can definitely have rituals, ceremonies, etc. It doesn’t define what is a cult. Many cults are based on a belief system.
Characteristics:
  • Us vs Them mentality
  • Always trying to recruit new members
  • Love bombing: A technique and term originating in the context of cults. It is now used to also describe relationships but can be generally used to describe overly friendly people who try to overwhelm you with a lot of affection.
  • Isolating cult members from family, friends, or others who are non-members.
  • They mainly try to recruit the vulnerable and weak or those at their low point who seek a sense of community or meaning in their life.
  • Thought-terminating cliches: not allowing for questions or critiques towards the cult or phases used to end uncomfortable conversations confronting or talking about the cult (examples: “It is what it is” or “No sense makes sense”)
  • Not allowing members to leave or not letting them leave easily. Member’s attempts to leave may be reacted with shame, trying to place guilt, stalking, persistent pressure, etc.
  • Cult often but not always features a charismatic leader. The cult members are not allowed or discouraged to question or doubt this leader and their beliefs/ideology.
  • Usually cults can include sexual, financial, emotional, or physical abuse.
#general

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