You can see idea cults in big ways, such as politics or sports, but I often see it manifested in smaller ways like “iPhone vs Android”.
Using that as an example, I’ve always found it silly when people say things like “I will never switch to iPhone” or “I’ll never drive a Chevy”. You may end up being correct, but over the course of your lifetime there is a good chance you’re wrong — and your strong view may cause you to miss some benefits in the meantime.
For me personally, I’m a big fan of Android and I love it. However, a few years ago I went back to iPhone for a while because of a particular email app that they had. I eventually came back to Android, but who knows what the future holds. I think Android is superior in many ways, but I’ll switch to iPhone again (or some unknown device in the future) if that’s the best choice.
Adam Grant said it pretty clearly in his book Think Again:
If you find yourself saying ____ is always good or ____ is never bad, you may be a member of an idea cult.
Don’t be wishy-washy, and certainly support the products and services you love, but never fear changing your mind.
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