When I was a dub I accepted the term cult because the bible says the early christianity was labelled as a cult.
And in my mind I thought a cult was an unregistered religion or illegal. I knew in some countries they were truly illegal so I thought that was the cause of the cult status in people's mind.
And I accepted the fact the JW must be persecuted and ridiculed. The old persecution card...
But I wonder how could be my reaction if I was told about the mechanisms of thought control in my uber dub days...