I think it has to do with the number of people involved. As long as something is small and stays small, it seems benign. As soon as the first generation dies, though, the impulse to keep it "in the family" so to speak, probably dies with them. Then you hvae the game of "telephone" starting, with each subsequent generation putting its own stamp on it, and if it's popular enough, the powermongers taking it over and using it as their instrument of brainwashing and control.

I'm a firm believer in never advertising one's beliefs. It might become popular, and that will be the end of it.