Slashdot Mirror
Silicon Valley Rebirth?
broohaha writes "Using the analogy of fire clearing dead wood and making room for new life in a forest, there's a Newseek article out on the goings on in Silicon Valley these "post-bubble" days. Subjects briefly covered are Intel, Google, and Wozniak's new venture, Wheels of Zeus." It'd be difficult to be literally rebirthed from the thousands of tons of concrete that now seemingly cover the Valley, but hey, as a metaphor, it works.
Ha ha! First Post!!!! I never thought I'd do this but it's just _too much fun_....
first post, hell yeah! rock on AC!!!
No, I think Slashdot.org is dying ... just look at the number of comments to any given story compared to a year ago ...
First of all we need to agree on the terms used. Scientology is the belief or the doctrine of the Scientology "technology" or "religion", while CoS (Church of Scientology) is the organisation.
People should be free to believe whatever they want, including Scientology. What I have against CoS is its deceitfulness, its lack of compassion for its members (especially the hard-working staff), its aggressive hard sell, its arrogance, its attack on free speech, its litigiousness, its harassment of its critics, its lack of concern for families, its gross neglect and abuse of children, etc.
Hate is a destructive emotion, I strive to be constructive. My opposition to CoS is based on rational investigation of available information, not emotions. Trying to challenge people's minds by using free speech and respecting them as fellow humans is what I believe brings peace in the long run. It does not start anywhere else but with myself. But respecting and tolerating the opinions of others does not mean one either has to agree or suppress one's disagreement. The freedom to stand up and express critical opinions and views is what makes human thought evolve and is the core of what I consider my moral and ethical guidelines: The Human Rights as defined by UN.
Read the documentation I have made available on Operation Clambake and decide for yourself whether my concerns about CoS are justified or not.
"I have read enough of you vendetta web site to know there is more than just an objective view point going on, it's personal with you."
You have grossly misunderstood me and the purpose of Operation Clambake.
I do not state anywhere that I am objective. On the contrary, I am a thinking human and I have my personal opinions. I set out to do an independent investigation into Scientology, Dianetics, CoS and Hubbard, and came back with some opinions. I made a web site to inform others about my concerns. It is not unbiased or objective, and it never claimed it was. Why should it be? In the eyes of the Scientologists "unbiased", "true" and "objective" only means repeating what is already expressed on official CoS sites. Why should I use my time and effort to duplicate things I do not agree with? Being of a different opinion than you, does not mean I did a less honest search for the truth. It does not even have to mean I know less than you.
I spell it out pretty clear; these are my opinions and here is the documentation which I base them on. Welcome visitor, you read it and make up your own mind! And I go even further; I urge visitors to my site to also visit sites of people and organizations that represent views and opinions opposite to mine. I link to official CoS sites, the Freezoners (people who still believe in some of the ideas of Scientology, but who have left CoS in a type of Scientology reformation) and for example Scientology Parishioners Committee and their Dead Agent page on critics. Scientologists are even encouraged to send me their comments on the claims and documentation on Operation Clambake and I offer to host it so that visitors have even easier access to both sides. I tell visitors not to take my word for anything, but to also check out the claims from Scientologists who say I am a religious bigot, a fool, mad and a criminal.
I trust my fellow man, I do not want to trick anybody into agreeing with me by limiting their right to investigate only my version. I do not want others to base their opinions on censored or biased propaganda. This is how cults operate and it contradicts everything I stand for. I am neither afraid of lies nor of the truth. CoS might come after me and spread lies to try to discredit me, I have a lot of proof they have done this many times before, but I trust that the truth about me will win. I can only live my life as best I can, I have no chance against the black PR machinery of CoS, their millions of dollars, their horde of high paid lawyers or their unethical methods. I believe enough honest and unafraid critics will finally bring any monster to their knees. My "weapon" is free speech.
"This site exaggerates and distorts the truth about Scientology."
Many Scientologists write to me claiming this, and each of them are challenged to specify and argue their claim. Most of them never reply. Those who reply usually does so only by repeating their accusations. If I ever get a proper reply with references to where the "exaggerations" and "distortions" are, I promise to host it on my page if the author allows me.
"Who pays you to do this?"
I receive no money from anybody. I personally cover all the costs to keep Operation Clambake on the Internet.
"Are you a former Scientologist?"
No.
"How can you say it doesn't work if you haven't even tried Scientology?"
I do not have to try street drugs, do crime or drown to have the opinion that street drugs, crime and drowning is bad for you. The same goes for investigating a destructive and lying cult.
And I never claimed Scientologists do not believe that Scientology works for them. I just have alternative explanations to why they believe this and what the true motives are for the creator and current management of CoS.
The fact that I personally have not been a member of any cult does not deprive me of the ability to form or right to express opinions about cults. Neither does it reduce my ability to investigate and recognize pure con-games. I am capable of reading and communicating, and probably most important of all, able to learn from the mistakes of others. I am honest about my background and clearly explain what is the basis of my opinions. It is up to you how credible or trustworthy you find the opinions and claims of others. Usually we base this on the logic of their arguments, the proof they offer, their assumed motives, openess about opposite views and their background. The same applies here.
Scientology is a "technonlogy" trademarked and copyprotected by CoS and its affiliated entities. According to CoS Scientology can only be practiced properly inside CoS, anything else is false "tech". The only way to test Scientology is to join CoS and spend a fortune on extremely expensive courses that will take many years to finish. If this was a valid argument against the right to form any opinion about anything, we would not be able to have many opinions. This argument would of course apply to CoS and all Scientologists too, which it obviously does not since they frequently express their opinion about a lot of issues they have not personally experienced or spent many years testing out (other religions and psychiatry are two good examples).
The core of the criticism collected on Operation Clambake is anyway based on personal experience reported by many former Scientologists, actual CoS documents and the available research of the claims made by Dianetics, Scientology and CoS. When that is countered with "They didn't apply Scientology correctly" then it is obvious, at least to me, who has flaws in their logic.
"What kind of guy is the author of Operation Clambake?"
I got a personal home page where you find a lot of personal information about me and my background.
"Can I use material on Operation Clambake for my own projects?"
Everything made by me is donated to the public domain and can be freely copied and mirrored. But please use common courtesy and give proper credits where credits are due. Some of the information I offer may have been made by others and special conditions might apply to it. When this is the case, it is specified on those pages.
"How can I help/join/donate?"
You find a list of suggestions on the How to support the fight against Scientology page.
"Where do I get the latest news?"
News related to Operation Clambake is available on the Latest News page, while the best source for general news related to the Scientology controversy is available on the newsgroup alt.religion.scientology. A weekly summary of the newsgroup is available at ARS Week In Review. The page also describes how to subscribe to the weekly review.
"I tried to read the newsgroup alt.religion.scientology, but it was full of weird posts making no sense. Do you know what this is?"
Somebody is clogging up the ARS newsgroup with sporgeries (fake computer generated posts using the names of real persons). CoS has tried for years to sabotage free speech on this newsgroup because most of the people posting there are critics. CoS is the primary suspect for the sporgeries. Many people around the world are working day and night to cancel the sporgeries and finding out who makes them. More information on the sporgery attacks is available in this ZD Net article.
It has been revealed by former Scientologists that CoS also create fake Internet accounts to post to ARS attempting to distract the debate, creating mistrust and suspicion among the critics and infiltrate. Periodically there are also cancel attacks on the group but these are monitored and critics are automatically reposting everything cancelled in these attacks.
If you visit ARS I suggest you lurk it for some time before posting. Because of all the confusion created by the cult it can at times be a noisy place. Do not allow the cultists there to push you buttons, stay calm and be friendly. The cult will try to make you angry so that you react in a way you might regret. This is to show other Scientologists that critics of CoS are bad people out of control.
Remember what you are fighting so you do not end up acting like them.
"Where can I get a copy of the "Scientology secrets"?"
Many of the "secrets" are available from the Secret Library at Operation Clambake. There you will also find instructions on how to order a legal hardcopy from the parliament in Sweden and where you find legal copies on the 'Net. The two most famous parts are the OT Levels and NOTs and there is a special page on how get hold of copies.
"I'm doing a research about Scientology for school/the press, can you help me?"
I will do my best to assist you in finding the information you are seeking or help you get in touch with people that might help you further. But since I get a lot of these requests I must, because of time pressure, urge you to first spend some time reading through Operation Clambake since most of the information you probably seek is already easily available here.
If you can verify that you are a journalist or doing a serious research into CoS I also have access to a lot of information that is not easily available (or have contacts that have them) and might very well be able to help you getting hold of them if you can specify what you are looking for. But first you need to study the information already made available.
"What is all this talk about clams, and why is the site called Operation Clambake?"
The short version of this is that the creator of Dianetics and Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard, claimed humans evolved from clams in his book "A History of Man". Since the claim itself and the "proof" Hubbard provided is utterly silly, it serves as a good example of the general validity of his teachings. CoS has copy protected the word "Scientologist" and claim a Scientologist is anybody who (since 1950) ever bought a Scientology book or a course. "Clam" is also slang for money, referencing in this context the high cost for Scientology. "Clam" is therefore used by many critics as an alternative or better term to identify an actual follower of Hubbard and Scientology teachings today.
A clambake is originally an outdoor party; especially a seashore outing where food is usually cooked on heated rocks covered by seaweed. It can also mean a gathering characterized by noisy sociability. "Operation" derails from the many criminal operations run by CoS, like Operation Freak Out, Operation Snow White, etc.
A more thorough explanation of the term clam and why the site is called Operation Clambake is available on the Clam FAQ.
"When reading about this cult I see a lot of words and terms I do not understand, is there a dictionary available?"
Check out Martin Hunt's Scientology Acronym/Terminology FAQ.
"A friend/family member has joined Scientology, I'm worried and don't know what to do! Please help."
Look at CIC's page for advice on what you should, and should not, do. I also recommend reading the book "Releasing The Bonds: Empowering People To Think For Themselves" by Steve Hassan. Do this before you do anything!
There are also several support groups that might help. Let me know where you live and I will try to help you find one close to you. Do not contact the Cult Awareness Network (CAN)! CAN is now operated by the Cult of Scientology.
"I want to tell my story from inside the cult, but I am too afraid to post it using my real name. What should I do?"
If you send it to me I can forward it to the newsgroup alt.religion.scientology for you. On your request I will keep your name and your e-mail address confidential (I encrypt every e-mail I receive). If the story is very important and brings new valuable information I might also offer to host it on Operation Clambake.
"How can I protect my identity from the cult?"
Check out the page How to post and e-mail anonymousely.
"Is CoS a cult or a religion?"
There are many types of cults. Some are religious cults and others are not, the first term does not rule out the other. Every cult can be defined as a group having all of the following five characteristics:
It uses psychological coercion to recruit, indoctrinate and retain its members
It forms an elitist totalitarian society
Its founder/leader is self-appointed, dogmatic, messianic, not accountable and has charisma
It believes 'the end justifies the means' in order to solicit funds and recruit people
Its wealth does not benefit its members or society
This definition is taken from the CIC homepage and it is my opinion that CoS fits this definition of a cult. Many critics and former members of CoS also describe CoS as a bait and switch racket or the mafia of religion.
"May I ask your opinion on Juliet Lewis, Nancy Cartwright, John Travolta, Tom Cruise, Chick Corea, Giovanni Ravisi, and Pat Rena? All successful Scientologists."
All depends on what you put in "successful". CoS has always given special attention to celebrities because of their enormous marketing value. For this they have Celebrity Centers where celebrities get special attention, and where potential rising stars are recruited into the cult. Are these people personally more successful in life than ordinary people? I guess that depends on what you treasure in life and how you measure success.
There is no doubt that Scientology has techniques that attract some people, with their method of psychotherapy and group thinking. Most Scientologists know little about the dark sides of CoS. This especially applies the celebrities who only see the glamorized side of CoS. In the case of the names mentioned I will try to avoid speculations about their personal reasons to stay in CoS, one can only assume they believe what they profess. But having a talent in an art or being successful in a craft does not imply they have to be smart. Things like talents, good looks and circumstances play an important role. Especially in Hollywood. I do not believe Scientology celebrities are happier or personally more successful than most ordinary people, even though some of them might have gotten some level of publicly successful careers. To me it seems like they struggle with the same problems as everybody else.
Celebrities are under a great deal of stress, and often have a good deal of money to hand. Scientology may be to them what gangs are to poor inner-city youths - a way to find someone that cares about them. The expensive courses don't hurt them much, and Hubbard even said that celebrities should not be charged, only asked to donate what they wanted to donate. They might sample it just for the heck of it, and stay in. After all, they can easily afford to do so. There has also been speculations about the tax benefits for celebrities to stay as members of CoS, implying there might also be an economical side of this, in addition to the cult having huge files on the them with all their most personal confessions from auditing sessions. CoS has a history of using these files against defectors to either force them back or into silence.
I personally do not know any of the CoS celebrities, but I do know a lot of people who got their life ruined by CoS. One ruined life is not justified by another saved. Operation Clambake is in honor of these victims, and my attempt to prevent new ones.
Wozniak will create "another offering as ubiquitous and useful as the personal computer," said Tim Draper
B: Are you pondering what I'm pondering Pinky?
P: I think so Brain, but hasn't the salad shooter already been invented?
I am not interested in articles about life extension advancements.
I think the word you're looking for is reborn, not "rebirthed".
-- If no truths are spoken then no lies can hide --
Rebirth? Silicon Alley is covered in rebirth? Oh crap, I'm sorry, I'm thinking of Afterbirth. eek.
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Maybe there is something to Engels's dialectic after all (thesis, antithesis, synthesis).