Jefferson Hawkins sent this article to me, written by Monia Ali on her substack exiledfan: Activist fandom and the defanging of the anti-Scientology movement
Unfortunately, it contains fancy terms — it would be more understandable if she used simple language… but it’s enlightening nevertheless. The conclusion is this (along with the second footnote from earlier in the article):
What started as a fight against Scientology has transformed into a fight against the main character of the week, diffusing the motivated indignation against the big bad into negative attachments to the people who have become fan objects.
The mission isn’t to take down Scientology anymore, it’s to keep those stats up.
…
2. At this time, the Aftermath Foundation is the only one dedicated to helping people leaving Scientology.
You can bet there will be commenters here and elsewhere that prove her point.
I know you won’t let this post go up, but stop just stop.
You all have the same enemy just different thought processes on how to fight. You are stronger as a united front than fighting each other.
Stop.
Sadly SPTV has become a a cesspool of toxicity. They are supposed to be fighting against the cult of Scientology but they have ended up forming their own cult of personality instead. I unsubscribed from those channels a few months ago when the culty behavior became painfully obvious.
Great article! It’s a shame what has become of SPTV all because one person couldn’t be professional and resign with dignity.
I watch very few of the sptv channels anymore because of the drama. The ones I do watch know who they are. Unfortunately, some have found “drama sells” and have gone that route to build their YT channels. However, YouTube may not be around forever. Tick Tock is quite possibly going to be banned in the United States.
It’s a shame they cannot understand that all of you exes are fighting the same battle – to take down Scientology.
This is a FANTASTIC article. Thanks for posting this Mike. Describes perfectly what is going on.
Almost all major organizations have website whose names end in either “.com” or “.org”. If people are driving past that billboard, I would suggest that the name of your site would be better if it ended in either “.org” or “.com”.
“.org” is usually preferable than “.com” when the site does not represent a commercial organization.
People who are familiar with this horrible cult may well remember the name of the site as ending with “.org”. But people who are not familiar with this cult may have a hard time remembering the name.
This is hardly a major criticism. I just think you’d want to make it as easy as possible for people to remember the name of your site.
Of course, it’s up to you to choose the name of your web site. This is just a minor suggestion.
Mike’s blog and The Aftermath Foundation’s website both end with .org.
I liked the article. It summarizes similar things that I’ve said to Nora regarding the topic. They are akin to sharks circling their prey after smelling blood… which is sad.
I learned a new concept today, stan/standom. Yes, they’ve gone rabid. My prescription is to ignore them entirely. They will eventually eat each other, and their movement will fizzle out just like the Anonymous push of 2008-2009. SPTV now stands for Stan Pit TV.
> It is strange to see the Discord server be pulled into the fight […..] It’s not a nefarious space.
I disagree with this assertion. I was subjected to a pile-on and false-allegations by moderators of this Discord server in November 2023. I was then stalked online by one of the SPTV moderators who found me on another Discord server and claimed I was a “Clout Chaser”.
When I wrote about this in the Scientology subreddit in February I was doxxed by someone, giving my name, where I live, my profession and false defamatory claims. This was justified by the perpetrator as I had written about being stalked by an SPTV Discord moderator.
Hi
Clearly I agree with the article, and I even think she is being generous;
There is no black white thinking, in the post, like I see it.
There is only one organization helping people wanting to get out of scio. The Aftermath Foundation.
There is only one group fighting scio, anti scientology.
I wish the sptv crew, would watch the Marc Headley video, describing the organizational structure, and paperwork, involved in the running of COS. They don’t want that narrative, because it would involve themselves, as possible abusers.
Sterling Tompkins said months ago, on his own channel that he thought the MR hate, was getting to be too much. Well this was month ago.
Personally, I watch Marc Headley, Apostate Alex, PTSForLife, and thats about it.
I really liked the article, from the other blog, and the comments are great too.
Have a fine day
Kim
Well, at least you watch PTS for Life
I actually watch ptsforlife, and his friend Gabriella, to see ordinary good people, explain things, and educate, from a low key canadian point of view. Regards Kim
I agree with you Kim. Its gotten too much and all the infighting actually turned me away from watching any of the channels, except the ones you have mentioned also. The comments on the Exiledfan blog were great until Nora and her number #1 fan ransacked them and once again, it just turned into a massive shit fight and THAT is why I will stay away from anything the majority of the 2nd gen SPTV channels have to say, its all just drama.
I have not seen this. To be honest, it,s like these horrible sptv people are policing opinions everywhere. My opinion is that new sptv needs an audit:). Kind regards Kim
I think you are right. Its gotten out of control and now I think new people that are tuning in are so confused over what is real and what is just drama. I like to stick to what I know is truth.
Sera
I too prefer a calm educational approach directed at scientology, and not survivors. Kind regards Kim
I completely agree with you Kim, The Aftermath Foundation is the only foundation that is helping people leave Scientology. I honestly feel the same way about the anti scientology youtube channels like Aarons and others. They seem to all be looking for drama and it turned me away quickly and in the end I feel like these channels wont help anything. I have only been watching Marcs and Apostate Alexs channels because they are trying to help and they are sharing important information and not causing this extreme drama. Now I am going to have to check out PTSForLife.
– Tori
If you can’t defeat the enemy, sew division in their ranks and let them fight amongst themselves instead of fighting you. Hope they become a “house divided”.
Whisper, whisper. Who is doing the work? Who is getting too much credit? You’re just as important as “that guy” why aren’t you as well liked or getting as much limelight? Whisper, whisper.
Meanwhile the REAL enemy rocks back, wipes his brow and exhales heavily.
“Whew! They had us on the ropes there for a while.”
“The mission isn’t to take down Scientology anymore, it’s to keep those stats up.”
Even if we accept the author’s appeal to motive, such black and white thinking presents a false dilemma. It’s not necessarily one or the other.
There is also an implication “the anti-scientology crowd” (her words) is a monolith and that everyone is on the exact same page. I see this often, usually when references are made to “the lgbt community,” “the black community,” “the muslim community,” etc. This is, once again, black and white thinking. There is no crowd. There are just people who happen to have something in common: in this case, a critical interest in scientology. This seems far too nuanced for the author, who lazily assigns assumed motives and agendas to a diverse mix of people.
One man’s grift may well be another man’s sincere grievance. The ARCXs of ex-members do not interest me. For others, they do. Should I think less of them for it? Should I think less of those who watch The Kardashians or The View? Or those who still think US elections actually matter in this day and age? She could have written about ethnic cleansing in Gaza, the fight for Julian Assange’s freedom, or the ever-increasing censorship and digital surveillance laws. Instead, she spent her time on this. Maybe it’s frivolous, maybe it isn’t. Who am I to judge? Just because I have other interests or attitudes doesn’t make me better or worse than the next person. Some conversations need to be had. Some conversations will be had publicly. And some people will exploit them for their own benefit. But A≠A≠A.
The novelty of ex-scn streaming will wear off eventually leaving only the most effective and influential remaining. There are only so many hours in the day to watch content, after all. In the meantime, nature will take its course.
I think the rise of the Gen Z “protest streamers” has been interesting to watch. I wonder if it’s part of a much larger issue of civil unrest currently taking hold in the West. Legacy media is dying a well-deserved death. (If anyone wants to talk about media grifters, let’s start there). Indie and citizen journos are becoming the new alternative. More and more people are taking to the streets – protesting war, censorship and various forms of tyranny. And if some can earn a few bucks from YT or TikTok at the same time, fair play to them. Beats working minimum wage in Starbucks or grinding away for years in a shitty office job, taking two short vacations a year.
The world has changed since covid. More and more people are seeking alternative lifestyles (and revenue streams). And some of those people are (understandably, imho) angry. More civil disobedience and unrest is inevitable. The Church of Scientology has the ire of some, rightfully so. But if you’re paying attention, you’ll notice an ever-increasing groundswell that goes far beyond a quack therapy cult and the sainthood of its critics.
I am confused by your comment. Reading it I have to wonder whether you actually read the entire article. The author unequivocally does not present a “false dilemma.” Her thesis is far more nuanced and detailed, and has truly nothing to do with the bulk of your comment; not Gen Z “protest streamers,” or protests against censorship or tyranny, nor “alternative lifestyles.” The point she makes is that in demonizing some creators, fans lock into the conflict, eating up space by demanding to be caught up rather than looking into back posts, even though much of what occurred happened years ago in different circumstances. She points out that the bulk of fan space energy is now directed toward feeding a feud, choosing sides and stanning favorites. The original target is only utilitzed to the extent it can coalesce a fanbase, and solidify their loyalty and participation. You really should read the article. It’s quite good.
Okay, let me rephrase. The author’s conclusion implies that one cannot forward “the mission” whilst seeking views/likes/revenue. “The mission isn’t to take down Scientology anymore, it’s to keep those stats up.” This is a fallacious proposition. There can be more than one mission.
“True social change is hard to achieve,” she writes, “when the wins are amount of videos, clicks, likes, and subscriber growth.” Again, this implies an either/or scenario – despite the fact there can be more than one type of “win.”
True social change is hard to achieve without an audience. Much of that audience today is online and glued to social media. Most activist groups and non-profits I interact with are well aware of this and track their online engagements like a hawk.
“She points out that…the original target is only utilized to the extent it can coalesce a fanbase, and solidify their loyalty and participation.” Appeal to motive. One person’s “feud feeding” may be another person’s insightful debate. Surely the veracity of content is more important than guessing the agenda of its creator?
“You really should read the article. It’s quite good.” I did. I thought it was utter tosh, crammed full of faulty generalisations and drenched in conceit. But I appreciate you think differently.
Oh my, what a great discussion! It’s been a long time since I posted here, and in that time anti-cult activism has been reborn in a new and transformed no-longer-Anonymous guise, and with all of the technological accouterments required to livestream their growing protests/audits from all over the world, en masse!
Now, when the culties spot an iPhone on a gimbal pointed at them, they scurry for cover, drop the blinds, and huddle together shivering in fright in LRH’s pristine office…turn about is more than fair play when it comes to having a little cult-exposing J&D fun, doesn’t it?
I have to agree with SMoore, the article, if you ask me, has more to do, with redirection of the fight, against scio, and not about civil rights. Yes people, can do what they want.
Kim
“More and more people are seeking alternative lifestyles (and revenue streams).”
Awesome! I hope more and more of GenZ/Millennials will do that type of work so that corporations will be forced to hire those of us in our late 40’s/50’s for middle-management positions that they keep passing us over for because they think they need to have a younger workforce. More power to them! I hope that generation will all do streaming on TT/YT/Twitch!!!
Thank goodness for a clarifying voice addressing the deranged cacophony that has become the majority of “SPTV.” More like Hate TV brought to you by people who were once fully indoctrinated in how to hate everyone who doesn’t toe their specific line. This hobby horse is SO over for me. Hopefully, the rabble will reawaken. But somehow I doubt it. This target is easier, and far, far more hurtful. Apparently, a lot of leopards never lose their spots.
Excellent article. Thank you for sharing.
Scientology in LA is using the LAPD on a daily basis to stop protests at Scientology buildings, and the LAPD are willing participants to this harassment. Protestors are being assaulted, then being arrested themselves.
Excellent read! Thank you for sharing.
“The mission isn’t to take down Scientology anymore, it’s to keep those stats up.”
The same goes for the social media platform providers on which bloggers depend. For the tech giants, stats = ad revue. And conflict is part of the equation to gin up their traffic and retain your attention. When engaged in social media technology, you’re not just a user. You’re a valuable final product.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaaC57tcci0
Chris, thank you for this link. It’s exactly what’s happening and how everything is being managed to exploit and create situations. The new generations are completely immersed in this ‘reality’.