If you ever wanted a visual encapsulation of the Vulture Culture, this “Ideal Org” promotion says it all.
There is no pretense here. “Get Prosperous” = “Bridge Ascent.”
The “old” line in Scientology used to be “Get Trained” and now it’s “Get Prosperous” and we are going to teach you how to do that by “Upping Your Ask” to increase your “Closing Skills”….
This is Sciendollargy in full living color.
What is most curious to me is whether anyone would be masochistic enough to show up to an event with a Freewinds Reg who promotes himself as the master of “closing” and getting more money. The drill, drill, drill goes on until you bring out your credit card and pay up.
Here is the full promo piece in all its crassness.
This is REALLY a “church” — sure looks and acts like one of those sleazeball “We Will Teach You How To Make Money Quick” schemes. I would be willing to bet that not a SINGLE one of the following calls themselves a “church” or has tax exempt status. Is there a difference?
Jgg says
You can give your money to Davey. Or you can turn the page.
Old Surfer Dude says
Mike, do you have copies of the release forms one must sign now to become a member of scientology? I know the “Lisa Clause” is 5 pages long. Do they still insist you write down every person you had sex with as well as specific sex acts? Let me know.
Jane Doe says
Old Surfer dude, Yes the form is many pages, but they don’t give you a copy. You have to initial almost every paragraph as well as sign it and yes there is the Lisa McPherson part and also that you wont’ get your money back unless you are in good standing and do it their way through their channels. The catch 22 is that once you ask for money back, they label you as “not in good standing” or as “an SP” and then by their rules and definitions, you can’t get your money back, even if you were in good standing when you asked! And no, the form doesn’t ask about sex partners or sex acts. That form is when you join the SO and you have to write down your Life History, part of which is all the sexual stuff. I’m told by veteran SO members who are now out, that one of the reasons they ask for all your relatives and name, phone number, where they live, as well as close friends, same thing, is so that if you blow the SO, they’ll know where to go to start looking for you to bring you back, i.e., to your close friends and family. Big Brother is Watching You Big Time.
Old Surfer Dude says
Thanks, Jane! So you don’t even get a copy, huh? I guess if they did, and once people started to show them around, it would one of hell of a PR flap. Everyone should read, or re-read 1984. As Jane posted, Big Brother is Watching You Big Time. This is true. Scary.
Roger From Switzerland Thought says
Double team with MAA and MLO !
How funny ! No, how sad !
So everybody there is a salesman !
Conan says
UP YOUR ASS!!
What it actually means is that every Scientologist should strive to flourish and prosper, so we the Church of Vampires can rape you financially, spiritually and otherwise.
It is a win-win situation!!!
DollarMorgue says
Go on… pick up the soap. What are you waiting for?
Jose Chung says
True story,
I’m being double teamed by MAA and MLO at the Sandcastle for $300,000.
In explain I’ll have to earn it. That involves a short trip and some work
and what is decided is that the MLO’s brother goes along with me.,
I agree and he is a ride along on the trip explaining how his ORG of 3 guys ( all ex sea org)
with a PO Box and one room apt. They are selling basic LRH tech that has all of LRH’s coined words
deleted ! ******* I shit you not******* So as I get started this guy decides its going to take to long and wants to go home. So I take him home. All the way he is nattering how bad and corrupt I am, I don’t fight or argue with him. Three weeks after I get a phone message “Where’s my $300,000?” (HAHAHAHAHA)
So Flag is setting me up to bankroll corrupted tech that will rip people off. UUUUH NO THANKS !
They did get the $300,000 from Rex Fowler who absconded it from his own company and then murdered his CFO and attempted suicide. Rex is doing life in prison and I resigned from the C of $.
I tried to diagram this scene out and no matter what I did I was declared an S.P. or DEAD.
******I shit you not**** So after I resigned and severed all ties with any and all C of $
I am doing simply marvelous, better than ever . No more Sandcastle or bullshit begging for money to destroy other people.
Penny Krieger says
What a story Jose. Good job on leaving!
Jane Doe says
Jose, Wow, truth is stranger than fiction they say, and you’re proof of it. Thank goodness your wise choices have left you not only very much alive, but now away from the cult and flourishing. Way to go!
Jose Chung says
Thank you Jane,
Close your eyes and be grateful for all the GOOD THINGS
in your life as often as possible. ( like gung fu training)
Get a copy of” IT WORKS” by RHJ from Amazon.com
dirt cheap ,check it out gal.
Jane Doe says
Thanks Jose. What is “It Works” book about?
Hallie Jane says
Brilliant Jose. There are those “close moments” where, if we had chosen one direction, life would be very different. I feel very sorry for Rex who went insane under the pressure. He probably just wanted some case gain, originally. I’m so glad you got out and are doing well. Smart!
Rine says
I think it very fitting to eliminate the final “k” and substitute with an “s”
SadStateOfAffairs says
Probably the most chilling example I can think of concerning the conversion of Scientology, by Miscavige, from a group offering religious services to help its members to a group solely interested in sucking every penny out of its membership, with no concern or care for anything but the money is the now-famous “will that be cash, check or credit card.” The theory of this, as presented to the staff who were converted into swarms of beggars without rival, was that at events Miscavige did the selling of whatever “product” was to be sold after that event, from the stage, and he did it so well that of course all attendees would buy the new release without question, so all the staff, who in his mind were pretty worthless and had no real skills, did not have to do any selling at all, just hold up the release and ask for the form of payment. I remember the first time this was ever implemented at an event I attended. Staff formed lines on either side of the exit route from the event hall for the public, literally hundreds of staff, all holding up a copy of the release and chanting, “cash, check or credit card,” to a lesser number of public who looked like deer caught in the headlights. The staff then wandered the event hall for hours going up to any public stupid or unlucky enough to stay in the hall, repeatedly chanting the “form of payment:” chant. Nothing to do with caring for the public, nothing to do with getting people up the Bridge, the only purpose of it was so that Miscavige could brag that his incredible selling job from the stage brought in more than enough money to pay for the initial production of the new release. Oh and I seem to remember DM bragging at some closed door briefing how he could sell his products without ever having to bring up the money or form of payment. Of course not, he turned every single staff member into his mouthpiece to do just that and only that.
Mike Rinder says
100% accurate account saw this and heard the Miscavige complaints about staff too often to want to recall and his boasts about his brilliance at selling anything he talked about more often than that.
DollarMorgue says
Well, it’s a good thing he is so self-confident. Perhaps there is something to the movie cliché, where the bad guy’s downfall ultimately is always, always him bragging about his own brilliance 😉
Formost says
“Asking” still amounts up to high-pressure crush sales, just a more polite Ad header phrase for something still as ugly as it ever was.
PalladiumSurfer says
No Gavin. Up yours.
Scott Campbell says
I can’t help but think that this gleeful “Up Your Ask”/Drill, Drill, Drill!” campaign is nothing more than a reflection of the overtly offensive money-motivated culture that David Miscavige has created in the Church of Scientology.
Think about the subliminal message that is being promoted here. Not only are we going to give it to you “Up Your Ask”, we are going to “Drill, Drill, Drill” you (up your ask) till the well runs dry – and then we’ll pump you full of some more bullshit (think hydraulic fracking) till you produce some more “Energy” for us.
The boldly callous nature of this “Training Session” is, I believe, an accurate indicator of the regard that David Miscavige has for his public and indeed, Mankind itself.
indie8million says
Very good point, Scott; especially after hearing about how DM is so fixated on inverted sex. What does he do? He likes to call people “cock suckers” and “fags” and on and on with all of this homophobic stuff. Of course the insinuation would be “Up yours” and “drill, drill, drill”.
The Illuminati and global leaders do the same things. They play the dirtiest jokes on the population and then make inside jokes, just to prove how stupid the people are if they didn’t get them. Then, when the world finds out what they were doing, they would say, ‘What do you mean, we warned you!”
Totally 1.1 with malice aforethought.
Jane Doe says
At the very least it is “joking and degrading” and at worst, it is a metaphor for what he is doing to his staff and public literally.
Scott Campbell says
Right on both counts!
Jane Doe says
+1 Scott
Hallie Jane says
Ouch!!
Scott Campbell says
Ha!
Cooper Kessel says
Scott,
I think that pretty well sums it up! Don’t hold back next time 🙂
Scott Campbell says
Believe it or not I’m almost desensitized to this kind of shit from Miscavige – and that’s not a good thing. He counts on people losing their perspective on what an outrage this type of abuse is.
Jane Doe says
You bring up a good point Scott. Davie does count on people becoming desensitized to his outrageous overts and hutzpah. And in the SO they do become desensitized to it and join him in his valence as a survival mechanism. It reminds me of what they did in the armed forces. They would have the soldiers in training play video games where they killed the opponent, or maimed and there was bloodshed, body parts flying, death, destruction etc. And they found that playing those games enough did desensitize the soldiers so that they were able to go out and kill the enemy without any problem. So somehow we have to fight against becoming desensitized to it all and keep bringing others out of the church as much as possible.
Scott Campbell says
indie8million,
“Totally 1.1 with malice aforethought.” – Well said.
non-scientologist says
Over a Billion, sorry.
Cristian Landivar says
yeah..but I think is great post because more and more are open their eyes about this…I got two new OTs from south america now contact me regarding this…so more and more people are getting out of the church because is too much money..motivation…everything is about money…IAS events, Freewinds events, Flag events, Super Powers events, all about money…is not one events that is not money talk……more in more people will open their eyes
Cat daddy says
Remains to be seen, DM is a big spender and it appears he is almost in some kind of panic mode violently “generating”cash
non-scientologist says
I am curious.
If the CO$ has over a million in reserves,
How much are they burning through a year?
How much are they raising?
When do they start taking in less then they are spending?
Penny Krieger says
We should ask the prosperous Mr. Gavin Potter exactly how much child support he pays his first and second wives, both of which are former SO members. With his incredible financial expertise we can learn so much! Having know him for many years, when I left the church 3 years ago at one point I gave him a call. It was after I had done months of reading online and had found out all the horrors of the RPF, the enforced abortions, the violence, the out tech and all this type of stuff. Suffice it to say, I tried to come forward in the conversation with some info on a gradient, as I’d known him for almost 30 years but he cut my comm, went into rage on the tone scale and told me I was his enemy. If I can recall, I believe he hung on me! It was pretty upsetting, but I’m over it. If he want to sink in quicksand, it’s his choice.
DollarMorgue says
Realise that with that kind of conversation you are putting him in very real and immediate danger, especially if he was stuck on the Freewinds.
I question the wisdom of talking to SO members directly. While there are one or two I care about, I think all I will achieve is to harden ridges and get myself made an outcast.
No, I think the sea gently lapping at Davie’s sandcastle is what will do it. One by one, parishioners will leave or quietly fade into the background until hundreds are going and nobody is afraid any more.
It’s like wearing something bright and flashy. Where I live, a couple years ago clothes were all grey in grey and it felt strange to wear colours. Now it feels strange not to wear colours because just about everyone is. Once critical mass has been achieved, people will have lost any fear and find it easy to leave.
Plus, I am hoping certain individuals from the SQB team will be asked to appear in court (have not been asked so far).
Ronn says
Whatever happened to the 2 Rules for Happy Living ?
Answer, in one ear and out the other.
Ronn says
As I remember it, Hard Sell had to do with getting a person through their reactive “reasonable” considerations and stops about moving up the Bridge, at least that was how I applied it.
That, along with the 2 Rules were pretty much by the by not long after the introduction of the IAS.
I entertained Gavin and Alexander in my home on a few occasions in Alaska, fed them, paid up and went to the Ship. I’ve watched over the years as they have turned into more and more the deeply psychotic flying monkey elite, after all, they are regges for the top org on the planet. When I last saw them standing outside AO, probably 7 or 8 years ago, they barely acknowledged me – must have been Weds night.
Hallie Jane says
That’s old Ronn….it’s not golden.
DollarMorgue says
Unfortunately, the 1st rule is Be able to experience anything, and that is frequently used against you. The second is don’t do unto others… but that, too, is used against you.
1) Ideally you should be able to experience anything, right? (so you should be able to say yes to crush regging)
2) Only give other people experiencdes they can have (or some such) (=do you really want to let the world down?)
The chains of mind control need to be struck off, one by one. The first blow is pain, dealt by the church itself. The second is courage, dealt by the person themselves (courage to look). The third is dealt by Mike and others providing information to show which chains still remain. One by one they come off.
Cat daddy says
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Rule
It gets a mention on Wiki if you read a bit down.
indie8million says
Mike – Statpush made my point exactly. I was going to say to you that I believe that this “explosion” in teaching people how to close is coming from influence by Grant Cardone.
Remember Grant Cardone? The one who wrote to an old-timer disseminator who was responsible for getting many, many celebrities into Scientology – Jenna Elfman is fresh in my mind as well as others. Grant not only wrote Milton Katsalas about how “Off-Purpose” he was because he wasn’t in the org all the time on course, etc., but wrote hundreds of Scientologists in a whispering campaign to destroy Milton’s reputation and livelyhood.
Tony Ortega’s headline read: “Milton Katselas Pleads With Scientology After Grant Cardone’s Attack: A Church Jihad?” Tony went on to report, “The 73-year-old man asks the church to withdraw Cardone’s vicious Knowledge Report. A year later, he was dead.”
So here is this guy who, seemingly at the little man’s request, started a whispering campaign against Milton and then wrote a hate mail to the man who had done more for expanding Scientology than Grant will ever do in his lifetime.
And this is who Gavin is all buddy buddy with to help, “Make Scientologists more Prosperous”.
I love Gavin. Known him since he was a kid.
Too bad he’s looking up to the new bully on the block.
indie8million says
Forgot to put the link to Tony Ortega’s article on Grant Cardone. http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/06/milton_katselas.php
Joe Pendleton says
These type of slogans (up your ask) are ALWAYS the first step in mind control/attitude “conditioning.” Once the seeds are sown for making it OK and actually moral/survival for “upping the ask”, the sheeple then have begun to give their agreement to SCIENTOLOGY personnel to up THEIR ask. Y’all follow? Like when LRH started to talk about how moral and necessary it was to have “hard sell” and then of course …. the prices started to go up monthly, and how could you protest? Ron had just said this was a righteous act, showed that you cared. Then LRH came out JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME as the prices REALLY soared with “pts to the middle class.” So, now, after the sheeple agreed to THAT concept, they were asked for MORE money, but now could not claim they needed it for their house payments or college funds as LRH had JUST said specifically that THOSE things were worthless.
Currently it’s the same Scientology playbook as used in the 60s – 80s … only “on steroids.” Why? BECAUSE IT WORKS. People who are in thrall to religious fanaticism will give everything they have for salvation and their religious masters become rich, rich, rich. The money angle in Scientology has always been a sort of racket. Money rolled in, Ron became rich and staff got paid virtually nothing (it was reported that LRH left the CST about a half billion bucks in his will).
As I have said before on these blogs ….. as long as the customers keep coming in and buying, the store will stay open. Human stupidity has never known any bounds when it comes to religion controlling them (as George Carlin says in one of his famous routines on God …. he goes on about how completely powerful God is …. but … he always needs MONEY!!!!!).
Joe Pendleton says
And … of course ….. the church of scientology is probably the only religion ever invented that …. get this …. PAYS COMMISSIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pimping for the church is a freaking SALES JOB!!!! Sometime in the mid 70s or so, right after Big League Sales came in, the practice of “co-FSMing” was ended (you be my fsm and I’ll be yours, so we each get 10% rebates basically), which of course gave rise to the true “professional” or “mega” fsm – the guy who did it full time FOR MONEY. Then IAS donos were put on commission, ideal org donos I think get a freaking FIFTEEN PERCENT commissions …. and so a whole class of scientologists just crush others for money to make their OWN sweet living! How the bulk of scientologists have been driven down into such a state of moronic stupidity as to keep giving in to this scam for decades is of course a subject in itself. But, be assured, they will keep giving until they are completely in hock. They are too low on the tone scale and the responsibility scale and too subject to mind control to do anything else. The percentage of beings who are too strong as beings to agree to complete mind control of course do eventually leave the CoS. And the weak ones stay and pay, thus the practice of course continues to bleed the weak sheep who have fallen by the road. The rest stay and “drill, drill, drill” – Scientology is kind of like the dentistry of religions.
*oh, and doesn’t one go ACROSS a bridge? (as opposed to ascending it? just sayin’)
Hallie Jane says
Right Joe. I have been thinking for awhile, that there must be commissions driving some of this. It’s odd to assume that everyone was sales driven in their careers. What about the teachers and nurses, who are they supposed to close? (Mike mentioned this earlier) I think they are developing a sales force of fundraiser reges to just “get money”, and now a large number of people are making a nice living off squeezing their fellow RCSers out of their money With all the money in reserves, I can’t imagine the point of all this. There appears to be an intention, to not just dismantle Scn, but to ruin the lives of participants. I say again, it couldn’t have been planned better.
DollarMorgue says
I think they basically use these seminars to get public acquainted with, and to agree to, their sales techniques. Next time one such public is hit up for money with that technique, they’ve already agreed to it. Sadly, they were only shown one side (how to agree) and are defenseless unless they simply walk out.
sets guy says
Correct.
The Oracle says
Sounds like someone tried to clean up the phrase, “Up your ass”.
gretchen dewire says
I am with Aqua, I am embarrased that I ever had anything to do with Scientology.
Carcha says
I’m not. I try not to let others’ opinions and misinformation influence my appraisal of what I see.
Cooper Kessel says
Me three Gretchen. That is why I now am not a Scientologist. I do let others know that I once considered myself to be a member of that group which has turned into a cult.
I do apply Scientology philosophy in my life where it can bring about a beneficial result.
Aquamarine says
I will always apply what I know works in Scientology to my life and dynamics. In my heart I am, have always been and will always be a Scientologist. The distinction between the RCS and Scientology the subject has long been clear to me. What I’m working thru now – and Mike, along with all of you who post here, are helping me do so – what I’m personally working thru now is the possible issue of being KNOWN as a Scientologist. Its purely a PR matter for me. It isn’t something I would want to tell people now. But what I’m working toward is to be able to freely communicate this when appropriate, to calmly hold my position in space while effectively communicating the truth of the distinction between the cult and the Scientology philosophy which the cult doesn’t even practice anymore! Its a PR matter for me, purely.
Aquamarine says
In my business, with my employees, co-workers, customers, friends, family and in relationships, I practice Scientology. It works, it is effective, people like it! They just don’t know (most of them) that I’m doing Scientology!
I used to sell Dianetics books when I was in. We would be set up at the tables doing stress tests, and people would walk by. Many would slit their eyes at us and then look away, keep walking. I could see the wall they put up around themselves. .I used to wonder at this hate flow toward us, toward Dianetics and Scientology, these helpful, life-changing technologies – why this hate? Well, I found out why. I found out what they’re reading. Who wouldn’t hate what these people think Scientology is? But that said, what’s important is that I myself know the truth, can confront it, can work with it, can live with it, can communicate it. Writing this out really helps!
Ronnie Bell says
Unbelievable. “Asking” is now redefined as closing a sale, which is actually the mechanical function of two people agreeing on their mutual commitment to exchange things of value with each other for their mutual benefit.
No, “asking” is begging for something of value, with no intended exchange of something of equal value in return. It’s the modus operandi of the CofS today. Now they’re exporting their vulture tech to their parishioners. Disgusting.
Stephanie says
Good ole “Grabbin Potter” surely can sell his “how to manipulate” seminars.
He has never run a business and has no idea how to manage money – he never had any!!
Just the Co$$$ recycling the tek so they can get some people in a room and fleece them for more $$! DESPERATE TIMES CALL FOR DESPERATE MEASURES!
Chris Mann says
This seems like a joke, but apparently it is not, unless you have a very dry sense of humor.
Or, well I guess it can still be a joke even if it’s true. Would that be “irony”? Many subtle variations of humor we have in America. The land of “making money” and getting rich quick.
Aquamarine says
As I read this promo piece my stomach literally gave a lurch. I am disgusted, furious, embarrassed and ashamed to have been associated with this group. I regret any time I have ever revealed to someone that I was a Scientologist. I swear to God I never thought I’d say such a thing, and in my heart I am apologizing to L. Ron Hubbard for saying it although I know he would understand and not blame me. I wish we could just call LRH’s tech something else so that there is no link up between Scientology and Sciendollary.
Chris Mann says
Yeah, this is disgusting. It’s so far from anything spiritual or “Theta” that I can’t imagine how anyone would get anything resembling “case-gain” in this organization.
Carcha says
That’s the goal of an SP, what you just described. Making people feel as you do, is an SP’s achievement. I know what you mean, but reading your post I realized the outpoint is dispensing with the name “Scientology” when the correct target is Miscavige and his cronies. The correct action is reestablishing Scientology for what it is, the study of knowledge, the study of understanding, and the attainment, hopefully, of spiritual advancement to be better beings, and do things that are praiseworthy and admirable. Scientology no longer belongs to the church. I’m not a communist or socialist by any stretch of the imagination, but Scientology belongs only to the people who understand – “understanding” is an awfully, awfully big word, with many implications of compassion, but also of being able to see clearly a situation which is eminently unpleasant, and formulate a correct and workable solution to it..
Aquamarine says
Carcha, I agree with you 100% in theory, but I’m afraid that helping people to make a distinction between Scientology the subject, the applied philosophy which helped you and me and many others so wonderfully, and Scientology the organization i.e. the vicious, low class, greedy, ruthless cult – well, I’m afraid that the link up to the latter is so prevalent and strong that the word “Scientology” itself will stop most people from reaching for the true tech. I am sad because of what I perceive as this strong link-up, this A=A between Scn the subject and Scn. DM’s Cult. But then, the upside is that this link will keep people away from the RCS. Thank God for that, at least. I suppose the RCS has to crumble first, and then we can “Work on What Has Been Spoiled”, (which is the name of Hexagram 18 of the I Ching).Somehow we have to live our lives so that the real truth of what the tech can do communicates.
Aquamarine says
To further clarify, what comes to mind is that line from Shakespeare, “What’s in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet”. The sweet-smelling rose, in my mind, represents the true LRH tech which, applied correctly and with high ARC, really helps people. I personally would not care if it were called something else if renaming it meant that people could have it. But that said, this is an expediency only, and if there’s another, better solution, I would be all for it.
Carcha says
Aquamarine, I understand what you are saying, but I will continue to distinguish between Scientology and the church of. I have grown tired of lying, making excuses, pretending.
Hallie Jane says
Breathe Aquamarine. This ISN’T Scientology. This is crass, off purpose, base, low life, money grubbing bullshit!! You are so correct (sane and good) to be so offended!
Aquamarine says
Carcha, I got it, and you’re right. The truth is what it is, that’s all. Confront it, state it, work with it, live with it.
Hallie Jane – Bullseye! Truth, comfort and validation in a few pithy sentences – thank you!
Well, I’m keyed out now, so thank you both!!
Roger From Switzerland Thought says
This attitude was already prevalent in 1982. It all started when the price increase started in 1978. Scientologists got fixed on money and how to make a quick buck !
In 1982 I was as the dissem Sec newly on post, after I did OT3. I doubled from the start on the range of the GI and had a six week affluence trend and we all had very nice salaries.
A SO mission came into the Org and it seems that one of the Order was to get rid of my person. Management never loved me as I used to produce high stats, but at the same time being critical of no real expansion and that something has to be done about it and I was proposing LRH policies as solutions. Allready in those times this wasn’t a good idea !
So the SO mission asked about my hatting of how I do sales. I meant it wasn’t a big problem, mainly what I did was
1. Get in comm with the Propect by using high ARC
2. when you’re sure that you’re in comm and the prospect trusts you fully find out what what his purposes and needs are and then present him the bridge as the solution to it.
I had 100% closes and it was very easy and fun. So the mission wanted to know the references I’m operating on; I answered with the Arc triangle and some hcobs about 2 way comm !
They were schocked that I didn’t know BLS and meant that I was squirreling on my post !
So, I was put off post because of applying the Arc triangle in sales instead of BLS. 10 days later after the GI crahed they put me back on post for some days until they had a remote reg to take over, he cashed in heavy commisions on any sales and just was promising everything to the pcs as for example a PC that wanted to start a business to make big bucks to go up the bridge, he sold him Money Intensives ! The pc was financially totally ruined afterwards and finally died of cancer or a pc that had troubles with his 2d , he sold him 2D intensives and it will handle everything, some weeks later his wife divorced him and I never saw this pc agan !
This was in 1982 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Right now they just sell Hot Air. It’s a big difference !
what I learned since being out of Scientology and running my own business is that one doesn’t need any closing tech or sales tech or whatever wonders they are proposing.
In the business world if you produce a product that is needed and wanted and you do it well the happy customers will promote you. Its so easy. On this planets there are propably some 100ds millions of successful people in business and they don’t need cheap closing tech. This is just for the fools and idiots that want make fast money and sell a products with no real worth where they get instant high commisions !
Johannesburg ideal prospect says
Hey Roger!
Good words man!
I was going to post something similar. If you have a real product with real benefits, people will find YOU and demand to have it!
You don’t need any ‘special ‘ tech or closing techniques, just a good product or service.
High pressure closing techniques are needed for UN wanted or not needed products.
Roger From Switzerland Thought says
Yeah that’s right ! 🙂
Chris Mann says
I was just thinking about this earlier. If you have a good product and you believe in it you just communicate with people about it and sell it.
Yes, this kind of stuff is for guys who don’t care about what they are selling and just want to make “easy money” or whatever. I havent been to the seminar, but “Up your ask”, sounds kind of out ethics to me. Sounds like you are trying to get the most money you can out of a customer. It sounds like it’s not about fair exchange, but about getting more for yourself. The most important factor being that you get your money. Thats why people dont like salesmen because of stuff like this.
calvin b. duffield says
Great post, Roger! I like your emphasis on simplicity….. and that’s what riled the new regime of ‘bots & terminators! Unless it all went sideways, skidded through the convoluted twists and turns of the beginnings of the total mind-control operational orders of neophyte dick-tator extraordinaire, (one youth named David whatsit again?) —then I’m afraid you just weren’t toe-ing the line, were you, my friend? And Whhhhaaaat? You say you used A-R-C??? That was also punishable, as you found out only too soon! You just didn’t get it – did you Roger? you were putting pc wins and successes ahead of the ambitions of Herr Achhhtung -man! Tch–Tch1 What a shame — Just think what may have become of you?
On second thoughts… rather don’t. Rather thank your savvy that you got the f— out of that lunacy!
Wendy M says
Yes Calvin – the one good thing is that we have gotten out of that lunacy! My gratitude levels are sky high to those who who pointed me to Debbie Cook’s letter, and to Debbie and her husband for sticking their necks out, and to Mike, Marty, Steve H, Karen DeLaC, who have put their necks on the line for us all, and to the many posters who tell the truth. These blogs are the truth revealed. Thanks to ALL.
calvin b. duffield says
Amen to that Wendy!
Carcha says
Someone posted once that at OT levels things seem so simple, that one assumes everyone else will see the simplicities, when in fact others still see things as complex and confusing. What you present is the simplicity, and truth, and workability of things. It is a real disappointment that the Co$, which was and is supposed to bring understanding, has been harnessed with barbed wire, ridden, and brought down.
Hallie Jane says
Nice! You operated in the awareness characteristic of your post, enlightenment.
DollarMorgue says
To add to my image further up, this group has fallen off the edge of the world and is hurtling out to space. If I listen hard enough I can hear insults being called out from the little wrangling group, something about “fringe of the Internet”. Don’t know what they are on about or how they would know. They aren’t even on the fringe, receding rapidly as they are. Oh well.
Thanks for all the fish.
Ex-RPFer says
Well this is typical Gavin. I was recruited by him when he worked for Bridge. He was slick then and he is slick now. I feel for Alex, his wife though. I feel partially responsible for her giving up a successful acting career t be there with him ripping people off. She was a nice girl. Gavin knows how to bleed your soul. He might actually be a necromancer of sorts, black magic kinda deal. He is that dark and twisted. I hope nobody shows up.
indie8million says
+1 – especially what you said about Alex. What a lovely soul.
One time I saw her get perturbed about how Gavin was demeaning her and not listening to her. She’s great in her own right. I think she threatened to leave him because later, I totally saw him defer to her. At least he’s smart in that department.
SKM says
Church of Reversed Scientology and its reversed Scale of Motivation.
indie8million says
Hahahahahahaha SKM! Exactly!
Graduated says
+ 100
Alex Castillo says
My own poster in response to theirs reads: UP YOUR ASS!!!
Madora Pennington says
When we left Scientology 10 years ago, we thought things were nutty. Finding out what is going on now, well, everything is totally off the deep-end!! You’d have to a child or some sort of simpleton to be part of this or believe these people.
It’s very obvious that there is no management except the inexperienced, untrained and megalomaniacal Miscavige. I’ll bet he misses you, MIke, and Marty, Jeff Hawkins, Amy Scobee ….. the whole gang. Clearly he is not in possession of any common sense.
It’s been a lot of fun detoxing Scientology with your blog and others.
Old Surfer Dude says
Madora, what about the release forms you have to sign now to become a member? Especially, but certainly not limited to, the “Lisa Clause.” This release form is 5 pages long! To join a church? Really?
calvin b. duffield says
The minds of the money machines….(implanted) circuits, memory (sticks) mini-slave driver software (dm) command enforcing modules (mandatory) self determinism inhibiting device activator ( dm monitored) the sheeple pocket / bank account / credit card squeezing and repeat ad -nauseum total financial crippler hard drive. See it! Believe it! The most advanced breakthrough in the New Age Maximum Loot Extraction Technology ever conceived! ….. oh goodness me! …. almost forgot to mention…. the most important feature of all. The creator of this astonishing new breed of Scientrollobots; His Eminence, The Most Honorable King Of The Vampiric Order, His Worship — Davidus Eternitwerpus M’Cabbage, COB.
Old Surfer Dude says
At last they’ve dropped at pretense that scn is about anything other than fleecing their sheeple for every single dime they have. What are the two valuable products of an org? Auditors being made and happy PCs. Not much of that going on now. It’s ALL about the MONEY…
KFrancis says
Dear Mr Gavin Potter,
Thank you for the promotion piece for you upcoming seminar. I am contacting you today because I am very interested in the works of L.Ron Hubbard.
I recently purchased Dianetics the Modern Science of Mental Health and quickly read it cover to cover. I am very excited about the idea of becoming a Clear and learning how to audit so that I might be of help to some of my friends and family. I found this book to be fascinating!
My roommate leaves these promotions around the apartment and most of them are for seminars and events that are primarily fundraisers. I haven’t seen any that detail how I can reach the state of Clear or where I might go for training in the use of Dianetics. Could you help me with this as I already have all the money I need to start on this adventure? I really loved how Mr. Hubbard referred to Dianetics as an adventure! What an exciting book, I am really looking forward to find out as much as possible!
Thanks you for any assistance you could be with this.
calvin b. duffield says
LOL!
KFrancis says
Dear KFrancis,
Hello and thank you so much for your letter! I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed finding it in my mail box.
Isn’t Dianetics great? Reading your letter today reminded me of the first time I found this book as well.
I am quite busy today so I’ll get right to my point. In your letter you mentioned you already have money. Would it be too much of me to ask how much you have? I know this may seem abrupt but with this information I can more easily help you.
If you could give me in detail how much cash you have on hand as well any stocks, 401K, inheritance, homes you own, Social Security benefits or any other assets you have that would be great. Armed with this information I can put together an auditing and training package just for you. Once I receive your report I may even have time to fly to your home town to help you go over all that will be needed to make this happen. I think you will agree that would be very exciting for both of us!
Please know that I am your friend and am take responsibility as of today to see to it that you make it to Clear very soon! Ok?
Please FAX me (don’t put it in the mail) asap once you have your complete financial portfolio gathered up.
Let’s do this!
All the best to you.
Sincerely,
Mr Gavin Potter
Carcha says
Dear M. KFrancis,
So very pleased to read your affluent letter of unconditional vertical ascension in positiveness! This is the attitudinal condition for rapid ascension in status which is the hallmark of an excelling Scientologist! We can get you started immediately as a Cornerstone Member! I’m sure you will be very pleased to know this!
Your questions will be answered in profundity with the simple inclusion of your credit card and bank account numbers, and of course a telephone number where I can reach you and talk with your personally to give you all the fleecing … I mean to say, all the freeing you obviously deserve from the encumbrance in Misacvigianetics that you saw on the video.
I’m surprised you didn’t get this!
Looking forward to discussing your status with you, and getting you moving right away. I trust you appreciate the seriousness of the situation. It is, after all, YOUR eternity.
With LOVE,
Your friendly Registrar.
P.S My status is Emeritus!
gatchild says
Well, Gavin got busted off of post as a recruiter for BPI because he used to slip off his wedding ring before talking to attractive female SO prospects, just before starting the interview. Apparently he actually promised to marry one (or strongly inferred it), so when he didn’t come through, she left and flapped it to RTC. This activity as a “successful closer” is how we ended up with the “Bridge Babes” in the mid to late nineties.
I wonder if those techniques get covered in the seminar. Hmm.
Jane Doe says
Yep I can attest to that kind of 2D flowing in order to reg a SO prospect. It happened to me too and the recruiter was handsome etc. But I didn’t join. Thank goodness.
Jose Chung says
BTW
There is an “Affluence Attainment Formula”
It’s LRH. There was a non Scientology Pubs Org work book written
that was sold at ASHO and Georges General Store across from AOLA.
I bought one and used it . Worked fantastically great.
“Affluence Attainment Formula” is there ! use it !
Jane Doe says
Can you post the formula for Affluence Attainment for us? I seem to remember, “hard work, in ethics, doing the things that won and not untried things.” But that is just my paraphrase. I’d like to get the real reference on it.
Graduated says
“. . .and not new things untried as yet, applying the formula for the condition one is in.”
Jane Doe says
Thanks, Graduated!
Jose Chung says
Dear Jane,
It’s in the Ministers Handbook and tech dictionary.
I have an entire room piled high with boxes opened
and many unopened Scientology books.
I will dig into it and post it when I excavate down to it.
Jane Doe says
Jose, Thanks but don’t go to any trouble for me. I am in similar boat in that I had to move most of my Scn stuff to the shed in order to make room for work books and supplies.
plainoldthetan says
AFFLUENCE ATTAINMENT, consists of:
(1) hard work,
(2) in ethics,
(3) standard tech,
(4) doing the things that won, not new things untried as yet,
(5) applying the formula of the condition one is in. (HCO PL 13 Nov 72)
AFFLUENCE FORMULA, (1) economize.
Now the first thing you must do in affluence is economize and then make very very sure that you don’t buy anything that has any future commitment to it, don’t buy with any future commitments -nothing. That is all part of that economy, clamp it down.
(2) pay every bill. Get every bill that you can possibly scrape up from any place, every penny you owe anywhere under the sun, moon and stars and pay them.
(3) invest the remainder in service facilities, make it more possible to deliver.
(4) discover what caused the condition of affluence and strengthen it. (HCO PL 23 Sept 67)
around
When I take a look and see if Miscavige is applying AFFLUENCE ATTAINMENT, I always hang up at 1. Hard work. I know he SAYS he’s working his ass off, but all I can see is crashed stats, declared parishioners, lies to the press, alienation of the public, and his own out-ethics. (Q: How do you get a divorce in Scientology? A: There’s no such procedure. Just hide your wife.)
Jose Chung says
Dear Plain old Thetan,
You got that right.
How about D.M. served three lavish meals so many times a day that he only eats one.
Unpaid building fines, leases, utilities, and rents for the real estate empire of empty buildings.
D.M.’ s Lavish wardrobe makes Elvis spin in his grave.
The waste of construction materials for the Super Power monolith.
OT 8 meters in storage for how long ? a decade ?
Anyway, like your posts
indie8million says
There is one more formula that I always have a hard time finding. I think it’s called “Action Affluence”
“Direct a channel toward attainment
Move aside all barriers, something and non-compliance”
And that’s all I can remember of it.
Anybody got that one laying around?
Jane Doe says
Thanks Plain Old Thetan for the great reference. And I loved your last line… how do you get a divorce in Scn? You hide your wife! Funny
Bela says
Indie8million…
this is the Action Affluence formula from LRH Def. Notes:
“the formula for action affluence is : (1) economize on needless or dispersed actions that did not contribute to the present condition. Economize financially by knocking off all waste. (2) make every action count and don’t engage in any useless actions. Every new action to contribute and be of the same kind as did contribute. (3) consolidate all gains, we keep it; don’t let things relax or go downhill or roller-coaster. Any advantage or gains we have, keep it, maintain it. (4) discover for yourself what caused the condition of affluence in your immediate area and strengthen it. “
The Oracle says
The single largest outpoint I see with the Church, is that the Sea Org has made it all about THEM.
It is NOT about the “public” anymore, there are not any public anymore, there only “members” as David has so brilliantly altered identities in the Church to suit his needs.
A LOT of the service sold and delivered in the Church is for THEM. Auditing is ordered based on THEIR charge. Six months checks are for THEIR benefit. People are pushed to buy books not so they can actually READ them, or use them, it is for “The Church” or for : “David Miscavige” because he edited them. Buy accomos NOT for YOU, God knows it is cheaper and even friendlier to stay somewhere else! Buy them for “The Church”. Pay is advance not for YOU, but FOR the Church.
Redo your tr’s and purif not because it is anything YOU want. Go to the ethics officer because the staff got disgusted with you. You are sent to ethics because of THEIR upsets. Join the Sea Org not for YOU.
Why the fuck should a customer pay for services that the company owner or it’s staff wants and needs????????????
Why the fuck should you go to ethics because someone else gets an upset over your hysterical good time last Friday night? Why the fuck should you pay for their “security checks ” every six months because they can’t trust YOU? Why the hell should you pay for their building so they can sell YOU what THEY want and need when you go into it?
It’s SO ass backwards and based on “Must be contributed to”. And when you are a store selling product YOU are the one supposed to find a want and need and fill it. NOT the other way around! Of course, I doubt any of them studied economics.
It is SO ABOUT THEM that if you try to make any of it about you, you are now labeled a “Consumer Scientologist”. God Forbid you see yourself as a consumer in that place!
That’s how far south it has gone.
Those staff can’t face walking out and starting a new life. But they will send your ass to ethics over some piddly assed bullshit that restimulated them! And try to make YOU feel like a DB! Like you OWE them. Even if you already paid them! This whole flow is run on the customers that they can never do enough. Meanwhile the Sea Org Staff can’t manage the simple task of facing the world on their own or thinking on their own. Most of them have a with hold if they shake off their pee pee after taking a leak! Grown adults writing CSW’s and asking permission to get married! Can you imagine? Forced to select a mate from the workplace! Not allowed to NOT marry a coworker! Not allowed to marry outside of the “Sea Org Race”. Keeping the race “pure”. The fact of the policy that Sea Org Staff are not allowed to marry, socialize, mingle with or associate on a personal level with public, is telling of how much disregard and animosity they have for the people they are begging from.
Jane Doe says
As usual, you are spot on Oracle. The church is at “must be contributed to” on the scale and that si very far down. And the SO are told never to socialize or comingle with anyone other than their own SO staff members and the flow is if you somehow interacted with, God forbid, “wogs,” you would come back contaminated. I was actually told words to that effect from a Sr. HCO terminal at Flag.
Christine says
How many parties I went to so excited. Like on the Horn Blower. It was nice but it was scary that you were out in the harbor until the amount of $$$ to be raised that nite was met.
Wendy M says
Wow. The social veneer only just prevents that from being called a hostage situation!
Jose Chung says
I was hit up for almost $30,000. by Gavin Potter
for the home made asbestos clean up of the Freewinds.
Just give the money ,no exchange. He was nervous and flighty as he begged.
Eventually they did get the money in exchange for
the OT De Bug , Finance Seminar and accomos.
So I’m leaving for the Freewinds and 45 seconds before I’m out the door to
get in a waiting taxi the Freewinds called me to cancel !
After much begging and pleading they got the Money , no exchange.
I resigned the C of $ and have made back all money that went down the
Freewinds C of $ rat hole plus much more.
Everyone has their own story, this is mine.
Jane Doe says
Jose, very interesting story. And also of note is that when you decided not to play their game and to disconnect from the church, all of a sudden you made back all that you gave them and more. So it seems you flourished and prospered when you disconnected from them! The tech works!
BareFacedMessiah says
Btw. I once got a KR for resisting to pay in by Thursday. The Reg wrote: He doesn’t want to play our game.
Very, very out ethics…..and very pissed, I never forgave her for this. Each communication was avoided as much as possible afterwards, and I didn’t dare to bring this up in session. Would the auditor and CS grant me beingness?
I am still of the opinion that a game is not a game when being enforced.
Jane Doe says
That’s right, BFM. A game is not a game when being enforced. It is a games condition in that case.
DollarMorgue says
I understand you were pissed. From where I am, “He doesn’t want to play our game” reminds me of first grade…
Doug Parent says
Doesn’t this *church* already have like …. a BILLION DOLLARS?
Tax exempt status : check.
Tons of square footage to deliver said services: check
.40 per hour labor costs: check
low cost materials manufacturing: check
staff willing to work for NOTHING in exchange for TRAINING and AUDITING: check
public willing to VOLUNTEER to help others get TRAINING: check
Viable technology that could be exhumed and put back into use: check
Seems to me that the *Church* of Scientology has all it requires in order to make possible the maximal freeing of beings with the minimum of cost.
Why don’t they?
Graduated says
Short answer? They’re not in that business anymore. Coercion and extortion in the guise of the 1st Amendment proved to be more lucrative.
indie8million says
+1
Jgg says
“Why don’t they?” Cause they are run by a paranoid tyrant. Mike or Marty could probably get more people interested in auditing by chatting with their neighbors for a few minutes than Davey does in an entire week; anyone approached by the Church goes online, reads about Davey and does not come back.
A good product sells itself, even if it does cost money and doesn’t have celebrities.
DollarMorgue says
Personally, I believe if you take all actions and add them up to the destruction of the church it all makes sense. Stuff like the promo above is just window dressing. Like a Mafia gala dinner to raise money for an orphanage. It’s a front, nothing more.
Bridge priced to be unattainable? check
Tech altered to be unworkable? check
PR ruined and irreparable? check
Church attained pariah status in society? check
Parishioners ruined, dead or driven away? check
Remaining parishioners utterly loyal to COB? well now, that is where it becomes difficult. Some are, some are pretending. Either way, it all makes sense if you assume utter destruction so it never rises again is the goal.
As for the remaining parishioners themselves – I have watched over the years as “clear the planet” became increasingly possible only through donations and campaigns that have absolutely nothing to do with Scientology (TWH, Narcanon, CCHR, Criminon, etc.). So now while they still have the same goals, the underlying principles have been changed and the way they are going about attaining them is almost unrecognisable to 30 years ago. But they all agreed, step by step, and so maybe they don’t see.
The party really is over. Funny, the guests seem to be the last ones to know.
Hallie Jane says
Good comment DollarMorgue. It couldn’t have been planned better. Don’t forget…..OTs rendered dysfunctional, emotional wrecks by reverse auditing……check. Family support decimated by RCS promoting wildfire disconnection…..check.
BareFacedMessiah says
Cost cut on DM’s fresh breakfast shrimps from Alaska, delivered by a helicopter: unchecked
You forgot some details! This is just one missing item out of a hundred.
Can you now see, why it doesn’t work?
BareFacedMessiah says
Oh, I also forgot the new targets before the service delivery can re-commence. There must be 10,000 new ideal Orgs in order to re-release the now required GAT II Grade 0: unchecked
You must be patron to pass the purif eligibility security check: unchecked
Your IQ must not be above 50 to be an eligible member: unchecked
indie8million says
As I’ve said before, just like in politics, we think the politician is crazy because he’s not doing things to benefit the people and his greedy actions seem illogical and insane.
The problem here, with DM is just the same.
We think he’s playing the “Save people with Scientology and public betterment groups” game.
The game he’s actually playing is the, “Get all the money you can out of these people. Reg them for the IAS because we’ll never be forced to deliver a product in exchange but TELL THEM it’s to make the world safer for Scientology.”
So while we are playing cribbage and think he’s not playing by the rules and not even hoping to win, he’s actually playing Monopoly and cleaning UP and taking everyone’s money.
So, he’s not crazy. He’s just playing a different game than we think he is, or, more importantly, different than the Kool Aid drinkers think he is.
We’re starting to figure it out.
Flexible Flyer says
For the glorious leader it doesn’t provide a narcissistic supply and money is addicting. A person reaching toward freedom will attempt to ride the tiger (so to speak), and won’t have any interest in a career as head wiper at the car wash. Freeing people has consequences as they could become a pain in the ass; best to make it difficult and expensive so as to stifle any fighting spirit.
Quiet Guy says
I’ve been to their Prosperity Seminars. Sure, there are a few key LRH references. You could have looked them up on your own. Basically, the prosperity formula is a “build-it-they-will-come” idea. DONATE TIL IT HURTS = INCOME DEMAND = YOU FIGURE OUT THE REST. That’s the whole tech of it.
Jane Doe says
Quiet Guy, Yes on your formula, but I might add the last step is “and tell them they will pull in lots of good things and money because they gave to a good cause.” Reges in the 80’s were actually promising that good things and/or money would flow in to the person who gave to the good cause because they did a “pro survival thing”. But int he 90’s or 2000’s the registrars were told to knock that off that we couldn’t promise public that their lives would improve by reason of giving a donation. So then it was shortened to your formula of …. “you figure out the rest.”
DollarMorgue says
I’ve never heard this “you figure out the rest”. Where I live they still say “such and such gave to the IAS and their income 5xd!”
Quiet Guy says
Dear Jane Doe and DollarMorgue, I attended several such events and remember seeing and hearing what both of you describe. I really do remember kind of a “fill-in-the-blank” “you-already-know-what-to-do” third step. Other variations include: GOTTA BE OT TO GO OT, OVER THE RAMPARTS CHARGE, RAISE YOUR NECESSITY LEVEL. Plus a formula for the power of an thetan measured in astronomical units. [If you can, please requote that formula here.]
MaBű says
Quiet Guy: “Plus a formula for the power of an thetan measured in astronomical units. [If you can, please requote that formula here.]”
From HCOB 10 Aug 1982, OT Maxims:
“THE POWER (defined as light-year kilo-tons per microsecond) OF A THETAN IS MEASURED BY NOTHING ELSE THAN THE DISTANCE (defined as spherical spatial length) AROUND HIM IN HIS ENVIRONMENT THAT HE CAN CONTROL.”
From the same HCOB, the following applies to Co$:
“WHEN A THETAN EXERTS THIS POWER UNCLEVERLY, HE BRINGS ABOUT DESTRUCTION.
And thus you get Fascist State that destroy itself. It’s got the control but not good sense.
And so that is where good sense and judgement enter in.
WHEN GOOD SENSE AND GOOD JUDGEMENT ARE NOT ADDED INTO CONTROL, CONTROL GETS A BAD NAME.”
Jane Doe says
Well the IAS are not reges for the church so probably don’t have to follow their rules. I learned that the reges were told not top promise people’s lives would go wonderfully if they just donated…. but then the reg did a “wink wink” and insinuated that I still would pull in good stuff if I gave.
Gus Cox says
Sounds like the “God’s Math” that those late-night money preachers go on about. Give us money, and it will come back to you tenfold!!!
I’ll bet that He Who Must Not Be Named, Chairman of the Board Religious Technology Center Mr. David Miscavige was up late one night, drinking old Scotch and chain-smoking Camels, and caught one of those jokers on TV.
A light bulb illuminated in his head.
The rest is history.
Gus
Jane Doe says
+1
BareFacedMessiah says
Doesn’t sound like a supply and demand equilibrium.
DollarMorgue says
Oh, but it is. “We demand that you take our supply!”
SadStateOfAffairs says
Oh really? They are promoting their selling and closing techniques as the way to prosperity? I seem to recall that that during the all hands on deck, 24/7 sales binge of the Basics starting in 2007 that staff, all of whom were put on a death march to sell Basics, were hatted on all the sales and closing tech. And what were the results? Mass exodus of members who were subjected to the absurd “hard-sell”, being pressured to buy multiple Basics sets, so in the long run they lost more revenue due to lost members than they gained in the short run with their Basics carpet bombing campaign. The missing element all along was and has been that the Church no longer cares about doing right by their customers and only selling them what they really need and what will really help them. They scream in delight about stuffing 20 sets of Basics up the ass of a customer, but then they lose the customer. It is this type of think and conduct that is destroying their customer base.
Mike Rinder says
SSOA — yes. And there are plenty of other stories about the “skill” of Teddy Bragin and other IAS vultures in turning people away from the subject forever.
Someone also just pointed out to me something I didnt note in the posting itself.
Potter seems to assume that the vast majority of people are employed in sales jobs where learning the techniques of “closing” and “upping the ask” would be relevant (leaving aside whether anything he told them would be effective). Teaching a waitress or car mechanic or secretary or, or, or how to “close” is absolutely useless. Like most of the robots inside the bubble they think their world is the real world. They are unaware of what happens outside their bubble so they say the stupidest thing. Routinely.
Just Me says
Very good point.
DollarMorgue says
It’s been a long time since the bridge was there for mere commoners.
Carcha says
It’s been a long time since the Bridge was there.
statpush says
Funny, I recall the Little Man proudly announcing that GAT was going to produce an “army of auditors”. After that miserable failure it seems all the church can do is produce an “army of reges”. I can still recall a time when Class VIIIs and Class XIIs were the elite of Scn. Now, it is people like Grant Cardone who are the elite – a Class VIII Reg. You may think that is funny, but not too far-fetched. It would not be huge leap from where they are now. They all but ceased training people to free others, instead they train people to free others of their cash.
indie8million says
+1
Espiritu says
But wait! They wouldn’t do that would they?
That be just like opening a school for pick-pockets?
Cat daddy says
Espiritu, In future Sea Org members have to sell one of their kidneys for the better good of
COB’s wallet. Childeren of public have to be autimaticly forked over when financials of such public is depleted. After that all public has to join the Sea Org, finally the last people who couldn’t get away will be rounded up and moved to Hemmet were Miscave will have his deranged and crazed last stand.
Blue Seagull says
Yep, just another example of the inherent arrogance that seems to be so prevalent inside these days. Wonder where that comes from? Not.
Thanks for so many brilliantly informative and astutely observed posts recently, Mike, with some really insightful and amusing comments. It’s a real struggle just to keep up, let alone comment these days! But always a pleasure I look forward to.
Silvia says
And what does the donations “collections” have to do with “Bridge Ascent” as the promo states?
Non-sequitur, falsehood, altered importance, et al on outpoints. A wrong why will lead to a crash…sooner than later the collapse is going to occur.
Wendy M says
I note “admission is free”. I wonder how much “exit” costs. I never went to an event that didn’t have an exit cost. Luckily I have been cured of my masochistic tendencies.
Jane Doe says
You’re right Wendy M. I have been to those kinds of events and some hosted by Gavin Potter and the FW. They are all bait and switch and simply a way to get you in on surveyed buttons and then sell you on “the solution to _______ (surveyed button) will be found on this conference at the Freewinds. Will that be cash, check, or credit card?”
Wendy M says
True Jane Doe – its also “Will that be cash, check, credit card or blood. Blood? Yes. Join the Sea Org!”
Jane Doe says
+ 1 Wendy. And if not your blood, then give us the blood of your kids and offer up your kids to join the SO.
Andy Capp says
He he. Good point!
Rick Mycroft says
They can take all that and shove it up their ask.
DollarMorgue says
More news from the fastest shrinking cult on the planet. The party is over, the lights are beeing dimmed and tables wiped down, yet there they are in a corner still dancing in last nights trash, ordering expensive cocktails from a tired and bad-tempered bartender and telling each other with fake enthusiasm that this has got to be the greatest party ever. What pills did they pop?
Mike Rinder says
That’s a funny image 🙂
Jane Doe says
Sorry if this is a big off target, but I laughed out loud reading Tony Ortega’s blog today. Here is a very quotable and funny quote from it: David Miscavage says in his speech, ““Talk about a permeating and penetrating culture. Or to put it another way, most white folks wouldn’t have a clue what it means to be cool if it weren’t for Black America.”
Yep. Just as awkward today as when he said it in 2011.”
iHateDuplicity says
So very true. This is the epitome of everything wrong with Cof$$$$$$$$$. And they are so used to it, so inculcated into the viewpoint that money is everything, that the Scilons don’t even see how outrageously fixated they have become on this. It truly is the cult of greed. They aren’t even pretending it’s something else anymore.
Jane Doe says
Mike, I got that same promo piece and was disgusted at the crass play on words, “up your ask” and the visual on it. But you pointed out a subtlety that I missed. “It used to be “get trained.” Now it is “get prosperous.” What a difference a word makes! The vulture culture has become all about greed, money, and fleecing the flock. Why can’t DM get brought down for lining his pockets with parishoners’ money just like that evagelical guy from TV that did the very same thing? He’s doing time. Why isn’t Davie?
Bela says
The church thinks that all their play on words in advertising is funny and clever, and that people will respond by seeing how cool they are…or something like that.
But to anyone outside their bubble, it simply shows off their level of immaturity and ignorance to represent a “church” in this fashion.
Jane Doe says
+1
statpush says
Play on words? How about “up yours”?
Jane Doe says
It’s definitely a sophomoric Freudian slip of Davie’s. And it is actually what he is doing to his parishoners… they are taking in in the shorts so to speak.
Carcha says
Ask, and it shall be taken.
DollarMorgue says
One thing I would really like to know is how does one unstick oneself from this “money is everything” viewpoint? This is an honest question. I have found it very hard.