S02.E12: Propaganda Arms

[Guest]

Quote

Leah and Mike lead a round table discussion about the church's funding of groups that manufacture a positive perception in the public eye and forward a Scientology agenda

[Guest]

Only managed to figure this was on tonight by chance and thought it was a sneak preview or something for the first 15 min.  I swear it wasn't on the guide until after it started.

Rinder was talking a lot at this round table he must have been intimately involved in this when he was in Sea org.

It says a lot about an organization that sends people to disaster areas to hand out pamphlets to recruit to scientology and snap a photo.

Shook my head at the pamphlet directing how to document good works for PR and the policy to align with "real" humanitarian organizations.

The practice of infiltrating communities reminded me of all those movies I saw as a kid where Russian spies are scattered throughout the US pretending to be Americans. 

I can't believe they opened a museum called Psychiatry: Industry of Death in Hollywood.  I will never comprehend why they don't get that over the top rhetoric makes them look absolutely nuts.

[Maelstrom]

Yeah, I thought the directive to align with “real” humanitarian groups was a real kicker too. If that doesn’t tell you everything you need to know about their so-called social betterment groups, then nothing will.

Mike did talk a lot, he probably had his fingers in everything scientology related during his tenure so he clearly has a lot to share. I do wish we could’ve heard more from the lady who worked for all of the propaganda arms (I’ve forgotten her name sadly). I had to laugh with Mike at the absurdity of Hubbard getting at least two sets of royalties from each parishioner’s purchase. Hubbard sure knew how to run a first-class scam, didn’t he?

Leah’s imitation of the ridiculous voiceovers in the ultra lame CO$ videos was priceless.

[HunterHunted]

So my experience with the propaganda arms has been that most decently plugged in agencies (federal, state, or nonprofit) know those players, their names, and how to couch responses so that the responses cannot be used for Scientology propaganda. I've had to deal with the Citizen's Commission on Human Rights. Usually when they come to you with concrete information about a very specific abuse, they know more than the regulatory or advocacy agency. However, when it's amorphous complaints about psychiatry, mental health treatment, or psychoactive medication, then they are unhinged loons. I once got a copy of Psychology Today from one of them where the Scientologist had written in the margins, in between the lines of text, and in every free space in the magazine things they thought refuted every point in the publication. My colleagues were afraid to touch it lest we catch their crazy.

[Nancypants]

I love how Transparent the propaganda is.  " Does not stand up to scrutiny". Indeed. 

[Guest]

I was surprised to see this on my DVR (set to record new episodes) and figured it was a sneak peak or some other 10 minute thing. I was pleasantly surprised - even though I fell asleep partway in!  

Miscaviage's voice is so creepy in those narrations about the efforts.  Everything about him.

[Pondlass1]

I've said this before... but I'm still not getting how the audiences didn't laugh out loud at the ridiculous claims made at those video conventions.  Not all cult members are imprisoned but free to come and go  - Leah herself for instance being an actress.  Surely it would be glaringly obvious to members that the Co$ was doing diddly squat to help anyone by itself.  That it's just a money making book club.

It continues to amaze me how easily we humans can be brainwashed.  It's very VERY scary.

[Meadow]

13 hours ago, Maelstrom said:

I do wish we could’ve heard more from the lady who worked for all of the propaganda arms (I’ve forgotten her name sadly).

 

I appreciated hearing from her, but I kept thinking, "She is not yet... fully okay."  Naturally, having been involved with this cult takes its toll on a person but some guests seem to be further along the road to healing than others.  I felt really bad for her.

[SunnyBeBe]

2 hours ago, Pondlass1 said:

I've said this before... but I'm still not getting how the audiences didn't laugh out loud at the ridiculous claims made at those video conventions.  Not all cult members are imprisoned but free to come and go  - Leah herself for instance being an actress.  Surely it would be glaringly obvious to members that the Co$ was doing diddly squat to help anyone by itself.  That it's just a money making book club.

It continues to amaze me how easily we humans can be brainwashed.  It's very VERY scary.

Yes, it is scary.  As I watched the propaganda video ads from the COS, it's almost comical how obviously fake they are.  I've seen more professional infomercials about gutter cleaners.  And THIS is what all their big bucks buy?  Incredible.  I'd be embarrassed to say that I bought it hook, line and sinker.  Poor Leah.....she says that.  I suppose that it matters if you grew up in it.  My parents bought into a load of stuff almost as bad, when I was a child.  Even a 10 year old could see how fake and harmful it was.  But, plenty of adults did buy into it and still do.   I'm not sure why some people don't have a very discerning eye for stuff like that. I hate to diss those who fall prey, though.  We are all vulnerable, right?  I mean, they are people like you and I. I just have to believe that they refuse to see the bad and only see the good.  That's all I can come up with.  Oh, and that if someone is desperate for shelter and food. If you have nowhere to go and no money....I suppose you buy into it, so you have a place to sleep and food to eat.  And then there is Stockholm Syndrome. 

Edited November 13, 2017 by SunnyBeBe

[PityFree]

I personally thought this was one of the top episodes. It was fascinating. I am floored (but not surprised) that  politicians, city leaders, executives, etc. were duped into public shows of support for these organizations. Our leaders and legislators really need to pay more attention. 

 Also all that talk of how little it costs to produce their brochures and how the profits (yes, these were not funded by donations no matter what Scientology says) flow back to LRH and the organization should be very very interesting to the IRS. I am furious that this didn’t stop them from getting tax-exempt status in the first place.

ETA:  Considering how short David Miscavage is, they must’ve had that podium specially built shorter than normal so it didn’t make him look short standing behind it on stage. I wonder if they made Mike Rinder stand in some sort of divot or hole in the stage so he wouldn’t look too tall compared to Miscavage.

Edited November 13, 2017 by PityFree

[LilWharveyGal]

On 11/12/2017 at 7:37 PM, Maelstrom said:

I do wish we could’ve heard more from the lady who worked for all of the propaganda arms (I’ve forgotten her name sadly).

 

On 11/13/2017 at 9:33 AM, Meadow said:

I appreciated hearing from her, but I kept thinking, "She is not yet... fully okay."  Naturally, having been involved with this cult takes its toll on a person but some guests seem to be further along the road to healing than others.  I felt really bad for her.

For your reading pleasure:  Quailynn McDaniel

Her story is fascinating, and yes, she and her husband have had a rough time since leaving the cult.

ETA:  Here's a new article about Quailynn, in her own words.

Edited November 19, 2017 by LilWharveyGal
Added new link.

[SunnyBeBe]

I don't know exactly where to put this, but, when are they going to really discuss the missing people in the COS?  I might have missed a few episodes.  Have they addressed it yet?  I mean, David Miscavage's wife hasn't been seen since, when....2007?  And, there are others who have dropped off the planet, too, right?  Why is there no investigation into their disappearance?  Can't the police conduct a wellness check, like they do with Richard Simmons every year or so?

[bosawks]

“Return to their primeval groups, playing with their little furry friends in dungeons”, um, WTF?

Most times I would think that statement would just be hyperbole but with these people this could just be boring text....

Edited November 14, 2017 by bosawks

[PityFree]

6 hours ago, SunnyBeBe said:

I don't know exactly where to put this, but, when are they going to really discuss the missing people in the COS?  I might have missed a few episodes.  Have they addressed it yet?  I mean, David Miscavage's wife hasn't been seen since, when....2007?  And, there are others who have dropped off the planet, too, right?  Why is there no investigation into their disappearance?  Can't the police conduct a wellness check, like they do with Richard Simmons every year or so?

 I’m reading David Miscavage’s niece’s book right now.  After reading about how awful David Miscavage’s wife was to her niece, she can stay missing for all I care. 

That said, I do care about other missing people (who are probably somewhere awful or dead) who were not heinous b*****s to young children. 

Apparently, the COS has friends on the police force who help the “church” sweep things under the rug.

[Gothish520]

10 hours ago, SunnyBeBe said:

As I watched the propaganda video ads from the COS, it's almost comical how obviously fake they are.  I've seen more professional infomercials about gutter cleaners.  And THIS is what all their big bucks buy?  Incredible.  I'd be embarrassed to say that I bought it hook, line and sinker. 

Good lord yes. The videos are comically, embarassingly bad. How do grown adults fall for this? Then again, how does anyone fall for ANY of it? LRH was obviously a nutjob. His writings run the gamut from ludicrous to horrifying. 

[wendyg]

It's your basic boiling a frog approach.

[SunnyBeBe]

10 hours ago, PityFree said:

 I’m reading David Miscavage’s niece’s book right now.  After reading about how awful David Miscavage’s wife was to her niece, she can stay missing for all I care. 

That said, I do care about other missing people (who are probably somewhere awful or dead) who were not heinous b*****s to young children. 

Apparently, the COS has friends on the police force who help the “church” sweep things under the rug.

The things that I have read indicated that she was perhaps a problem that had to be contended with.  And, so what did they do with her?  That could be criminal.  I mean, is dead or being held against her will? Apparently, nobody really wants to know, including the family and law enforcement.  

[iMonrey]

What I find really creepy are the crowds of people at these events who are cheering as David Miscavage claims the church is single-handedly toppling the psychiatric profession. It's interesting that they've made psychiatry their number one boogie man. I'm guessing because they know psychiatrists would label them as a brain-washing, money-stealing cult, so they are invested in discrediting the practice of psychiatry itself. But it's weird to think so many people buy into this idea that psychiatry is evil and cheering its alleged demise.

[juliet73]

The Co$ hands out booklets to people in Columbia (and other countries) and because of that, crime is down 50%?Wouldn't that make national news like Leah said?! And all these world problems like drugs, crime, poverty, etc can all be eliminated just by reading a Co$ booklet? Come the eff on! That alone would make me question the validity of the "church's" claims.

[Christi]

Watching this now...totally minblowing as usual, but I cant get past how much the dude in the yellow jacket looks like LRH!

And no one is mentioning it.....lol

I guess its just me

[DrivingSideways]

Yea this episode more than previous ones really had me wondering about... the intelligence level... of Scientologists.  People who start it well into adulthood I mean.   Children clearly are excused....

[KHenry14]

It's fascinating to me how the CO$ rank and file members just lap up these statistics without questioning their ludicrous claims. Even Leah admitted she bought into the show.  But they seem to get away with it

Quote

 

[jrlr]

10 minutes ago, KHenry14 said:

It's fascinating to me how the CO$ rank and file members just lap up these statistics without questioning their ludicrous claims. Even Leah admitted she bought into the show.  But they seem to get away with it

The nonsensical "statistics" and those CREEPY promos full of cartoon androids all looking alike and working in concert.  Ugh, skin-crawling.

[3girlsforus]

21 hours ago, iMonrey said:

What I find really creepy are the crowds of people at these events who are cheering as David Miscavage claims the church is single-handedly toppling the psychiatric profession. It's interesting that they've made psychiatry their number one boogie man. I'm guessing because they know psychiatrists would label them as a brain-washing, money-stealing cult, so they are invested in discrediting the practice of psychiatry itself. But it's weird to think so many people buy into this idea that psychiatry is evil and cheering its alleged demise.

The hatred of psychiatry originates with LRH. Multiple doctors decided he had mental issues so he hates psychiatry because of course they were wrong. There was nothing mentally wrong with LRH that founding a scam religion couldn’t fix. 

[LegalParrot81]

3 minutes ago, 3girlsforus said:

The hatred of psychiatry originates with LRH. Multiple doctors decided he had mental issues so he hates psychiatry because of course they were wrong.

He also hated the mental health community basically saying Dianetics was a hoax.  It was submitted to the American Psychological Association, and the association advised its members against using Hubbard's psychological techniques with their patients.  

[andromeda331]

On ‎11‎/‎15‎/‎2017 at 9:08 AM, LegalParrot81 said:

He also hated the mental health community basically saying Dianetics was a hoax.  It was submitted to the American Psychological Association, and the association advised its members against using Hubbard's psychological techniques with their patients.  

How dare they realize Hubbard was full of crap. Its a good thing he proved them wrong by creating a cult brainwashing.  That'll show them. 

Edited November 20, 2017 by andromeda331

[MDKNIGHT]

For many years I have noticed that in fiction (TV/ movies) the "evil psychiatrist" has been a very frequent character.  I can literally name way over a hundred instances where a psychiatrist in the story is trying to seduce their patient or trying to brain wash somebody into being an assassin. (In fact in an episode of Lois and Clark there was one psychiatrist trying to seduce Lois and another trying to brain wash people into being assassins in the same episode).  OTOH I can only name about 4 or 5 instances where the psychiatrist was the good guy, like in Good Will Hunting and Ordinary People.  I always asked myself why and came up with some pretty esoteric theories but this show made me wonder if Scientology might not have something to do with it.  I mean a museum dedicated to demonizing psychiatry?  Is it possible that a lot of screen writers are or were Scientologists? 

[MamaMax]

On ‎11‎/‎15‎/‎2017 at 10:58 AM, 3girlsforus said:

The hatred of psychiatry originates with LRH. Multiple doctors decided he had mental issues so he hates psychiatry because of course they were wrong. There was nothing mentally wrong with LRH that founding a scam religion couldn’t fix. 

I think it started as his own form of Psychiatry,  he only turned it into a religion for tax purposes.

[Sisygambis]

I normally lurk in this forum, but I had to come and share!  I had a copy of "The Way To Happiness" delivered to my house in the mail today!  Totally randmon, but my initial reaction was "they know I'm watching the show!"

It's full of footnotes with word definitions.

[ramble]

16 minutes ago, Sisygambis said:

I normally lurk in this forum, but I had to come and share!  I had a copy of "The Way To Happiness" delivered to my house in the mail today!  Totally randmon, but my initial reaction was "they know I'm watching the show!"

It's full of footnotes with word definitions.

WORD! Sorry couldn’t resist. ;)

[hiisa]

So I'm way late to the game but I've been bingeing and I have questions. Y'all. I just don't *get* scientology. Like I really and truly don't. Looney Pants and friends are legitimately mustache twirling villains. They are cartoon evil, tying damsels to train tracks and they aren't trying to hide ANY of it. It's all right there in the writing. "This is CLEARLY BS align yourself with legit people so that we look legit too!" Insert evil laugh here. How is this not ....I don't know....some massive Punk'd episode and early 2000s Ashton Kutcher is gonna pop up shooting finger guns and laughing?