This is a photo taken last night of the New York “ideal org.”
While it is understandable in light of the nightly rioting in many US cities, including New York, it highlights a point that I often make here.
Scientology routinely makes grandiose claims of their accomplishments that are disproven by the reality of the world around them. In this case, it’s their own front door.
They say Way to Happiness is bringing peace and calm to neighborhoods, societies and nations. You just need to get it into the hands of the people and they suddenly realize the errors of their ways and peace is restored. This is what they claim. Over and over. They’ve done it “everywhere” from Venezuela to Israel and South Central LA to Mexico.
So, instead putting pallets (which by the way, would seem to be an invitation to grab ready-made weapons and firewood for an inflamed mob), why are they not standing in front of their building handing out copies of the WTH? They don’t have faith in their solution? This is exactly the sort of situation they so often crow about “solving.”
And they also claim they are “creating a new civilization” and “clearing the planet.” Repeatedly. This is an “Ideal Org” and there is another one in Harlem. Where’s the new civilization? There’s also an ideal org in Minneapolis (actually St. Paul) too that has been “changing civilization.” There are half dozen in the LA area. And Atlanta. And so on.
Of course, they will change their tune right now — instead of boasting about how they are bringing peace and a new civilization, the unrest will be used for money-grubbing. “Look at the state of civilization the psychiatrists have created, we need money to fight them.”
These two things go hand in hand in scientology and nobody blinks an eye.
We are solving all the problems of the world — and doing it everywhere all the time.
The world is spiraling out of control due to the psychs and we need your money to stop it.
“Perhaps someone may be thinking that if they destroy the lives of the people who are rioting or looting that will have a positive effect on the current unrest?”
HOW do you “destroy UTTERLY” folks like that who have nothing to begin with? (rhetorical).
LmR stated:”Off topic. First of all I wanted to thank you Mike for the constancy in keeping us informed about the cult and for giving us the opportunity to always exchange our opinions in a constructive way.
THAT is hardly O/T! It’s WHY most of us are here, I’d say.
otherles opined:”Probably Sea Org, being underfed as usual.”
Not necessarily. When I did the HSDC & Academy levels in NYC in the early ’70s, as busy as the place was (PACKED!), staff weren’t paid anything in particular. I, making $2.50/hr, was better off, able to afford my own apartment & food, PLUS accumulate enough to pay for the SHSBC at ASHO. I was (relatively) RICH at the time. SO, at least, got some sort of accomodations and sporadic meals, though there was no way they could “moonlight” as the org staff often did; had to. One staff quarters was a dozen staff sharing a few rooms in a run-down apartment in Harlem
Derek offered:
“And 1000x thanks to Mike for this blog so us ‘traumatized’ ex-staff/SO can re-connect again.”
MANY upvotes! I’ve had better luck here finding friends I had to leave behind than I have on any other blog — including ESMB, which I still think should have been more productive; guess I wasn’t active/persistent enough.
Dang, ANOTHER post lost to the ether. I gotta go back to composing in a local text editor to avoid servers getting a case of the burps.
Dang, ANOTHER post lost to the ether! I gotta go back to composing in a local text editor to avoid servers getting a case of the burps and losing all I wrote . At least locally, the program auto-saves for me pretty reliably.
and there is no need to take these barriers down because no one ever wants to go into their building except maybe to use the bathroom
Bobby observed:
“because no one ever wants to go into their building except maybe to use the bathroom”
Would they ALLOW someone into the building to simply use those facilities? I doubt it, since there’s no money in it.
I said:”I doubt it, since there’s no money in it.”
BUT, they’d likely get a FLOOD of bodies in the shop if they put up a sign visible down the street advertizing “FREE bathrooms”. Of course, WE know just HOW “FREE” they would be in the long term.
re-thinking, if they advertized “Bathrooms $5”, they’d get a flood of bodies in the shop and buying SOMEthing(Hey!, another name in CF!)
After further thought, with inflation, $10 might still be productive of many new names to CF.
and there is no need to take these barriers down because no one ever wants to go into their building except maybe to use the bathroom
C’mon little COB, be At Cause over this messed-up timeline we are in, and bring sanity to our world. Or does the little COB have some crimes he hasn’t dealt with? Or maybe the whole purpose of scientology is an evil con… yep, that’s probably it.
WAYC, WHY would Dwrfenführer® care about “this messed-up timeline we are in”? He’s got his cases of scotch, a few minions to do his bidding, and no fear of EVER going broke in this lifetime, however short (or long) it turns out to be.
Scientology is shrinking faster than that new pair of Jeans you washed and dried all the way after the first time you wore them.
Scientology is losing people faster than when the clothing optional resort decorated the property with cacti. (A stretch, I know)
Doty OT observed:
“Scientology is losing people faster than when the clothing optional resort decorated the property with cacti. (A stretch, I know)
Doatey, you MIGHT be surprised how many naturists are reading that…. 😉 As they say: Don’t cook bacon nude. (apropos of absolutely nothing.)
Has the New York org got a secret death-wish as well as the usual Scientology know-it-all incompetence? Pallets make excellent kindling.
“Pallets make excellent kindling.”
Glad I’m not te only person to think that, Dr Strabismus.
How appropriate the “Book of Mormon “ banner hanging outside the org. Many similarities between L Ron & Joe Smith . Methinks Ron wins the best bullshitter prize hands down. 👽
Theramin Trees has video on both JS and LRH.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opx8iDvR_nU
What IS the Mormon banner doing there, anyway? Is scientology trying to steal some respectability by using their name (probably without permission)? I wouldn’t put it past them to not know that they’re not the best thought-of cult in the Eastern US. (putting it lightly).
The banner is on a pole on the sidewalk. I guess scientology doesn’t own the pole or the sidewalk.
That’s capitalism. Competition for the religion dollar.
Maybe renting pole space is advertising revenue for NYC like ads on buses. Flunk on the Org for not renting it first. The Mormons will probably hold on to it for the rest of eternity.
Laughter! Agreed.
I have no love for any organized religion. As silly as Mormonism is (and they have their own sordid history), at least they’re not a crime syndicate masquerading as a religion who’s leader has to hide from process servers because he’s too scared to take the stand.
The only GOOD thing I can say about this NYC location is that there is one HELL of a GREAT Pizza Place almost next door…! It’s a small place & their pizza is phenomenal! Patzeria I think.
A few years back we were eating pizza there & had two slices left. We didn’t want to carry it around NYC the rest of the day but didn’t want to leave the two slices either since food in NYC is expensive. We figured we’d find someone who could use a decent meal since there are some homeless street people who could use a good meal.
As we walked out the door, I noticed two young adults smoking just off to the side of COS.
We offered them those two slices…they looked somewhat surprised & suspicious…..but gratefully accepted the bag with the paper plate & two slices. They consumed those slices in what seemed like a second….& did NOT try to pitch us anything…..surprise surprise. DK if THAT was considered a donation, but at least we fed some hungry young adults.
Probably Sea Org, being underfed as usual.
That two NY Org staff members -presuming they were staff members, which was likely in that they were smoking just off to the side of that building – that 2 New Yorkers would accept pizza from a total stranger is…amazing. Of course, you’re a good, well intentioned person, Balletlady, but, you know, unless they are homeless, etc., accepting any kind of food, just like that, from strangers approaching them on the street, is not what Manhattanites generally DO.
I’ve walked past that location several times over the years & several times have seen one to two people hanging outside smoking…sometimes passing ONE cigarette back & forth. I can add on both hands the number of times we’ve given food to someone in need, normally a person living on the street or asking for money….in this case, for some reason…these two young adults willingly took the bag with the two pizza slices & seemed grateful. It was also a blessing to US since we didn’t have to carry the two slices more than a few steps!
I would imagine as “Otherles” has stated…they were STARVING for food…it felt good to see them quickly & quietly wolf down the pizza. Before AFTERMATH…I had no real idea that members of “this organization” would not have enough food…glad I could give them something rather than toss it in a trash can.
We walked by the place again a few hours later, & there was no one outside. A few other times during visits to NYC. Sometimes there ARE one or two people outside grabbing a smoke, sometimes no one is outside. That was the only time we’d given food to anyone from COS. We never have been approached to “take a free test”…thank goodness.
We normally spend an entire day in NYC when we do go in, haven’t been in to NYC in a year now….always wondered what happened to these two young adults….& after hearing about how many are going without food….at least we know two people had something to eat that day.
What I find amazing is how close to Times Square it is, & how I recall a former high school friend IN Times Square who had joined Hari Krishna dancing around with bells jingling….it was sooo sad to see him like that. He’d given up his entire family & life a wonderful family…for a CULT.
You are a kind soul, Balletlady. When and if they were even allowed to eat the cheap carbs and junk food served at them, many times I saw Class V org staff devouring like Les Miserables of the French Revolution. So glad you never got roped into this cult, as you are precisely the type of soft-hearted soul who would have been shown NO mercy whatsoever – none 🙂
Thank you dear! Seeing these young adults out there, knowing possibly they hadn’t eaten much & thinking they’d be the ones to give those two slices to….well that’s where they went. They sure looked surprised, & almost “sneakily” took the bag & wolfed down that pizza I think it took maybe three bites before the slices were gone..
As I mentioned before, I had high school friends & acquaintances outside high school who got “sucked in” to Hare Krishna….the Moonies….Children of God…& a few other SCAM CULTS.
These same cults separated them from their families for the SAME reason…NO OUTSIDE INFLUENCES that might change the mind of the “cult member”. At that time I was a Lutheran….Sunday School Teacher etc….so I had my “own religious belief” & wasn’t about to deter to something else.
Little by little I saw these same friends & acquaintances give it their all…every dime they could beg, borrow or steal…..& ignore the pleas of their loved one to come back home. When I’d visit NYC, there they were in Times Square, jumping up & down wearing white “robes” barefoot, heads partially shaved, chanting, bells jingling….looking for money. Only a handful left…some in a few months, some in a year, some in a few years….the ones who stayed IN fared the worse….they became literal bums…no job, no money, beaten down….living on the street at the end…alcoholic, drug addict…a few took their OWN lives.
Most never returned to their families…….I hope with all my heart & soul that those now young adults Like Sammy Kahn & Lois’ son…..return home to their families that love them so much. I hope & pray Mike’s son Benjamin gets his wake up call & returns to his father who loves him so dearly.
Thank you for continuing with the GOOD WORK EVERYONE….I pray that what & WHO has been TAKEN FROM YOU….is returned…..
LmR, I’m speechless! The feeling is 100% mutual and you still have your best trusted friend 🙂
Btw, you were the funniest guy on the whole base, we should meet up one of these days.
And that makes me think, who else is on this blog I know? Any EU Base or EU org people, feel free to get in touch with me.
And 1000x thanks to Mike for this blog so us ‘traumatized’ ex-staff/SO can re-connect again.
Derek. I thank you my friend for what you say and I bless you.
We will meet absolutely.
Yes, it would be useful if anyone who was at EU base or CLO would come forward to exchange some news.
I’m sure the pallets were someone’s terrible solution when they couldn’t afford a few sheets of plywood.
They must have pallets left over from all the useless promo they get sent, plus of course from the boxes of overpriced course materials that just get sold into members’ closets and spare bedrooms.
Here’s the sort of load of unopened boxes sitting at someone’s home, that shows up on eBay all too often, typically listed at unrealistically high prices by owners who apparently have unreasonable expectations of recovering some large part of what they spent originally (though occasionally collections do seem to sell for a fair amount, perhaps to a member who wants to at least avoid the full org bookstore markup):
> https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/AmAAAOSwuh5dkM5u/s-l1600.jpg
from https://www.ebay.com/itm/L-Ron-Hubbard-Scientology-The-Advanced-Clinical-Course-Lectures-Free-Shipping/114184775612
But here on letgo.com is what appears to be a set of the same, unboxed, sitting unsold for at least a month, at about 10% of the eBay listing price – or an acceptable offer – which probably gives a better idea of real market value:
> https://www.letgo.com/en-us/i/scientology-advanced-clinical-courses-accs-full-set-brand-new_2e470163-c4f2-4371-ae13-20bd71bc2976
In looking at the picture of that building, it seems to me all that’s missing is a gallows in front of each door with a poor unfortunate hanging and a sign around their neck that reads,
“I gave everything I ever had to this scam in exchange for eternal happiness but all I got was pain and suffering. Please make it stop!”
Skyler,
Your comment suggested to me another appropriate quote to post over that door:
“The way is shut. It was made by those who are Dead, and the Dead keep it, until the time comes. The way is shut.”
Off topic. First of all I wanted to thank you Mike for the constancy in keeping us informed about the cult and for giving us the opportunity to always exchange our opinions in a constructive way.
Thanks to this blog I had the opportunity to meet again a friend from the times of the sea org. He follows this blog and partecipate to it.
He is not just one I knew. He is one of the best trusted friends I have had, with an excellent sense of humor and one with whom I have worked shoulder to shoulder doing extraordinary things.
Thanks Derek for being here!
Wonderful news!
Yes Mike it’s really a wonderful news. Thanks again.
LmR, I’m speechless! The feeling is 100% mutual and you still have your best trusted friend 🙂
Btw, you were the funniest guy on the whole base, we should meet up one of these days.
And that makes me think, who else is on this blog I know? Any EU Base or EU org people, feel free to get in touch with me.
And 1000x thanks to Mike for this blog so us ‘traumatized’ ex-staff/SO can re-connect again.
Derek, I answered already to the other comment.
I just wanted to add that it is so great finding you so well prepared on the scam cult and damn motivated.
I’ve sent you separately an idea I was thinking of. Let me know your opinion. No rush. When you have a few minutes.
I bless you twice.
Then there is also the factor that outrageous sums of money were given to IAS whose salesmen pledged the exchange would be a more peaceful world…..chanting
“A world without war, crime or insanity.”
And it does this while it is continually at war with its critics, former members, journalists, media, authors etc.
Hello Karen. I cannot prove the current mess in which this world finds itself is due to this scam. But all of the hatred they have heaped upon races other than Caucasian and sexual preferences other than hetero and all other religions have certainly not helped this world avoid this current mess – especially the race riots.
“The most ethical people in this world?” I see absolutely no truth in that. In fact, it seems clear a good argument can be made the leader(s) of this scam have made it one of the very least ethical groups in this world. Competent national governments would surely move to remove their tax exempt status as well as seeking to obliterate the whole filthy criminal scam. It is a curse upon the peoples of this world. Anyone reading this who is a part of a national government … please take heed to do what you can. Please?
Karen. This is a really good point.
If one now simply looks back without having to be critical and sees, as you say, all the money raised and the promises made, the first question that arises is:
Where the hell are the products?!?
In my opinion, even someone who is still inside, with his head underwater and gives money to the IAS, asks himself this question from time to time (then his ‘analytical mind’ immediately sends him an impulse “Damn! Be careful! It is possible that you are having a critical thought!”) .
Honestly to me the photo gives more of the idea of a courthouse with an attached prison (upstairs).
It is possible that where there is an org no gang or criminal dares to pass through it.
They know they could be body routed to watch some lame footage or have to take a 200 question test!
They stay well away.
Yeah, if they could communicate with anyone, and had the other claimed abilities to calm people and raise them on the tone scale (to address their “enturbulation”), they’d be out in front of the org handing out the WTH pamphlets and handling the situation. I’m pretty sure they justify giving up and hiding by imagining that they’d be dealing with the 2-1/2% they consider hopeless, though of course the number of people they actually write off or cut themselves off from is more like 20%, if not 80%.
Even if it were just the 2-1/2%, that would still be close to 10 million Americans and a quarter of a billion world citizens who Scientology’s supposedly “standard” techniques apparently fail.
p.s. From pictures I’ve seen, the Portland org suffered actual damage
PaceMaker. I agree. The only thing I personally will add is that they honestly don’t give a heck about others. Because the others don’t exist. To exist they must be on the cult lines and being similar to them. Like going on services, Ron’s fanatics or such things.
Way to Happiness? Way to SPness! It sounds better.
Peacemaker:”Even if it were just the 2-1/2%, that would still be close to 10 million Americans and a quarter of a billion world citizens who Scientology’s supposedly “standard” techniques apparently fail.
It is EVIDENT that scn’s “standard tech”[niques] fail to deliver the promised results 100% of the time.
Remember what Leah said about Katrina… give me a picture of the VM handing a bottle of water out to someone in New Orleans! I only want proof that the money I am giving is being used for what it was asked for!
Cynthia, don’t ask (for “proof”), and they won’t tell bad things about you — possibly.
I didn’t see any Scios handing out WTH here in Minneapolis, but since there’s about 30 in the whole region they’d be easy to miss.
For an organization that promotes the overt motivator sequence as 100% true, it’s a good idea to try to minimize the damages from the motivators due to their overts with wood pallets!
Eh=Eh said:
“it’s a good idea to try to minimize the damages from the motivators due to their overts with wood pallets!”
Sorry to say: That probably sounded better while it was in your head.
Still, there are MANY overts scientology has perpetrated which are likely to pull in effects they’d rather not experience; not only those involving pallets (or earlier-similar).
This is exactly why we left. Where are the results after a decade or two of giving yourself whole lifeti the greatest good for greater number? Ugh. Good point Mike. 💪🙏
RoseMarie, the exact point why i left the SO after 18 years; giving up friends, giving up living in your own house, the usual ‘wog’ MEST which actually makes life very comfortable, having gotten rid of most of your personal belongings, and – what really was the final straw – estranging your own family. And for what?!! There was absolutely ZERO results from what I and the rest of the SO was doing in EU! Au contraire, from having seen ALL EU orgs in person on a regular basis and having studied long term trends in CLO Data files (when I had access to them), as far back as was recorded ALL of scientology in EU was shrinking fast. With the only exception being MOS and STPete (Stpete russia that is). But now that MOS is closed down it only leave ST pete.
What a waste of time!
Mind you I also learnt invaluable lessons in the SO for which I am grateful despite all.
And I think that’s an important thing for all ex staff/SO, seeing the positive things as well, we all got something out of it. Important for recovering from the nightmare. You exes know what I am talking about.
Great picture and accompanying text. You wrap it up succinctly. Look at what they DO, not what they SAY.
What a picture! The front end that greets the public? This is a boastful religion?
What struck me as first I saw that pic, was that it looked like they were using pallets to barricade themselves in against an expected angry mob, as would be expected by any who know of scn’s hateful policies against blacks ( Ron’s rants against the “Cleared cannnibal” come to mind.)
SURE! blockade this side while you beat a hasty retreat out the back.
“The world is spiraling out of control due to the psychs and we need your money to stop it.”
I would very much like to ask the question, “Just what will you do with the money you get? How will you use that money to stop it?”
I know of nothing they have ever done to help people who have suffered natural or person-made disasters. The only way they will use that money that I can see is to print more booklets or to pay their private detectives to destroy lives. Perhaps someone may be thinking that if they destroy the lives of the people who are rioting or looting that will have a positive effect on the current unrest?
Skyler: You can ASK, but don’t expect anything in response but a rabid attack of you and yours until you are “destroyed UTTERLY” scientology can’t stand for any inspection of what they really do or are.
Jere, I certainly appreciate how that has happened in the past. But thanks to Mike and Leah and Valerie Haney and many other people who have spoken out and sued this criminal cult for many millions of dollars, it seems to me that much of the sting of this cult has been taken out of them.
I am certainly not very brave and I would never have spoken out like this a few years ago. However, since so many other brave souls have spoken out recently and many have taken the hits as a result, I am now willing to speak out whereas I would have def been too cowardly in the past.
However, I thank you for your your concern and I know you are trying to help protect me from harm and I thank you very kindly for that. I understand your concern and I appreciate that very much. It is very good of you to look out for others like me.
The world now seems to be on the brink of a terrible calamity and as such, it seems there are now many other terrible consequences that may be much worse than these criminals. More and more, I now see them as “paper tigers” instead of the real monsters they once were. People like Mike and Leah have taken a lot of the fight out of these monsters.
Skyler:
“More and more, I now see them as “paper tigers” instead of the real monsters they once were. ”
As a past CF clerk/officer, I can agree with the “paper” part, and they’ve proven quite capable in “stealing paper” — in the Snow White caper, for instance, and stealing trash & “unshredding” sensitive papers to dig up (literally) dirt on all who MIGHT, someday, offend them. paper tigers can still cause problems with their vast stores of papers— and other ephemera which other organizations would lose track of.
Jere, in my previous post I called them “paper tigers” but I should have been clear they are still capable of doing great harm to people – especially those who live on their premises or have family members who are still members. But it is becoming more difficult all the time for them to harm people who are not members and who have no family members who are members and who have never been audited and given them any info they can use as blackmail.
Thank you again for your thoughtful warning. I certainly did appreciate that very much.
Everything is an opportunity to fund raise in the $cieno world. The only question is, how many will answer the call? And will this ‘fund raising’ be the straw that broke the camels back?
Zee moo:”Everything is an opportunity to fund raise in the $cieno world.”
especially if you include the ‘fixed donations’ for ANY hour of their involvement with you. If you don’t pay, and pay, and pay, you get scant attention from them — other than to kick you out of their way.