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Scientology false advertising regarding refunds. Time for Class Action PDF Print E-mail
Essays and Articles
by Larry Brennan
a former high-ranking Scientologist.
IMHO it is time for a class action suit against David Miscavige and organized scientology for, amongst other things, false advertising and fraud relating to what they say and do with respect to refunds and repayments to dissatisfied customers.

First of all, here are a few broad facts:

1) scientology promotes that it will refund payments to dissatisfied customers. It has even made that clear in its filings with the IRS as part of getting its “non profit”, tax exempt recognitions from the IRS;

2) it professes to be a religion with religious scriptures and yet, unlike other religions, demands ten of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of dollars from its “parishioners” in order to share many of those “scriptures” with them. And it uses very hard sell, abusive and some times even illegal tactics to get many of those parishioners to pay such monies. They couch those payments in deceptive terms such as “fixed donations” when they are in fact mandatory payments for their services;

3) countless people are in fact dissatisfied with those services and want their money back. Yet the vast majority do not get their money back while organized scientology holds countless millions of dollars of these payments, accruing interest daily.

So how can it be that an organization that widely promotes that it will return monies to dissatisfied public has so many dissatisfied public who want their money back and yet do not in fact get it back?

IMHO it is because “the church” is guilty of blatant false advertising and fraud in their promotion to public and in their statements to governments on the subject of the return of monies to dissatisfied public.

“The church” has adopted a policy that monies will be returned only in two cases:

I) if the money was “on account” and not actually “used for services”; and/or

II) if the request for repayment was made within three months of “the service” being delivered.

Furthermore, it lays out something which on the surface sounds “fair enough”. It says that it has a “Claims Verification Board” that exists simply to “verify” that the monies were paid prior to returning them to the “parishioner”.

Oh but what a tangled web of deceit, lies and fraud is woven behind these seemingly innocent “policies”.

The facts are that “the church” is completely focused on money and has no real intention of returning same to anyone. They have in fact worked out many ways to prevent others from getting their money back that they do not mention in their promotions to either individuals or governments about this subject.

First of all, most people usually have the take the services to find out they were dissatisfied or in fact the services themselves were of a fraudulent nature and did not in and of themselves produce the results promised in “church” literature.

This means that perhaps the vast majority of potential claims for the return of monies paid are not in fact money any longer on account but rather are in the category made by “the church” of having to be claimed within three months of taking the service.

It is here where the most insidious and hidden fraud lies. “The church” has it rigged so that most people can never in fact claim a return of monies within three months of taking the services.

Just a few things that support this are:

1) I believe that just about anyone who made such payments did so because they believed “the church” would deliver the result promised. And many of those people made those payments under great “hard-sell” duress. But when they took the service and found that they did not get the results, they were told by “the church” that it was their fault and that they needed other handlings. These “handlings” be they “ethics”, “qual” or whatever would be dragged out to last well over the three months allotted for refund of payments;

2) the people taking the service were strictly forbidden, under severe penalties, from talking about their dissatisfaction with anyone else, nor could they look elsewhere (such as the internet) for help and so had no one else but organized scientology to go to in order to handle their dissatisfaction;

3) due to the very nature of the mental aspects of all this, it can take decades, not three months, for one to come to terms with the fraud perpetuated on them through the services they took. Very, VERY few people in my opinion are able to see through the lies in just three months;

4) perhaps the worst of it all, is that the church says that you will be declared a “suppressive person” if you get a return of monies. That means that if you are dissatisfied with your services and get the return of monies that they so widely promote as available, then in the eyes of “the church” you are a suppressive person. And this means that you will immediately lose all contact to family, friends and work that still remain in scientology. Most people will go through hell before they will give up their loved ones. And this prevents almost anyone from making their claim within three months, if ever. NO WHERE does “the church” say broadly in its benign-sounding promotion to potential paying public about refunds available that, should the person get the money back, they lose their family, friends and contacts still in scientology. Nor do they tell that part of it to the IRS or other governmental organizations. Oh how insidious that is!!!!

Now let’s look at the “Claims Verification Board” (CVB) routing form itself to see how this works.

I just got the current copy of the two page routing form this month.

If by some miracle the person wanting money back managed to rise above all the points covered earlier and in fact make his/her claim within three months, the routing form itself is rigged to stop the claim. Yet they will try to force you to do the routing form as they usually included language about it when you paid them the money.

The purpose of the routing form is NOT to get you your money back. Its stated purpose is: “To give the person seeking a refund or repayment a procedure which lays out what he is supposed to do”.

In a “NOTE TO THE CLAIMENT” on the form, “the church” makes it clear to the claimant that he/she must take the form in hand and see each person on the routing form, do the steps required with each person and then ensure it is mailed to the CVB.

He/she must see a “CHAPLAIN” and do what handlings the chaplain says to do. When all “handlings” are complete and he/she still wants a refund, he/she must get a signed statement of what the chaplain did, get all cancelled checks, invoices and receipts, do some paperwork with them and then take that all to a treasury secretary.

He/she also has to acknowledge that an “administrative charge” will be made by the CVB. No where does it say how much the charge will be.

Then, somehow, the claimant has to get from the treasury secretary various different statements from the “Technical Secretary”, the “Qualifications Secretary” and the “Flag Banking Officer” and then put all this together and send it to the CVB.

For anyone doing a routing form in most orgs that involve this many people good luck getting it through timely. But here it is even worse, you have to subject yourself to “handlings” by people who DO NOT want you to complete this form and who will get in trouble if you do complete this form. Every “stop” conceivable will be put on your actions to prevent this from going any further.

And remember, there is no time commitment for this form. You probably have to go out of town, stay in a hotel or whatever and be away from work while you somehow push this form through wherever the organization to whom you gave money is located.

Heaven forbid that you want money back from more than one organization (say a local org, flag and “the ship”) as you would have to go to all these places and separately do such a routing form for each one.

Now if by some miracle the CVB, in its own time, agrees that some portion of your money will be paid back (you don’t get to see that alleged “Board”) they inform the local Flag Banking Officer and the claimant by mail of the decision and arbitrarily decide what “the administrative charge” is.

Now, months later or whatever, when the claimant gets the above communication back from the CVB and the routing form back, he/she must go again to the organization, take it to an ethics officer, do whatever “actions” are listed and then you must fill out and sign a release, waiver and writ of expulsion (note: you sign all the above before you get any money back).

Now you, as an expelled person who may no longer have contact with your family, friends or anyone else still in organized scientology, must somehow take all this to the treasury secretary again with the written “attest” of the ethics officer and then somehow the org/orgs will give you back your money. There is no time limit put on this in the routing form. Could be days, weeks, months or years until the organization has the money to pay you.

And remember, you must do this for every organization from which you want your money back.

And here is a great one: The routing form says “If you have any difficulties in using this routing form or need any assistance in proper use of routing forms, please contact the Senior Routing Form I/C Int”. What????????? Who is that? How do you contact him/her? Does this mean that if you are stuck at flag in part one of your routing form that you somehow appeal to this unnamed person for help and just sit there out of town and away from work to wait and see if and when he/she will reply? Scheeesch!!!

Bottom line folks is that the whole “church” promotion about “friendly” refund policies is nothing more than false advertising and a complete fraud IMHO.

How many of you are out there now, dissatisfied and wanting your money back but have given up on it? Well you have been defrauded and you are the victims of false advertising. I believe that civil complaints can be made to relevant governmental bodies on this matter and a class action suit successfully prosecuted if we get together on this.

Through civil complaints perhaps we can get appropriate governmental bodies to take actions to force “the church” to cease lying about and otherwise misrepresenting their refund policies.

For example, I think that “the church” should have to include a very specific written briefing to all prospective payers for services that, should they request and get a refund of the monies they are being asked to pay now, all of their family, friends and business associates that remain in good standing with “the church” will be forced to disconnect from them. The church policies about suppressive persons should be made available and it made clear that they will be considered suppressive persons simply by virtue of getting a return of monies.

Additionally, “the church” should be forced to change its “CVB” policies so that all monies are returned within seven days of request (or some other appropriate finite number of days).

And, given the nature of the “services”, there should be no time limit for making a refund request.

These sort of things are needed to prevent false advertising and fraud on this subject.

I say send your information to Factnet along with anything else covered in their questionnaire. See this post:

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.r…20e202cc0cdcff

Let us each who wants a refund compare notes and resources and see what can be done about this. Together we have an overwhelming, compelling story. We just need to get together on this more. The Factnet thing is a great start.

If anyone is already dealing with an attorney or legal help center, I suggest we get our respective representatives in touch with each other now.

We can do something about this! It’s really just one man that stops us. That would be David Miscavige. The rest of corporate scientology is nothing more than his alter ego IMHO.

SME

 
Education Is Not A Hate Crime PDF Print E-mail
Essays and Articles
From: Dave Touretzky < This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it >
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
Subject: A gift for Anonymous: govt. contact info
Date: 25 Feb 2008 03:35:12 -0500


The following information was compiled by someone who has worked
quietly behind the scenes for some years to try to get the US
government to do something about the Scientology problem.  As a gift
to "Anonymous" this individual has compiled a list of government
contacts and encourages everyone to write to these addresses to
express their concerns.

================================================================

            EDUCATION IS NOT A HATE CRIME

In preparation for the March 15, 2008, peaceful protest at Scientology
facilities around the world:

This is a resource page to aid you in reporting your experience with
the Church of Scientology to U.S. government agencies.  Any attempt to
silence, intimidate, harass, or prevent you from contacting these
agencies should be reported to the FBI or local law enforcement
(police or sheriff).


The Hon. Henry Waxman, Chairman
U. S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
2157 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Congressman??s phone:  202-225-3976
Oversight Committee Phone:  202-225-5051
Email:  go to http://oversight.house.gov  then click on "contact"
Fax:  202-225-8185

This committee should receive copies of all communications made to
other governmental agencies

The committee has the power to subpoena witnesses should an
investigation ever take place regarding the issuing of a tax-exempt
status given to the Church of Scientology in 1993, countermanding a
1989 decision of the U. S. Supreme Court in Hernandez vs. IRS.

* * *

The Hon. Howard Berman, Chairman
U. S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs
2170 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Congressman's phone: 202-255-4695
Committee phone:  202-225-5021
Fax:  202-225-2035
E-mail:  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Web:  http://foreignaffairs.house.gov

Persons living outside of the United States can report on the impact
that the U.S. acceptance of the Church of Scientology as a tax exempt
organization has had in those countries.


Michael Cromartie, Chairman
United States Commission on International Religious Freedom
800 N. Capital Street, N.W., Suite 790
Washington, D.C.  20002
Phone:  202-523-3240
Fax:  202-523-5020
E-mail:  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Web:  www.uscirf.gov

This is one of the most powerful Commissions which form public policy.
It makes non- binding policy recommendations to the President,
Secretary of State, and Congress in matters involving international
religious freedom.  This Commission can be informed of the many
allegations of Scientology's violations of Article 18 of the Universal
Declaration of Human Right which states "Everyone has the right to
freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes
freedom to change his religion or belief??.".

* * *

The Hon. John Hanford, III
Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom
The Office of International Religious Freedom
U.S. Department of State
Room 4829a Harry Truman Bldg.
2201 C St. NW
Washington, DC  20520
Phone:  202-647-0463 (Director of the office, Stephen Liston)

This office produces the Annual Report on International Religious
Freedom which has criticized Germany for its continued surveillance of
the Church of Scientology.  It works in cooperation with the
U. S. Commission of Religious Freedom, established by Congress.  It
must be encouraged to examine the behavior of Scientology as reported
in the German study and which is at the basis of the German action.

* * *

Mr. John Hein, Director
The White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiative
The White House
Washington, DC 20502
Phone:  202-456-6708
Fax:  202-456-7019
www.fbci.gov

This office deals with issues involving support of faith-based
organizations and their connection to aid programs financed by the
Federal Government

Mr. Eric Treene Special Counsel for Religious Discrimination
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, D.C.  20530
Phone:  202-353-8622
E-mail:  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
FAX: 202-305-2572

This new office, established in 2007, deals with the protection of
religious liberty but also deals with complaints regarding religious
freedom issues.  Report attempts by the Church of Scientology to
retain members by threats, harassment, forced separation from family
members, demands for payments for courses taken in the past in
violation of Article 18 of the U. N. Declaration of Human Rights.

* * *

Commissioner Alcee Hastings, Chairman
Commission of Security and Cooperation in Europe
U.S. Helsinki Commission
234 Ford House Office Bldg
3rd and D St. SW
Washington, DC  20515
Phone:  202-225-1901
Fax:  202-226-4199
E-mail:  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Web page:  www.csce.gov

This Commission monitors acts by member nations which reflects
compliance or violations of the First Act of the Conference.
Violations of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
can be brought to their attention.  In the case of the Church of
Scientology, it would apply to the many alleged ways in which they
attempt to retain members.  (See Department of Justice above.)

* * *

The Hon. Joseph Biden, Chairman
United States Senate  Committee on Foreign Relations
201 Senate Russell Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone:   202-244-5042
Fax:  202-244-0139

The criticisms which some have regarding the German government's
refusal to recognize the Church of Scientology as other than a profit
making organization could be investigated by this committee.  A study
of the German government's documents would shed light on the decision
Germany made.

* * *

Commissioner Andrew C. Von Eschenback, MD
Food and Drug Administration
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD  20857
www.fda.gov

Issues regarding claims made by the Church of Scientology regarding
health issues and programs and instruments used to deal with health
issues could be brought to the attention of the FDA.  Persons who have
experienced adverse effects from acting upon the medical
recommendations of Scientology should document their personal
experiences.

* * *

The Hon. Henry Paulson, Jr.
Secretary of the Treasury
1500 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, DC  20220
Phone:  202-622-1100
Fax:  202-622-0000
Web:  www.ustreas.gov

The Secretary of the Treasury has responsibility for the Internal
Revenue Service.  Persons with knowledge of issues involved in the
granting of a tax-exempt status to the Church of Scientology in 1993
or other information regarding the financial activity of the
organization or any of its front groups could direct their concerns
directly to his office with a copy to

Acting Director Linda Stiff
Internal Revenue Service
1111Constitution Ave. NW
Washington, DC  20224
        Phone:  202-622-9511
        Email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
        
        and
        
        IRS EO Classification
        Mail Code 4910DAL
        1100 Commerce St.
        Dallas, TX  75242
        Fax:  214-413-5415
        Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
        
* * *

The Hon. John Conyers, Chairman
House Judiciary Committee
Room 2138 Rayburn House Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C., 20515
Phone: 202-225-3951
Fax:  202-225-7680
Web: www.judiciary.house.gov
Email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it /conyers

This committee should be made aware of the abuse of the Digital
Millennium Copyright Act which is used by the Church of Scientology to
silence critics.


The only way that our government can know that you have been hurt is
for you to say "ouch".  Contact these agencies today. Scientology will
no doubt react with a campaign of their own.

To find contact information for your local Senator or Congressman go to:

  http://www.senate.gov
  http://www.house.gov

 
Twenty-Five Ways to Suppress Truth: The Rules of Disinformation PDF Print E-mail
Essays and Articles

Twenty-Five Ways To Suppress Truth:   The Rules of Disinformation  (Includes The 8 Traits of A Disinformationalist)  by H. Michael Sweeney
 copyright (c) 1997, 2000 All rights reserved
 (Revised April 2000)

Permission to reprint/distribute hereby  granted for any non commercial use provided information reproduced in its entirety and with author information intact. For more Intel/Shadow government related info, visit the Author's Web site: <http://www.proparanoid.com>

 Twenty-Five Rules of Disinformation

Built upon Thirteen Techniques for Truth  Suppression by David Martin, the following may be useful to the initiate  in the world of dealing with veiled and half-truth, lies, and suppression of truth when serious crimes are studied in public forums. This, sadly, includes every day news media, one of the worst offenders with respect to being a source of disinformation. Where the crime involves a conspiracy, or a conspiracy to cover up the crime, there will invariably be a disinformation campaign launched against  those seeking to uncover and expose the truth and/or the conspiracy. There are specific tactics which disinfo artists tend to apply, as revealed here. Also included with this material are seven common traits of the disinfo artist which may also prove useful in identifying players and motives.

 

The more a particular party fits the traits and is guilty of following the rules, the more likely they are a professional disinfo artist with a vested motive. People can be bought, threatened, or blackmailed into providing disinformation, so even "good guys" can be suspect in many cases.

A rational person participating as one interested in the truth will evaluate that chain of evidence and conclude either that the links are solid and conclusive, that  one or more links are weak and need further development before conclusion can be arrived at, or that one or more links can be broken, usually invalidating (but not necessarily so, if parallel links already exist or can be found, or if a particular link was merely supportive, but not in itself key to) the argument. The game is played by raising issues which either strengthen or weaken (preferably to the point  of breaking) these links. It is the job of a disinfo artist to interfere with these evaluations... to at least make people think the links are weak or broken when, in truth, they are not... or to propose alternative solutions leading away from the truth. Often, by simply impeding and slowing down the process through disinformation tactics, a level of victory  is assured because apathy increases with time and rhetoric.

It would seem true in almost every instance, that if one cannot break the chain of evidence for a given solution, revelation of truth has won out. If the chain is broken either a new link must be forged, or a whole new chain developed, or the solution is invalid and a new one must be found... but truth still wins out. There is no shame in being the creator or supporter of a failed solution, chain, or link, if done with honesty in search of the truth. This is the rational approach. While it is understandable that a person can become emotionally involved with a particular side of a given issue, it is  really unimportant who wins, as long as truth wins. But the disinfo artist will seek to emotionalize and chastise any failure (real or false claims thereof), and will seek by means of intimidation to prevent discussion  in general.

It is the disinfo artist and those who may pull their strings (those who stand to suffer should the crime be solved) MUST seek to prevent  rational and complete examination of any chain ofevidence which would hang them. Since fact and truth seldom fall on their own, they must be overcome with lies and deceit. Those who are professional in the art of lies and deceit, such as the intelligence community and the professional criminal (often the same people or at least working together), tend to apply fairly well defined and observable tools in this process.However, the public at large is not well armed against such weapons, and is often easily ledastray by these time-proven tactics. Remarkably, not even media and law enforcement have
NOT BEEN TRAINED to deal with these issues. For the most part, only the players themselves understand the rules of the game.

For such disinformationalists, the overall aim is to avoid discussing links in the chain of evidence which cannot be broken by truth, but at all times, to use clever deceptions or lies to make select links seem weaker than they are, create the illusion of a break, or better still, cause any who are considering the chain to be distracted in any number of ways, including the method of questioning the credentials of the presenter. Please understand that fact is fact, regardless of the source. Likewise, truth is truth, regardless of the source. This is why criminals are allowed to testify against other criminals. Where a motive to lie may truly exist, only actual evidence that the testimony itself  IS a lie renders it completely invalid. Were a known 'liar's' testimony to stand on its own without supporting fact, it might certainly be of questionable value, but if the testimony (argument) is based on verifiable or otherwise demonstrable facts, it matters not who does the presenting or what their motives are, or if they have lied in the past or even if motivated to lie in this instance -- the facts or links would and should stand or fall on their own merit and their part in the matter will merely be supportive.

Moreover, particularly with respects to public forums such as newspaper letters to the editor, and Internet chat and news groups, the disinfo type has a very important role. In these forums, the principle topics of discussion are generally attempts by individuals to cause other persons to become interested in their own particular position, idea, or solution -- very much in development at the time. People often use such mediums as a sounding board and in hopes of pollination to better form their ideas. Where such ideas are critical of government or powerful, vested groups (especially if their criminality is the topic), the disinfo artist has yet another role -- the role of nipping it in the bud. They also seek to stage the concept, the presenter, and any supporters as less than credible should any possible future confrontation in more public forums result due to their early successes. You can often spot the disinfo types at work here by the unique application of "higher standards" of discussion than necessarily warranted. They will demand that those presenting arguments or concepts back everything up with the same level of expertise as a professor, researcher, or investigative writer. Anything less renders anydiscussion meaningless and unworthy in their opinion, and anyone who disagrees is obviously stupid -- and they generally put it in exactly those terms.

So, as you read any such discussions, particularly so in Internet news groups (NG), decide for yourself when a rational argument is being applied and when disinformation, psyops (psychological warfare operations) or trickery is the tool. Accuse those guilty of the latter freely. They (both those deliberately seeking to lead you astray, and those who are simply foolish or misguided thinkers) generally run  for cover when thus illuminated, or -- put in other terms, they put up or shut up (a perfectly acceptable outcome either way, since truth is the goal.) Here are the twenty-five methods and seven traits, some of which don't apply directly to NG application. Each contains a simple example in the form of actual (some paraphrased for simplicity) from NG comments on commonly known historical events, and a proper response.[examples & response- http://www.proparanoid.com/truth.html]

Accusations should not be overused -- reserve for repeat offenders and those who use multiple tactics. Responses should avoid falling into emotional traps or informational sidetracks, unless it is feared that some observers will be easily dissuaded by the trickery. Consider quoting the complete rule rather than simply citing it, as others will not have reference. Offer to provide a complete copy of the rule set upon request   (see permissions statement at end):


Twenty-Five Rules of Disinformation

Note: The first rule and last five (or six, depending on situation) rules are generally not directly within the ability of the traditional disinfo artist to apply. These rules are generally used more directly by those at the leadership, key players, or planning level of the criminal conspiracy or conspiracy to cover up.

1. Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil.  Regardless of what you know, don't discuss it -- especially if you are a public figure, news anchor,  etc. If it's not reported, it didn't happen,  and you never have to deal with the issues.
2. Become incredulous and indignant.  Avoid discussing key issues and instead focus  on side issues which can be used show the topic  as being critical of some otherwise sacrosanct group or theme. This is also known as the  'How dare you!' gambit.
3. Create rumor mongers.  Avoid discussing issues by describing all charges, regardless of venue or evidence, as mere rumors and wild accusations. Other derogatory terms mutually exclusive of truth may work as well. This method which works especially well with a silent press, because the only way the public  can learn of the facts are through such 'arguable rumors'. If you can associate the material with the Internet, use this fact to certify it a 'wild rumor' from a 'bunch of kids on the Internet' which can have no basis in fact.
4. Use a straw man. Find or create a seeming element of your opponent's   argument which you can easily knock down to make  yourself look good and the opponent to look bad. Either make up an issue you may safely imply exists based on your interpretation of the opponent/opponent arguments/situation, or select the weakest aspect of the weakest charges.  Amplify their significance and destroy them in a way which appears to debunk all the charges, real and fabricated alike, while actually avoiding discussion of the real issues.
5. Sidetrack opponents with name calling and ridicule.  This is also known as the primary 'attack the messenger'  ploy, though other methods qualify as variants of that approach. Associate opponents with unpopular titles such as 'kooks', 'right-wing', 'liberal', 'left-wing', 'terrorists', 'conspiracy buffs',  'radicals', 'militia', 'racists', 'religious fanatics',  'sexual deviates', and so forth. This makes others  shrink from support out of fear of gaining the same label, and you avoid dealing with issues.
6. Hit and Run. In any public forum, make a brief attack of your opponent or the opponent position and then scamper off before an answer can be fielded, or simply ignore any answer. This works extremely well in Internet  and letters-to-the-editor environments where a steady stream of new identities can be called upon without having to explain criticism, reasoning -- simply make an accusation or other  attack, never discussing issues, and never answering any subsequent response, for that would dignify the opponent's viewpoint.
7. Question motives. Twist or amplify any fact which could be taken to imply that the opponent operates out of a hidden personal  agenda or other bias. This avoids discussing issues and forces the accuser on the defensive.
8. Invoke authority. Claim for yourself or associate yourself with authority and present your argument with enough 'jargon' and 'minutia' to illustrate you are 'one who knows', and simply say it isn't so without discussing issues or demonstrating concretely why or citing sources.
9. Play Dumb. No matter what evidence or logical argument is offered, avoid discussing issues except with denials they have any credibility, make any sense, provide any proof, contain or make a point, have logic, or support a conclusion. Mix well for maximum effect.
10. Associate opponent charges with old news. A derivative of the straw man -- usually, in any large-scale matter of high visibility, someone will make charges early on which can be or were already easily dealt with - a kind of investment for the future should the matter not be so easily contained.) Where it can be foreseen, have your own side raise a straw man issue and have it dealt with early on as part of the initial contingency plans. Subsequent charges, regardless of validity or new ground uncovered, can usually then be associated with the original charge and dismissed as simply being a rehash without need to address current issues -- so much the better where the opponent  is or was involved with the original source.
11. Establish and rely upon fall-back positions.  Using a minor matter or element of the facts, take the 'high road' and 'confess' with candor that some innocent mistake, in hindsight, was made -- but that opponents have seized on the opportunity to blow it all out of proportion and imply greater criminalities which, 'just isn't so.' Others can reinforce this on your behalf, later, and even publicly 'call for an end to the nonsense' because you have already 'done the right thing.' Done properly, this can garner sympathy and respect for 'coming clean' and 'owning up' to your mistakes without addressing more serious issues.
12. Enigmas have no solution.  Drawing upon the overall umbrella of events surrounding the crime and the multitude of players and events, paint the entire affair as too complex to solve. This causes those otherwise following the matter to begin to lose interest more quickly without having to address the actual issues.
13. Alice in Wonderland Logic. Avoid discussion of the issues by reasoning backwards or with an apparent deductive logic
which forbears any actual material fact.
14. Demand complete solutions. Avoid the issues by requiring opponents to solve the crime at hand completely, a ploy which works best with issues qualifying for rule 10.
15. Fit the facts to alternate conclusions.  This requires creative thinking unless the crime  was planned with contingency conclusions in place.
16. Vanish evidence and witnesses.  If it does not exist, it is not fact, and you won't have to address the issue.
17. Change the subject. Usually in connection with one of the other ploys  listed here, find a way to side-track the discussion with abrasive or controversial comments in hopes of turning attention to a new, more manageable topic. This works especially well with companions who can  'argue' with you over the new topic and polarize the discussion arena in order to avoid discussing more key issues.
18. Emotionalize, Antagonize, and Goad Opponents. If you can't do anything else, chide and taunt your opponents and draw them into emotional responses which will tend to make them look foolish and overly motivated, and generally render their material somewhat less coherent. Not only will you avoid discussing the issues in the first instance, but even if their emotional response addresses the issue, you can further avoid the issues by then focusing on how 'sensitive they are to criticism.'
19. Ignore proof presented, demand impossible proofs. This is perhaps a variant of the 'play dumb' rule.  Regardless of what material may be presented by an opponent in public forums, claim the material irrelevant  and demand proof that is impossible for the opponent to come by (it may exist, but not be at his disposal, or it may be something which is known to be safely destroyed or withheld, such as a murder weapon.) In order to completely avoid discussing issues, it may be required that you to categorically deny and be critical of media or books as valid sources, deny that witnesses are acceptable, or even deny that statements made by government or other authorities have any meaning or relevance.
20. False evidence. Whenever possible, introduce new facts or clues designed and manufactured to conflict with opponent presentations -- as useful tools to neutralize sensitive issues or impede resolution. This works best when the crime was designed
with contingencies for the purpose, and the facts cannot be easily separated from the fabrications.
21. Call a Grand Jury, Special Prosecutor, or other  empowered investigative body. Subvert the (process) to your benefit and effectively neutralize all sensitive issues without open discussion. Once convened, the evidence and testimony are required to be secret when properly handled. For instance, if you own the prosecuting attorney, it can insure a Grand Jury hears no useful evidence and that the evidence is sealed and unavailable to subsequent investigators. Once a favorable verdict is achieved, the matter can be considered officially closed. Usually, this technique is applied to find the guilty innocent, but it can also be used to obtain charges when seeking to frame a victim.
22. Manufacture a new truth. Create your own expert(s), group(s), author(s), leader(s) or influence existing ones willing to forge new ground via scientific, investigative, or social research or testimony which concludes favorably. In this way, if you must actually address issues, you can do so authoritatively.
23. Create bigger distractions. If the above does not seem to be working to distract from sensitive issues, or to prevent unwanted media coverage of unstoppable  events such as trials, create bigger news stories (or treat them as such) to distract the multitudes.
24. Silence critics. If the above methods do not prevail, consider removing opponents from circulation by some definitive solution so that the need to address issues is removed entirely. This can be by their death, arrest and detention, blackmail or destruction of theircharacter by release of blackmail information, or merely by destroying them financially, emotionally, or severely damaging their health.
25. Vanish. If you are a key holder of secrets or otherwise overly illuminated and you think the heat is getting too hot, to avoid  the issues, vacate the kitchen. .

Note: There are other ways to attack truth, but these listed are the most common, and others are likely derivatives of these. In the end, you can usually spot the professional disinfo players by one or more of seven (now 8) distinct traits:

 

Eight Traits of the Disinformationalist

by H. Michael Sweeney <

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copyright (c) 1997, 2000 All rights reserved

(Revised April 2000 - formerly SEVEN Traits)
 

1) Avoidance. They never actually discuss issues head-on or provide constructive input, generally avoiding citation of references or credentials. Rather, they merely imply this, that, and the other. Virtually everything about  their presentation implies their authority and  expert knowledge in the matter without any further justification for credibility.

2) Selectivity. They tend to pick and choose opponents carefully, either applying the hit-and-run approach against mere commentators supportive of opponents, or focusing heavier attacks on key opponents who are known to directly address issues. Should a commentatorbecome argumentative with any success, the focus will shift to include the commentator as well.

3) Coincidental. They tend to surface suddenly and somewhat coincidentally with a new controversial topic with no clear prior record of participation in general discussions in the particular public arena involved. They likewise tend to vanish once the topic is no longer of general concern. They were likely directed or elected to be there for a reason, and vanish with the reason.

4) Teamwork. They tend to operate in self-congratulatory and complementary packs or teams. Of course, this can happen naturally in any public forum, but there will likely be an ongoing pattern of frequent exchanges of this sort where professionals are involved. Sometimes one of the players will infiltrate the opponent camp to become a source for straw man or other tactics designed to dilute opponent presentation strength.

5) Anti-conspiratorial. They almost always have disdain for 'conspiracy theorists' and, usually, for those who in any way believe JFK was not killed by LHO. Ask yourself why, if they hold such disdain for conspiracy theorists, do they focus on defending a single topic discussed in a NG focusing on conspiracies? One might think they would either be trying to make fools of everyone on every topic, or simply ignore the group they hold in such disdain.Or, one might more rightly conclude they have  an ulterior motive for their actions in going out of their way to focus as they do.

6) Artificial Emotions. An odd kind of 'artificial' emotionalism and an unusually thick skin -- an ability to persevere and persist even in the face of overwhelming criticism and unacceptance. This likely stems from intelligence community training that, no matter how condemning the evidence, deny everything, and never become emotionally involved or reactive. The net result for a disinfo artist is that emotions can seem artificial. Most people, if responding in anger, for instance, will express their animosity throughout their rebuttal. But disinfo types usually have trouble maintaining the 'image' and are hot and cold with respect to pretended emotions and their usually more calm or unemotional communications style. It's just a job, and they often seem unable to 'act their role in character' as well in a communications medium as they might be able in a real face-to-face  conversation/confrontation. You might have outright rage and indignation one moment, ho-hum the next, and more anger later -- an emotional yo-yo. With respect to being thick-skinned, no amount of criticism will deter them from doing their job, and they will generally continue their old disinfo patterns without any adjustments to criticisms of how obvious it is that they play that game -- where a more rational individual who truly cares what others think might seek to improve their communications style, substance, and so forth, or simply give up.

7) Inconsistent. There is also a tendency to make mistakes which betray their true self/motives. This may stem from not really knowing their topic, or it may be somewhat 'freudian', so to speak, in that perhaps they  really root for the side of truth deep within.

I have noted that often, they will simply cite contradictory information which neutralizes  itself and the author. For instance, one such  player claimed to be a Navy pilot, but blamed his poor communicating skills (spelling, grammar, incoherent style) on having only a grade-school education. I'm not aware of too many Navy pilots who don't have a college degree. Another claimed no knowledge of a particular topic/situation but later claimed first-hand knowledge of it.

8) BONUS TRAIT: Time Constant. Recently discovered, with respect to News Groups, is the response time factor. There are three ways this can be seen to work, especially when the government or other empowered player is involved in a cover up operation:

1) ANY NG posting by a targeted proponent for truth  can result in an IMMEDIATE response. The government and other empowered players can afford to pay people to sit there and watch for an opportunity to do some damage. SINCE DISINFO IN A NG ONLY WORKS IF THE READER SEES IT - FAST RESPONSE IS CALLED FOR, or the visitor may be swayed towards truth.

2) When dealing in more direct ways with a disinformationalist, such as email, DELAY IS CALLED FOR - there will usually be a minimum of a 48-72 hour delay. This allows a sit-down team discussion on response strategy for best effect, and even enough time to 'get permission' or instruction from a formal chain of command.

3) In the NG example 1) above, it will often ALSO be seen that bigger guns are drawn and fired after the same 48-72 hours delay - the team approach in play. This is especially true when the targeted truth seeker or their comments are considered more important with respect to potential to reveal truth. Thus, a serious truth sayer will be attacked twice for the same sin.  

I close with the first paragraph of the introduction to my unpublished book, Fatal Rebirth:
Truth cannot live on a diet of secrets, withering within entangled lies. Freedom cannot live on a diet of lies, surrendering to the veil of oppression. The human spirit cannot live on a diet of oppression, becoming subservient in the end to the will of evil. God, as truth incarnate, will not long let stand a world devoted to such evil. Therefore, let us have the truth and freedom our spirits require... or let us die seeking these things, for without them, we shall surely and justly perish in an evil world.
 
Essay: The Scientology Symbol PDF Print E-mail
Essays and Articles
Line drawing from Modern Management Technology Defined (c) 1976 L. Ron Hubbard
Line drawing from Modern Management Technology Defined (c) 1976 L. Ron Hubbard
Hubbard sanitized Crowley's teachings and created Scientology—not as a way to create independent and conscious magicians, but as his personal magical working, to further his own personal ends.

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a.r.s.: Comment on New Era Dianetics for OTs Series 36 PDF Print E-mail
Usenet
From: cultxpt < This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it >
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
Subject: the murderous cluster
Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2007 15:31:52 -0000
Organization: http://groups.google.com
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 "I've even encountered a cluster that made a profession out of
killing patients in hospitals - the doctors would wonder why a patient
was fine and then all of a sudden take a turn for the worse and
die." (NOTs 36)

   What would you do as an auditor if you came across a murderous
cluster?  Would you call the police?

police - "911, what is your emergency?"

PC - [whispering] "There's a murderous cluster in my right elbow! Come
quickly!"

police - "Has someone been killed?"

PC - "Yes! They said they've killed dozens of people!"

police - "Where are you now, sir?"

PC - "210 S. Ft. Harrison! Come quickly!  I'll keep them
distracted.... hey guys! Watch this spinning chair..."

   What did LRH do when he encountered this murderous cluster?  Did he
send them happily on their way, with no repercussions for the
murders?  Is there a BT prison?  Judicial system?
   How do you pay a murderous cluster?  How do you hire a Cluster hit
team?  Who hires them?


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