Clamming Up (rather off-topic) (2002/07/16)

Clamming Up (rather off-topic)

Posted by Simon Richardson on 2002/07/16 14:43

On Tue, 16 July 2002, Nick Waterman wrote

See this film.

Yes, I know it has Tom Cruise in it, but

... but by definition, that means you're supporting the scientologists, for
he is one of their richest members, and thus, almost by definition, one of
their biggest contributors.

By paying for a ticket, you are paying him, thus paying them. How about
"sneak into / steal / pirate this film"? ;-)

If you use this policy, you are not going to see many films. There
are a *lot* of clams in Hollywood.

... and for those who don't know who the scientologists are, see
http://www.xenu.com/

I know who the Scientologists are. But there's an argument that
says that they are collectors of "stupid tax". I don't really have
an objection to "stupid tax", since I don't have to pay it, and
neither do most members of IFIS.

The only worrying thing about Scientology is the fact that the
"technology" (essentially using galvanic skin response meters
to measure stress levels, and biofeedback to eliminate stress)
actually works. The main disputes are
1) it's too expensive to be value for money
2) it's dressed up as religion.

But the word is getting out. :-)

How do you feel about other stupidity taxes - like the National Lottery?

Or about "Battlefield: Earth" (which is, I believe, in the IFIS
library)? Or the report that Hubbard had a bet with his SF colleagues
that he could start a religion?

Clamming Up (rather off-topic)

Posted by Nick Waterman on 2002/07/16 15:57

How do you feel about other stupidity taxes - like the National
Lottery?

I have no objection to other people's stupidity taxes when they spend a fair
share on promoting arts, leisure, science, education, etc etc.

I do, however, object to stupidity taxes which are routinely and frequently
used to silence critics - even the "little people", to occasionally
(accidentally or otherwise) kill people who are trying to stop paying the
stupidity tax, and cover up the evidence.

As far as we know, the National Robberr, er, Lotterry doesn't have internal
policies like "[opponents] may be deprived of property or injured by any
means by any scientologist [...] May be tricked, sued or lied to or
destroyed". The National Lotterry doesn't sue people into submission, or
silence the media.

I'll admit that paying a movie theatre, who pays a movie company, who pays a
movie star, who pays a stupidity tax, which funds all kinds of sinister
evil... Is arguably a bit remote, but there's plenty of other good reasons
to boycott holywood if you wanted them:

- Hollywood want to put a lock on your VCR's "record" button, which they
control.
- Hollywood routinely shut down websites run by THEIR OWN FANS!
- Hollywood are the people who decided you shouldn't be allowed to watch
DVDs you have legitimately imported, and they intend to make your
tv/home-theatre equipment even harder to use in future.
- Hollywood and their buddies don't like you using your computer as a DVD
player, or even for playing CDs.
- I, like most other IFIS members, like to record Sci-Fi stuff that's on at
inconvenient times, watch it later, and fast-forward through the adverts.
Hollywood wants to make it impossible for me to "rob" them of this
advertising revenue.
- If I miss an episode, I like to think I could borrow it off an IFIS
friend, and I sometimes do the same in reverse. Hollywood wants to make this
impossible.

The list goes on. It's entirely our fault - we pay them too much, they think
they can get away with whatever they want. Myself included - I have seen
several hollywood movies recently, and intend to see several others soon,
but if you're going to cut down a little, why not start by avoiding the ones
starring the biggest scientologists?

There are a *lot* of clams in Hollywood.

Yes, there's plenty of other clams in hollywood, but "the cruise missile" is
one of the most prominent ones, and one of their biggest activists. He even
recently took time off from filming to go and campaign to some german
ministers to have scientology recognised as a genuine religion rather than a
dodgy cult. France has even outlawed scientology - way to go! :-)

Or about "Battlefield: Earth" (which is, I believe, in the IFIS library)?

Not read it. Is it worth it?

Or the report that Hubbard had a
bet with his SF colleagues
that he could start a religion?

I understand Heinlein's biggest regret was the infamous line "bet you can't
start a religion".

Conspiracy - innit loverley? :-)

Nick Waterman. Senior Blackberry Unix Systems Administrator,
Research In Motion http://www.rim.net/ #include <stddisclaimer>
Sent from my Blackberry Wireless Handheld!

Clamming Up (rather off-topic)

Posted by Nick Waterman on 2002/07/16 16:30

I do, however, object to stupidity taxes which are routinely
and frequently
used to silence critics - even the "little people", to occasionally
(accidentally or otherwise) kill people who are trying to
stop paying the
stupidity tax, and cover up the evidence.

By the way... I'm actually not as serious as I might sound... but I DO like
to attempt to understand all sides of the argument(s), and I do like to try
to illustrate them to other people too. Devil's advocate kind of thing.

I think the scientologists are probably far worse than just "stupidity tax
collectors for biofeedback therapy", but probably not as bad as Clambake
would imply. Darren's pointed out (hope he doesn't mind me saying) that the
BBC have a few far less sensationalistic, but still quite negative,
Scientology articles.

Nick Waterman, Blackberry Unix Systems Administrator, Research In Motion