New guy on the block - 'cept I'm a girl

[Claire Swazey]

So in this regime you have quickied grades, truncated books and yet you have insanely long Emeter courses and extra extra drills of a most clunky nature. And OTVII takes forever...

I would say where's the logic but we already knew that there isn't any...

 

[Commander Birdsong]

First, about the grades at Flag... I don't really know what changed, but in 2008-2009 or so, there was a top-secret "pilot" program on the grades. A bunch of auditors and C/S's in training (mostly OOTs, I think, oddly enough for such a top-secret project) were put into it. After it had been piloted, they started doing a big PR push to get people to Flag to go through their grades really fast. There were all these promises to public that they could come to Flag for a month and get through all the grades. They started an auditor apprenticeship program, typically done after the Class IV internship, and they started calling C/S's from all over the world back to Flag to learn how to deliver the "new, improved" grades. Supposedly all the improvements were a result of all the "lost" tech that was discovered while they were researching and restoring all the Basics and ACCs. I was a supervisor trainee and was done with my auditor training by the time this all got into full swing, so I don't know any details of what changed, though the word "quickie" always occurred to me when I heard how fast everything was going now.

As for how Flag is run, all the work is done by SO members, along with OOTs who have to do "work/study" when their orgs can't or won't pay for their room and board. The only hotel that OOTs do not work in is the Fort Harrison, which is manned entirely by SO. The housekeeping and wait staff are "tipped" by--what else?--survey cards, on which the customer "grades" the service with a number that then counts into the staff member's weekly stat to determine their post condition.

hmmm...

lemme see here...

<edit>

mutter,mutter...waitresses don't get tips?...mutter,mutter...blasphemy, slavery, fraud, are one thing. waitresses not getting tips will destroy western civilization ...mutter,mutter...

 

[GreyLensman]

Hmm...good question. I would say that on ESMB, if someone whose posts you're reading seems to be a non CofS Scientologist, see what he says. There are people here who are such and who've indicated great disagreement with Hubbard. My point being- that it really depends on the individual. Since the non CofS Scn scene is not centralized like the uber horrible CofS (not being sarcastic. They really are a horrible organization!), people are free to vary.

There are FZ yahoo group lists. My experience with them is that people there tend to be a tad bit party line, tech purist, etc. But even there, you get a spread of opinions.

My forum (just a little bitty one) is "tech friendly" but I allow and encourage critics to post. You do not need to set up an account to lurk or post. You can read anything on it. www.scnforum.org.

The Non CofS Scn scene is an odd one. It's a bunch of heretics. (which I approve of) But it does have some hidebound types and some people who aren't very nice, and it has some very nice people, as well. It's like anything else.

I've met some truly vicious people therein, actually, but, IMO, they are outnumbered by the nice ones. I would say the same of any venue. It's just that with Scn stuff, since they are telling you that it's good for what ails ya, it causes cognitive dissonance to run across some batfuck crazy or nasty shithead when it's advertised as a way to achieve enlightenment.

Just take people as individuals and if you're not 100% certain of where they stand or if they feel like it's all DM's fault and LRH was perfect or if they are critical of Hubbard, too, just ask 'em.

mich, I would trust Claire's advice. I've followed her writing through about five years now.

I would go a bit further and suggest you read broadly of the layers in the Scientological onion. There are valuable pieces in Scientology, in my opinion, for some people. But there is woven within it a tremendous trap and many layers of lies, intentionally placed there. I'm not convinced you can easily separate the "good" tech from the rest in any clean manner.

You have to have the knowledge to take responsibility for controlling your own path. That takes reading the LRH brainwashing manual, following some of the threads here on ESMB about the layers of the trap that is Scientology, being cognizant of the lies and evil purposes, seeing LRH for who he really was, and then stepping with care to find those things which are true for you.

Be aware that there is some blatant bullshit that passes for workable technology in the subject.

But - it's a better chance of a journey now than it was when you were inside and not allowed to look.

 

[mich]

Re: Miscavige worship at Flag

Hi Mich and Welcome

I will relate a little story about Miscavige worship at Flag.

Not so long ago, I was in the CW area on a little vacation and wanted to see the base following the latest remodels. I decided to treat a friend and his wife to lunch at the Hibiscus (upscale restaurant in the FH, for those that do not know).

We had a nice meal. And for public, Flag really is a very friendly place. The service was excellent and the Hibiscus manager came out and we had quite a nice long conversation that ended with a tour of the kitchen.

Anyway, the manager was telling us that DM had dinner there one day and ordered ribeye. After he was done, he told the manager that it was "the second best" ribeye steak he had ever had. Second best (Oh you, DM). The manager then says to us with reverence something like "And when Mr. Miscavige says something like that to you, you do NOT ignore it." With reverence.

So what do they do about only having the second best ribeye in DM's view? Well, they discover that he thinks the best ribeye is at some very high-end steakhouse in Manhattan. They discover what kind of equipment that steakhouse is using to cook their steaks, some kind of expensive special grill, and they buy that and install it in the Hibiscus. Then they bring the head chef at that restaurant down for, I think, a week, at who know how much money, to show them how to use it and how to cook that ribeye.

Is any of this "wrong"? No, if their purpose was to be the best steakhouse in Florida. But it was not. Their purpose was to spare no expense to satisfy a random whim of David Miscavige.

And that is fucked.

disinfected

LOL!!! You are so spot-on-the-money!! I did work-study at Flag (for those who don't know, you work in the hotels or gardens or berthings in exchange for your board and super-cramped lodgings) in the CB galley, but also in the Hotel Restaurants like the Hibiscus, when needed.

Sometime mid-2009 there was a lot of excitement, because a Top-ten US Chef had joined SO and was training the chefs from all the Hotels and the CB galley - but was it so they could offer their patrons and staff the best meals possible? No, siree - the focus was on being able to cook for DM (and any of his super-uniformed staff - all gold braid and scrambled eggs - in case they would tell DM about it) and have him approve. I thought it was just a "Hollywood" kinda thing - y'know, get some stardust rub off on you by being able to say you did something for someone famous. But I think you nailed it - they really do go out of their way to please DM, and every word is hung onto like gospel.

 

[mich]

What goals does Scientology have that you would be interested in achieving through the use of a more effective, faster tech?

I'm not thinking of "Scientology" goals. Personally, I'm interested in being more than I am in terms of not different, but better. I would like to have more understanding of others, the ability to see and think clearly without becoming angry or upset, be able to offer true solutions and real help instead of platitudes. I would like to have more ability in all spheres so that life is more fun, and not as much of a chore as it can sometimes be. I want to be able to love, even when I disagree. Put a smile on a low-toned face, instead of joining them in their pain or anger. Most of all I want the intelligence and strength to be able to maintain my integrity in the face of any opposition, and never feel the need to hurt or diminish another's integrity - even if he's just trying his best to be an asshole.

I would like the memory of all that I have gone through - after all, what was the purpose of all those lifetimes if it wasn't to learn from it? I would like to have skills in many areas that would be valuable to myself and others - to truly be of service because what I do is done well. I would like to serve humans like me, but also life in general (that's the African in me - I feel a bond with nature that makes nature as important as people to me)

If I could achieve this I would enjoy being human, and I don't care how I get there in terms of a technology or method, but I do care that it doesn't mean that someone has to lose so that I can win.

 

[mich]

I think even thinking in terms of tech is something I'd like to get away from. For those who want to do that, great. Unlike some, I have no problem with anyone practicing Scn outside CofS any more than I would if it were Idenics, Knowledgism or TIR or some mainstream religion or mode of thought.

But for me, I don't want "faster tech". I want my connection to the divine.

Well put. I don't know what the 'divine' is exactly, but 'connection' is the perfect word for what I'm looking for. I want to be integrated through service, to be a thread in the the tapestry, instead of feeling like the crud that's swept under the carpet.

 

[mich]

Mich,

I've just caught up on this thread (from #41 onward).

What blows me away from your description of how things at Flag are "currently" and Disinfected's story of his/her recent trip to Flag and the "second best steak" anecdote is how incredibly strong David Miscavige's psychological hold is over the inhabitants still hanging on inside the Scientology bubble.

I really do find this extraordinary. The way you've described the image held of him by staff and apparently some public still there is one of a strong, revered, tough but ultimately beneficent leader.

I have a very different take on David Miscavige, given the stories I've read and heard directly from people who've worked under him. I believe completely their stories about his pettiness, brutality and political and strategic stupidity.

I also find it astonishing that despite his small physical stature he has been able to intimidate other people -- particularly men -- who are so much larger than he is. Not that I don't believe the stories, but just that it really does astonish me.

The takeaway for me is that David Miscavige must be a truly world-class asshole.

One other thing -- you mentioned you're in your early 40s and yet you only started surfing the 'net last fall. I hope that doesn't mean you're really surfing all of the net for the first time now. But if it does, is that because you were warned by the Church to stay offline completely?

Thanks very much for all your information about how things are "inside" these days. I love getting the current scoop, since I've been gone so long.

TG1

P.S. Panda's and Arthur Dent's advice is great. You might consider remaining in "confusion" for a really long time. Nothing bad wil happen, I promise. And there really is very much to be confused about. So don't "quickie" the condition.

Thanks TG1,

First - yes I'm still in confusion and happy to stick around until I really can be sure I've found my stable datum and cleaned up the mess I've made of my life till now. You're right - there's no need to rush, and I don't believe it will hurt.

As for DM - I don't know what to tell you. I personally never met him, but have spoken to many who have. I think he learnt the same tricks Ron used. And in fact if you really apply the basics of TRs and ARC you can do the same. The difference is whether you do it with sincerity and integrity, or as control. Essentially he grants beingness - ie gives attention, not in a vague way but like a spotlight. I notice that I have a similar effect on new public who are not used to being truly listened to, unfortunately you can learn to do it without genuine interest, like Ron often did. I do know that those who have met DM come away with a desire to please, as though they need to return the flow. The intimidation comes from the fact that he's backed by the Church as it's leader, and because he learnt about the shock value of volume (not just in terms of sound, but in terms of intention too) - another of Ron's tricks. I've used it myself to ward off an attacker, as well as a scary dog. Naturally, only those who have worked with him on a regular basis would realise his petty nature - most only see him at his PR best - again, just like Ron.

On surfing - yes, I'm afraid I was a virgin until 43! Things are a little different in Africa - technology is not as freely available or as cheap as it is for Americans, and it took longer to arrive. The first time I saw TV I was seven years old - 1975! You guys were already on colour, when we were still on four hours a day, one channel, black and white. Having said that, I guess I wasn't that keen on learning because of the attitude I'd picked up from Scn - that as a source of data it was unreliable. Of course, now I'm like a kid in a candy shop - I can't stop! I used to get all my info from the local library, and that wasn't much, but now I can find out about anything - if I'm patient enough to keep looking. It's great, but a little daunting to come on board when there's so much to learn. If I'd grown with it, it would've been easier. BTW I've never played a video or computer game, besides solitaire, either. I'm way too scared I'll get hooked, and sucked down the black hole....

 

[mich]

Somehow this lovely thread in which our new member Mich introduces herself got sidetracked into a discussion of "tech" and "techs" that has nothing to do with her arrival, or her experience, or what -- as I understand it -- she came here to learn and to share.

I'd like to apologize for my part in that derail -- I really only meant to nip in the bud a gross misconception about members of this board, not to get into a big thing about it. I'll ask, even plead with, those interested in that "tech" discussion to start a new thread for it, and if it matters to anyone (it doesn't matter much to me, frankly), to take that discussion from here to there and let this one get back on track with a ...

WELCOME Mich! to the world of ESMB, where I hope you will enjoy your stay and continue to share with us your journey -- past, present, and future.

Dear Olska,

Are you kidding?!?!?! I love it!!! It's so freeing to be able to digress, follow the flow of the comm, without having to edit your thoughts. This is how I wish all comm was. I hate small-talk that lasts more than 10 minutes, and that's pretty much all I get from most of my friends and family. It used to be different in Scn, but then I became aware that we weren't allowed to talk about the very things I was interested in because we would be indulging in some form of verbal tech, or discussing case. At last I can say what I want, and hear what anyone else wants to say and I wouldn't give it up for anything. Besides, I loved your comments, and would be sad to think there might be more I would miss out on... mich

 

[TG1]

Wow, that's fascinating -- that DM has the reputation inside the Church of being so charismatic, of "granting beingness," and being highly charismatic.

I've heard (from others who've worked with him directly) that he screams and curses and degrades and makes less of others -- everybody, in fact. He doesn't act like that from the podium, of course. But the reports are when he's not in public he does everything he can do to make other staff members look awful and himself look superior to them.

Thanks for that information.

TG1

 

[mich]

Mich,

IMO, the most important thing you can do is to read all of the stuff out there on the Net and on this Board about El Ron, the Genus of the Red and Green “Tech” and just what Hisself was actually like, written by folks that actually knew El Ron or, Like Bent Corydon, were Red and Green "Tech" trained and did lengthy interviews with those folks. In my view, sorting things out begins with demystifying El Ron as “Source” and the “OT d’ OT’s”.

ESMB is not, IMO, “Factions”, “Groups”, “Types” or whatever else someone sees it as “Compartmentalized”, "Categorized" or “Explained” by…Gawd, didn't we all get enough of that in Scn? ESMB is just Folks that, like thee and me who, again IMO, are trying to figure out what happened, how do I make sense of “it”, what do I do now and who can I talk with that will “Grok” me, not judge me and or try to “Guru” me . Here on this Board are the words and stories of Folks from every era, continent, processing level, “Tech” training level and “Admin” training level…Up to and including Class XII’s trained by Hisself, OT 8’s and FEBC’s/DSEC’s, Ex Apollo Crew and Int 'Management"…And there are also the words and stories of Folks that knew El Ron and were the actual “source” of some of the “Breakthrough’s” El Ron bragged about Hisself having done.

Face

Thanks, Face. You are dead right! I have been reading stuff written by the author of "A piece of blue sky" and "Bare-faced messiah" and it has been amazing. I was actually walking around with a bit of a guilty conscience because 1) I thought Ron had creepy eyes, and never liked applauding his photos (can anyone say sychophant?) 2) I thought his books, photos and music were below par - I'd rather re-read Dune than suffer through any of his fiction works 3) I thought his lectures were self-serving egotism, and wished he would stick to the point or get to it, instead of preening in front of his audience. I guess I believed what everyone else was telling me about the wins I could have, because of the wins I did have on Dianetics, but I never stuck around because I was impressed with the man himself. I haven't stopped looking either, but now I'm more focused on what else is out there - I guess I'm just over Ron... It was swell, but the swelling's gone down.

 

[Auditor's Toad]

Originally Posted by Claire Swazey
<snip>
non CofS Scientology
<snip>
The Non CofS Scn scene

These are such hilarous combinations of terms.

a non church of scientology scientologist ? WTF is that ? Is it like a non Christian Christian ?

The non church of scientology scene of scientologists ? WTF is that ? Is is like non catholic catholic ?

Seems way too many unicorns and butterflies have filled that "space".

Couldn't those people come up with an original name for themselves or must they remain intimately tied to scientology to profit from it?

Is there any difference at all in those in church and those at the yard sale under the same banner that they at the same time claim not to be a part of?

Does this make sense ?

 

[mich]

mich, when you affirmed flag was exploding did you mean blowing apart or booming stats?

Definitely blowing apart!! Y'know the old "doomed to repeat history" saying? It always amazes me that every generation of bad guy is convinced that he can do what's been done before, but he's the one who'll get it right.

The explosion that Scientology was in the 60's was based on hot air, and as such it's created a vacuum that's gonna suck everything back into the space it came from. Flag is like that space. It is stealing public from it's "lower" orgs, causing them to dry up and die, until there won't be any orgs left to steal from..... coming soon to a theater near you!

 

[mich]

I give Mich a huge hug for bearing with a shitted up thread, well somewhat crapped-up. ARRRR, it do happen, loves ya no less!

Thanks, but I gotta say that I'd rather it be this way, than all sweet and light

 

[mich]

I need to amend this statement, it was actually exploding both ways. The stats were exploding but only because, as Mich mentioned earlier, they were importing public from the Class V orgs so they could quickie them up the Bridge. They were also pushing people onto the Basics and I truly believe most public agreed to come in one night/day a week just to get them off their backs. All this gave the appearance of exploding stats. At one point ALL staff, SO and OOTs, were ordered to do the STCC (Success Through Communications Course) regardless of whether they had done it before or not. Right there you have a over 2000 completions in about a month. So on the face of it things were going terrific at Flag with the "greatest expansion ever."

On the flip side, there were a shitload more ethics cycles occurring and quite a lot of whispered dissent, especially with OOTs. We were all subjected to meter checks, looking for dirty needles and rocks slams, after staff meetings a couple of times within a few months. I heard of a couple of people that had written up KRs or Things That Shouldn't Be Reports, on real and valid out points, only to be routed to ethics for being CI to "Command Intention." There were probably 3 OOTs that blew in a matter of months toward the end of my stay, I could have been one of them but I did it by the book because thought that I would have to disconnect from my friends here in Sydney if I blew, not knowing that they had already left themselves. Anyway, its really hard to blow inconspicuously when you arrived with 3 suitcases.

What she said, and then some

 

[mich]

I agree with Miss Pert's analysis of the different kinds of "explosion" happening at Flag in recent years. Add to the OOT (outer org trainee) explosion the huge "ideal" org push that really got going during 2009. To prepare for each org opening, large groups of tech recruits are brought in to get thru their training line-ups, sometimes in just a couple of months. It was impossible to do that within the usual structure of the program, so enter the unusual solutions.

I was there until mid-2010, and at that time, to get the ideal orgs trainees thru in time for their org's opening, they were put on study from about 8:30am to 11pm every day, with no personal time at all. Non-"ideal" trainees were taken off of their own training to be the coaches/twins/pc's for the ideal org trainees, who were one-way-flowed thru everything and forbidden to help anyone else. (So much for fair exchange and the "twinning" policy...) A friend of mine from the DC org did Level 4 in 5 days, including reading at least one Basics book. Her designated helper actually built her clay demo figures and made the labels, so all she had to do was assemble the demos.

Meanwhile, the other trainees had their training stopped, or were significantly hampered by the difficulty of finding their own coaches or pc's with so many resources being directed to the "ideal" org trainees.

So yeah, the training program at Flag is exploding. You decide whether it is "good" exploding or bad...

What she said too, with extra cream

 

[mich]

Here is some lovely caek for Mich! Big hugs! All is well!

Thanks sweetness, but next time can I get chocolate?

 

[mich]

thank both you and miss pert for the clarity and intelligence of your answers. is flag actually delivering "quickie grades" where less than all processes of the grade are run? i know so little of flag. how are the hotel and restaurant run? do chambermaids and waitresses and cooks receive market wages or staff "pay"? are non scientology people employed for some functions?

anyone with a more current report?

Sorry for being off-line for a couple of days and missing all the action... I noticed Semper Phi covered for me, as she often did while we were at Flag (now that's a friend!). I just want to add that seldom will Flag use non-scn for anything, because they have a free labour force that they can threaten until they get exactly what they want, regardless of the labour force's skill, ability or expertise in that arena. I I bet there's plenty of ex'es out there who can offer real-life examples (anyone?)

 

[mich]

mich, I would trust Claire's advice. I've followed her writing through about five years now.

I would go a bit further and suggest you read broadly of the layers in the Scientological onion. There are valuable pieces in Scientology, in my opinion, for some people. But there is woven within it a tremendous trap and many layers of lies, intentionally placed there. I'm not convinced you can easily separate the "good" tech from the rest in any clean manner.

You have to have the knowledge to take responsibility for controlling your own path. That takes reading the LRH brainwashing manual, following some of the threads here on ESMB about the layers of the trap that is Scientology, being cognizant of the lies and evil purposes, seeing LRH for who he really was, and then stepping with care to find those things which are true for you.

Be aware that there is some blatant bullshit that passes for workable technology in the subject.

But - it's a better chance of a journey now than it was when you were inside and not allowed to look.

Total agreement (fully there like a honey bear). I have noticed that some of my friends have found something else, without looking far, and are right back where they started.... I've had some awesome reality checks with "Bare-faced Messiah" and the guy who wrote "A piece of blue sky" and I have to say I won't be making any kind of decision until I've looked under every rock I can find. "Fool me once, shame on you - fool me twice shame on me" is my watchword...

 

[Terril park]

I'm not thinking of "Scientology" goals. Personally, I'm interested in being more than I am in terms of not different, but better. I would like to have more understanding of others, the ability to see and think clearly without becoming angry or upset, be able to offer true solutions and real help instead of platitudes. I would like to have more ability in all spheres so that life is more fun, and not as much of a chore as it can sometimes be. I want to be able to love, even when I disagree. Put a smile on a low-toned face, instead of joining them in their pain or anger. Most of all I want the intelligence and strength to be able to maintain my integrity in the face of any opposition, and never feel the need to hurt or diminish another's integrity - even if he's just trying his best to be an asshole.

I would like the memory of all that I have gone through - after all, what was the purpose of all those lifetimes if it wasn't to learn from it? I would like to have skills in many areas that would be valuable to myself and others - to truly be of service because what I do is done well. I would like to serve humans like me, but also life in general (that's the African in me - I feel a bond with nature that makes nature as important as people to me)

If I could achieve this I would enjoy being human, and I don't care how I get there in terms of a technology or method, but I do care that it doesn't mean that someone has to lose so that I can win.

You write so beautifully.

That you wish to be of service is a wonderful goal.

Dunno what you have achieved exactly, but I expect it is wonderful.

love

 

[mich]

You write so beautifully.

That you wish to be of service is a wonderful goal.

Dunno what you have achieved exactly, but I expect it is wonderful.

love

Ha! You are a charmer...