Flagdown 2014: media coverage, etc
- Thread starter sallydannce
- Start date
Type4_PTS
Diamond Invictus SP
Cross-posting this from the Bunker:
AutOmatic 11 hours ago
I'm recording an audio feed, will process/master it later and upload it for those who want
I was there at Flagdown last night but won't make any comments yet as I'm extremely tired and shouldn't even be awake.
I'll just say that it was awesome meeting some other ESMB members last night for the first time IRL, including Arnie Lerma and Mr. Galactic Patrol. And looking forward to meeting more in the days to come.
Smurf
Gold Meritorious SP
Yes.
Lone Star
Crusader
Unbelievable! Epic fail that she's in charge.
I had my own run-in with her on WWP last Dec. She has a very self inflated opinion of herself.
On second thought.....meh.
I hope Laura gets the help she needs one day.
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Innominate Dude
No Longer Around
I quite agree.
The problem may be that Bunker is too closely associated with the Lisa McPherson Trust. That entity was set up as a FOR PROFIT entity, a major footbullet. The fact that LMT was FOR PROFIT has been used to excellent persuasive effect by the other side, and association of other critics with that FOR PROFIT entity is a liability that gets in the way of their message.
I don't know that this is the reasoning behind this, but I do know that the LMT FOR PROFIT status is a major persuasive point on the other side, and clearly Mark Bunker has a lingering association withe that. However thought up that aspect of it goofed the floof in a major way.
Lermanet_com
Gold Meritorious Patron
I was trying to settle things down, not stir them up. And I also spoke with Pete.
Everything I typed was true.
Have a pleasant day, I certainly will..
arnie
-------------------
Rog see THIS post
Re Flag down etc.....I was never named on that injunction...
I was frivolously charged with violating it in 2001? was it? and found not guilty... during the Clearwater 13 trial..
Mr Bunker was named on that old injunction, and I spoke with the renter of the hall and determined that they do not dislike Mr Bunker. The renter of the hall , like Mr Bunker, dislikes that old injunction, and the 'color of law' it affords $cientology. They also do not have access to a 'whale' to pay $50,000 to fight through the courts. We had a whale once, who spent 50,000 on defense of those frivolously charged in 2001, we were called The Clearwater 13..., and a few of, the same critics who helped destroy him when he needed our emotional support the most in his darkest hours, are the same ones trying to spin this up.
Bigger picture: Repeatedly directing attention towards specific single incidents that create strong emotional responses is a covert hypnotic technique, that reduces perception of the bigger picture, for the targets that fall for this technique. Anything that focuses attention on one detail, is an attempt to manipulate your perceptions of what is the whole story. This was a favorite technique used by Hubbard and emulated by his minions, and by propagandists. Narrowing of attention denies you perception of the big picture, which is the intent of those who use it... Context IS everything.
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Lone Star
Crusader
Tell Laura Flynn that Lone Star says "Hello", and that I'm one of her biggest fans. Look forward to reading the coverage on "Blowtega's" blog. Tell her exactly that.
Or not.
RogerB
Crusader
Arnie,
I don't see/know the context of this post . . . What are you explaining here? I see no earlier traffic on this thread that this relates to . . . .
Rog
tetloj
Silver Meritorious Patron
I was there at Flagdown last night but won't make any comments yet as I'm extremely tired and shouldn't even be awake.
I'll just say that it was awesome meeting some other ESMB members last night for the first time IRL, including Arnie Lerma and Mr. Galactic Patrol. And looking forward to meeting more in the days to come.
Looking forward to your report T4PTS.
RogerB
Crusader
I read this shit below from Laura Flynn as posted by her and cited on The Bunker, and think: who is this idiot???
Apart from all the other comments on this thread as to the lack of validity (or even fraudulent nature of the "injunction") used, umm, this action by her and the Dep. Sheriff is a violation of Constitutional Guarantees of right of assembly and association . . . fer krissakes! It has nothing to do with the original "Cause" and injunction against Mark regarding his demonstrating at the Flag Land Base properties . . . like 50+ miles away.
I am saddened that this wonderful opportunity to truly strike a big blow at the cult has been, is being, screwed up by this woman. And I am not going to get into any analysis of the screw-ups and dropped balls I am seeing in the parade so far. Though I am glad to see others who are better informed than me have called the scene on her as it truthfully seems to be.
I was invited to go and speak at this event and for various reasons did not go/could not attend (my instincts also warned me against reordering my affairs to attend) . . . I am actually now glad I didn't go.
The failure on the part of the audio is inexcusable . . . that is such known tech that to have not gotten the sound system right is stupid. That unless there is a direct feed from the mics to a recorder that will be released later.
RogerB
Apart from all the other comments on this thread as to the lack of validity (or even fraudulent nature of the "injunction") used, umm, this action by her and the Dep. Sheriff is a violation of Constitutional Guarantees of right of assembly and association . . . fer krissakes! It has nothing to do with the original "Cause" and injunction against Mark regarding his demonstrating at the Flag Land Base properties . . . like 50+ miles away.
I am saddened that this wonderful opportunity to truly strike a big blow at the cult has been, is being, screwed up by this woman. And I am not going to get into any analysis of the screw-ups and dropped balls I am seeing in the parade so far. Though I am glad to see others who are better informed than me have called the scene on her as it truthfully seems to be.
I was invited to go and speak at this event and for various reasons did not go/could not attend (my instincts also warned me against reordering my affairs to attend) . . . I am actually now glad I didn't go.
The failure on the part of the audio is inexcusable . . . that is such known tech that to have not gotten the sound system right is stupid. That unless there is a direct feed from the mics to a recorder that will be released later.
RogerB
PTS
Elliott
The whole event is dead to me now. What a shame that one whining neurotic power mad organizer could cause such a spectacular train wreck. The other invited guests may speak, and speak well, but their words will be drown out by the outrage of Mark Bunker being treated like a criminal by his own.
SHAME SHAME SHAME.
SHAME SHAME SHAME.
Lermanet_com
Gold Meritorious Patron
about Mark Bunker being denied entry to the event...
Purple Rain
Crusader
For want of a better word it was really unprofessional to behave in a way that brings disrepute to your own event. If it was just her money invested then I guess she has the right to behave however she wants as a hostess, but the attendees all invested a lot of money just to attend and others donated money towards the ideal of a successful event that would strike an effective blow to Scientology. It wasn't just her personal time and resources invested in this.
It's also dishonest. Would critics have been as willing to donate if they had known that other critics were unwelcome - that the event wasn't for everybody?
It also takes the unfortunate dramas that OSA works hard to foment and places them front and centre onstage in front of the media, the mayor, the world. If I was the mayor I would be thinking:
1. "It's true what Scientology says about bitter, defrocked apostates" and
2. "I'm so glad I went to the Hare Krishna thing instead".
Whoever is wrong or right, the PR and ill will resulting from this event so far is a footbullet rivaling some of Scientology's own hits in the stupid thread.
It's also dishonest. Would critics have been as willing to donate if they had known that other critics were unwelcome - that the event wasn't for everybody?
It also takes the unfortunate dramas that OSA works hard to foment and places them front and centre onstage in front of the media, the mayor, the world. If I was the mayor I would be thinking:
1. "It's true what Scientology says about bitter, defrocked apostates" and
2. "I'm so glad I went to the Hare Krishna thing instead".
Whoever is wrong or right, the PR and ill will resulting from this event so far is a footbullet rivaling some of Scientology's own hits in the stupid thread.
TG1
Angelic Poster
A lot of conflated issues here:
* Anonymous vs. leaderfags
* Volunteers vs. professionals
* Infighting vs. big tents
Nothing's ever perfect. Especially with a small budget. And yeah, some aspects of Day One were messy. It seems like an opportunity to learn from the successes and boo-boos. And not to repeat them.
And to move on.
TG1
* Anonymous vs. leaderfags
* Volunteers vs. professionals
* Infighting vs. big tents
Nothing's ever perfect. Especially with a small budget. And yeah, some aspects of Day One were messy. It seems like an opportunity to learn from the successes and boo-boos. And not to repeat them.
And to move on.
TG1
failboat
Patron with Honors
I think a bar of "Have you hosted a 5-day anti-Scientology conference in Clearwater, FL?" should be set for people to answer in the affirmative before they are allowed to talk shit about AMA.
Only the Clearwater cell is fully aware of all the legal and logistical hurdles to an effort like this. It's easy to complain if you're not doing the work, and not taking the risks.
People here and on the Bunker seem to have lost sight of the fact that WBM was turned away for legal reasons, not personal ones. Anyone who thinks it was personal should read about how Shawn Lonsdale was served with the injunction and had to go to court to fight it.
I say this as someone who has both fund-raised for WBM and donated funds to Flag Down.
Only the Clearwater cell is fully aware of all the legal and logistical hurdles to an effort like this. It's easy to complain if you're not doing the work, and not taking the risks.
People here and on the Bunker seem to have lost sight of the fact that WBM was turned away for legal reasons, not personal ones. Anyone who thinks it was personal should read about how Shawn Lonsdale was served with the injunction and had to go to court to fight it.
I say this as someone who has both fund-raised for WBM and donated funds to Flag Down.
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Mick Wenlock
Admin Emeritus (retired)
I have to admit to a rueful chuckle upon reading this thread.
But I also think that it is a very good lesson for the CofS and especially the dwindling few "TBers" - real people disagree, real debate is raucous and sometimes noisy and results sometimes in upsets. And ALL of that is far superior to anything Scientology has to offer. The mind numbingly Stepford Member grins and aggreemnt - now that is sinister and spooky.
Critics arguing?
Ah - the sound of free will. Love it.
But I also think that it is a very good lesson for the CofS and especially the dwindling few "TBers" - real people disagree, real debate is raucous and sometimes noisy and results sometimes in upsets. And ALL of that is far superior to anything Scientology has to offer. The mind numbingly Stepford Member grins and aggreemnt - now that is sinister and spooky.
Critics arguing?
Ah - the sound of free will. Love it.
Purple Rain
Crusader
Why was Tom Smith turned away?