What do you say to pity/disrespect?

[Wisened One]

Curious:

What do you all say when you DO run across people/friends, etc. that have never been in scn, and they find out you were....and they look down on you for it?

They think you 'fell' for a scam and think you were dumb for being one?

I came across this on another board....and it was not directed or intended for me, it was a post about preachers...specifically tv evangelists and those fundie type preachers... (and you know how THEY also scam millions from people, too!). A comment was said:
'Anyone dumb enough to be a scientologist....then they spoofed...'I'll
save ya without an e-meter, dipshit meth-guru, etc..' that kinda thing.

I do not disagree with them, and have not commented to it, yet want to...I guess I want to ser'fac on that maybe I/scn's wasn't THAT 'dumb'...Idk....
(tho I know I was).....

I agree, I WAS 'duped'....but....help me point out some things as to shed some light to this poster HOW we end up becoming so 'dumb' as to 'fall' for such things...(course other religions 'fall' for their stuff, too, imho).

Michelle

 

[The Anabaptist Jacques]

You could say "Well that's ironic. It was that simple black and white thinking like that which made me fall for Scientology in the first place."
Or "It was an invaluable lesson."
Or "Your shoe's untied. Ha-ha, made you look.
It all depends on their attitude.

The Anabaptist Jacques

 

[Zinjifar]

It's not unusual to run into people who fall into that kind of trap (the judgmental; black/white one, not the Clammy one ) but, in my experience, it's a direct outgrowth of a very parochial experience; people who only hang out with 'their' kind of people. People who've never been anywhere but 'home' and never met anyone but 'people like me'.

Beyond the former (and sometimes *current*) Scientologists I've met, I've known people who were involved in all kinds of traps, ideologies, cults and belief systems. Some are obviously more damaging and overwhelming than others, but, I just can't find any specific 'trait', whether stupidity, venality or even maliciousness that's common to all.

Traps are things that people fall in to. And, with luck, get out of. Parochialism is a common trap on every continent and in ever culture, but, experience tends to cure it.

Zinj

 

[Wisened One]

Really good responses, guys! When one is confronted by another who feels this way about what you did...(falling for such a sham)...you feel sooo...raw, I guess. You know?

Like: Yeah, I have no leg to stand on regarding how gullible I was in falling for something like scn....etc... At least I'm now willing to hold
myself up as such if it saves even just one other from getting into that trap! (I know, I'm sounding like a martyr, huh? :confused2

Thanks TAJ and Zinj.......

 

[dchoiceisalwaysrs]

I don't see the value or benevolence in such an attitude as "and they look down on you for it? "

Please don't let your mistake of being duped lead to self denigration.

There is the story of Alexander Graham Bell failing thousands of times before getting his "win" of a light bulb. How many other people around him were bold and inspired and steadfast enough to invent the lightbulb?

We are all learning on our individual paths through life and see the world from different perspectives.

When we all have the final answers to all our quests and questions then maybe we can joke about how we were duped along the way, how we got it right at other times and what a long strange trip it was.

http://ca.video.search.yahoo.com/se...utf-8&js=1&fr=fpca-ac&fr2=tab-web&tnr=21&b=85

 

[KnightVision]

This is a very interesting topic.

I have felt this kind of 'judgement' of me also.

Over time I have learned to take a deep penetrating look at anyone, (including myself..:wink2 who would find it necessary to 'punish' a person who has befallen hardship and deception.

I 'look' to try and perceive what it is about one that has such a compulsion to 'justify' or artificially evaluate.

I 'look' to understand, rather than judge. In exchange for anybody's belittling offerance to me... I return an understanding, brotherly smile or jesture.

I, for one know that such 'cheap judgement' treatment by others is handed out by life's lost ones... those who abhor feeling vulnerable... and although I was once lost, I am now found; and my previous attempts to escape feeling vulnerable led me once on a path of seeking 'super powers'.....

 

[Good twin]

I was stoned.

 

[Wisened One]

Some great insights from all you..look forward to more!

Yeah, we were all 'high' on this scam of a drug, huh? :sad sigh:

And like any druggie, you always say: Well, can't say I wasn't having fun while on it....but the coming down part....ugh....

 

[Good twin]

Some great insights from all you..look forward to more!

Yeah, we were all 'high' on this scam of a drug, huh? :sad sigh:

And like any druggie, you always say: Well, can't say I wasn't having fun while on it....but the coming down part....ugh....

true that my friend.

 

[Pixie]

I was stoned.

I'm always stoned...

 

[Pixie]

At the end of the day, if any 'friend' of mine looked down their nose at me in 'judgment' for being so stupid they wouldn't be a friend for much longer. If someone is going to be that nasty and carping I certainly wouldn't begin explaining either it or myself to them instead I would gently remind them of their ignorance on the subject of mind control and tell them to lurk moar.

None of us have to justify getting caught in a devious cult, we got in to help others and if public we got in to help ourselves so that we could help others. I am proud that I got through that in one piece let me tell you, and I have a lot to be grateful for.

I've met lots of new people, made loads of good pals, and now have an insight into many areas I may never have known about without the experience. We have gone through the shit, but we have gained knowledge and understanding of many things. On some level we are the lucky ones, so don't allow anyone to put you down for this. In saying that, I've only told a couple of my friends and in both cases they were horrified.

 

[Good twin]

Thank you Pixie. This is beautiful. I do feel that I can now really have friendship, and on a much deeper level. There are people who I really care about that I haven't told yet. I realize that I can and should. It's part of my history. My history has helped to make me what I am. I have no reason to be ashamed. I think really we are the lucky ones. We survived and learned from our experience. Good post.

At the end of the day, if any 'friend' of mine looked down their nose at me in 'judgment' for being so stupid they wouldn't be a friend for much longer. If someone is going to be that nasty and carping I certainly wouldn't begin explaining either it or myself to them instead I would gently remind them of their ignorance on the subject of mind control and tell them to lurk moar.

None of us have to justify getting caught in a devious cult, we got in to help others and if public we got in to help ourselves so that we could help others. I am proud that I got through that in one piece let me tell you, and I have a lot to be grateful for.

I've met lots of new people, made loads of good pals, and now have an insight into many areas I may never have known about without the experience. We have gone through the shit, but we have gained knowledge and understanding of many things. On some level we are the lucky ones, so don't allow anyone to put you down for this. In saying that, I've only told a couple of my friends and in both cases they were horrified.

 

[uncle sam]

It would be all too much fun...

It would be fun to be really prepared for such an encounter. It would entail having a bag of fake blood placed under your shirt and right over your abdomen. Upon hearing their comment- you'd fake great remorse and guilt and then let loose with an "academy award" performance of exhibiting extreme shame. Then taking a fake knife from your pocket-you would tearfully shout "I can't take it any more-you - you fucker are gonna tell everyone"-"My life is over!"- Then with the knife you'd stab the bag of fake blood and fall down screaming and yelling. Silly - Yes---funny-oh yeah!

 

[cinamingrl]

~~~

I have never come across this, except with my own mother. She was pissed and judgmental that I would never talk about "what happened" to me while I was in. But other than that, I have not come across any judgements. I always expected too. However, I did come across a lot of that while on staff. I actually got let go from a temp assignment once because of it.

But seriously, people judge people for other experiences too. Lots of people have issues with the fact that some people have been "homeless" and needed to stay in a shelter. It has connotations that go along with the stigma of the "homeless" person.

 

[well_that_sucked]

People react this way mostly out of fear and not understanding what happened to you.

They know if it could happen to you, it could happen to them, but what was it?

There is no shame in being a duped, especially when the methods and motives are sinister and evil.

In scientology's case its to use you, steal your money (with your permission) and get you to do it to others and threaten to fuck your shit up if you complain or wake up.

You should be angry at yourself for not getting yourself help to come out of the trance and trap. Ever wonder why your fondest real memories are precult?

Scientology makes you feel guilty, even when the fuck up is their's.

 

[Voltaire's Child]

Curious:

What do you all say when you DO run across people/friends, etc. that have never been in scn, and they find out you were....and they look down on you for it?

They think you 'fell' for a scam and think you were dumb for being one?

I came across this on another board....and it was not directed or intended for me, it was a post about preachers...specifically tv evangelists and those fundie type preachers... (and you know how THEY also scam millions from people, too!). A comment was said:
'Anyone dumb enough to be a scientologist....then they spoofed...'I'll
save ya without an e-meter, dipshit meth-guru, etc..' that kinda thing.

I do not disagree with them, and have not commented to it, yet want to...I guess I want to ser'fac on that maybe I/scn's wasn't THAT 'dumb'...Idk....
(tho I know I was).....

I agree, I WAS 'duped'....but....help me point out some things as to shed some light to this poster HOW we end up becoming so 'dumb' as to 'fall' for such things...(course other religions 'fall' for their stuff, too, imho).

Michelle

I used to be quite chary of telling people I was in Scn- particularly when I was a CofS member. I've always had non Scn corporate type jobs and I always kept my religion separate. I shared my affiliation with a few friends and they told some people and I was surprised that people didn't really care or mind.

In fact, I've had friends defend CofS to me and I've been telling THEM it's a cult.

I'm sure there are people who would look down on someone for having been in CofS but those people are assholes. Your real friends won't mind.

 

[KnightVision]

-snip-
I'm sure there are people who would look down on someone for having been in CofS but those people are assholes. Your real friends won't mind.

Actually my real friends would 'mind'... just not look down upon me.

 

[HappyGirl]

I was stoned.

I'm always stoned...

I want some of what you guys are smokin'.

As for comments from the peanut gallery, after finally getting over giving a flying fig what my C/S or MAA thought of me, I could now care less what anybody thinks of me. But I have mentioned to a few co-workers and relatives that I'm out, just because I thought they were worried about me, assuming they saw what was all over the news and internet in the past few decades that I have been woefully unaware of. Turns out, however, they hadn't seen that stuff, and hadn't much of an opinion about my being in or out. I was concerned for nothing. That's another thing CoS instilled in me - worry over NOTHING. I'm finally getting over that too. What others think = worry over nothing.

So, GT, Pixie, can you pass that joint over here?

 

[Pixie]

I want some of what you guys are smokin'.

As for comments from the peanut gallery, after finally getting over giving a flying fig what my C/S or MAA thought of me, I could now care less what anybody thinks of me. But I have mentioned to a few co-workers and relatives that I'm out, just because I thought they were worried about me, assuming they saw what was all over the news and internet in the past few decades that I have been woefully unaware of. Turns out, however, they hadn't seen that stuff, and hadn't much of an opinion about my being in or out. I was concerned for nothing. That's another thing CoS instilled in me - worry over NOTHING. I'm finally getting over that too. What others think = worry over nothing.

So, GT, Pixie, can you pass that joint over here?

Here you go HG.... ... however shouldn't this sort of behaviour be in the Pub? :confused2: Yes, perhaps I'll... I'll... take it over there....

 

[Matex]

Place them in non-existence.