This week, it’s answers about when cults do good things, media platform censorship, Sea Org postings and a lot more. Enjoy!
(1) The Mormon church leadership has been using their powers of persuasion, so to speak, to get more members to wear masks and decrease non-compliance. From an ethical or moral standpoint, is it any better or any different when leadership in a high control group uses their leverage for beneficial purposes such as increased mask wearing amongst members?
(2) In a video I saw recently, Twilight Zone creator Rod Serling talked about how a large number of letters and postcards criticized the episode where Lassie gave birth to puppies, saying they were sexualizing a family show. Serling thought the letter complaints were fake due to many having identical handwriting and postmarks but the company decided to avoid further episodes on the issue.
Why did that happen? Do you think it is plausible that the opinions of the far fringe is interpreted as the opinion of the masses due to availability bias? Due to the fear that such a dramatic reaction would only be the tip of the reactions from a body averse to open complaint?
Does the previous business urge to be blandly agreeable to a general audience change now that companies are seeking specific market niches with rival social groups?
(3) Having watched a number of your videos it’s clear that for any task the Church can have there is a Sea Org posting for it. What are the most desirable Sea Org postings – those which people compete the hardest for? Likewise not including being the Chairman of the RTC what is the closest thing to a comfortable and stress free post? Conversely outside of the RPF what are the least desirable postings? Finally what is the strangest Sea Org posting?
(4) Do Scientologists think they will develop psychic powers by following LRH’s teachings? What do they think of outsiders (non-Scientologists) who claim to be psychic? Anything else you could add to this topic? Thanks for doing your show!
(5) Perhaps you’ve seen the recent podcast wherein former recording artist Nick Cannon went on a rant that wouldn’t have been too out of place on the front page of the Daily Stormer. Perhaps you’ve also seen how actor Terry Cruz was lambasted for a tweet calling for unity. Are you worried about the seeming establishment of an ideological orthodoxy around ethnicity/race and a litany of other subjects? Does the attempt at Orwellian redefinition of terms regarding the concept of racism concern you? Prominent societal figures sign a letter condemning cancel culture and are in turn targeted for cancellation. The only moderate voice at the NYT resigns citing an ideologically hostile environment as the primary reason. Do all of these occurrences and their implications on practically all discourse not terrify you? How can we find beneficial solutions if a massive chunk of America is gaslit into having the tough conversations, then societally ruined for any dissenting opinion?
(6) There’s a black and white photo of L Ron Hubbard with what I’m guessing is a tomato plant connected to some electrical device? What the heck is he doing and when was this?