Dianetics Ads on Anandtech? WTF??

[gunf1ghter]

I was a little shocked and dismayed to see Dianetics ads while I was running around on the hardware forums earlier today.

Anyone who has done any investigation of L. Ron Hubbards "Scientology" organization realizes that Dianetics is the "first step" to trying to get people inducted into Scientology which is a cult and has actually been banned in several countries.

To me, an advertisement for "how crack cocaine can change your life" would be just as bad as a Dianetics ad.

sorry, rant mode off.

 

[Buddhist]

i noticed that too...and thought that a bit peculiar...but hey...they have the right to free speech and freedom of religious practice. (both within moderation of course.)
-M.T.O

 

[gunf1ghter]

When an organization forces you to pay insane amounts of money to stay in the "church", forces you to ex-communicate anyone in your life who tries to get you to leave the "church" and stalks and harasses you after you leave the "church" they are not a religious organization, they are a cult.

 

[AaronP]

the funny thing is, L. Ron Hubbard started scientoligy as a joke he and some of his poker buddies thought it up one night.

 

[Spook]

Scientology, has the potential to be very dangerous... Like it has been mentioned, it is a cult... Some of this cults members are very prominant figures, John Travolta, and Tom Cruise to name a couple... Not to mention old Charlie Manson, who they basiccally have deleted out of their history...

Point is, that this cult is inherently evil... I don't go see Travolta, and Cruise movies any more, and if Anand wants to support, and advertise Dianetics, ie Scientology, I will have to find some other forums to go to as well...

Spook

 

[Buddhist]

"When an organization forces you to pay insane amounts of money to stay in the "church", forces you to ex-communicate anyone in your life who tries to get you to leave the "church" and stalks and harasses you after you leave the "church" they are not a religious organization, they are a cult."

I agree. I think their screwy as well they come after you and shi........... errr... did i say that? I think they are fantastic... the answer to everyone's needs...yeah yeah!


-M.T.O

 

[Libra]

Xenu has escaped!

Scientology is for retards with a lot of money.

 

[exp]

<< the funny thing is, L. Ron Hubbard started scientoligy as a joke he and some of his poker buddies thought it up one night. >>



I remember LMAO after reading about how Scientology was actually founded.

 

[Buddhist]

anyone see that millennium/x-files crossover episode making fun of scientology?

-M.T.O

 

[Jothaxe]

<< but hey...they have the right to free speech and freedom of religious practice. >>



Interesting you mention this, because I have been puzzling over it lately. Do you think that a cult like scientology should be allowed the full freedom of speech? I ask this because when mind control is involved, in my opinion its not a straightforward issue.

The problem is that when a person is brainwashed by a group it isnt always voluntary. I would argue that there is something inherently wrong about controlling someone elses beliefs and desires without true consent, e.g. the way scientology does.

I dont think I would be sad to see some government regulation in the abilities of cult-like societies like scientology to spread. It might be difficult to actually do this in a fair way, but think of the people who could be spared. I guess it would first be necessary to demonstrate without doubt that this type of group does psychological harm, but I think this should be possible. Anyways, just rambling...

 

[mundania]

what's the difference between a cult and a organized religion? wasn't christianity coonsidered a cult way back?

 

[Buddhist]

&quot;I dont think I would be sad to see some government regulation in the abilities of cult-like societies like scientology to spread.&quot;

I agree with that idea...till i stop and realize that if we were to do that the first time around, whats there to not say we wouldn't do that to other little groups that begin to speak out about this or that? The problem is, if we give in for one group and censor them, then we really lose our right to free speach (within moderation) because it sets a precedence for others to follow into censorship. This is unfortunately why we must tolerate some of the evils that comes with our right to free speech such as hate groups, for the greater good of maintaining free speach itself.
-M.T.O

 

[gunf1ghter]

Christianity was viewed as a &quot;cult&quot; at one time because it was not mainstream. There are also many many sects of Christianity and certainly some of them could fall under the &quot;cult&quot; banner because they have their own rather warped twisted view of things (and do things like conduct mass suicides).

Scientology can't be viewed as a religion, so by default it is a cult.

 

[gunf1ghter]

^

no comments from anyone at anand?

 

[BigSmooth]

I believe this has come up before. From what I understand, this is something the ad company is doing against Anand's wishes (much like the pop-ups). He has asked them before to remove Scientology ads from the rotation, but apparently they have brought them back.

 

[gunf1ghter]

Anand needs to get out his industrial salad shooter and open up a can of whoop ass.

 

[Rand]

I'm sure I'll sound stupid for saying this but... anyone care to tell me just what this &quot;Dianetics&quot; thing is?!

 

[Arwen Evenstar]

To me, an advertisement for &quot;how crack cocaine can change your life&quot; would be just as bad as a Dianetics ad.

Well put. Dianetics is like the &quot;gateway drug&quot; to Scientology, and Scientology is an expensive, obsessive (and, some would say, potentially lethal) life-style.

 

[gunf1ghter]

Rand,

L Ron Hubbard did some bogus quack scientific study on the &quot;inner workings of the brain&quot; and came up with dianetics back in the 1950's. Later he founded a cult called Scientology.

 

[Budman]

Diaretics,isnt that stuff that makes you go to the washroom?

 

[goshdarnindie]

Scientology was actually set up as a form of tax evasion. All of the earnings from his books (of which he wrote many, including the sci-fi that led to that awful movie &quot;Battlefield Earth&quot were then put into the church. Because it was a non-profit it wasn't taxed, and then as the chief guru, Hubbard drew a salary plus had the assets of the church. He really didn't believe in any of it.

Censorship=bad. Like someone said, its part of our democracy that we have to take a little bad for so much good. As long as people continue to think independently for themselves, these little groups will remain little. Our main concern as a society is to keep our eyes on these people as cults and the like are breeding grounds for tyrants such as Hitler.

I too was caught off guard when the banner showed up. AT can obviously do what they want, but if this was a personal choice, which it doesn't seem to be, then I myself would become more cautious on this board and treat it like a society that needs to be watched. But alas that ain't the case, its still just a bunch of people working on degrees C° and RC5

 

[Jothaxe]

<< Censorship=bad. Like someone said, its part of our democracy that we have to take a little bad for so much good. As long as people continue to think independently for themselves, these little groups will remain little. Our main concern as a society is to keep our eyes on these people as cults and the like are breeding grounds for tyrants such as Hitler. >>



I totally agree. I was kind of rambling in my post above, but maybe I could ask a follow-up question:


Are there laws limiting subliminal messages in advertising? If so, why?


I am not arguing that the Dianetic Ad on Anandtech is subliminal, but I just wonder if there is an exception made in the law regarding free speech and mind control...

 

[goog40]

Geez, EVERY single ad tonight has been for Dianetics. They must have a lot of followers/slaves' money to burn