Notice: Fredric Rice may have removed segments of the replies given to questions if they contained copyrighted materials. After a very short while, Scientology "experts" refused to answer questions and started cut-and-pasting copyrighted cult propaganda. Additionally I removed URLs in some of the replies, and left them in others. And it's also important to note that eventually the unfortunate "Greg Churilov" cultist was ejected from askme.com for his typical Scientological behavior.

wileygyle asked this question on 5/8/2000:

It is with some disappointment that I note the absence of Desertphile's answers here, since he seemed to be one of the better informed experts here. If the board is left to nothing but Scientology bridge salesmen, won't it be like seeking answers about lung cancer from spokesmen for the Tobacco Institute?

I see a common refrain from some experts complaining not about answers, but indeed any questions which veer too much from the Q&A 'catechism' section of "What is Scientology?", the Church of Scientology's promotional book. I have to ask this, if only rhetorically: Should someone really seek answers from those who fear or despise questions?

desertphile gave this response on 5/9/2000:

Hi. You have my personal thank you for your kind words.

Yes, naturally my opinion is that a person who is out to sell something to another person is not likely to tell the potential buyer the truth. This is human nature, and applies to Scientologists and non-Scientologists alike. I would no more trust a FSM to tell the truth about Scientology than I would trust a used car salesperson to tell the truth about a junk car.

My study shows that ex-members of Scientology and other such groups are seemingly infinately better informed and honest than current members. That's just the nature of the animal. I think "brainwashing" applies, regardless of how innocculous the word is.

Here's something for the Church of Scientology to ponder: do you know how long it takes to blow out a candle? Less than a second. Do you remember when you sent your members outside the Fort Harrison Hotel during the memorial and candle-light vigil for Lisa McPherson to blow out our candles? Well, I was holding one of those candles. From the instant a Scientologist leaned over to blow out my candle (Lisa's candle!) to the instant it flickered and died, I became your mortal, life-long enemy. It took less than an instant for -YOU- to harden my resolve to fight your abuses against people.

When Doug MacAll died at his keyboard fighting Scientology, I cheered. What a damn fine way to go, Doug! Dying while fighting tyrany, mental slavery, brutality, and intimidation!

The Church of Scientology rides rouch shod over decent, good, kind and loving people. That's why I will use my last breath to denounce it.

Further facts about this criminal empire may be found at Operation Clambake and FACTNet.

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