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Question answered by honorarykid in Scientology

blank24 asked this question on 9/6/2000:

On the name of the hate group here, do they have a name or any other organization than simply being known as the A.R.S.?

honorarykid gave this response on 9/6/2000:

A.r.s is an acronym which stands for alt.religion.scientology, which is a Usenet newsgroup.

A Usenet newsgroup is not a "hate group" but rather it is simply a forum for anyone who has a computer and an internet connection. A.r.s happens to be dedicated to the discussion of Scientology. You should check it out, blank24.

Bear in mind that many Scientologists (those who created a "Scientologists on the Web" cookie cutter web page) have unknowingly installed what's been labeled as the "Scienositter," a pervasive filtering program on their computers. If you are one of them, the filtering program will prevent you from receiving a.r.s messages. You'll need to uninstall it.

A.r.s is very popular, and is consistently in the top 5 of non-binary newsgroups, by volume of messages. It has pulled in many people from diverse geographies and walks of life, most of whom are highly political, and largely libertarian in their outlook. But all are interested in learning the real truth about the Church of Scientology and L. Ron Hubbard.

The plain fact is, that most of these people end up as critics of Scientology, because of the many bad things Scientology does to people and families, in it's attempts to proselytize and grow (i.e. "Clearing the Planet"). Indeed, this is exactly how I became a critic of the Church of Scientology.

A.r.s is certainly not a hate group. I will grant you that it does get somewhat contentious at times, and the normal Usenet free-for-all atmosphere prevails. But it can be a very enlightening newsgroup. People there value the truth very highly. They are skeptical, honest and tolerant of many things. They (for the most part) will not accept lies and propaganda at face value. So needless to say, liars and spin-meisters and propagandists have a very hard time on a.r.s. And because Scientology marketing materials contain so many lies and because Scientologist "handlers" are so overtly manipulative, they don't have an easy time on a.r.s.

The lies of L. Ron Hubbard just don't scour in a free forum. The mindless repetition of those lies by brainwashed cult members has never been very persuasive on a.r.s.

And that's why, over the years, the CoS has gone beyond simple persuasion, and tried to intimidate and harass many members of a.r.s.

Also, there are many ex-members and Free-Zone practitioners (FZ people try to practice Scientology outside of the CoS, and are derogotorily referred to as "squirrels" within the CoS). But it also might surprise you to learn that several Scientologists, most of them public members, who post there as well.

The CoS tries to strongly discourage it's members from participating in a.r.s, to be sure. And with good reason. There are so many things to learn that could convince someone they're not in a very ethical group, the whole membership might walk right out the door.

Sea Org members (Scientology's "elite") are, of course, flatly prohibited from posting to a.r.s, unless they are specifically ordered ("hatted") to do so. That's an amazing thing, that the allegedly MOST able and MOST elite group within Scientology, can be ordered by their church Seniors not to read an open newsgroup. And most of them obey this order!

The OSA branch of the CoS has had a regular (and abusive) presence on a.r.s for almost 6 years. The OSA posters are there to smear and discredit critics (this is called "handling a flap" or "dead agenting"). But the OSA posters don't engage in open and honest discussions of what most critics feel are simply heartfelt differences of opinion over political behavior of an Trans-national group.

But maybe you didn't care to hear all this about a.r.s, and just confused the term "a.r.s" with the similar acronym "ARSCC?" ARSCC stands for "a.r.s Central Committee."

Now please be aware that the ARSCC doesn't really exist. It's just a long-running joke, started on a.r.s, with the intention of poking fun at Scientology's (that is to say, L. Ron Hubbard's) bizarre conspiracy beliefs.

At various times, LRH thought several groups were out to get him (and/or all mankind, to Hubbard there was no difference). Some of these groups were: the FBI, his ex-wives, 12 secretive international bankers whom Hubbard labeled the "Tenyaka Memorial," as well as a psychiatrists, and even a conspiritorial group of intergalactic space alien psychiatrists (I'm not kidding!). There was of course, the evil galactic ruler Xenu from the OT-III level, not to mention the Marcabs (even more space aliens) and their infamous Fifth Invader Force, which are referred to in some of Hubbard's delusional sci-fi "Incidents."

BTW, I don't hate you, or any other Scientologist, blank24. I only want you to know the truth. I understand that for someone like you, the learning of the truth is going to be painful.

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