It’s the stuff of memes. Everyone wants to talk and laugh about the strange presence of Scientology in the world. However, despite its supposed prevalence, which I find sufficient to make an instance for it (might/would explain some of the commotion and rumors going on) which is an inevitability, few people ever discuss knowing any Scientologists (often in the process of forgetting that, in the end, they’re just another group like any group, minus peculiarities). Do you have anyone in your life, be it a friend, family member, or someone in your community, who is one or thought to be one?
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One of my aunts became one out of high school. She married some guy who was also into it, they had 2 kids. The whole family was basically shunned by the rest of us because of it, and she died in her 40s of a very rare form of cancer. I haven’t seen the kids in probably 30 years now.
There is a church in SF near Columbus St. I have seen it many times (best Italian food in the city). But I don’t think I have ever met an openly proud scientologist. But I’m kind of no holds barred against people spewing nonsense in my presence. I could have scared them.
It’s not a thing here at all, but I did walk by their church in Buffalo one night, it was closed and it’s such a creepy place. Buffalo is a great cool amazing city (truly!) and it stood out like a sore thumb.
In all the times I’ve been to Buffalo, I didn’t know they had a Scientology center.
Here’s a reddit thread on people’s experiences of it: https://www.reddit.com/r/Buffalo/comments/9lrpli/has_anyone_had_experiences_with_scientology_of/
My college campus was crawling with them back in the day. I have a few friends who got hooked. Only one is still a Scientologist and unfortunately cut off all friends and family. I am still friends with his brother and he doesn’t even know where his brother is.
Do you know where he is though?
I’ve met plenty. I went to a dentist once, and while waiting in the chair I noticed all the framed qoutes were by Hubbard. The dentist himself was an absolute dick. I ducked out when he went into the other room for something, and that’s when I realized the place was filled with scientology posters too.
Met one that really really wanted us to take the dvd she had. It was a very awkward few moments.
Seen and stayed away from the pairs of them that post up on every street corner they can find. If you try to talk to them they take it their phone and act like they’re talking to someone.
They are really strange people.
That dentist doesn’t sound like he took those quotes to heart.
L. Ron Hubbard didn’t take his quotes to heart. He was a conman.
He was the dentist?
He was the bus driver.
Met a pair of recruiters once, trying to sign me up that’s all. It was nearly 15 years ago, so I don’t remember much of what was actually said. I’m averse enough already when approached on the street, and once I understood that it was what I classified as new age self-help gibberish I noped out. I later learned that they were from the scientologists.
This was my recruiter run-in experience too. “Hey, are you stressed out?” “Yeah, I’m working in DC, obv.” “Then come inside and take our free stress test.” “No thanks, I just got off work and it takes me 2 hours to get home.” The next day, I paid a little more attention to the building where it happened… said Scientology right there on the front. This was about 2000 when I had heard very little about them.
Yeah, that sounds very familiar, except they don’t (as far as I know) have a base nearby. I think they were trying to expand.
Strange that this pretty mundane conversation formed a strong memory when I can’t remember what I ate for breakfast.
In my case it’s simply because I absolutely hate being approached on the street. I have in later years learned to just look offending strangers dead in the eye and angrily interrupt them with a “NO!” as I keep moving with the impetus of a howitzer shell.
base
lol
They literally have bases, yes.
Just sounds like a survival game, RUST, ARK, something like that.
Wait until you find out about SeaOrg.
Don’t know any and glad not to.
Scientology is a cult hellhole I wouldn’t wish anyone fall into their toxic grasps.
So that’s a thumbs down to the upcoming instance then?
No but I did read dianetics back in the eighties.
I had some good arguments with a few recruiters a couple times. Its fucking annoying having someone try hand u some bullshit every day while u trying to get somewhere fortunately if u argue with them they remember that ur a dick and don’t bother u in future. That’s an unethical life pro tip for ya.
Seems ethical to me.
Religious people don’t seem to mind just bothering others for their own benefit.
i don’t know any, thankfully 🙏
No, not sure if I even encountered any on the streets. I do know some Jehovah’s Witnesses though (mix of current and former)
Same. Those are ultra common here. Enough to know Jehovah’s Witnesses stopped visiting people in their homes a few years ago. These days they pretend to be your new neighbor and give you an “invitation” to the places they like to go.
