Speaking, for a moment, seriously, as someone familiar with the Scientology scam since the early Seventies, I only grow more urgent in wishing more people would educate themselves as to what the story is. These people have always been, and are growing every day, yet more dangerous.
They've ruined countless people's lives, and killed a few. It's amusing to mock them, but they are, in fact, seriously dangerous. (And if I wind up either sued, or with a poisonous snake in my mailbox, for making such a comment, I won't be surprised, although I'm sure they don't have the resources to cover the Internet remotely the way they used to cover people who said such things pre-Internet.)
See, not only do I not know what the kids say, I don't even know the internet link that will tell me what the kids say. Or I didn't, but now I do. So thank you for enabling me to sham hipness.
Pity, though. Because, you know, both "jump" and "couch(er)" work. So "jump the couch".... why not?
Of course, if you're jumping furniture as displacement from other objects, that presents a problem.
Unless Mr. Evidente - if that is his real name, and it must be, because it looks like a real name, and that's good enough verification for me - is lying about his location, I cannot be him, for I have never been to the islands he claims as his home.
There was a pretty convincing piece in Salon arguing that Cruise's recent achievements in Scientology (OT-6, I believe) could be responsible for his behavior. Church teachings indicate that at this point he should be able to control matter, energy space & time, and influence the minds of those around him. So it's not surprising that he's projecting a lot of confidence. You would, too, if enough creepy guys in faux-Navy uniforms told you that you could bend reality to your will. The aforementioned young booty probably helps, too.
Of course the more conventional way of describing the state would be "mania," and it's not exactly a stable place to be. I imagine his money will allow this charade go on longer than other folks could manage, but I've got to think we'll see a Margo Kidder-style meltdown at some point.
It's been a long time since I've seen the bridge. Cruise is clear? Or is OT-6 past that point? I know they had to start adding levels once people got clear and still couldn't bend the spoons.
- OT-3 is where Xenu and all the other most outrageous bullshit appears, and followers get to see the napkins Hubbard scribbled this nonsense on
- OT goes up to OT-8 (I think -- might be more)
- then, the NOT (new operating thetan) sequence starts
After a point, though, there isn't as much emphasis on racing through the levels. There's still pressure, but I think once you're OT the rate of your progression is treated more as a personal decision than as something that must be done as quickly as possible. Partly this is because the requirements become VERY difficult to fulfill (e.g. multiple years of spending several hours a day auditing -- abstaining from alcohol and being sure to get enough sleep in order to stay "auditable").
All this stuff is at http://www.xenu.net, or otherwise scattered around the internet. Take it with an according grain of salt, I guess, but cult specialists in academia don't seem to disagree with any of the internet cranks' major points.
The unique combination of celebrity worship, pseudoscience, speech-quelling litigiousness, and everyday evil-cult stuff (in that order) that makes up Scientology seems precisely calibrated to make me insanely angry, so I kind of enjoy wading through the material on it.
I think I qualify as a scientology "member," at least for their purpose of inflating their numbers.
I took the test, bought the book, and even took a class. All during college, when the idea of a "scientific religion" appealed to me. Luckily I soon realized it was neither science nor religion (shudder).
It took years and years to escape their notice. They tracked my address through numerous moves. Longer than even the record club I had joined (We want You Back!).
So is "jumping the couch" something the kids say to refer to amorous enthusiasms? Like "jumping the shark," only good?
Posted by slolernr | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 4:28 PM
It appears not.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 4:31 PM
All is explained here. He's just aberrated.
Speaking, for a moment, seriously, as someone familiar with the Scientology scam since the early Seventies, I only grow more urgent in wishing more people would educate themselves as to what the story is. These people have always been, and are growing every day, yet more dangerous.
They've ruined countless people's lives, and killed a few. It's amusing to mock them, but they are, in fact, seriously dangerous. (And if I wind up either sued, or with a poisonous snake in my mailbox, for making such a comment, I won't be surprised, although I'm sure they don't have the resources to cover the Internet remotely the way they used to cover people who said such things pre-Internet.)
Posted by Gary Farber | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 4:32 PM
See, not only do I not know what the kids say, I don't even know the internet link that will tell me what the kids say. Or I didn't, but now I do. So thank you for enabling me to sham hipness.
Pity, though. Because, you know, both "jump" and "couch(er)" work. So "jump the couch".... why not?
Of course, if you're jumping furniture as displacement from other objects, that presents a problem.
Posted by slolernr | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 4:35 PM
Or maybe so?
Posted by eb | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 4:36 PM
Gary, more Scientology bashing in this thread.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 4:39 PM
Hey, I didn't see that, eb.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 4:40 PM
Or should I call you...Carlo Evidente??
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 4:40 PM
Unless Mr. Evidente - if that is his real name, and it must be, because it looks like a real name, and that's good enough verification for me - is lying about his location, I cannot be him, for I have never been to the islands he claims as his home.
Posted by eb | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 4:50 PM
Man, what a set of chompers!
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 4:51 PM
True wuv strikes b-dub.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 4:52 PM
The Adventures of DUB IN WUV
Maybe a retro-ironic comic?
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 4:54 PM
I was going to make comment 10, only with more pizzazz.
Posted by Michael | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 5:28 PM
You wish.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 5:34 PM
Geez, you'd think, as an actor, Cruise would know that more is not better.
Whatever happened to letting the audience do your crying for you?
On the other hand maybe gorgeous young booty does that to us old farts. I'm sure I don't know.
Posted by Tripp | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 8:45 AM
10. - The picture - captions?
"And the best part was it was THIS long!"
Posted by Tripp | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 8:47 AM
There was a pretty convincing piece in Salon arguing that Cruise's recent achievements in Scientology (OT-6, I believe) could be responsible for his behavior. Church teachings indicate that at this point he should be able to control matter, energy space & time, and influence the minds of those around him. So it's not surprising that he's projecting a lot of confidence. You would, too, if enough creepy guys in faux-Navy uniforms told you that you could bend reality to your will. The aforementioned young booty probably helps, too.
Of course the more conventional way of describing the state would be "mania," and it's not exactly a stable place to be. I imagine his money will allow this charade go on longer than other folks could manage, but I've got to think we'll see a Margo Kidder-style meltdown at some point.
Posted by tom | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 9:04 AM
I wonder if he jumps over couches in private too.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 9:08 AM
tom,
It's been a long time since I've seen the bridge. Cruise is clear? Or is OT-6 past that point? I know they had to start adding levels once people got clear and still couldn't bend the spoons.
Posted by Tripp | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 9:25 AM
I believe the sequence is:
- Clear
- OT courses begin
- OT-3 is where Xenu and all the other most outrageous bullshit appears, and followers get to see the napkins Hubbard scribbled this nonsense on
- OT goes up to OT-8 (I think -- might be more)
- then, the NOT (new operating thetan) sequence starts
After a point, though, there isn't as much emphasis on racing through the levels. There's still pressure, but I think once you're OT the rate of your progression is treated more as a personal decision than as something that must be done as quickly as possible. Partly this is because the requirements become VERY difficult to fulfill (e.g. multiple years of spending several hours a day auditing -- abstaining from alcohol and being sure to get enough sleep in order to stay "auditable").
Posted by tom | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 9:31 AM
Tom, how do you know this stuff?
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 9:33 AM
All this stuff is at http://www.xenu.net, or otherwise scattered around the internet. Take it with an according grain of salt, I guess, but cult specialists in academia don't seem to disagree with any of the internet cranks' major points.
The unique combination of celebrity worship, pseudoscience, speech-quelling litigiousness, and everyday evil-cult stuff (in that order) that makes up Scientology seems precisely calibrated to make me insanely angry, so I kind of enjoy wading through the material on it.
Plus: aliens! Everyone likes aliens.
Posted by tom | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 9:45 AM
Ok, thanks. I knew about that page; but haven't read any of it.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 10:14 AM
I think I qualify as a scientology "member," at least for their purpose of inflating their numbers.
I took the test, bought the book, and even took a class. All during college, when the idea of a "scientific religion" appealed to me. Luckily I soon realized it was neither science nor religion (shudder).
It took years and years to escape their notice. They tracked my address through numerous moves. Longer than even the record club I had joined (We want You Back!).
Posted by Tripp | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 12:04 PM