I just pulled this off of ARS. Although the Odd Emperor has never given an interview on Scientology, these rules might be good to keep in mind whenever encountering any militant believer.
***quote
“To all critics of Scientology who give interviews to the media.
I listened to a number of your interviews on xenutv.com and have heard
a number of other your interviews, and have read the posts on this
newsgroup.
I have agreed with ALL of your critisisms of the CoS — and I am NOT a
Scientologist — however, I do routinely advise clients on interviewing
techniques and provide media training. Having worked with a number of
folks in academics (mostly MDs), and other professionals, I’ve learned
that while most experts know their subject inside and out, they’re too
close to their subject, and they often forget that their listeners
don’t share their insight. The CoS-ers who submit to interviews are
clearly trained — and very often, their interviewers were “handled.”
In the interviews I’ve heard, the CoS Critics are so hung up on
specifics, that the “Big Picture” is lost.
So I’d just like to offer the following observations and suggestions:
The best way to approach these CoS folks is NOT to attack them as
“criminals, liars & thieves.” This requiers getting the interviewers
and listeners to buy-in to your emotions and belief systems — and
that’s hard — and it takes time…and understandin…to get them on
your side.
INSTEAD, take a path that will immediately “hook” the listeners and
interviewers with something simpler: THE TRUTH — what the CoS-ers
believe, and how just plain stupid it is. It’s a whole lot easier to
make your point impactfully if the interviewers and listeners ARE ON
YOUR SIDE, BECAUSE THE OTHER SIDE SOUNDS SO DUMB…and most people
would rather be considered SMART than DUMB. So paint the CoS for what
it is…JUST PLAIN DUMB…FOOLISH…and most importantly, LAUGHABLE.
Next, make your points short and impactful. Examples:
1) Media Question: So tell me, what is Scientology all about?
Answer: “Simple, It’s a FAKE RELIGION invented by a FAILED SCIENCE
FICTION WRITER in the 1950s…AND GET THIS…They ‘BELIEVE’ that we’re
all infested with the spirits of THOUSANDS OF DEAD SPACE ALIENS, and
the only way to find ‘TRUE HAPPIENESS’ (mockingly), is to get rid of
them — thu Scientology. Because they’re the ‘ONLY ONES’ who can teach
you how to ‘TALK’ to these DEAD ALIENS and convince them to LEAVE YOUR
BODY! And Scientology will be HAPPY to ‘TEACH’ you how to do this —
FOR ABOUT $300,000!”
Again, mockingly — but to the point — AND you’ve told the truth. But
remember, avoid terms like “dangerous cult, criminals, fraudulent” etc.
It’s not the time — that’s for later — and it’s better for the
interviews to come to these conclusions on their own and comment on it.
This is the time to illustrate CoS’s lunacy and destroy their
credibility by using CoS’s own beliefs.
2) Media Question: What? (a likely response) They believe in THAT? (by
now, somewhat in disbelief)
Answer: “Yeah, It seems at about 75 million years ago, this evil
galactic overlord named Xenu…(quickly and mockingly tell the
story)…and their dead souls STILL HAUNT US…and Scientology tells us
that they’re the cause of ‘ALL THE EVIL IN THE WORLD.’ That’s why
they’re SOOOO against psychology…YOU DON’T NEED A SHINK OR
ANTIDEPRESSANTS…IT’S THOSE PESKY DEAD ALIENS CAUSING ALL YOUR
PROBLEMS! AND SCIENTOLGY IS HERE TO HELP YOU GET RID OF THEM…Again,
For about $300 GRAND!” (A knowing and mockingly sarcastic delivery is
key here)
This immediately strips them of all credibility. They look like the
idiots they are…and you get the interviewers and the listeners
laughing and on your side — HOW COULD THEY SUPPORT THIS LUNACY?
3) Media Question: So if I go to one their Churches…they’re gonna
tell me this stuff, right?
Answer: “First of all, don’t call it a “Church”…It’s not a religion,
it’s a BUSINESS and THEY WANT YOUR MONEY. And NO, you won’t learn that
stuff right away — are you kidding? People would run off laughing
hysterically if they told ’em that right off the bat…No, that stuff
is ‘SUPER SECRET INFORMATION!’ And that’s ONLY for the ‘UPPER’
levels…AND it’s gonna take you about TWENTY YEARS and COST ABOUT
$300,000 — OR MORE! — TO FIND THAT STUFF OUT. SEE…It’s not a
‘Church’ — What kind of ‘CHURCH’ makes you cough up 300 GRAND before
you can learn about Jesus or Mohammad or Bhudda? Scientology ISN’T A
RELIGION…IT’s A SCAM to get ALL YOUR MONEY!…GIVE EM TWENTY YEARS
AND 300 GRAND, and they’ll ‘TEACH’ you about XENU AND THE DEAD ALIENS!”
Now, the CoS-ers are starting to look even more idiotic, and their
‘Church’ greed and criminal nature begins to come to light. Hopefully,
the interviewers and listeners will now be inclined to question the
CoS-ers in a likewise mocking approach.
Then you can (quickly) talk about L Ron’s insanity, Lisa McPherson, CoS
mind control, e-meter & auditing foolishness, pattern of lies, black
ops, Narconon, battle agaisnt psychology…etc…etc…Whatever subject
works within the context of the interview.
DON’T get bogged down by specifics — obscure names, dates, court
cases, CoS lingo, etc. Be simple, hard hitting, and to the point. AND
DON’T BE AFRAID to jump in on answering the questions the intviewers
ask them.
NOW, after these idiots’ true nature has been cemented, THIS is when
you get to the Lisa McPherson story: “IN FACT, there was a case in
Florida…” (hit it hard and quick)
Unfortunately, it was clear the CoS folks who were on that most recent
radio interviews I have heard had media training, and their answers
were scripted and well rehearsed. And they sounded fairly credible to
both the hosts and listeners (as I was one).
In dealing with these CoS flacks, always be courteous, BUT NOT
RESPECTFUL — They’ll try to talk over you, so respond likewise. DO
RIDICULE their beliefs — LAUGH AT THEM. ATTACK their history, belief
systems and actions (that’s what they’re gonna do to you). But DON’T
attack them personally — in fact, “FEEL SORRY” for them, because YOU
DO, and want to help them see the LUNACY of their brainwased beliefs —
which is THE TRUTH.
DON’T ASK THEM QUESTIONS: BECAUSE THEY WON’T ANSWER. Because they’ll
turn it back on you.This gives them more air time, and allows them to
push your buttons.
DON’T ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS; Because they’re set-up, designed to
derail you and take you off-point. RATHER, dismiss their questions, and
go bact to your point.
L Ron supposedly said something about “never defend, always attack” —
(Sounds a bit like Sen Siu, but then he “borrowed” most of his works).
BUT that’s the only way to deal with them…Attack them with THE TRUTH.
They can’t fight that.
YOU WANT THE INTERVIEW TO BE ON YOUR TERMS — with the hosts and
listeners backing YOU up. Stay on point. Don’t get sidetracked. Don’t
put yourself in a position of defending yourself. Make an outline. And
rehearse. This way, you can effectively communicate to the interviews
and listeners a view of the CoS-ers to for what they are: Greedy
mind-controlled zombie idiots.
I applaud your work…and hope these suggestions will help you and
other CoS critics in your noble battles.
BUT REMEMBER THIS: It wasn’t debate or getting people on your side that
made people see that the Emperor had no clothes. It was a lone,
enlightened voices who responded with laugher, mocking and ridicule.
And within no time, everyone was laughing, mocking and ridiculing the
Emperor’s naked stupidity. And he ran off in shame, never to seen
again.
These are the strategies and tactics to take against Scientologists….”
****