Comments on: Billion Year labor contract for Scientologists http://boingboing.net/2011/02/12/billion-year-labor-c.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 22 May 2013 15:51:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: wrybread http://boingboing.net/2011/02/12/billion-year-labor-c.html#comment-1025286 wrybread Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1025286 Fascinating stuff. I've been on a Scientology research binge since that amazing <a href = "http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/02/14/110214fa_fact_wright">New Yorker article</a> mentioned here the other day. If I understand correctly, the Scientologists believe that we're all re-incarnated after we die, and that getting "clear" through their practices gives people the ability to choose a better organism to be re-incarnated as when the time comes. So by signing this "billion year contract" people are dedicating not only their current lives, but all of their re-incarnated lives as well. Fascinating stuff. I’ve been on a Scientology research binge since that amazing New Yorker article mentioned here the other day. If I understand correctly, the Scientologists believe that we’re all re-incarnated after we die, and that getting “clear” through their practices gives people the ability to choose a better organism to be re-incarnated as when the time comes. So by signing this “billion year contract” people are dedicating not only their current lives, but all of their re-incarnated lives as well.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/02/12/billion-year-labor-c.html#comment-1026566 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1026566 These one billion years are not British or American, but are a TeeGeeAckian billion years. This is roughly 42 earthly seconds, so don't panic. These one billion years are not British or American, but are a TeeGeeAckian billion years. This is roughly 42 earthly seconds, so don’t panic.

]]> By: wrybread http://boingboing.net/2011/02/12/billion-year-labor-c.html#comment-1025287 wrybread Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1025287 Some interesting description of life in the Sea Org is <a href = "http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Library/Shelf/wakefield/us-09.html">here</a>. Some interesting description of life in the Sea Org is here.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/02/12/billion-year-labor-c.html#comment-1025289 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1025289 Is that an US billion (1,000,000,000) years or an international billion (1,000,000,000,000) years? Is that an US billion (1,000,000,000) years or an international billion (1,000,000,000,000) years?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/02/12/billion-year-labor-c.html#comment-1025554 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1025554 <i>If I understand correctly, the Scientologists believe that we're all re-incarnated after we die, and that getting "clear" through their practices gives people the ability to choose a better organism to be re-incarnated as when the time comes. </i> Important to note that lower-rung Scientologists may not believe that. If I understand correctly, the Scientologists believe that we’re all re-incarnated after we die, and that getting “clear” through their practices gives people the ability to choose a better organism to be re-incarnated as when the time comes.

Important to note that lower-rung Scientologists may not believe that.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/02/12/billion-year-labor-c.html#comment-1025301 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1025301 I seriously thought that was a joke. I seriously thought that was a joke.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/02/12/billion-year-labor-c.html#comment-1025305 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1025305 There's one problem with this contract: "Being of sound mind..." There’s one problem with this contract:

“Being of sound mind…”

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/02/12/billion-year-labor-c.html#comment-1025308 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1025308 One billion years *little pinky* One billion years *little pinky*

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/02/12/billion-year-labor-c.html#comment-1026333 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1026333 I've seen NDAs and other IP-related documents that claim to apply in this universe and any others that may exist. I’ve seen NDAs and other IP-related documents that claim to apply in this universe and any others that may exist.

]]> By: autark http://boingboing.net/2011/02/12/billion-year-labor-c.html#comment-1025315 autark Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1025315 only 1 billion? geez, how long is this universe thing supposed to last? why not forever? only 1 billion? geez, how long is this universe thing supposed to last?

why not forever?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/02/12/billion-year-labor-c.html#comment-1025323 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1025323 They also believe we have been reincarnated many times already. Much of the auditing they pay big bucks for is to take one back into their past lives. Of course all auditing is hypnosis and under hypnosis we can imagine all sorts of things suggested to us. Also a person under hypnosis is much more willing to pre-pay for future auditing sessions ensuring the scam continues. The Scientology scam should be taught to everyone in highschool as a perfect example and warning of how religion and psychology can be abused for personal gain. Hubbard was an evil genius. Everyone should listen to Tori 'Magoo' Christman's lectures on the cult. They also believe we have been reincarnated many times already. Much of the auditing they pay big bucks for is to take one back into their past lives. Of course all auditing is hypnosis and under hypnosis we can imagine all sorts of things suggested to us. Also a person under hypnosis is much more willing to pre-pay for future auditing sessions ensuring the scam continues.

The Scientology scam should be taught to everyone in highschool as a perfect example and warning of how religion and psychology can be abused for personal gain.
Hubbard was an evil genius.

Everyone should listen to Tori ‘Magoo’ Christman’s lectures on the cult.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/02/12/billion-year-labor-c.html#comment-1025325 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1025325 Amazing. Thanks to the internet, Scientology is progressively being called out for what it is. A farce based on a con. But there's no doubt some people have benefited; but it might be an exception rather than the rule. The best insight I've seen so far is this full interview with American actor Jason Beghe who was a practitioner for over ten years: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHb0BZyF5Ok Amazing. Thanks to the internet, Scientology is progressively being called out for what it is. A farce based on a con. But there’s no doubt some people have benefited; but it might be an exception rather than the rule.

The best insight I’ve seen so far is this full interview with American actor Jason Beghe who was a practitioner for over ten years:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHb0BZyF5Ok

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/02/12/billion-year-labor-c.html#comment-1025326 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1025326 You could make an argument that such a contract is intrinsically invalid, since nobody of sound mind could possibly sign it. You could make an argument that such a contract is intrinsically invalid, since nobody of sound mind could possibly sign it.

]]> By: Andrew Baron http://boingboing.net/2011/02/12/billion-year-labor-c.html#comment-1025848 Andrew Baron Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1025848 I wonder if the billion years ends at Midnight GMT or what. I wonder if the billion years ends at Midnight GMT or what.

]]> By: oasisob1 http://boingboing.net/2011/02/12/billion-year-labor-c.html#comment-1025337 oasisob1 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1025337 Takedown notice in 3, 2, 1... Takedown notice in 3, 2, 1…

]]> By: kevinupstairs http://boingboing.net/2011/02/12/billion-year-labor-c.html#comment-1025338 kevinupstairs Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1025338 Being of sound mind I'm going to go ahead and sign a billion year contract... Mmmmm-hmmmm. Being of sound mind I’m going to go ahead and sign a billion year contract…

Mmmmm-hmmmm.

]]> By: wrybread http://boingboing.net/2011/02/12/billion-year-labor-c.html#comment-1025853 wrybread Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1025853 Good point. Another devious little perk of the auditing process is that while you're confessing all your guilty moments, the auditor writes it all down, which makes blackmailing you in the future so much easier... Good point. Another devious little perk of the auditing process is that while you’re confessing all your guilty moments, the auditor writes it all down, which makes blackmailing you in the future so much easier…

]]> By: Shart Tsung http://boingboing.net/2011/02/12/billion-year-labor-c.html#comment-1025598 Shart Tsung Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1025598 Lord Xenu has inspired me to create a sequel to Battlefield Earth. We will begin filming inside of a giant volcano. Lord Xenu has inspired me to create a sequel to Battlefield Earth. We will begin filming inside of a giant volcano.

]]> By: VICTOR JIMENEZ http://boingboing.net/2011/02/12/billion-year-labor-c.html#comment-1025347 VICTOR JIMENEZ Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1025347 But is a billion yeas in the long or short scale? Does Xenu preffer the french or the english metrics? But is a billion yeas in the long or short scale?
Does Xenu preffer the french or the english metrics?

]]> By: Bob Stanley http://boingboing.net/2011/02/12/billion-year-labor-c.html#comment-1025349 Bob Stanley Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1025349 I'd sign up but it looks like I'm busy most of 1,000,002,008. I’d sign up but it looks like I’m busy most of 1,000,002,008.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/02/12/billion-year-labor-c.html#comment-1025351 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1025351 Aloha! Can a contract like this really be valid. At least one of the parties signing it must be doing so in bad faith, fully aware that the contract will be broken after only a small fraction of the stipulated time. Aloha!

Can a contract like this really be valid. At least one of the parties signing it must be doing so in bad faith, fully aware that the contract will be broken after only a small fraction of the stipulated time.

]]> By: hbl http://boingboing.net/2011/02/12/billion-year-labor-c.html#comment-1025352 hbl Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1025352 A billion years at sea? I feel seasick sometimes crossing from England to France. A billion years at sea? I feel seasick sometimes crossing from England to France.

]]> By: senorglory http://boingboing.net/2011/02/12/billion-year-labor-c.html#comment-1025865 senorglory Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1025865 Had a good enough chuckle that I went back to the article to pull the quote from the recent New Yorker article: "The church says that it adheres to “all child labor laws,” and that minors can’t sign up without parental consent; the freeloader tabs are an “ecclesiastical matter” and are not enforced through litigation." Read more http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/02/14/110214fa_fact_wright#ixzz1Do4l6K6r The "not enforced through litigation" bit is what cracked me up. As if! And as if the Church of Scientology isn't well versed in litigation, and not completely aware of how such a 'freeloader' suit would be received by the court. Had a good enough chuckle that I went back to the article to pull the quote from the recent New Yorker article:

“The church says that it adheres to “all child labor laws,” and that minors can’t sign up without parental consent; the freeloader tabs are an “ecclesiastical matter” and are not enforced through litigation.”

Read more http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/02/14/110214fa_fact_wright#ixzz1Do4l6K6r

The “not enforced through litigation” bit is what cracked me up. As if! And as if the Church of Scientology isn’t well versed in litigation, and not completely aware of how such a ‘freeloader’ suit would be received by the court.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/02/12/billion-year-labor-c.html#comment-1025354 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1025354 Well, a billion years is not that much compared to the eternity that Christians sign up for on just as much evidence. Specifying it to an arbitrary billion just makes it seem bigger. Well, a billion years is not that much compared to the eternity that Christians sign up for on just as much evidence. Specifying it to an arbitrary billion just makes it seem bigger.

]]> By: senorglory http://boingboing.net/2011/02/12/billion-year-labor-c.html#comment-1025866 senorglory Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1025866 We'll all be sued, shortly. We’ll all be sued, shortly.

]]> By: AnthonyC http://boingboing.net/2011/02/12/billion-year-labor-c.html#comment-1025881 AnthonyC Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1025881 "We're suing you for violating the terms of your contract." "I never signed that. It's from before I was born." "Exactly. Your previous incarnation signed it." "If so, he chose a better organism to be reincarnated when he was reborn- one that wouldn't fall for that gibberish." “We’re suing you for violating the terms of your contract.”
“I never signed that. It’s from before I was born.”
“Exactly. Your previous incarnation signed it.”
“If so, he chose a better organism to be reincarnated when he was reborn- one that wouldn’t fall for that gibberish.”

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/02/12/billion-year-labor-c.html#comment-1025372 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1025372 yeah, I'm with Victor G. are that one thousand million, 10^9, or a million million, 10^12 ??? look out for the scam! =) yeah, I’m with Victor G.

are that one thousand million, 10^9, or a million million, 10^12 ???

look out for the scam! =)

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/02/12/billion-year-labor-c.html#comment-1026657 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1026657 "The first ten million years were the worst. And the second ten million: they were the worst, too. The third ten million I didn't enjoy at all. After that, I went into a bit of a decline." “The first ten million years were the worst. And the second ten million: they were the worst, too. The third ten million I didn’t enjoy at all. After that, I went into a bit of a decline.”

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/02/12/billion-year-labor-c.html#comment-1025378 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1025378 1 - Scientology claims to be a religion 2 - "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" 3 - Enforcement of agreements is subject to laws. Therefore because this is a religious matter, there can't be any laws that would apply to such an agreement, so there aren't any laws that can be used to enforce it. Or Sea Org isn't a religious organization. 1 – Scientology claims to be a religion
2 – “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”
3 – Enforcement of agreements is subject to laws.

Therefore because this is a religious matter, there can’t be any laws that would apply to such an agreement, so there aren’t any laws that can be used to enforce it.

Or

Sea Org isn’t a religious organization.

]]> By: BB http://boingboing.net/2011/02/12/billion-year-labor-c.html#comment-1025379 BB Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1025379 Ha! I'm surprised it's still up. Ha! I’m surprised it’s still up.

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