Panorama and the Scientologists

re: Panorama and the Scientologists

Michael Byrne — Fri, 25 May 2007 07:58:38 GMT

Andrew Chambers... you're not a Scientologist, are you? I guess you are. "For balance, please could you set aside your preconceptions and also view the following on the Panorama program?" -- For a start, the correct spelling is "programme" And the site you list is owned by the "chuch" of scientology, where's the balance there? You should be a bit more open about this -- we can all see that the site will be not so balanced from the outset. It's my honestly held opinion that Scientology is not a religion and is instead a system of beliefs based on bad science-fiction. BTW, are you the same Andrew Chalmers listed on here: http://www.truthaboutscientology.com/stats/impact/impact044honorroll.html, or listed here (http://stop-wise.biz/wise_2001_directory.html) as working for a World Institute of Scientology Enterprises-linked company called KeyMS. Maybe you have a vested interest in showing us the "balanced" view. Is this so?

re: Panorama and the Scientologists

Andrew Chalmers — Thu, 24 May 2007 11:24:14 GMT

Perhaps more than any other sector, (apart from the News itself), surely media people should know better that a picture can be presented to suit the story. For balance, please could you set aside your preconceptions and also view the following on the Panorama program? http://www.bbcpanorama-exposed.org/

re: Panorama and the Scientologists

Darren Davidson — Mon, 21 May 2007 10:23:24 GMT

The picture of Tommy Davis in the community section leading to this link looks suspiciously like eighties Tom Cruise ('Risky Business' era). Spooky.

re: Panorama and the Scientologists

Charlie McCathie — Fri, 18 May 2007 09:12:05 GMT

I was very upset to learn that Anne Archer, who gave a fantastic performance in Fatal Attraction, is the mother of that mentalist Tommy Davis. I loved that film but I'm going to burn my copy. She spawned the devil.

re: Panorama and the Scientologists

Gray Sycamore — Fri, 18 May 2007 09:10:36 GMT

I got my first break into advertising thanks to the Scientologists. I completed what my prospective employer thought was a legitimate psychometric test from "U Test", a front company for Scientology in South Africa. I took the test home, did a quick Google and the game was up. I had the answers to every question within a couple of minutes and passed with flying colours... The test was exactly the same as the one mentioned above, the only difference was that the employing agency paid for it and had no idea... So TBWA in Joberg, it was a scam!!

re: Panorama and the Scientologists

Ben Alcock — Thu, 17 May 2007 14:58:33 GMT

Just following up on Alex's comment really...would it be terribly naughty to suggest that anyone they tested in Sunderland would be very depressed because, well, they were in Sunderland? Having had to live there I can say there's not much in that town to be happy about...

re: Panorama and the Scientologists

Simon Wilden — Wed, 16 May 2007 12:29:00 GMT

The interesting thing about this show and the fuss is how it reveals something about the dangers of a short attention span and user created media. The scientologists managed to stir up quite a lot of anti-BBC feeling by posting the explosion on Youtube with no context. Lots of comments along the lines of 'won't pay my license fee now' from people who probably won't ever watch the whole show and get the whole picture. This is only possible because we're no longer reliant on trained and normally responsible professionals to mediate our communication with one another. Not even the most lowly of tabloids would have thought it could get away with showing one tiny neagative fraction of a story and thereby destabalize the whole broader debate but in a world without media owners, anything is possible. This is the flipsiode of web 2.0. Call it web 2.ohh hell, what have we done!

re: Panorama and the Scientologists

Simon Gardner — Wed, 16 May 2007 11:06:12 GMT

It was quite relieving when Sweeney did eventually blow off, Pr guy Tommy could probably annoy anyone he wanted to in that way to get a reaction. This stuff is just so bloody dangerous, somebody get hold of the muppet celebrities who have given their names to this, do they not see how dangerous it is to give celebrity credentials to this (dare i say it) cult! And also in "God-Fearing America" would this people not be considered as satanic or such like for not worshipping the big man? America should be put down, my sincere apologies to any America sympathisers but a country that has given us Scientology, the people who blamed everyone for "the fags" and picketed soldiers' funerals; the Ku Klux Klan; and also have allowed Britney Spears custody of her children, are currently trying to get a convicted drink driver off of her sentence (Paris Hilton) and well yer... the list goes on but I'm bored and slightly despaired now. This will probably create a few reactions so i'm off to the corner to think about the storm that may have been created.... discuss....

re: Panorama and the Scientologists

Gordon Macmillan — Wed, 16 May 2007 10:33:46 GMT

The vulnerable and the rich...or the vulnerable rich. All of both or something.

re: Panorama and the Scientologists

Alex Donohue — Wed, 16 May 2007 09:36:09 GMT

It's troubling that no matter what state of mind you seem to have when taking their tests, the Scientology people will insist you're depressed. After an hour in their company you probably would be, but it's more likely they're just targeting the vulnerable. I'm not especially worried about Scientology taking over though. They have a bookstore on Goodge Street. It's always empty...

re: Panorama and the Scientologists

Jacquie Bowser — Tue, 15 May 2007 13:21:42 GMT

Nick, good work on your 'personality test' - it made me laugh! I just don't understand how people buy into this garbage? PR guy Tommy - the Tom Cruise wannabe - needs to slap himself back into reality. Good work John Sweeney for trying to put up with the guy as long as he did. No offence to all the celebs who've jumped on the Scientology bandwagon (as i'm sure you're all reading these comments) but stop wasting your money...

re: Panorama and the Scientologists

Gordon Macmillan — Tue, 15 May 2007 12:28:20 GMT

Nick now you mention it, I think it might have been Sunderland. I had a friend who was a there and one in Newcastle. I think it was probably Sunderland. To be honest I wouldn't have stopped but the woman who jumped out was cute. Doh. Jeremy i had been thinking that as well...

re: Panorama and the Scientologists

Nick Tallentire — Tue, 15 May 2007 12:16:18 GMT

Yep, crazy guys. Like Gordon I once did the 'personality test' for a laugh (at the Scientology centre in Sunderland) and spotted the scam straight away. They asked me to hold the metal tubes and think of something bad that had happened to me - it was clearly some sort of pseudo 'lie' detector - so I thought I'd think about sex instead. When the excited tester said that the readings proved that I was really depressed I told him that I'd actually been thinking about something great and his stupid little box would flicker no matter what I'd thought about. I then asked him if he was an idiot - and he started shouting at me and threw me out. I thought Sweeney did well to last as long as he did before losing it last night - and little Tommy was very lucky he didn't get chinned into the bargain. What a bunch of losers. Great TV though! Nick Tallentire, Sunderland

re: Panorama and the Scientologists

Jeremy Jarrett — Tue, 15 May 2007 11:27:59 GMT

I must say that it was totally compelling watching and the more I watch the more scared I got about how dangerous an organisation like this could be… I just hope that there are no Scientologists who read your blog Gordon as we may be about to find out a few things about what’s in your closet!!!!

re: Panorama and the Scientologists

Gordon Macmillan — Tue, 15 May 2007 08:49:07 GMT

Born agains, phew.