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DominoSILVER Member
UnNatural Scientist - Currently working on a Breville-legged monkey
757 posts
Location: Bath Uni or Shrewsbury, UK


Posted:
Well, a couple of hours ago the BBC aired a Panorama documentary on Scientology and frankly... whoa.

In ways it was a follow up from one they did in the 80s or 90s. Scientology had a bad rap over its use of "Fair Game" ie harassment of those that dare criticise them, and this was a look into whether they still deserved this reputation.

My God.

The answer is a very definite HELL-YES. The reporter, John Sweeney, loses his rag at one point - this was filmed by the Scientologists and dumped all over YouTube and sent to various MPs and people in the BBC to discredit him before the full documentary aired. He was followed/stalked, harassed, intimidated. Not mentioned in film was the fact that PIs even turned up to his wedding.

Yes, John Sweeney is somewhat of an asshat and describes his style as: "there are three rules in journalism. First, find a crocodile. Two, poke it in the eye with a stick. Three, stand back and report what happens next. If it's a sodden log you'll be quite safe. If it's a crocodile you've got a story."

But still...

You can find the film on the Panorama website here. Please watch it, it's an eye opener.

Give me a lever long enough and a place to stand and I can beat the world into submission.


Rouge DragonBRONZE Member
Insert Champagne Here
13,215 posts
Location: without class distinction, Australia


Posted:
So if you have an issue with NHS psychiatrists, how would you feel about psychiatrists if the system was different? Or even if you were in another country with a different system?

i would have changed ***** to phallus, and claire to petey Petey

Rougie: but that's what I'm doing here
Arnwyn: what letting me adjust myself in your room?..don't you dare quote that on HoP...


robnunchucksBRONZE Member
enthusiast
363 posts
Location: manchester uk


Posted:
did you actualy read the balony detection kit section? it isn't about scientology is a section about Common fallacies of logic and rhetoric. for people who may not have a firm graps of critical reasoning skills it is a page designed to show people how to criticaly evaulate information and reasoning. scientology isn't mentioned once on the entire page.



you will also note that the son said he liked his father

Penthouse: Have you ever wished your father dead?

Hubbard: I don't believe so, no. Regardless of the things he's done to me --we had a helluva good time!

Penthouse: Ripping the world off?

Hubbard: We did! I enjoyed my life then, and I enjoy it now. And really, as far as crimes go. I think my father has received the ultimate punishment, which is being locked and trapped in his own insanity. There's no way out for him.



you jumped to a conclusion without reading the artical.



most of the posts are from ex-scientologysts and the entire site is very heavyly refrenced includeing offical govermenet documents court records etc. even FBI and goverment reports on scientology



as for the porn mag i refer you to item one of the balony detection kit Ad hominem - attacking the arguer and not the argument.



PLEASE READ THE ARTICALS BEFORE COMMENTING ON HOW BIAST THEY MUST ME.



im starting to supsect you are trying to defend scientology because they share your views on phyciatry. actualy they dont they equate them with hittler and clame they ruteenly drug and rape patents i know you are an intellegent and reasonable person dave so i know you dont think that but please remember



my enemys enemy is NOT my friend



just because scientology happen to share your dislike of phycologists doesn't meen thats they aren't worse!!



think hard dave do you realy think there is any value to what scientologists are suggesting or are you simply sideing with them because you dislike phyciatry?
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onewheeldaveGOLD Member
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Location: sheffield, United Kingdom


Posted:
 Written by: Rouge Dragon


So if you have an issue with NHS psychiatrists, how would you feel about psychiatrists if the system was different? Or even if you were in another country with a different system?



Well, it depends totally on whether they're any good or not smile

Are they operating within a good admin system that can make an appointment and fulfill it reasonably close to the stated time?

If they need to transfer patient info between two departments can they do so without losing it?

Can the doctor spend a decent amount of time with his/her patients, or is it a 5 minute slot, UK NHS GP style?

Assuming the admin is OK, what are the results of the treatment?- does it tend to produce positive individuals in reasonable control of their life and emotions, or does it tend to fob them off with pills that sedate them sufficiently to not be seen as disruptive or strange, yet which fails to address the underlying issues causing the behaviour in the first place.

If it produces good results, then I expect I'd be all for it.

Then again, if some bizarre system based on a theology of a giant galactic god-toad which 'treated' patients by invoking relevant demons, yet happened to produce consistently good results in those it treated, then I'd be all for that too.

"You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it."

--MAJOR KORGO KORGAR,
"Last of The Lancers"
AFC 32


Educate your self in the Hazards of Fire Breathing STAY SAFE!


onewheeldaveGOLD Member
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Location: sheffield, United Kingdom


Posted:
 Written by: robnunchucks


did you actualy read the balony detection kit section? it isn't about scientology is a section about Common fallacies of logic and rhetoric. for people who may not have a firm graps of critical reasoning skills it is a page designed to show people how to criticaly evaulate information and reasoning. scientology isn't mentioned once on the entire page.




I did read it. They should have called it something along the lines of 'Common fallacies of logic and rhetoric' and I'd be OK with it.

By calling it 'balony detection kit ' and linking to it in the context of an anit-scientologist page, they display a clear bias and compromise their objectivity.


 Written by: robnunchucks


as for the porn mag i refer you to item one of the balony detection kit Ad hominem - attacking the arguer and not the argument.




If there's an article in 'The Sun' newspaper, I'm not going to particulalry take it seriously cos they have a clear record of sensationalising issues and distorting facts- for similar reasons I don't seek out articles in porn mags.

That's not to say the article is necessarily flawed, just that I'm natuaraly wary of articles in porn mags- the main function of porn mags isn't to educate smile

"You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it."

--MAJOR KORGO KORGAR,
"Last of The Lancers"
AFC 32


Educate your self in the Hazards of Fire Breathing STAY SAFE!


StoneGOLD Member
Stream Entrant
2,829 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia


Posted:
robnunchucks, I agree with OWD as for as citing stories from porn mag goes.

Perhaps you could add this to the baloeny detection kit: Just because someone publishes an article, that forwards your argument, doesn’t make it a credible source. I think you have to question a source, that many would consider exploits, women.

I thought Sweeney’s Panorama documentary on Scientology was rubbish; a beat up for publicity at best. He provoked them, and got what he deserved. He broke all the rules from the Clambake site

HE rushed into adopting a potential solution before carefully researching the cult problem.

HE acted in an angry or hostile manner towards the cult members.

HE antagonised the cult member by ridiculing their beliefs.

HE was judgmental or confrontational towards the cult member.

HE antagonized many of the cult's leaders or members.

If we as members of the human race practice meditation, we can transcend our fear, despair, and forgetfulness. Meditation is not an escape. It is the courage to look at reality with mindfulness and concentration. Thich Nhat Hanh


robnunchucksBRONZE Member
enthusiast
363 posts
Location: manchester uk


Posted:
ok so thats not good enough for you eh?



ok FBI reports on scientology with links to the origonal copys https://www.xenu.net/archive/FBI/



information from scientologys searct police serivce documenting methodology and practises

https://www.xenu.net/archive/go/index.htm



a website documenting a girl who died as a result of scientologist therpys

https://www.lisamcpherson.org/



the story of a mentaly disturbed scientologist who was not aloud treament eventualy resulting him brutaly murdering his own mother

https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/JeremyPerkins/



a time magasen artical on scientology

https://www.xenu.net/archive/media/time910605.html



a huge selection of affidavits from various ex-member of scientology

https://www.whyaretheydead.net/krasel/



a document discribeing the concept of fair game it states that an enemy(critic) of scientology "May be deprived of property or injured by any means by any Scientologist without any discipline of the Scientologist."

https://www.fairgamed.org/fairgame.htm



compartive study of scientology read the hidden practises section

https://www.ezlink.com/~perry/CoS/Theology/index.htm



a 64 year man imprisoned for protesting scientology because he joke he'ed send them a tom cruze missle

https://www.10zenmonkeys.com/2007/02/04/scientology-fugitive-arrested/



finaly a nice little list of crimes and the evidence for them commited by scientology https://scientology-lies.com/crimes/index.html



a interview with an ex scientology talking about child abuse been accepted within the orginisation

https://www.xenutv.com/interviews/astra-1.htm



an affidavit of an ex-memeber talking about how information from counceling sessions the person thought was confidental would be used to black mail and manipulate the person should they question the church

https://www.xenu-directory.net/documents/prince19990820.html#23
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onewheeldaveGOLD Member
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Location: sheffield, United Kingdom


Posted:
For anyone who believes that the psychiatric system does not force treatment on people, or exploit and abuse the vulnerable, here's a page of personal accounts of psychiatric survivors

https://www.mindfreedom.org/personal-stories

Here's a page opposing the growing problem of routinely prescribing behaviour modifying drugs to school children

https://www.cchr.org/index.cfm/6443

"You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it."

--MAJOR KORGO KORGAR,
"Last of The Lancers"
AFC 32


Educate your self in the Hazards of Fire Breathing STAY SAFE!


robnunchucksBRONZE Member
enthusiast
363 posts
Location: manchester uk


Posted:
LOL ok dave first ones fair enough phyciatry is not perfect and there are no dout mistakes however i'ed like to note that most of the storys are about electro shock something long since abandoned for the exact reasons stated here



however the second smile im afraid you have failed to check your sources dave the CCHR is actualy a front group for scientology which has set up a large number of dummy coperations and groups



heres a list https://www.holysmoke.org/cos/cult-front-groups-latest.htm



dont beleave me do a search is is not the only list and the fact that CCHR is a front set up in 1969 and funded by scientology is mentioned several times by a large number of independ sources



any comment on the information i've posted?
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onewheeldaveGOLD Member
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Location: sheffield, United Kingdom


Posted:
 Written by: robnunchucks



LOL ok dave first ones fair enough phyciatry is not perfect and there are no dout mistakes however i'ed like to note that most of the storys are about electro shock something long since abandoned for the exact reasons stated here



however the second smile im afraid you have failed to check your sources dave the CCHR is actualy a front group for scientology which has set up a large number of dummy coperations and groups



heres a list https://www.holysmoke.org/cos/cult-front-groups-latest.htm



dont beleave me do a search is is not the only list and the fact that CCHR is a front set up in 1969 and funded by scientology is mentioned several times by a large number of independ sources.....





Including the CCHR site itself-



 Written by: CCHR



What is CCHR?





CCHR International headquarters in Los Angeles, California

The Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) is a non-profit, public benefit organization dedicated to investigating and exposing psychiatric violations of human rights. It also ensures that criminal acts within the psychiatric industry are reported to the proper authorities and acted upon.





Dr. Thomas Szasz

CCHR was founded in 1969 by the Church of Scientology and the internationally acclaimed author, Dr. Thomas Szasz,









Given that scientologists consider psychiatry to be corrupt, it's not surprising that they're going to be behind several anti-psychiatry movements, or that they publish accounts of, what they see as being examples of psychiatric misdemeanors.



Equally, i can see how you may find the claims of such sites dubious and, I must admit, when I posted the link I was not aware of the scientology connection- they were just two sites that came up on an initial search.



Glad you consider the first one OK.

"You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it."

--MAJOR KORGO KORGAR,
"Last of The Lancers"
AFC 32


Educate your self in the Hazards of Fire Breathing STAY SAFE!


StoneGOLD Member
Stream Entrant
2,829 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia


Posted:
robnunchucks, as far as I’m concerned there is not a lot of difference b/t scientology and any other religion. So I don't understand why everyone gets on their soap box each time a reporter does a beat up on scientology. Most other religions are accepted because they have been around for a long time.



All religions exploit their congregations for money as well as other more sinister purposes. As for the criticism of people not being free to leave scientology, the catholics practice excommunication and the penalty for leaving Islam is death.



As far as the links go, most of the links are from the same source, and I’m not sure FBI files from the height of the McCarthy era are that relevant.



robnunchucks, I’m not sure what point you are making in the quote below, but they still use electroconvulsive therapy to treat depression amongst other things.



 Written by:

however i'ed like to note that most of the storys are about electro shock something long since abandoned for the exact reasons stated here







smile

If we as members of the human race practice meditation, we can transcend our fear, despair, and forgetfulness. Meditation is not an escape. It is the courage to look at reality with mindfulness and concentration. Thich Nhat Hanh


onewheeldaveGOLD Member
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Location: sheffield, United Kingdom


Posted:
Link to WIKI article on electroconvulsive therapy-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroconvulsive_therapy

"You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it."

--MAJOR KORGO KORGAR,
"Last of The Lancers"
AFC 32


Educate your self in the Hazards of Fire Breathing STAY SAFE!


robnunchucksBRONZE Member
enthusiast
363 posts
Location: manchester uk


Posted:
seems i was wrong about it not been used however after reading the page you provided there seems to be evidence for it haveing a positive effect in 60%-70% acording to goverment reports for people with depresion for a short period. however i do agree that ALL patitens should be given the option to opted out. non the less there is evedience to show that it has positive effects. there also seems to be a great deal of recearch into whether any long term damage is caused all the research seems to indicate that there is no lasting damage



but yes i would agree opt out should be given to all pateients however when you have seriously deranged people geting them to make an informed dicision is often very hard so its a tricky issue however study have shown that it is benifical to people with certain types of problem



as for them been as bad as any other religion i would agree that some religions maby are as bad however they are normaly in countrys with religious goverments, i will also concide that at the hight of its power the catholic church was just if not more nasty. my point is that in most developed countrys with secular goverments the worst religion is currently scientology. im going to use the catholic church for comparoson



Cathoisism

giveing money to the church is volentary you dont have to give any money.



if family memebers or friends are non catholic you are still aloud to asscociate with them.



confesions are protected by church law as confidental.



there are no conciquences for leaveing the church.



other than a rebutal there are no conciquences for critisizeing the church.



church beleafs are avadiable to any one catholic or not



Scientology

giveing money is mandatory and the amount of money you need to give gets larger the longer you've been with the church many people as a result end up working full time for them because they can't aford to pay any other way.



if family members or friends are non scientologists you must disconect cuting all contact with them.



people beleave there confestions (auditing) to be confidental when in fact everything is recorded incase the church needs to blackmail that person later



leaveing the church meens been shuned by all members sent threatening letters been phycialy indimidated haveing people spread lies about you such as you are a pedofile etc. also anything they know from confesions that is embaresing will be made public.



critizising the church results in you been decarled fair game meening it is ok for scientologists to lie steal from or injure you without fear of reprisel from the church. there have also been several cases of people been framed for crimes they didn't commit by the church.



church beleafs are protected and any atempts to spread them will result in laws sues and threats from the church
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onewheeldaveGOLD Member
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Posted:
 Written by: robnunchucks




Cathoisism
giveing money to the church is volentary you dont have to give any money.

if family memebers or friends are non catholic you are still aloud to asscociate with them.

confesions are protected by church law as confidental.

there are no conciquences for leaveing the church.

other than a rebutal there are no conciquences for critisizeing the church.

church beleafs are avadiable to any one catholic or not

Scientology
giveing money is mandatory and the amount of money you need to give gets larger the longer you've been with the church many people as a result end up working full time for them because they can't aford to pay any other way.




No rob- I would say that you, and others here, are showing a heavy bias.

Giving money to scientology is notmandatory- the church of scientology cannot force anyone to give money or receive treatment.

There are costs for using the service they offer (as with most things), but everyone is free not to get involved.

Other churches like the catholic church have been involved in numourous exploititative scandels, including widespread systematic child abuse and covering up of child abuse, as well as many of the things cited against scientology in terms of gaining members, making it difficult for them to leave, etc, etc.

I suspect that, of the two organisations, the catholic church is the richer (can anyone verify this?) and that much of those riches were gained through exploitation.

As for psychiatry being a choice- there's several large pressure groups fighting for the rights of individuals to not be compulsorily subjected to ECT.

When talking about 'choice', at least be even and equal in it's meaning- as far as I can tell, if people exploited by other churches, or those who feel they are victims of psychiatry, are free to walk away, then so are those involved in scientology.

Read some of those links to sites campaigning for the right to protection from psychiatry- you'll find similar links and stories to those on the anti-scientology sites: people are being abused by the psychiatric system and, I would imagine, in far greater numbers than scientology can manage.

And, for all it's alleged faults, scientology does seem to be one of the big players in making those abuses public and offering rsourses to victims of the psychiatric system.

"You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it."

--MAJOR KORGO KORGAR,
"Last of The Lancers"
AFC 32


Educate your self in the Hazards of Fire Breathing STAY SAFE!


robnunchucksBRONZE Member
enthusiast
363 posts
Location: manchester uk


Posted:
"Giving money to scientology is notmandatory- the church of scientology cannot force anyone to give money or receive treatment."



you know what i meen dave scientologists have to give money to remain in the church catholics dont this is the reason that it is clasifyed as a buissness in most countrys rather than a religion



scientology has also been involved in child abuse and covering (see my earlyer links) it up hence why i didn't include that in my list of diffrences



and my point regarding been free to walk away was while scientology doesn't always physicaly stop people from leaveing (it depends whos in charge at the partical branch wether someone will atempt to physicaly drag you back) leaveing results in the lauch of a smear campain and harrasment by scientologysts they will get threating phone calls and, people going through there bins people following them if information was retreaved in auditing that is embaresing it will be used to blackmain them. to come back into scientology which meens they have to start paying again. catholisism does no such and why in phyciatry people are physicaly restrained they are not blackmailed and nether is confidentaly and embaresing information about the realeased should they leave. nore are they sent threating letter and have members of there faimlys harrased



you also stated that chatolisism makes it difficult to leave can you post an example?



finaly yes people shouldn't be exposed to electro shock against there will i agree with you that its something that needs chageing i said that in my previous post. but this fact alone does not meens that every area of phyciatry is evil useless and harmfull. phyciatry is by no meens a perfect cure for all mental illness the point is that statisicaly it is more benifical to people than no treatment at all.



what every you think of phychiatry surely you can agree that scintology is both useless, harmfull and explotitive.
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onewheeldaveGOLD Member
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Location: sheffield, United Kingdom


Posted:
No, actually I can't, having had no personal experience of it or knowing many who have.

The fact that there are numerous smear campaigns against it isn't going to decide it for me.

Psychiatry however, I have made my mind up on, due to a combination of personal experience, accounts of people I know who've been victims of it, plus the extensive online accounts, plus the extensive well-documented past atrocities (lobotomys) and present ones (doping of schoolchildren, compulsory ECT).

It really does seem to me that the harm claimed to be done by scientology is considerably less than that done by psychiatry.

And, whatever the faults of scientology, as I pointed out before, it does seem to be the most active opposition to psychiatry offenses- so that is at least one way in which scientology isn't 'useless'.

Having been involved in this thread, I do intend, when the opportunity becomes available, to attend a scientology 'information event', at which point I will adjust my opinion of scientology accordingly.

maybe what this comes down to is that I've always been a it of an individualist- not having any kind of 'sheep' mentality and always having a tendency to see dodgy aspects in established organisations that the general public seem to accept as being respectable simply cos they're the norm.

So, I do appreciate that many of you are concerned about scientology- what bothers me (a lot!) is that you don't seem to apply the same level of discernment when it comes to (more accepted) organisations like psychiatry, when they seem to have pretty much the same issues as you're accusing scientology of.

Maybe if we got a grip on the faults in those respected/established organisations, we wouldn't have so many vulnerable people looking for things like scientology.

I just get a bit sick of the prejudice displayed towards any alternaitive health/spiritual system simply cos they're not 'establishment approved'- particularly when the grounds for the critisism can equally be applied to the establishment alternatives.

If you've got a problem with scientology, stay away from it- no-one can force you to get into it.

However bad it is I doubt it's achieved anything like the levels of misery that psychiatry, with its past 57,000 lobotomised men, women and children (and not a single conviction for the perpetrators), its current compulsory infliction of ECT and its current policies of doping under-age schoolchildren.

How was it that a man could make a career from driving a pick through the eye socket of vulnerable victims to dice the frontal lobes of their brain, to the tune of, at his peak, something like 20-a-day.

How could it be that he was not only not arrested and charged, but was appluaded as an innovator and left to practice this sickness on countless more victims.

IMO, cos he was establishment and possibly also cos the public were no doubt so focused on whatever witch hunt against some minority alternative cause was in vogue at the time, that they didn't even think to look closer to home and question what orthodox psychiatry was getting up to.

What do you think?

"You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it."

--MAJOR KORGO KORGAR,
"Last of The Lancers"
AFC 32


Educate your self in the Hazards of Fire Breathing STAY SAFE!


StoneGOLD Member
Stream Entrant
2,829 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia


Posted:
I think this is a great discussion that is danger of going off topic. Would anyone like to start a new thread discussing the benefits new age therapies in comparison to modern psychology?

robnunchucks, to answer your questions:

Many Christians (both Catholic and Protestant) support their churches and pastors with monetary contributions called tithes. A tithe is a one-tenth part of something, paid as a (usually???) voluntary contribution or as a tax or levy, usually to support a Jewish or Christian religious organization (wiki).

Excommunication is a religious censure used to deprive or suspend membership in a religious community The Roman Catholic Church has an extensive history of the uses of excommunication, especially during the Middle Ages (wiki).

And the not so middle ages, I'd say wink

If we as members of the human race practice meditation, we can transcend our fear, despair, and forgetfulness. Meditation is not an escape. It is the courage to look at reality with mindfulness and concentration. Thich Nhat Hanh


faith enfireBRONZE Member
wandering thru the woods of WI
3,556 posts
Location: Wisconsin, USA


Posted:
offtopic: excommunication is currently used for people who go against dogma. There are a few cases that allow for immediate dismissal-but shhhh, you can work your way back

in scientology from what I understand you need to pay to move up. in chritianity, you need to study and participate, it's free. Tithing is voluntary, some churches lean on you a bit heavier for it.
If you buy into scientology, I think it could be good as a motivational, be all you can be group.

Faith
Nay, whatever comes one hour was sunlit and the most high gods may not make boast of any better thing than to have watched that hour as it passed


MikeGinnyGOLD Member
HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA


Posted:
 Written by: robnunchucks


finaly yes people shouldn't be exposed to electro shock against there will



Not only shouldn't they be forced to undergo electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) against their will, IT IS NOT DONE. Not in the last 30 years, anyway. In fact, the only time a psychiatric therapy may be administered without the patient's consent is if the psychiatrist believes that the patient is not mentally sound to be making her own decisions. This is basically resolved for acutely psychotic, nonverbal, violent, or acutely suicidal patients. The psychiatrist is liable for both criminal and civil penalties for abuse of this power.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is performed only as a last resort and for severe depression only. It has not been shown to treat any other condition, including schizophrenia, and is not used for psychosis.

ECT is performed under general anesthesia and paralysis. The patient does not convulse! A current is applied to the temples and this causes a self-limited seizure. The patient does not convulse because she is under general anesthesia. There is some twitching of the facial muscles when the current is applied, but that is because of the direct stimulation of the muscle fibers by the current.

Through a mechanism that is not well understood, this seems to be very helpful in depression. The side-effects are minimal and are usually more attributable to the anesthesia than the ECT itself. Some mild amnesia (that surrounds the therapy) has been reported. Contrary to popular belief, no patient has ever lost all of his memory through ECT and ECT cannot do this. (This was done on the TV show, House MD and I wrote them a very angry letter about their willful and destructive misrepesentation of ECT).

ECT CANNOT EVER be done without the consent of the patient (at least not in the U.S. and I'd be shocked if it were any different in the U.K. or Australia). If the patient is not psychologically sound enough to consent then she doesn't get ECT. This has been the case for at least the last 20-30 years.

To illustrate what ECT can do, a 19-year-old gentleman was brought in by his family for severe depression. He had failed SSRI's such as PROZAC and tricyclic antidepressants such as nortryptiline (ELAVIL). His depression was so severe that he was cachetic appearing because he did not eat, and he had been admitted to the hospital twice for nasogastric feeding. He had a long beard and bad body odor because he was so depressed that he couldn't even bring himself to get up to care for his hygeine.

Three months later, after completing a course of ECT, he had gained ten pounds, was planning on finishing his high school education (which, you can imagine, had gone by the wayside), and reported that he was pursuing romantic interests. He was well-groomed, clean, and smiling. The only side-effect was that he could not remember coming to the hospital for any of his ECT sessions.

He'll need careful psychiatric follow-up for the rest of his life and he may need repeat courses of ECT, but ECT is by far the safest and most effective therapy for depression.

-Mike

Certified Mad Doctor and HoP High Priest of Nutella



A buckuht n a hooze! -Valura


faith enfireBRONZE Member
wandering thru the woods of WI
3,556 posts
Location: Wisconsin, USA


Posted:
They did a story on it in the news. They use it for "emergency" cases. Antidepressants need a few months to work. ECT, you can feel the results very soon after. I considered, but I don't think the depression I have is that bad (for now).
It was very hopeful. When I first heard about it, I thought are you serious?, but then I listened and they made a good case.
What does scientology do for depression? Tell you to get over it. It's all in our head.

Faith
Nay, whatever comes one hour was sunlit and the most high gods may not make boast of any better thing than to have watched that hour as it passed


onewheeldaveGOLD Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,252 posts
Location: sheffield, United Kingdom


Posted:
Typing 'ECT' and 'forced' into a Google search will turn up hundreds of links about campaigns to end forced ECT and indivual cases of lawyers fighting in court for their clients right to not have forced ECT.



Two campaigning groups to end forced ECT and other psychiatric abuses (the second one is set up and supported by scientologists)



https://www.mindfreedom.org



https://www.cchr.org/index.cfm/6443







 Written by:



the only time a psychiatric therapy may be administered without the patient's consent is if the psychiatrist believes that the patient is not mentally sound to be making her own decisions.





whatever happened to that 'raised eyebrow 'smiley? smile

"You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it."

--MAJOR KORGO KORGAR,
"Last of The Lancers"
AFC 32


Educate your self in the Hazards of Fire Breathing STAY SAFE!


animatEdBRONZE Member
1 + 1 = 3
3,540 posts
Location: Bristol UK


Posted:
this one? umm

Empty your mind. Be formless, Shapeless, like Water.
Put Water into a cup, it becomes the cup, put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle, put water into a teapot, it becomes the teapot.
Water can flow, or it can Crash.
Be Water My Friend.


StoneGOLD Member
Stream Entrant
2,829 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia


Posted:
Good points faith.

I think scientology is way over priced when it comes to finding out how to become all you can be.

smile

If we as members of the human race practice meditation, we can transcend our fear, despair, and forgetfulness. Meditation is not an escape. It is the courage to look at reality with mindfulness and concentration. Thich Nhat Hanh


faith enfireBRONZE Member
wandering thru the woods of WI
3,556 posts
Location: Wisconsin, USA


Posted:
of course they are sort of choosey with the questionaire...it's sort of like outside sales interviews...you look for people who will succeed and ditch those that don't. so of course they look good smile

Faith
Nay, whatever comes one hour was sunlit and the most high gods may not make boast of any better thing than to have watched that hour as it passed


robnunchucksBRONZE Member
enthusiast
363 posts
Location: manchester uk


Posted:
the CCHR is not a reliable source of information its a propaganda site from scientologists a group who clame that druging and rapeing patents by phyciatrists is routeen and that the holocaus was conceaved and carryed out by phyciologists.



i know it supports your case dave but scientology doesn't dislike phycatrists for sensable reasons they dislike them because phyciatrsits exposed there messia as a fraud and are doing this as a form of revenge



and after a little recearch doc lighting is right only people deamed unable to offer concent are given forced electro shock and of those %60-%70 ECT show marked improvements.



but dave what are you suggesting as an alternative? if people aren't well enough to give there concent should we simply leave them in there padded room and do our best to stop them commiting suicide? we could give them drugs but you've already said you wouldn't want that. So what are we left with?



do we just lock people up and hope they'll get better?



electro shock is very much like surgery people dislike the idea of been cut open and havieng organs removed sliced and swaped for the organs of the dead. however with surgry we make an exception because we understand it is benifical to the person.



just as electro shock seems an unplessent and disturbing idea we must also make an exception because the evidence shows it works and improves peoples lives.



i know you personaly had a bad experiance with the system. and clearly mistakes happen but if people are doing there best to improve the lives of others and scientific data shows that they are actualy suceeding in most cases. you can't blame someone for trying to help but failing.
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robnunchucksBRONZE Member
enthusiast
363 posts
Location: manchester uk


Posted:
Having been involved in this thread, I do intend, when the opportunity becomes available, to attend a scientology 'information event', at which point I will adjust my opinion of scientology accordingly.



ok but dave please be carful dont give them your address or phone number or even your full name if you can nothing they can use to track you down.



also if you attend an "auditing" session dont tell them anything you wouldn't want made public regardless of what you will be lead to beleave there is no confidnetiality during auding



oh and finaly when you first try to join you'll be asked to take a personality test just so you know your answers on the test are unimporantat the results are allways the same.



"your messed up in some way you need to buy the book dianetics to make you better"



anyways dave realy do be carfull if you attend the meeting regardless of our diffrences of oppionon here i dont wanta see anyone get caught up in the mess that is scientology
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onewheeldaveGOLD Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,252 posts
Location: sheffield, United Kingdom


Posted:
 Written by: robnunchucks


Having been involved in this thread, I do intend, when the opportunity becomes available, to attend a scientology 'information event', at which point I will adjust my opinion of scientology accordingly.

ok but dave please be carful dont give them your address or phone number or even your full name if you can nothing they can use to track you down.

also if you attend an "auditing" session dont tell them anything you wouldn't want made public regardless of what you will be lead to beleave there is no confidnetiality during auding

oh and finaly when you first try to join you'll be asked to take a personality test just so you know your answers on the test are unimporantat the results are allways the same.

"your messed up in some way you need to buy the book dianetics to make you better"

anyways dave realy do be carfull if you attend the meeting regardless of our diffrences of oppionon here i dont wanta see anyone get caught up in the mess that is scientology



Cheers for the concern, but you've really got nothing to be worried about smile

I was serious when I said that, IMO, scientology is (from what I know of it) no more manipulative and scam based than many of our respectable organisations which we deal with day-to-day.

I'm very used to recognising and not getting sucked into, attempts at manipulation and, on occasions, outright scams- that's the kind of culture we, in the modern west, exist in.

Apparently, I'm more sensitive to it than the majority, who seem to simply not recognise it unless it's to do with a organisation like scientology.

No-one gets my address or personal details off me unless they're got a good reason for it- that includes the incresing number of retail stores in the UK who, for whatever reason, thinks it's OK to ask you for your postcode when you're checking out- so no way am I going to be having problems at a scientology initiation.

On several occasions I've disagreed with and turned down treatment from, doctors/medical staff cos, IMO, what they were saying was a bit dubious. When they've turned on the pressure by taking the 'we're the experts and you're not..' line, it's made no difference, cos, unlike the majority of the population, I know that doctors sometimes don't know as much as they tend to assume they do.

So, again, I'll have no preblems with scientologists taking a similar approach.

"You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it."

--MAJOR KORGO KORGAR,
"Last of The Lancers"
AFC 32


Educate your self in the Hazards of Fire Breathing STAY SAFE!


onewheeldaveGOLD Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,252 posts
Location: sheffield, United Kingdom


Posted:
 Written by: robnunchucks



the CCHR is not a reliable source of information its a propaganda site from scientologists a group who clame that druging and rapeing patents by phyciatrists is routeen and that the holocaus was conceaved and carryed out by phyciologists.



i know it supports your case dave but scientology doesn't dislike phycatrists for sensable reasons they dislike them because phyciatrsits exposed there messia as a fraud and are doing this as a form of revenge



and after a little recearch doc lighting is right only people deamed unable to offer concent are given forced electro shock and of those %60-%70 ECT show marked improvements.



but dave what are you suggesting as an alternative? if people aren't well enough to give there concent should we simply leave them in there padded room and do our best to stop them commiting suicide? we could give them drugs but you've already said you wouldn't want that. So what are we left with?



do we just lock people up and hope they'll get better?



electro shock is very much like surgery people dislike the idea of been cut open and havieng organs removed sliced and swaped for the organs of the dead. however with surgry we make an exception because we understand it is benifical to the person.



just as electro shock seems an unplessent and disturbing idea we must also make an exception because the evidence shows it works and improves peoples lives.



i know you personaly had a bad experiance with the system. and clearly mistakes happen but if people are doing there best to improve the lives of others and scientific data shows that they are actualy suceeding in most cases. you can't blame someone for trying to help but failing.





Personally, I've seen nothing about raping patients on any of those sites- perhaps you could provide links to examples?



Concerning ECT- the point was that it is forced onto some people.



The fact that it is forced on those deemed to be unable to give consent is obviously a point for concern, as it is those doing the deeming and decision making whose expertise and objectivity is under question.



The fact that some of these patients are involved in court cases to try to stop ECT being forced on them is indicative that they do not want it.



Please stop saying I had a bad experience with the system, it could end up seeming that I've been pulled into it in the past and had a rough time with it- and that the reason I oppose some aspects of it are down to being bitter, etc.



That is not the case- I did have a rough time but that was purely down to being severely depressed for a very extended period- my involvement with the mental health system and with the medical system in general, was thankfully brief, cos I could tell that they didn't have much of an idea, so I walked away.



I object to the psychiatric system on the grounds that, IMO, they're not any good at dealing with such problems and cos of accounts of people who have been sucked in and seriously hurt by it. In large part it's cos, IMO, there entire methodology/philosophy is irrational and impractical.



Plus, like the rest of the NHS, they're crippled by a hopeless admin system and severe time restrictions (per patient) which is especially bad of course, for those suffering from depression and mental illness.

"You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it."

--MAJOR KORGO KORGAR,
"Last of The Lancers"
AFC 32


Educate your self in the Hazards of Fire Breathing STAY SAFE!


robnunchucksBRONZE Member
enthusiast
363 posts
Location: manchester uk


Posted:
Apparently, I'm more sensitive to it than the majority, who seem to simply not recognise it unless it's to do with a organisation like scientology.



lol or maby you just think you are no one can assess there own gulibility wink





there entire methodology/philosophy is irrational and impractical.



why?



they engage in peer review



treatments must be evaluated with double blind testing



members are strictly regulated



if what they were doing has no value how would it pass double blind testing?
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onewheeldaveGOLD Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,252 posts
Location: sheffield, United Kingdom


Posted:
I can assess my own gullibility, to an extent anyway, relative to other peoples.

For example, cetain email offers in my inbox lead me to conclude that, to make it worthwhile someone must occasionally fall for them- from that I can assume there are people far more gullible than me.

The fact that tens of thousands of UK-ers are currently in 10-20K of debt from credit cards, means that I'm considerably less gullible than several tens of thousands of UK-ers.

It is impossible to be 100% realistic about ones own gullibility, but, I can say with certainty that, in general, I'm very much on the low side of gullibility.

----------------

As for peer review and double blind testing- that's all well and good (and indeed essential) to further scientific fact.

However, we're talking about psychiatry- as far as I'm aware, no-ones established that psychiatry is a science.


Many assert that it is in fact a pseudo-science, in which case, all the double-blind, peer reviewed testing in the world, will do no more to establish it's worth, than it could establish anything about, say, astrology.

Actually, that's not the best analogy as, in theory, peer reviewed, double-blind testing could establish whether astrological predictions are more accurate than guesses (or not).

At best, psychiatry would be, IMO, scientific to the extent that sociology is.

Physics is an example of a science- it can make solid hypothesises and predictions that can be rigourously tested and, after the tests, something is established or rejected.

Psychiatry is, in large part, about things that are not particularly susceptible to scientific definition, like mental health, happiness, sanity.

What defines the distinction between sanity and insanity?- too often it's been defined by the whims of psychiatrists (eg the ramblings of Freud etc), cultural norms, specifically, establishment cultural norms.

Perhaps more important, even if it is about peer reviewed, double-blind testing of clearly defined hypotheses- that does not equate to being good for the patients.

For example, maybe the nazis who ran psycological experiments, did so in a very scientific way- all it meant was producing scientifically valid methods of inflicting pain on victims.

I'm sure the military researchers who develop 'interogation' methods or ways of disorientating enemy populations, use very scientific methods.

For some things, scientific double-blind testing is simply not relevant (Art, for example)- I suspect that mental health is something for which such testing is not the most important thing.

It is an interesting question though and I'm sure that what I've posted above is something that I may well review with a bit more thought.

Certainly, in similar debates on orthodox medicine compared to alternative systems, I've concluded that, for many aspects, double-blind, scientific testing is either not appropriate, or is impractical.

"You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it."

--MAJOR KORGO KORGAR,
"Last of The Lancers"
AFC 32


Educate your self in the Hazards of Fire Breathing STAY SAFE!


robnunchucksBRONZE Member
enthusiast
363 posts
Location: manchester uk


Posted:
However, we're talking about psychiatry- as far as I'm aware, no-ones established that psychiatry is a science.



well actualy yes they have because it passes scientific double blind testing. for something to be science it needs to have clearly messure predicatable and repeatable results that show that it does that its suposed to phycatry does this and so is a science.



Many assert that it is in fact a pseudo-science, in which case, all the double-blind, peer reviewed testing in the world, will do no more to establish it's worth, than it could establish anything about, say, astrology.



Actually, that's not the best analogy as, in theory, peer reviewed, double-blind testing could establish whether astrological predictions are more accurate than guesses (or not).




exacly double blind testing WILL SHOW if something is a pseudo sicence that is the whole point of double blind testing. case in point astrology fails totaly in what it sets out to do when we put it through double blind testing ergo we conclude it is unscientific



phyciatry however doesn't it MUST pass double blind testing by law meening that it must be effective relitive to a control group show me one other discaplin that is unscientific and passes double blind testing and you will have a point however the examples above actualy show the oposite of what your trying to demonstrate.



Perhaps more important, even if it is about peer reviewed, double-blind testing of clearly defined hypotheses- that does not equate to being good for the patients.



For example, maybe the nazis who ran psycological experiments, did so in a very scientific way- all it meant was producing scientifically valid methods of inflicting pain on victims.




again this doesn't realy show your case at all yes sciencen can be used to harm (nukes for example) but it depends on what your testing for if your goal is to inflict pain and your success is messured by pain inflicted then yes you would get scientific methods for pain which im sure would be very effective.



however that is NOT what phyciatry does at all. govermemnt testing requires that it show benifit for the paitent that is the messure of success off phyciatry NOT how much pain is inflicted. if goverment testing messured the success of phyciatry by the amount of pain inflicted then yes you would have a point but it doesn't so you don't.



Certainly, in similar debates on orthodox medicine compared to alternative systems, I've concluded that, for many aspects, double-blind, scientific testing is either not appropriate, or is impractical.



rubbish name me any alternitive medicen system an i will be able to come up with an effective double blind testing method for you. the only people who i've seen clameing the above are people who perform alternative medicen after a double blind test has show that there chosen disaplin does nothing at all.



It is an interesting question though and I'm sure that what I've posted above is something that I may well review with a bit more thought.



definatly you've made some excelent and intresting points in many of your posts but i think this is definatly the weekist argument i've seen you use. mainly because medicent is very very heavly regulated by the goverment and the medical comunity and all medical practises must adhear to and pass years of very strict scientific testing before the goverment lets them be used in general medicen and as phyciatry adhears to the same standards as all other medicen then your not just clameing phyciatry is unscientif your clameing that the entire of modern westen medicen is unscientific (quite a clame smile )
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