In case you’re still lost as to what the heck is going on, a Scientology Run is when people film themselves charging into a Church of Scientology building to see how far they can get before being caught and booted out. It’s a notoriously secretive religion, so it turns the whole place into an action-movie set piece where the protagonist is trying to infiltrate a compound while fending off its legion of foot soldiers, clad in terrifying white button-ups with black vests.

  • lama@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    But maybe a better use of Scientology infiltration tactics would be an investigative piece rather than a viral speed run.

    The irony of the journalist writing this and missing that this is their job

    • Earthman_Jim@lemmy.zip
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      It’s pretty common mentality among a lot of adults that the fucked up world will just have to be fixed by the kids. It’s fucking absurd.

      • Stalinwolf@lemmy.ca
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        11 hours ago

        I read that as “fucked them in the balls with no lube” and I really liked the way it sounded.

  • chunkystyles@sopuli.xyz
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    On the one hand, this is very funny. On the other hand, however, it’s still very funny, but also maybe we shouldn’t turn running full speed into a house of religion, no matter how hokey that religion may be, into a trend? Yes, the whole enterprise is shady at best, and they believe in some weird space alien magic. They also have a history of harassing former members and anyone who dares to pull back the veil on the secretive organization’s scare tactics.

    Fuck off with this whitewashing. Scientology isn’t “hokey” or “shady”. It’s outright evil.

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    Can they try Mormon temples next? Please? That would be so fucking funny.

    I am crying at the mental image of a bunch of retirees in white suits and white dresses trying to politely shepherd a bunch of teenagers with phones out of their crystal-covered collection of big living rooms.

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      It would be difficult, idk anything about Scientology but I’ve spent time in Mormon temple. Scientology buildings are more like offices I think and the temple has tons of locked doors

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    Of all the brainrot fads I’ve seen come and go over the past few decades, I think this is the one I like the most. Anything that pisses off the CoS gets my seal of approval.

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    This isn’t a genz novelty, there were a lot of activism in the early 4chan days against Scientology. The whole guy fawks mask and anonymous thing started there.

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      Came here for this. We had Project Chanology in my day. As long as there’s Scientology, the youth will continue to milk them for lulz.

      • gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works
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        lol yeah, those were the days - the LA scene for that was interesting, and it also gave me my first real taste of opsec, because the CoS goons would absolutely dox and harass you and people close to you if you weren’t careful.

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          The little known trivia here is that the ‘Anonymous Mask’ wasn’t intended to be serious. It was first used to troll the CoS.

          It came from the Epic Fail guy meme, the purpose was to call Scientology lame while also protecting their identities.

          It wasn’t until the regular media started reporting on Project Chanology that it become the symbol that the public thinks of when they hear ‘the group Anonymous’.

          Later, during Occupy Wall Street, it was used a bit less Ironically because it was already known from the Project Chanology days and also because people still needed to hide their face or risk federal prosecution (i.e. Lulzsec).

          Seeing the new generation of Internet trolls starting their career by taking up the Chanology fight… well, we will watch their career with great interest.

  • Manjushri@piefed.social
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    but also maybe we shouldn’t turn running full speed into a house of religion, no matter how hokey that religion may be, into a trend?

    No. The whole thing was started by a bad sci-fi author who felt he could make a lot of money by inventing a fake religion. It’s just a scam to rip off gullible people. Hopefully, enough mockery will make prospective joiners think twice before they get taken for all their money.

    “You don’t get rich writing science fiction. If you want to get rich, you start a religion.'” - L Ron Hubbard

    • NewNewAugustEast@lemmy.zip
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      who felt he could make a lot of money by inventing a fake religion. It’s just a scam to rip off gullible people. Hopefully, enough mockery will make prospective joiners think twice before they get taken for all their money.

      which is different than any other religion how? Everyone wants an angle to power or money.

      Before I get the “so edgy” nonsense: At least lets remove tax exempt status from all religions. People can gather and listen to what ever crap they want but it should not be aided by government in any way.

  • flandish@lemmy.world
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    it’s trespassing with the added benefit of a dice roll on the building security’s understanding of castle doctrine.

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      Or even just getting hit in the head by a well-meaning person who reasonably thinks they’re trying to prevent a maniac from killing someone in the building.

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    I guess I’m fine with these stupid tiktok prank videos as long as everyone involved is an asshole!

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    The author of the article calls scientology a religion because they are in a country where scientology can disappear them for saying the wrong thing

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    Seems to me if you did some research, came up with a cover story and dressed the part, you could walk in and get pretty far before being caught. Just pretend you’re on your mission year, and wear a nametag.

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      Seems to me if you did some research, came up with a cover story and dressed the part, you could walk in and get pretty far before being caught.

      That’s how you get organ farmed.

    • bedwyr@piefed.ca
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      Until they figure out you are an imposter and kidnap you. These people are rather known for retaliating against members that quit at least, and have been accused of kidnapping multiple times.

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    Why are they obsessed with 67?

    In this case, I don’t really care why and I fully support them.

    Fuck a scientology.