Raid on the HGB, 05/15/10 Combined Protest

[AnonKat]

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

[GreyWolf]

Fun!

[Smurf]

Fun!

Yeah, fun. I saw a side of Franck Paolo, the Sec Chf at the HGB, yesterday that is rarely seen... he dropped the bullyish, smug demeanor usually reserved for SPs and was quite at ease around us. Some of the usual naysayers said it was a distraction technique, but there were other protesters scattered around that were not involved in the foot races.

What I could have done without were the constant accusations that permeated throughout the protest by one ex-Scientologist - that I was running an OSA op & "Scientology medical abuse program that only Scientologists run" on her, when all I asked her was if her huge weight loss (she claimed to have lost 93 lbs) helped her deal with her epilepsy.. and was summarily attacked for asking her a simple question and having a difficult time trying to explain why I asked it.

There was further attacks & allegations which I edited out of respect for the individual involved.

[MrNobody]

<snip>What I could have done without were the constant accusations that permeated throughout the protest by one ex-Scientologist - that I was running an OSA op & "Scientology medical abuse program that only Scientologists run" on her, when all I asked her was if her huge weight loss (she claimed to have lost 93 lbs) helped her deal with her epilepsy.. and was summarily attacked for asking her a simple question and having a difficult time trying to explain why I asked it.

There was further attacks & allegations which I edited out of respect for the individual involved.

Come on Smurf, don't blow this out of proportion. You could have easily avoided the situation with said ex-Scientologist by phrasing your question (I assume it was a question, but I wasn't there and haven't heard it in the video) in a nicer way, or by just apologizing and correcting a misunderstanding after realizing there was one.

Yes, the other ex-Scientologist, who felt offended, could have defused the situation as well, just by by feeling less offended, or with a tamer reaction, but you know what? Shit happens.

I know several people who suffer from Epilepsy, and depending on situation and context, each and everyone of them could have felt equally offended, although neither I nor any of them is or was a Scientologist.

So apart of whether one is a(n Ex-) Scientologist or not, you touched a subject that someone was sensitive to because of being personally affected by it, and you didn't and apparently still don't realize what you were doing.

My suggestion: Watch the whole footage you have again and ask yourself if an honest apology might be in order.

Jus' my 0.02 €

[Smurf]

Come on Smurf, don't blow this out of proportion. You could have easily avoided the situation with said ex-Scientologist by phrasing your question (I assume it was a question, but I wasn't there...

Precisely. You weren't there and have no clue to what occurred before or after. This matter was being discussed off-camera until Tory told me she wanted me to videotape her calling me "a fucking moron". I see no need to apologize to someone that took a simple question totally out of context, continually mischaracterized it, and continually harped on it as an OSA op and "medical abuse".

I've had many ex-Scientologists & anons question me about my being HIV+ and I have no problem answering them if asked respectfully.

BTW, asking ex-Scientologists simple questions is not something only Scientologists do.

[MrNobody]

<snip>This matter was being discussed off-camera until Tory told me she wanted me to videotape her calling me "a fucking moron".<snip>

So all this was just a staged drama? OK, I rest my case...

[AlphOhm]

Yeah, fun. I saw a side of Franck Paolo, the Sec Chf at the HGB, yesterday that is rarely seen... he dropped the bullyish, smug demeanor usually reserved for SPs and was quite at ease around us. Some of the usual naysayers said it was a distraction technique, but there were other protesters scattered around that were not involved in the foot races.

What I could have done without were the constant accusations that permeated throughout the protest by one ex-Scientologist - that I was running an OSA op & "Scientology medical abuse program that only Scientologists run" on her, when all I asked her was if her huge weight loss (she claimed to have lost 93 lbs) helped her deal with her epilepsy.. and was summarily attacked for asking her a simple question and having a difficult time trying to explain why I asked it.

There was further attacks & allegations which I edited out of respect for the individual involved.

How exactly would you feel if I walked up to you on the street and started asking about your HIV status (or possible lack thereof--)?

You really are an inconsiderate prick.

[Smurf]

How exactly would you feel if I walked up to you on the street and started asking about your HIV status (or possible lack thereof--)?

You really are an inconsiderate prick.

I would have no problem with it. I do alot of HIV education to schools and community groups. You want to see an inconsiderate prick? Look in the mirror.

[Mark A. Baker]

What I could have done without were the constant accusations that permeated throughout the protest by one ex-Scientologist - that I was running an OSA op & "Scientology medical abuse program that only Scientologists run" on her, when all I asked her was if her huge weight loss (she claimed to have lost 93 lbs) helped her deal with her epilepsy.. and was summarily attacked for asking her a simple question and having a difficult time trying to explain why I asked it.

I wasn't there & I haven't watched the videos, Smurf. I do understand somewhat your "interested disinterest".

I've got friends who are HIV+ and I'm bi-polar. Neither they or I mind discussing these or similar issues where they may have broad public significance. This is so especially if we consider the conversation is a respectful one and apt to be helpful to someone in some degree or manner.

Still, posing such a deeply personal & potentially highly emotive question unexpectedly during a protest on a public thoroughfare outside of an organization notorious for the abusive practices of "dead agenting" and "fair gaming" does seem to be at best a rather tactless instance of REALLY BAD timing. It does not seem as if the other party had brought the topic up. Nor, does it appear that she was interested in making it an issue for public discussion.

WHY then were you asking? What were you hoping to achieve by it? You might want to give some consideration to how best to express an appropriate public apology.


Mark A. Baker

[Smurf]

I wasn't there & I haven't watched the videos, Smurf. I do understand somewhat your "interested disinterest".

I've got friends who are HIV+ and I'm bi-polar. Neither they or I mind discussing these or similar issues where they may have broad public significance. This is so especially if we consider the conversation is a respectful one and apt to be helpful to someone in some degree or manner.

Still, posing such a deeply personal & potentially highly emotive question unexpectedly during a protest on a public thoroughfare outside of an organization notorious for the abusive practices of "dead agenting" and "fair gaming" does seem to be at best a rather tactless instance of REALLY BAD timing. It does not seem as if the other party had brought the topic up. Nor, does it appear that she was interested in making it an issue for public discussion.

WHY then were you asking? What were you hoping to achieve by it? You might want to give some consideration to how best to express an appropriate public apology.

I am utterly amazed at the extent you and others have taken a simple question and totally blown it out of proportion. There is no need for an apology, and I won't provide it. Before the clip of Tory calling me "a fucking moron," an anon was commenting on the fact that I had lost alot of weight and had "thinned out." I told the anon that I was no longer taking high blood pressure medication, either.

Tory entered the conversation and said she, too, had lost alot of weight. I asked her if her weight loss had helped her deal with her epileptic condition and she exploded, claiming alot of different things. She also wanted me to videotape her response (which I considered a bit wierd, but I complied).

As my videotape reveals, another anon tried to explain to Tory what was a simple question. You can also hear me trying very hard to explain to Tory that I didn't know anything about epilepsy. My question was not inappropriate nor rude. Others are free to disagree.

Regardless, Tory & I moved on & had a great time and alot of laughs. She even bugged the crap out me to get in on a group photo. I have nothing more to say about it.
http://picasaweb.google.com/theanons...82540450337426