ethercat
Cat in flight
Scientology is a horrible thing. Scientology is such a horrible thing that most of us who know enough about it to understand it want to prevent any more people from being harmed by it. The existence of this forum and other critical venues is evidence of that. And there is still much informing to be done toward that end.
Many of you know that I've never been a member of scientology, and therefore I have no stories to tell about my experiences in scientology. I can't see things from the same perspective that many of you as ex-members see, or know how you felt while in or after leaving scientology. I can't feel the pain and anger you feel as an ex-member. I'm just a member of the general public, society, one person who sees the wreckage left behind in people's lives by scientology. Even in the lives of people who were never scientologists.
For far too long, scientology has been trying to gain a toehold in society - trying to infiltrate my world. Our world. And sometimes it succeeds. It does this through the front groups, gaining what it sees as power, and what some see as credibility, and gaining money. So while I can't tell my story, nor do I care to debate the finer points of the "tech" and its results, I can and do still represent my demographic, the general never-in public, by opposing the front groups that harm those who would never knowingly have anything to do with scientology. Narconon is a major source of money for the cult, money that is funneled from the general public into the cult, and all the while, Narconon and scientology never give a damn how vulnerable the clients and their families are, who may get hurt physically or financially, or who may have long term emotional issues because of the surreptitious practice of scientology on the vulnerable and unsuspecting public.
Some of you may know that I run another forum, Reaching for the Tipping Point, where the primary focus right now is Narconon. On Tipping Point, we investigate and expose the facts about Narconon, and help those people whose lives have been or are being turned upside down by this insidious fake drug rehab. Sometimes it involves activities that don't happen on the forum, but in the real world with government agencies and others. Almost everyone who is a major player against Narconon is on Tipping Point, with only a few significant exceptions. There aren't many of us, but I'm grateful for everyone there. Tipping Point is making life very difficult for Narconon.
ESMB is making life very difficult for scientology. A year ago when Emma decided she was done with running ESMB, I volunteered to be the technical admin because I knew this place is important and is having an impact. I knew it would take some time away from the other things I was doing, but I could offer that amount of time to help keep ESMB open as a living forum. Then a little over a month ago, I found myself being not just the technical admin, but the only admin on ESMB. It wasn't easy for me. I guess some of you could tell that, right?
Sometimes as caring and earnest humans, we think we can be supermen, and we take on more than we can do. If we're not careful, it can mean that tasks are left incomplete, or that tasks that are completed are poorly done, both of which can accomplish little if anything, and can basically amount to spinning our wheels for nothing.
This is the position I am in right now. I have to admit to all of you and to myself that I just do not have the available free time to do it all here at ESMB, and do it well, without giving up the other things I need and want to do. Things like working full time, tending to my daily life, taking care of and participating on Tipping Point, a few special projects here and there, and having some time left over for friends and some occasional fun.
So I was faced with having to make a choice - close ESMB down, at least as an open and living forum; or find someone to be the social/community admin who is trustworthy to most people here, capable of understanding and working with the forum software, has the time, and is willing to do it. Yes, just like in scientology, I would have to find a replacement to do that part of my job before I could leave it.
I turned to Emma to ask for help in making the decision, and with the two of us lacking any obvious viable candidates, she graciously although somewhat reluctantly agreed to take back the reins as social/community admin. I will stay as technical admin, doing what I had originally agreed to do. I know some of you may be disappointed that I won't have as much of a presence on the forum - probably Emma most of all. Some of you may be happy about that, and that's ok too. I would just ask everyone to help by making Emma's job as manageable and straightforward as possible. It's not easy to make the moderation judgment calls sometimes; I know because I've been there.
I appreciate the support I saw from some people during my struggle to oversee moderation, and I hope you will show Emma the same support. I will still be around, just not as visibly. The extra time I gain will be put to good use, and at some point, I'll even get the search feature straightened out, hopefully for the better. I know at least a few of you will be glad to hear that.
Now, with no more "bla bla bla" from me, over to Emma.
Many of you know that I've never been a member of scientology, and therefore I have no stories to tell about my experiences in scientology. I can't see things from the same perspective that many of you as ex-members see, or know how you felt while in or after leaving scientology. I can't feel the pain and anger you feel as an ex-member. I'm just a member of the general public, society, one person who sees the wreckage left behind in people's lives by scientology. Even in the lives of people who were never scientologists.
For far too long, scientology has been trying to gain a toehold in society - trying to infiltrate my world. Our world. And sometimes it succeeds. It does this through the front groups, gaining what it sees as power, and what some see as credibility, and gaining money. So while I can't tell my story, nor do I care to debate the finer points of the "tech" and its results, I can and do still represent my demographic, the general never-in public, by opposing the front groups that harm those who would never knowingly have anything to do with scientology. Narconon is a major source of money for the cult, money that is funneled from the general public into the cult, and all the while, Narconon and scientology never give a damn how vulnerable the clients and their families are, who may get hurt physically or financially, or who may have long term emotional issues because of the surreptitious practice of scientology on the vulnerable and unsuspecting public.
Some of you may know that I run another forum, Reaching for the Tipping Point, where the primary focus right now is Narconon. On Tipping Point, we investigate and expose the facts about Narconon, and help those people whose lives have been or are being turned upside down by this insidious fake drug rehab. Sometimes it involves activities that don't happen on the forum, but in the real world with government agencies and others. Almost everyone who is a major player against Narconon is on Tipping Point, with only a few significant exceptions. There aren't many of us, but I'm grateful for everyone there. Tipping Point is making life very difficult for Narconon.
ESMB is making life very difficult for scientology. A year ago when Emma decided she was done with running ESMB, I volunteered to be the technical admin because I knew this place is important and is having an impact. I knew it would take some time away from the other things I was doing, but I could offer that amount of time to help keep ESMB open as a living forum. Then a little over a month ago, I found myself being not just the technical admin, but the only admin on ESMB. It wasn't easy for me. I guess some of you could tell that, right?
Sometimes as caring and earnest humans, we think we can be supermen, and we take on more than we can do. If we're not careful, it can mean that tasks are left incomplete, or that tasks that are completed are poorly done, both of which can accomplish little if anything, and can basically amount to spinning our wheels for nothing.
This is the position I am in right now. I have to admit to all of you and to myself that I just do not have the available free time to do it all here at ESMB, and do it well, without giving up the other things I need and want to do. Things like working full time, tending to my daily life, taking care of and participating on Tipping Point, a few special projects here and there, and having some time left over for friends and some occasional fun.
So I was faced with having to make a choice - close ESMB down, at least as an open and living forum; or find someone to be the social/community admin who is trustworthy to most people here, capable of understanding and working with the forum software, has the time, and is willing to do it. Yes, just like in scientology, I would have to find a replacement to do that part of my job before I could leave it.
I turned to Emma to ask for help in making the decision, and with the two of us lacking any obvious viable candidates, she graciously although somewhat reluctantly agreed to take back the reins as social/community admin. I will stay as technical admin, doing what I had originally agreed to do. I know some of you may be disappointed that I won't have as much of a presence on the forum - probably Emma most of all. Some of you may be happy about that, and that's ok too. I would just ask everyone to help by making Emma's job as manageable and straightforward as possible. It's not easy to make the moderation judgment calls sometimes; I know because I've been there.
I appreciate the support I saw from some people during my struggle to oversee moderation, and I hope you will show Emma the same support. I will still be around, just not as visibly. The extra time I gain will be put to good use, and at some point, I'll even get the search feature straightened out, hopefully for the better. I know at least a few of you will be glad to hear that.
Now, with no more "bla bla bla" from me, over to Emma.
Ethercat. 
and THANK YOU.
