I am utterly amazed at the behavior of many of the people on a.r.s. who have been attacking Bob because of his support of this Ralph Dorian. Even people who have, in the past, called themselves his friends have trashed him without ever bothering to call and talk to him about this -- a courtesy I would have thought at least his friends would be willing to extend to him. I’m not talking about giving him special treatment. I’m just talking about common courtesy.

Several people who have never even met me also decided to trash me, because I said I had had insights from what Dorian wrote. These are people who have not only never met me, but have also never been in Scientology. But somehow they are experts about my psyche and about the Scientology experience. "BP," for example, pronounced that he can now understand how I was "vulnerable to such manipulation" as Scientology based on what I said about the Dorian material. What in the world is he talking about? I can’t even fathom such reasoning.

For the record (and I have spoken to Monica Pignotti and Dennis Erlich about this on the phone so you can check with them if you don’t want to call me directly) I have not "bought into" Dorian and have no intention of doing so unless he decides to come forward with documentation of who he is. I certainly have no intention of "falling for" his "manipulation," as some have decided I have done. On the contrary, from his writings he seems to be more cold-blooded and vicious than even Hubbard was, and I find it chilling to read with what detachment and emotionless evil he plots how to manipulate a human being. I certainly have no desire to become a "follower" of this bizarre person. Please, give me a break. If you knew me at all you would realize how ridiculous this idea is.

As for you, "BP," since you have decided to hold yourself up as an expert on me and why I got into Scientology, I’d like to invite you to call me directly and engage in an actual discussion about me and what it was like for me to get into Scientology. My number on Vashon Island is 206-463-6809. Are you willing to talk to me about this? Or do you find it more comfortable to refrain from actually speaking to the people you trash?

I extend the same invitaton to Rebecca Hartong, whoever she is, and Diane Richardson. This trio seems to have a great time trashing anyone who has a viewpoint other than their own. They remind me of the totalitarian psychopaths who run Scientology, who consider themselves to be above everyone else and don’t feel they are required to be responsible in any way for the character assassination to which they subject other people. In Scientology these delusional elitists think it’s funny. I wonder if these a.r.s. people think it’s funny, too. Personally, I find it as hurtful when it happens on a.r.s. as it was when I was in Scientology. But at least now I get to say something about it.

I would like to invite all of these people to engage in an open dialogue, face to face, with me and Bob Minton and Jesse Prince, or Dennis Erlich or Warrior or whoever else you would be willing to face. But no hiding behind a computer screen, no getting away with trashing a faceless log-on. You’d have to deal with real, flesh and blood people.

One other thing: I’m sick of seeing people who have never been in Scientology looking down their noses at the "former Scientologists" as if they are superior in some way. I’d like to advance a radically different theory: perhaps my experience in Scientology, and the experience of Jesse and Dennis and the rest of us, has given us an insight into the depth of heartlessness, cold-bloodedness, depravity and evil to which human beings can sink. And perhaps Bob, for whatever reason, shares that same perception of evil. Perhaps you are parading your ignorance when you trash me, and your self-righteous snobbery, rather than any actual superiority. I think so.

And now a word about Bob Minton, who is a very good friend of mine aside from being someone I love very much. The only people who think he is "going over the edge" or "losing control" are people who have never met him before. What you have to understand is that Bob wouldn’t have gotten into this Scientology issue if he weren’t radically different from most people in terms of his perception of what is important. Obviously he is an extremely unconventional person. He thinks for himself and doesn’t give a damn what anyone else thinks about him. But he is certainly not crazy by any means. He felt this material from Dorian might be useful to former Scientologists, so he made himself instrumental in making some of it public. If you disagree with his idea that it is valuable, so be it. But for God’s sake, allow a person to have a point of view, and give Bob the benefit of the doubt. Some of the criticisms of him that I’ve seen on this newsgroup have been way over the edge.

There is also much more to this story than he has been at liberty to say, and there are a few people who have realized that what he has been doing must be part of a much larger game being played.

Don’t be so quick to jump to the conclusion that Bob has lost his grip. I assure you, he hasn’t.

And I repeat my invitation to all of the a.r.s. critics: If you would be interested in having an actual discussion with me or other former Scientologists, please let me know. I would be very happy to set up a time and place for us to meet or at least have a phone conversation. If you don’t want to call me, email me at stacy8@gte.net. But in the interests of a higher level of communication I strongly suggest that people combine their newsgroup posting with telephone calls and private email where appropriate.

Stacy Brooks Young