When Scientology and Reality Collide

Here's some feedback I received from a Toronto Scientologist. As you can see, this Scientologist has an, um, unique take on the Toronto pickets and my website and various other of this Scientologist's issues. I don't think I need to spend time refuting each point in these emails like I do the posts in my De-Obfuscation Tech section, as it's quite blatantly obvious just how disconnected these emails are from objectively verifiable reality. (Ignore the "=" signs in the emails, though - that's just Microsoft Outlook's interesting take on email.)

You can read more of this Scientologist's efforts by searching for posts authored by "dorsai666@my-deja.com" in the alt.religion.scientology newsgroup. Fortunately for me, this particular Scientologist stopped polluting my inbox with his odd thetan missives after my third (or second, depending on how you count it) TOS complaint to his ISP. He then went on to share his Scientological wisdom with alt.religion.scientology, where he's been spending his time as the newsgroup's chew toy.

Also, this isn't the first threat I've received from a passing Scientologist, on or off the net, but it sure is one of the looniest. Anyway, here's the whole exchange, as it occurred:

by mx.total.net with SMTP; 18 Mar 2000 19:09:46 -0000
Received: from hwruyxzj (on-tor-blr-ahp-10-116.look.ca [209.161.236.244])
by phobos.idirect.com (8.9.3/8.9.3) with SMTP id OAA25760
for <wulfen@total.net>; Sat, 18 Mar 2000 14:07:28 -0500 (EST)
Message-ID: <000701bf910f$84434000$f4eca1d1@hwruyxzj>
From: "bryenton" <bryenton@idirect.com>
To: <wulfen@total.net>
Subject: wulfen web-site
Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2000 14:23:25 -0500
MIME-Version: 1.0
X-Priority: 3
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Dear Chris,

I have been informed and have now viewed (to confirm) a number of =
pictures that have been rendered on your web-site, along with =
derrogatory comment about my "emotional" range being that of a teenager. =
Further, I have downloaded these images and your comments and have =
passed these along to my lawyer.

While you have been provided the right to protest my Church, this does =
not give you a right to use my picture, nor defame me for being present =
during your typical Church bashing of "excercising my rights".

As you have stated that you have not ever been a member of the Church of =
Scientology, nor taken one of many services offered there, your "right =
to" protest hangs on the slimmest of margins - with regard to a =
legitimate wrong, being righted. As yet, we have not found your true =
purpose but don't fret - we will, along with your hate mongering clique.

I have advised you before to remove these pictures previously (you did), =
which is an indication that you knew that this was an improper act and =
amounts to defamation of character. I am a businessman, and the =
improper use of pictures of myself or character assasination can lead to =
loss of business - due to the on-going falsehoods you and the "fantastic =
four" promulgate against my Church - thi is not acceptable.

Unless you want to spend time and money coming back and forth to Toronto =
to defend the impending legal actions against you, I will give you this =
one last chance to remove these images now and always. Failing this, I =
will take the appropriate legal means to have you do so by due process. =
Please understand that you will have to return to Toronto when called =
upon or I will gain a default judgement for your non-appearance. In =
either event, it will cost you money to defend this legal action - which =
is an excercise in my "rights".

Please note as well, that a legal private investigator has been retained =
by several of us to find out your personal crimes, in addition to your =
group and thus put an end to your hate-mongering. The very least will =
be the full exposure of who you are, what you're doing and what you've =
done (at any time). We are willing to defend ourselves and you can bet =
your bottom dollar - I will. I am asking you reasonably to do this of your
own accord (remove these = images and comments)... ignore this warning at
your own discretion.

For the record, the latest report from the P.I. makes interesting =
reading on your fellows...are you sure you want to identify yourself =
with them? No records are ever truly lost.

Sincerely,

Daniel Bryenton

PS I will check your site on Sunday. You now have my EM address from =
this response. I have never been "spammed" in five years and thus, if such
actions are = taken, I will pass these costs along to you or your cohorts.
Due to my = own business connections, I too have access to those who
could track it = down, at cost - which I will pass on to you directly (as
you have this = EM address only). I am clearly telling you NOT to give
this address = out, as it is a business address and the costs are in the
hundreds of = thousands in lost business if you misuse it in ANY way. Be
warned.

Return-Path: <bryenton@idirect.com>
Delivered-To: wulfen@toolbox.total.net
Received: (qmail 19402 invoked by alias); 19 Mar 2000 18:06:28 -0000
Delivered-To: alias-tnet-wulfen@total.net
Received: (qmail 19385 invoked from network); 19 Mar 2000 18:06:28 -0000
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by deimos.idirect.com (8.9.3/8.9.3) with SMTP id NAA19008
for <wulfen@total.net>; Sun, 19 Mar 2000 13:03:03 -0500 (EST)
Message-ID: <000901bf91cf$daebaf80$c0eca1d1@hwruyxzj>
From: "bryenton" <bryenton@idirect.com>
To: <wulfen@total.net>
Subject: Chris Wood web-site (wulfen)
Date: Sun, 19 Mar 2000 13:20:10 -0500
MIME-Version: 1.0
X-Priority: 3
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Chris,

I see that you have not taken down the pictures/images of me, as =
requested, on your "Wulfen" web-site, nor the other links relating to =
these images.

I have also not heard from you directly, although I have given you my =
direct EM address with no "blinds" to confuse or make my statements =
appear disingenuous, with regard to my next action.

As a reasonable man, I thought you would realize that I do not wish to =
pursue legal action and have asked you to correct your actions on your =
own determinism. You appear by your inaction to want legal means to be =
used. Fair enough. =20

While you seem "proud" to be part of a hate group and are allowed to =
excercise your right to lie about my Church, slander and defamation of =
me as an an individual is quite something else. If you have a legal =
representative please inform me, so that I can make the legal documents =
available to him/her. If you intend to defend yourself, please send me =
a PO box or your postal address so that these documents can be given =
you. Failing this, I will use your last known address or a familial =
connection to serve the documents, so that you may defend your =
action(s). It should be quite clear to you in reading this letter, that =
I have some familiarity in what needs to be done to end your actions =
against me personally. You will note that I do not maintain a web-site =
and degrade you or yours. I only expect the same reasonable action.

Eventually, the truth does come out - so I see no other recourse than to =
give fair warning about consequences of your act. Failing this we can =
have an uninterested third party decide what is reasonable and what is =
not. Freedom of speech does not mean freedom to harm because of that =
right, nor does the Charter give one the right to degrade another. As I =
stated in my earlier communication, several parishioners have gained =
legal access to a private investigator to look into your background as =
well as others in your group. This action becomes unnecessary the =
moment you decide that you want this to end. You are entitled to your =
opinions, but to put my image and derrogatory comments about an =
individual over a public venue is censurable by a Court and you should =
know that from plain old-fashioned common sense. If you didn't, you do =
now. This warning is WITHOUT PREJUDICE.

Behind every attack on my Church has been very unsavory characters. All =
dogs have fleas. Having spoken with you on several occasions during =
your "protests" one thing has come to light, if you applied that same =
persistence to an area of constructive action - you might enjoy life =
more. Your "target" is a Church! Whether you believe in it's =
principles or not, it's been around longer than you have and will be =
around substantially longer (forever). Can you imagine? Protesting a =
Church? Chris Wood =3D promoter of hate and falsehoods, demonstrable in =
his ACTS. Chris Woods =3D doesn't believe in area's of life improving. =
I wonder what other stories you've told, that you're trying to make up =
for, with your current hate campaign?

Well, we'll soon find out.

One last time, remove the images and links. =20

From: Christopher Wood <wulfen@total.net>
To: bryenton@idirect.com
Subject: TOS - http://www.mydirect.com/web/html/idirect/abuse.htm
Copies to: abuse@idirect.com
Send reply to: wulfen@total.net
Date sent: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 07:22:09 -0400

As per Internet Direct's "policies on such matters as spam,
harassment and unsolicited advertising" (from this document -
http://www.mydirect.com/web/html/idirect/abuse.htm ), I do not
want to receive any more email from you, on any subject, ever.

From: "Dan Bryenton" <bryenton@idirect.com>
To: <wulfen@total.net>
Subject: your reply/web-site
Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2000 12:51:45 -0500
MIME-Version: 1.0
Received: (qmail 19533 invoked by alias); 22 Mar 2000 17:58:20 -0000
Received: (qmail 24930 invoked from network); 22 Mar 2000 17:53:36 -0000
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mx.total.net with SMTP; 22 Mar 2000 17:53:36 -0000
Received: from
bryenton (on-tor-blr-a58-03-1151.look.ca [216.154.15.135])by
phobos.idirect.com (8.9.3/8.9.3) with SMTP id MAA27406for
<wulfen@total.net>; Wed, 22 Mar 2000 12:51:41 -0500 (EST)
Return-Path:
<bryenton@idirect.com>
Delivered-To: wulfen@toolbox.total.net
Delivered-To: alias-tnet-wulfen@total.net
Message-ID: <000801bf9427$60b0d420$870f9ad8@bryenton>
X-Priority: 3
X-MSMail-Priority: Normal
X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.00.2615.200
X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.00.2615.200

Dear Chris,

I received your terse reply to the two EM messages I sent you, which I
thought stated that the images were being removed from your site. On
inspection, I can still access the site and my images are still there.

As I am accessing your EM address via this same site and you have invited
these communications - on your actions alone, the idea that I am somehow
"spamming" you, by writing you at your invitation is disingenuous - at
best. You did not answer the communication originally and thus the
second letter. This third letter is to get a straight answer from you.

I just want to ensure that I have not misinterpreted your reply.
Therefore, let me ask again...are you going to remove these images from
the wulfen web-site or not? It's a simple question. If the answer is
yes, I will not issue a further communication. If the answer is no, I
will proceed with those actions listed in my previous EM's. It is in
your best interest to be clear with an answer.

Unlike you, I do not hide behind rules that were essentially designed to
keep trash and /or destructive intentions/actions toward an individual or
Church from occuring. I also do not hide behind a Charter of Rights and
Freedoms (speech) to attack individuals or Religions via the Net or in
any other medium. The same cannot be said for you and there are
consequences to these actions - as sure as the sun sets each night.
Although you don't yet know it, the response or lack of one is important
to you - not me.

I'm not going to get into name calling or entering false statements or
libelous remarks or comments. What I will do is to defend my privacy and
recoup costs, made necessary by your actions and your actions alone.
Please respond with clarity.

Sincerely,

Daniel

Return-Path: <wulfen@total.net>
Delivered-To: wulfen@toolbox.total.net
Received: (qmail 20411 invoked by alias); 23 Mar 2000 01:11:40 -0000
Delivered-To: alias-tnet-wulfen@total.net
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Received: from unknown (HELO server.total.net) (154.5.113.227)
by smtp.total.net with SMTP; 23 Mar 2000 01:11:37 -0000
From: "Christopher Wood" <wulfen@total.net>
To: abuse@idirect.com
Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2000 21:11:53 -0400
MIME-Version: 1.0
Subject: your subscriber keeps contacting me (TOS)
Reply-to: wulfen@total.net
X-Confirm-Reading-To: wulfen@total.net
X-pmrqc: 1
Return-receipt-to: wulfen@total.net
Priority: normal
X-mailer: Pegasus Mail for Win32 (v3.11)
X-PMFLAGS: 570957952 0 1 P60A90.CNM
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Dear Sir/Ma'am,

One of your users (bryenton@idirect.com) sent me two obnoxious
emails (on Saturday March 18, 2000 and Sunday March 19, 2000
respectively). As per your Internet Abuse Document
(http://www.mydirect.com/web/html/idirect/abuse.htm), on Tuesday
March 21, 2000 I requested (with reference to the above document)
that the user not send me any more email. Since sending that
request, I've received another similar obnoxious email. Could you
possibly have a word with this user concerning nettiquette and
Internet Direct's TOS?

The offending emails (as well as my request for your user to stop),
are in the attached text file, in the order that the exchange
occurred.

Thank you for your time,

Christopher Wood

-- Scientology's gate is down. --
http://www.total.net/~wulfen/scn/
http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Spa/8412/

Return-Path: <bryenton@idirect.com>
Delivered-To: wulfen@toolbox.total.net
Received: (qmail 87 invoked by alias); 24 Mar 2000 14:29:45 -0000
Delivered-To: alias-tnet-wulfen@total.net
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by ares.idirect.com (8.9.3/8.9.3) with SMTP id JAA39470
for <wulfen@total.net>; Fri, 24 Mar 2000 09:29:13 -0500 (EST)
Message-ID: <001201bf959f$6a974360$89eca1d1@hwruyxzj>
From: "bryenton" <bryenton@idirect.com>
To: <wulfen@total.net>
Subject: Re: TOS - http://www.mydirect.com/web/html/idirect/abuse.htm
Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2000 09:43:59 -0500
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Chris,

Your site is an invitation to ALL Scn'ists to communicate to you via your
hate inspired site.

I am taking initial actions to have you and others censured per the same
policy you quote with regard to "privacy". Using my name and images in a
public forum and now seeing that you're "selling" these images via CD, you
have opened the door to suit.

I will continue to ask for an answer. Will you remove these images or
not? A simple question only requires a simple answer.

Until you have shut down this site, you'll be hearing alot from me - count
on it. It is after all, at your invitation.

Daniel

-----Original Message-----
From: Christopher Wood <wulfen@total.net>
To: bryenton@idirect.com <bryenton@idirect.com>
Cc: abuse@idirect.com <abuse@idirect.com>
Date: Tuesday, March 21, 2000 6:23 AM
Subject: TOS - http://www.mydirect.com/web/html/idirect/abuse.htm

-- Scientology's gate is down. --
http://www.total.net/~wulfen/scn/
http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Spa/8412/

Return-Path: <bryenton@idirect.com>
Delivered-To: wulfen@toolbox.total.net
Received: (qmail 9768 invoked by alias); 24 Mar 2000 20:22:05 -0000
Delivered-To: alias-tnet-wulfen@total.net
Received: (qmail 8935 invoked from network); 24 Mar 2000 20:21:55 -0000
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by mx.total.net with SMTP; 24 Mar 2000 20:21:55 -0000
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by ares.idirect.com (8.9.3/8.9.3) with SMTP id PAA93987;
Fri, 24 Mar 2000 15:21:24 -0500 (EST)
Message-ID: <000901bf95ce$6f7c9360$66229ad8@bryenton>
From: "Dan Bryenton" <bryenton@idirect.com>
To: <elrond1@home.com>
Cc: <wulfen@total.net>
Subject: Link to Wulfen web-site
Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2000 15:20:16 -0500
MIME-Version: 1.0
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Dear Gregg,

Per the Terms and Conditions of Yahoo, MSN and otherweb-site providers, =
the Wulfen web-site is in violation of the Privacy Policy and using =
pictures of myself and others is harassment. While I care little about
your beliefs and actions, as even dogs have = flea's, I do mind your
alteration of facts as they relate to what I did = or didn't say. As you
have organized people to incite hate against my = Church and converse with
lack-minded, I mean like-minded individuals - = the only "pay" you get is
a stated hatred of my Church and the = continued promulgation of lies.
Your only intent is to harm -to wit-your actions in life. Help has the =
connotation that one is assisted or improved by an action and yet you do =
me personal harm by degrading, ridiculing myself and other parishioners =
for our beliefs. They are OUR beliefs. They are not YOUR beliefs - =
thats clear, but what HELP are you offfering to anyone. In fact, I've =
personally asked you to stop ,as you waste my time (not to mention your =
own) and in your postings, you use a link that incites hate toward me =
personally and my beliefs. I wouldn't say this is helpful. Nor would =
any reasonable person, would you?

While I realize you have your actions "justified" this way to Sunday, =
you can LOOK at what the result of your actions ARE. For those you profess
to HELP - you HARM. Of course, this is consistent = with your background,
at least I'm sure you've been told that many times = before, (whether it's
true or not remains to be seen).

PSYCHOSIS IS THE OVERT OR COVERT BUT CONTINUOUS INTENTION TO HARM OR =
DESTROY. Are you psychotic? or have you merely been told you're bad =
(all your life). Look at those you choose to be your allies. While you =
have chosen to have your pictures on the above named web-site, I =
categorically do NOT wish my picture or that of other parishioners on =
the site.

Therefore, please let me inform you. I have twice requested Chris Woods =
to remove them. He has not, so I will take a legal route to do so. I =
am now informing you that YOUR continued use of the site to promote the =
use of my pictures by reference to it and any funds made in issuing =
"CDs" of these images to related hate groups is actionable. Other =
parishioners in other countries are harrassed similarly and while it is =
not illegal there, it is here (U.S./Canada). It is called defamation, =
harassment, hate-mongering and any other titles you-know-full-well you =
violate under the banner of "free speech". You will note that I do not =
as an individual attack you in a public forum but will continue to =
defend my privacy until this matter has been settled. Likewise, I
recommend you do the same.

Daniel

Return-Path: <wulfen@total.net>
Delivered-To: wulfen@toolbox.total.net
Received: (qmail 19415 invoked by alias); 24 Mar 2000 22:44:47 -0000
Delivered-To: alias-tnet-wulfen@total.net
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Received: from unknown (HELO server.total.net) (154.5.88.96)
by smtp.total.net with SMTP; 24 Mar 2000 22:44:37 -0000
From: "Christopher Wood" <wulfen@total.net>
To: abuse@idirect.com
Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2000 18:44:46 -0400
MIME-Version: 1.0
Subject: (TOS) your user *still* keeps contacting me...
Reply-to: wulfen@total.net
Priority: normal
X-mailer: Pegasus Mail for Win32 (v3.11)
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Sir/Ma'am,

I've now received three emails from bryenton@idirect.com since I
sent that Internet Direct user a notification that I didn't want to get
any more email from that user (under Internet Direct's Terms of Service at
http://www.mydirect.com/web/html/idirect/abuse.htm). As I've previously
stated, I do not wish to receive any more obnoxious email from this user.
However, that user keeps sending me email. The user does not seem to
understand the difference between a general invitation to incoming email
(on my website at http://www.total.net/~wulfen/scn/index.html), and a
specific desire not to receive anymore email from a specific user.

What is the Internet Direct policy in events such as this, whereby
someone notifies an Internet Direct subscriber that further email from
that user is unwelcome, receives yet more email, and then makes a TOS
complaint under the "spam, harassment and unsolicited advertising", but
still continues to receive email from that user?

(Additionally, on another matter, what is the status of the email I sent
to abuse@idirect.com about the trojan that was sent to me from
marketing1.idirect.com?)

The entire episode with your user, including my TOS complaints to
Internet Direct, is attached to this email as more-emails.txt.

Thank you for your time,

Christopher Wood

-- Scientology's gate is down. --
http://www.total.net/~wulfen/scn/
http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Spa/8412/