October 7, 1999 - Wulfen

Times: 12:50 PM to 1:20 PM
Picketers: AndroidCat, me
Signs: My usual ($cientology: Bait and Switch "Church"/WWW.XENU.NET), AndroidCat with one sheet of foamboard saying "Scientology Wants Your Money And Your Life".
Leaflets: Some number of AndroidCat's "Honey I shrunk the Xenu/Lisa" leaflet, 4 of my "No Science in $cientology/What Judges Say About $cientology", 1 of my "Human Cost of $cientology/$cientology's Founder: Con Man".

Since we both had the time and inclination, AndroidCat and me picketed the Toronto org yesterday. It came about on a whim - AndroidCat mentioned something on alt.religion.scientology about a sprint picket, and I emailed him asking if he was game or just yanking somebody's chain. So, with the kind of superior organization that is a characteristic of the Toronto ARSCC, a picket was born. ;-)

While waiting on the Starbucks corner for AndroidCat to show up, a few people stopped to read my sign. One did my advertising for me; in a loud voice he said "DUDE! You're against Scientology! That is so cool!" He didn't get a leaflet, but two other people did (included in the 4 above). I was wondering if one of these people was a CoS handler, because he hung around and grilled me about why I picket, but it turned out that he was just waiting for someone too.

AndroidCat had called the local police foot patrol that morning, so I assumed that the local org would have been tipped off - but nope, the org was as lively as a fish. A dead, smelly fish. We started the usual up and down, and I even gave away a few leaflets (usually I write them, and it's the other Toronto picketers who give away hundreds of leaflets).

The only person in the org building (that we could see) was the receptionist, who did the usual frantic phone-calling. That, and a kid who wandered past into the org carrying what I think was an OEC volume (free for a limited time on alt.religion.scientology, courtesy of Zenon Panoussis!), who gave me the usual thetan-evil eye.

After ten minutes, two bike-mounted police officers (!) showed up. Turned out they were coming to check up on us or some such thing, because of the call AndroidCat gave. The officers gave us the usual spiel (boils down to "you have a right to be here and btw be good") then ascertained that we were the usual crowd, went to the doughnut shop opposite the org and ignored us. Guess the police know all about our suppressive crimes, eh? ;-)

Near the end of the picket, a couple of the usual Saturday Scientologist handlers showed up, giving us the thetan-evil eye. One went into the main org building (I think that one lives there), and the other wandered into the Hubbard Dianetics Foundation.

Then we saw it! The green minivan! With licence plates saying "THETAN". How's that for funky? Toronto not only has a Dianetics Car, it has a Thetan Minivan. Is that like a Thetan Hand? And if you own a Thetan Minivan, do you have to mock up a Thetan Wife and some Thetan Kids to go in it..? ;-)

Well, with time moving on I had to go... It's not a Short Sharp Picket (tm 1999 AndroidCat - used without permission) if we overstay our welcome. I felt slightly guilty about having dragged the Scientologists all the way in from wherever, but we'll be back. Is it more sporting if I fax the org before sprint pickets?

There's more where that came from, cult...