what do you think about Anonymous? Do you think they are rightious in the crusade to stop sciontology? or do you think there internet trolls with a large collection of sick jokes and weird manga porn?
(P.S.sorry if a similar thread already exists, i didn't check).

I have no idea who they are. And for future reference, ALWAYS check if there is a similar thread.

Search button for the win.

Yeah... what the hell is Anonymous?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anonymous_(group)

Still have no idea...

Slightly more humourous than other protesters. With all the stories about what scientology does to you if you try to leave/don't join up after they've talked to you, I'm inclined to believe that the protest is justified too.

However, doing it in such a way...well, I'm not really sure that the method is the best ever. Anyone know how that case France has against scientology for fraud is going?

And to people asking: It's basically a group of internet dwellers who got together, run around in V for Vendetta masks and Rickroll or Freshprince roll or any other roll, on scientology for kicks and giggles.

Hate hate hate

That sums my feeling up pretty nice

Anonymous is a group protesting the Church of Scientology. Look it up on YouTube, there's heaps of videos. Personally, I think Scientology is a whole lot of bullshit, but I don't mind it because it doesn't hurt anyone.

Anonymous has no business in deciding religion for anyone except themselves.

Scientology murders people. Look up Sarah Mcphearson.

Scientology is an enemy of the United States. Look up Operation Snow White.

Then go bomb Scientology.

but I don't mind it because it doesn't hurt anyone.

unfortunately, that may not be the case. I've heard numerous stories (anecdotal and unconfirmable I admit, but nevertheless...) about how they harass members if they try to leave or if you don't join up after showing initial interest. Shouting outside your home, repeatedly calling both your home and work. One person I talked to said that they were forced to change their phone number no less than three times, which is fairly ridiculous.

They're up for fraud in France as well, Linky. Fraudsters=Harmless? Perhaps not...

Tattaglia:
Personally, I think Scientology is a whole lot of bullshit, but I don't mind it because it doesn't hurt anyone.

Even if you think Scientology is a harmless belief system, the Church of Scientology definitely hurts people.

-- Alex

I think they do it for teh lulz.

Some of their anti Scientology stuff is pretty cool (like one thing actually, see link below), but they can get to be obnoxious.

Case and point:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0ZFow_9vsg

Aries_Split:
Scientology murders people. Look up Sarah Mcphearson.

Scientology is an enemy of the United States. Look up Operation Snow White.

Then go bomb Scientology.

Fundamentalists hurt people, not ordinary followers. That's like saying Islam is evil because some followers are terrorists. The majority of any morally sound religion never kill, hurt, or discriminate against anyone. And I'm sure Scientology helps people, even if its just the Scientology followers themselves.

Anonymous still doesn't have any right to take religion away from anyone.

-EDIT-
I'm discovering more and more bad things about the Church of Scientology. Hmm, my outlook could be changed... damn you Escapist forums!

They need to learn how to pick and choose their battles.

Tatt, you obviously know nothing of Scientology. The whole of the religion is based off the works of a fundamentalist. Look it up. The fundamentalists convert non fundamentalists into the fundamentalists so the non fundamentalists blur the line between fundamentalist and non fundamentalists and before you know it we will live in a world where since everyone is a fundamentalist non fundamentalist and fundamentalists will be one in the same.

This was written before the edit, nevermind.

Aries_Split:
Tatt, you obviously know nothing of Scientology. The whole of the religion is based off the works of a fundamentalist. Look it up. The fundamentalists convert non fundamentalists into the fundamentalists so the non fundamentalists blur the line between fundamentalist and non fundamentalists and before you know it we will live in a world where since everyone is a fundamentalist non fundamentalist and fundamentalists will be one in the same.

This was written before the edit, nevermind.

Heh, that world would suck.

The protests against Scientology are a very small part of what anonymous is. Anonymous find just about anything funny. A lot of the internet memes originated on 4chan. Caturday, the rickroll, I'm charging my laser, just to name a few.

They raid anyone they think will produce comedy ranging from Myspace to Habbo Hotel, Second Life and fairly recently the Church of Scientology. 4Chan used to be a place where intelligent people pretended to be stupid. Now the opposite is true.

TheButteryGoodness:
what do you think about Anonymous? Do you think they are rightious in the crusade to stop sciontology? or do you think there internet trolls with a large collection of sick jokes and weird manga porn?
(P.S.sorry if a similar thread already exists, i didn't check).

I don't know much about them as I only skimmed through the wiki article, but as they say, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. And scientology is definitely an enemy of mine.

I hate 4chan and the people on it (generalisation). But they do fight for justice yadda yadda yadda, so I'll just vote 'some of the stuff they do is pretty cool, but alot is just stupid'. But really, little grammer wouldn't hurt, would it?

PurpleRain:
I hate 4chan and the people on it (generalisation). But they do fight for justice yadda yadda yadda, so I'll just vote 'some of the stuff they do is pretty cool, but alot is just stupid'. But really, little grammer wouldn't hurt, would it?

Not if it's little grammer. I think a little grammar wouldn't hurt anyone either.

Tattaglia:
Anonymous still doesn't have any right to take religion away from anyone.

Anti-CoS Scientologists (look up "Free Zone" in the Scientology articles on Wikipedia) would argue that the Church of Scientology itself takes religion away from people by charging followers for access to religious ideas and trying to use copyright law to prevent others from disseminating the information more equitably.

-- Alex

Aries_Split:
Tatt, you obviously know nothing of Scientology. The whole of the religion is based off the works of a fundamentalist. Look it up. The fundamentalists convert non fundamentalists into the fundamentalists so the non fundamentalists blur the line between fundamentalist and non fundamentalists and before you know it we will live in a world where since everyone is a fundamentalist non fundamentalist and fundamentalists will be one in the same.

This was written before the edit, nevermind.

It was created by a Science Fiction authour who made a bet with another authour that they couldn't create a viable religious group based on their writings Hubbard won the bet and a heck of a lot more besides. Before he was murdered by his second in command. So it's about money and thats it nothing more. They are no more dangerous than the local council, they promise the earth, offer services that will help you and then send the Baliffs round if you dont pay your taxes.

I hate councils as well.

That makes sense! I finally understand Scientology!

What is anonymous?

I am anonymous, you are anonymous, and anonymous...is legion.

They are legion.

I feel uneasy about the whole thing. Opposing the Church of Scientology is a good cause, but I can't help feel like a lot of the hate would still be there even if Scientology wasn't. Like it's a convenient target for reckless and antisocial action. Fortunately, Anonymous has much improved from its early state.

-- Alex

I would oppose them but I feel overall they make fun of themselves more then anyone else ever could, I mean just look at how many in the media and the public thinks of them I think the general census is that there another crazy mystical cult.

Some is funny, but now the majority is cancerous shit. Word filters, you laugh you lose threads, failed and recycled.

Ima go to /v/ nao.

I think some of the stuff they do is good, especially their anti-scientology campaign.

The weird thing is for all we know, some of us escapistians could be part of them...

Anonymous isn't a group crusading against Co$. The protests started as just a way to fuck with people who take themselves seriously, but now has been over-run with moralfags who actually think Co$ is evil. No, Anonymous is just a group of people dicking about on the web for fun. Anyone who thinks Anonymous is about anti-Scientology is either uninformed, or even worse, a dreaded moralfag. The only real motivation behind any acts attributed to Anonymous is getting laughs out of it. It's just about having fun, generally at other people's expense. Since the internet is pretty much a place where you are free to do whatever horrible things you like, fellow Anons are able to satisfy emotions and feelings that when expressed in society, are generally labeled as criminal or anti-social. On the internet, there's no one to watch your every move, thus freeing people up to express themselves in whatever way they choose. It's really a great thing, being able to indulge whatever bizarre tendencies you have online. There's no one judging you, no one to claim the moral high-ground in a place with no morals. Without identities, you're free to do what you want without fear of reprisal. This is why Anonymous is able to enjoy what it does, because there's no way for an Anon to be held accountable.

Naw, but I know someone who went to a protest. Says it was kinda fun. They've been pretty reasonable about it, at least in my area. Too much memes and silliness for me, though.

-- Alex

John Galt:
The only real motivation behind any acts attributed to Anonymous is getting laughs out of it. It's just about having fun, generally at other people's expense.

What nice people you are..

No van is safe when there's lulz to be had. However, it's said that buying a dog and some curtains is all it takes to protect both you and your van from Anonymous.