[Today’s guest post is by Sunny Pereira] Why do Sea Org members smoke and swear so much? I think the first time I remember hearing a swear word was when I was around four. By the age of five, I was swearing like a sailor. By 15 I was in the adult RPF, smoking nearly a pack a day of cigarettes.
Back in my early Sea Org days, cigarettes were a dollar per pack, not too bad.
But even if you were not getting paid often, there was always someone to bum a cig or two off of.
The only way to make extra money in the Sea Org was to sell Hubbard books. Those who made commissions were usually kind enough to share cigs.
Also, Hubbard quit smoking at some point, early 80’s. I remember because we had to go around and remove all the packs of cigs that were in the LRH offices.
When I was around 11 I remember I found a pack of cigs left in a vending machine. I brought them home to my mom. She said she didn’t smoke that brand. I asked her what I should do with them, she said “smoke ‘em”.
I wanted to get book commission but couldn't because the regges and the bookstore officers where always pouncing on everyone before the regular staff could get to them. In ten years I was only able to sell one package!
I was on the RPF in the early days on the Apollo in 1974. I got regular meals, lots of exercise and sleep and very little stress. I was in top physical shape. RPFers saw regular staff as unhealthy and to some degree weak and confused. After three month I knew the SO was not for me. That is a story in itself.
The only cigarette I ever smoked was in Sea Org. I had never smoked and everyone regretted smoking. One day people were blowing smoke rings just before muster. I wanted to learn that. Someone gave me a cigarette. I took a hit off it like the told me to and decided I didn’t want to learn how to blow smoke rings. Someone else smoked the rest of that cigarette. One bad habit I never had to unlearn.
Katherine Spallino’s book was insightful and downright hilarious is spots.
Sunny's take on how the Sea bOrg were so run down that they couldn't think straight is a perfect expose on $cientology. The learned helplessness is not a bug, but a feature. I really have to wonder how anyone can live like Sunny has written about. I guess some like being the martyr.
It was by pure intent we were run down. We were not given the time to think. We were not given the chance to understand that what we were was of no consequence.
Back in my early Sea Org days, cigarettes were a dollar per pack, not too bad.
But even if you were not getting paid often, there was always someone to bum a cig or two off of.
The only way to make extra money in the Sea Org was to sell Hubbard books. Those who made commissions were usually kind enough to share cigs.
Also, Hubbard quit smoking at some point, early 80’s. I remember because we had to go around and remove all the packs of cigs that were in the LRH offices.
When I was around 11 I remember I found a pack of cigs left in a vending machine. I brought them home to my mom. She said she didn’t smoke that brand. I asked her what I should do with them, she said “smoke ‘em”.
I wanted to get book commission but couldn't because the regges and the bookstore officers where always pouncing on everyone before the regular staff could get to them. In ten years I was only able to sell one package!
I was on the RPF in the early days on the Apollo in 1974. I got regular meals, lots of exercise and sleep and very little stress. I was in top physical shape. RPFers saw regular staff as unhealthy and to some degree weak and confused. After three month I knew the SO was not for me. That is a story in itself.
The only cigarette I ever smoked was in Sea Org. I had never smoked and everyone regretted smoking. One day people were blowing smoke rings just before muster. I wanted to learn that. Someone gave me a cigarette. I took a hit off it like the told me to and decided I didn’t want to learn how to blow smoke rings. Someone else smoked the rest of that cigarette. One bad habit I never had to unlearn.
I never smoked. Hubbard smoked like a chimney. He always had a cigarette in his hand.
And so many people there wanted to be like him down to smoking Kools just like him. I wasn’t one of them.
That’s good. Pure cult mentality adoration. Sick.
Katherine Spallino’s book was insightful and downright hilarious is spots.
Sunny's take on how the Sea bOrg were so run down that they couldn't think straight is a perfect expose on $cientology. The learned helplessness is not a bug, but a feature. I really have to wonder how anyone can live like Sunny has written about. I guess some like being the martyr.
Ze Mooo, I lived like that for a short while. It’s purpose. Saving the planet was everything. Addiction to adrenaline was so ubiquitous in the SO.
It was by pure intent we were run down. We were not given the time to think. We were not given the chance to understand that what we were was of no consequence.
Yep, the Sea Org was Hell but I miss being part of that special team.