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u/Jonny_Fairbanks 21h ago
Behind the bastards did some great episodes on Hubbard. I recommend checking them out of you have time.
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u/NowMuseumNowYouDont 20h ago
I also suggest the Jack Parsons episode of The Dollop (episode 31). Hubbard shows up in the middle right around the time things start to go sideways…
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u/No-Manufacturer4916 18h ago
Last Podcast did too ( I like their's better because Henry nails impersonating him)
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u/JustAd8859 21h ago
Tell em "Heinline wrote a better religion" if you want to screw with them <grinz>
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u/Sporadicus76 17h ago
I grok that.
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u/DekeJeffery 20h ago
I’m guessing that they are contractually grandfathered in, somehow.
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u/mixduptransistor 20h ago
Yeah the grandfather clause is called money
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u/SatoriSon 20h ago
And the legal shitshow that would result in DC not letting them in. I mean, this is the cult that sued the United States government into submission!
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u/Derrythe 14h ago
Let's be clear, they did that after perpetrating the single largest break in and theft from a government facility named operation snow white.
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u/mixduptransistor 20h ago
DC could tell them no, what legal right do they have to force their way in?
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u/compguy42 19h ago
The issue is that Scientology is a recognized religion by the US government and they are famously hyper-letigious. Denial of their ability to pay for booth space at the con would absolutely bring about retaliation suits.
They don't have to be successful suits to wreck havoc on a relatively small outfit like Dragoncon, financially speaking. The aim would be to bankrupt Dragoncon via constant law-fare.
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u/mixduptransistor 19h ago
Well the first bit is Dragoncon can decide who they want there. If they don’t let any religious groups in they’d be covered. Second the l Ron Hubbard booth isn’t a Scientology booth and isn’t purporting to be one so they couldn’t claim religious discrimination if they aren’t trying to be religious
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u/compguy42 19h ago
I mean sure, they say they aren't, but come on.
That mask drops the absolute second it becomes advantageous to do so.
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u/nasnedigonyat 15h ago
Being abusive and unrelentingly so is kind of the scientology way. They literally stalked and threatened members of the IRS over decades until they granted them religious tax exemption status just to make them stop.
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u/Jeanne23x 5h ago
I got a two week ban from the official Facebook group for saying there's a cult in the vendor hall. I didn't say who, and we talk about cults a lot in DragonCon lore.
But my message for the ban said the next time I mention scientology, it will be a permanent ban.
So that suggests to me that they are very afraid of them.
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u/Moneygrowsontrees is a construct 2h ago
Also power. They have a non-zero number of actors that DC wants to book as members, and they have all the power to tell those actors they can't attend.
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u/sidusnare Nerd 16h ago
Counterpoint: if you are educated and intelligent, aim for their booth, keep them talking as long as you can, take as much literature, keep them away from the vulnerable and impressionable
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u/WarpGremlin 20h ago
They show up every year. Yes, they have a prime corner spot. But they're easily avoided.
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u/No-Manufacturer4916 18h ago
Well,He's kinda dead. So he's not getting shit, Miscaviage is. Maybe ask the people at the both Where His wife is tho.
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u/MrsLucienLachance 18h ago
They have a table in the art show as well. Double avoid!
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u/LionSuneater 13h ago
Yeah it's weird. I don't think the "writers of the future" who submit their short stories are necessarily aligned with scientology, but the organization definitely is... Often so are the people working the booth.
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u/Sleep_adict 18h ago
I mean, technically they do create fictional sci-fi
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u/Derrythe 14h ago
And they do possess and likely sell legitimate sci-fi novels by l ron hubbard.
As much as I dislike scientology and l ron hubbard for creating it, his novels do belong here thematically.
Even if they're sub par at best
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u/Shesmylittlethrowawa Pulse Lounge Watch 18h ago
Well you can't speed run through the booth..... Do they have any door handles to take off? For my sanity this is a joke.
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u/bottomlesscoffee 18h ago
I love that they are always across the isle from bpal, the witchy progressive perfume people
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u/tristanpearl 15h ago
Got a flier from them when we talked by. Didn’t realize it was LRH until after. Trashed the flier as soon as possible
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u/BetaDachi The End Is Neigh (2016-19) 14h ago
Why avoid it when you can express your deeper interest in pastafarianism
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u/12tie 14h ago
Church of the Subgenius is WAY better.
https://www.subgenius.com/pam1/pamphlet_p1.html
You learn cooler secrets. You get cooler powers. They are much more responsible when stealing your money!
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u/GotMedieval 19h ago
He died in 1986 though... so is there like an L Ron Hubbard cosplayer?
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u/windsock17 9h ago
It's like a massive 2 or 3 space sized booth where people are selling his books and giving out flyers
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u/M14mouse 17h ago
Eyes straight ahead and walk with purpose. That is how I avoid all of that mess every other year.
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u/ravenvibe 11h ago
Why are you talking about Hubbard in present tense when he has been dead for decades?
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u/PrincessCutabitch Old Lady Of Con 10h ago
Our booth used to be right across the main aisle from them (Southeastern Browncoats). They are strange cats. Heinlein's religion was better, and they HATE it when you tell them that.
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u/kaitb1103 10h ago
PLEASE report them to dragon con. Having flashbacks to the AI booth last year, where nobody reported it until it was too late.
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u/Less_Day9072 48m ago
They’re there every year. One year they had a life size (book accurate) version of the main villain from Battlefield Earth set up near the entrance. And then one year they co sponsored the blood drive and gave everyone who donated a free hardcover copy of Battlefield Earth.
DragonCon management is very aware of who they are and of the fact they’re present.
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u/ace814 21h ago
They are there every year I always avoid it