International Viewpoints (IVy), Issue 35 - January 1998

Disconnection
By James Moore, England

IT SEEMS THAT amongst some of my acquaintances, Britta Burtles' article "Why Britannia Changed her Rule" (IVy 33, page 5) has been regarded as a political article, and I fear the mud of local politics has obscured the Scientology principle it draws attention to. Possibly in other countries this has not happened.

Too shallow

However I feel that the rule "when in power, do not disconnect" can be interpreted far to narrowly by those influenced by recent church activities and philosophy. Here power has something to do with statistics. And statistics are aimed at large figures, especially of money.

And life is much more than money, large figures, domination, being an "opinion leader" and the other claptrap some associate with the church (and some with Scientology).

So I would suggest a better wording to this principle. When in a position of influence, try to avoid disconnecting.

Two thing can be noted with regard to this. the first is that many are in positions of influence, and they are not all those narrowly classified by the words power, or high statistics. They include meek and humble people. People who apparently would not hurt a fly.

The second thing is that disconnection can occur on two flows. Others can disconnect (to greater or lesser degree) from you. And a tendency to do so can be increased by you, by your giving a communication the other is not really willing to receive.

As an example, a friend intends to do something which you consider foolish. One reaction would be to give advice, and invalidate the others ideas. In doing so, in many cases, you would be issuing communications which the other was not really willing to receive. You are helping him build up a sort of mental barrier between him and you.

Supposing your friend now runs into trouble, because he did what you so strongly disapproved of. He or she now has some difficulty in communicating to you about it -- a real or imagined fear of receiving an unsympathetic "I told you so", a further undesired communication.

You caused the disconnection, from your viewpoint, anyway

Applies to all

It is suggested that the avoid disconnection principle should be used by all in influential positions. But who is not in a position of influence, whether he or she realizes it or not? Except for the complete hermit, we all influence each other.

Also, there is a natural loss of friends and acquaintances through death, moving to other areas, changes of job, etc. If you regard communication as the pay of life (an old Scientology slogan) then you can expect your pay to go down if you are not actively seeking to increase your connections, and also nurse those you have by granting beingness, avoiding emitting undesired communications (though not to the extent of yourself having withholds and the problems these give), etc. In other words we are reminded of the old Scientology principle (Fundamentals of Thought) that if you are not continuously creating something (your life, communication, connections) then that thing is on the destroy end of the cycle of action -- you are approaching death.

People can notice this when they are suddenly sacked or put on pension, if they have not taken adequate precautions.

New Code of Honor clause

I would therefore suggest that in a "New Scientology" Code of Honor, a clause like --

discourage disconnection

-- should be one of the principles.

Better have too many friends and acquaintances than too few.