As many of you who stayed 'till about 4:00 last time round - nicely done to all of you; your effort is really appreciated ^^ - will remember, that a man [leaving out his name for now] approached the last few of us to congratulate us on our protest, very enthusiastically. He was really pleased with our work, and as one of the head honchos in the Birmingham Institute For Mental Health, he was seriously in support of our cause.

For those who've forgotten, here is why:

[allegations levelled at psychiatrists by the CCHR website]

Psychiatrists are using electroshock, drugs and other barbaric means to torture political dissidents.

20 million children worldwide are taking psychiatric drugs, which can cause suicide, hostility, violence, mania and drug dependence.

More than 100,000 patients die each year in psychiatric institutions.

Annually, psychiatrists kill up to 10,000 people with their use of electroshock—460 volts of electricity sent searing through the brain. Three-quarters of all electroshock victims are women.

Psychiatrists and psychologists have raped 250,000 women. Studies show that 10 to 25 percent of psychiatrists sexually assault their patients; of every 20 of these victims one is likely to be a minor.


And also, check this out:

"...Objective One - place Scientology at the absolute forefront of society. Objective Two - eliminate psychiatry in all its forms. Let’s get rid of psychiatry, and let’s bring Scientology to every man, woman and child on this planet." - Reported in the article from International Scientology News #38, 1995.

--

It's understandable that those who work with the mentally ill are pretty pissed off at this propaganda at best, and outraged by the (false) claims it makes. So it's hardly surprising that this man was all for collaborating with our next protest - bringing down representatives from the field and giving us some legitimate support when it comes to refuting the anti-psychiatry claims that Scientologists make.

I am in contact with him, and have explained the nature of our protests and a little about Operation: Sea Arrrgh! and what it will entail. I haven't given him any specifics, or given him the 'go ahead' yet, because I am very aware, as I said on IRC, that I do not represent Anonymous.

I am ready to contact him again as soon as we want.

Thoughts, guys?

THINGS TO CONSIDER

. Whilst many of those who come down from the institute will be wearing outfits (he said that they'd love to dress up as pirates!) they may not be wearing masks. That's their risk to take, but if we want to maintain our image as a 'faceless collective' then this may be tricky.

. If anything goes wrong with them (if they say, do, or insinuate something that doesn't go down well with the police) then it's our [dis]organisation taking the backlash.

NOTE: I've already told him that anyone is free to come along. The issue I'm raising here is whether we want the Mental Health Institute representing themselves as opposed to just 'Anonymous' being present.

They're all most welcome to join us, we need the boost as numbers are starting to flag a little.

United we stand, Anonymous, the old guard , and the mental health institute, we all stand together as one.

I remember that guy, he loved us!

And I believe you have his number?
Can you not inform him that his followerd will need masks? I know he said he wouldn't wear a mask to show his courage and junk.

I think it'd be a great addition as from what he made out, his bunch hate scientology!

Masks aren't required,

So, tell him we advise that he/his lot wear them, though if they choosse not to, that is entirely on them.

Martin Poulter wasn't masked last time, so why should they?

Call him, get as many of them to join up to the forum.

Prepare for Epic WIN.

Even sunglasses are better then nothing, they certainly don't need a :mask:.

I'm glad that they're standing up against the way the CoS has been treating them.

yea keep them upto date, also some might be willing to take part in other ops (like Happy shopper and wood clerance)

I think the BARRF might be short notice but we should still let them know about it. Certainly about Happy Shopper.

bump, and first post in ages, I know, but:


I think it's great that they're willing to come down but I would suggest that they are very open about the fact that they're from the mental health institute.

the scilons are really paranoid about 'psychs', as we should all know, and this will lend a tiny bit of credence to their "anonymous is paid by psychs to protest" line. of course, hardly anyone believes that shit, but the few that are inclined to will be pushed that way by this info.

even if people don't believe that we're paid by 'psychs', if it can be shown by the scilons that they form part of the group then they will be able to successfully portray us as something other than what we are, and create images in peoples minds that they can manipulate.

not saying that the mental health institute people should be kept separate or anything, but if they are there as 'people from the institute', if anyone asks, or whenever the opportunity comes up to say so, then people will see that they're just participating in the protests, the same as everyone else, rather than them being the protest.


TL;DR:
I suggest that institutefags should be open about being so, especially if unmasked (since they'll probably be able to be ID'd by photos).

There's no actual need for them to be masked if they don't want to be, it's every individual's choice. Just make sure that they're all made fully aware of Fair Game, and let them judge for themselves.