more info on anon

our latest video goes over the masks and anonymity sections already listed in the blog. however, here are some more useful links for you to look at.

http://www.youtube.com/ToryMagoo44
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology (and for the in depth wikireader http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Scientology&action=history)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dianetics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L._Ron_Hubbard
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_chanology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology_and_the_Internet
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anonymous_%28group%29
http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Wikinews_international_report:_%22Anonymous%22_holds_anti-Scientology_protests_worldwide

the more you know, the better informed your actions and beliefs will be. we believe this, so turn skeptical and critical eye upon both our oponents and ourselves. knowledge is free.

More Good Knowledge

also check out these links:

http://rejectscientology.blogspot.com/
http://www.xenu.net/
http://www.xenutv.com/
http://www.youfoundthecard.com/
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,972865,00.html?imw=Y
and yes, even
http://www.scientology.org/

Here are some answers to your questions

Here is the text of our second video, plus an additional section on masks and anonymity.

ABOUT ANONYMOUS

MASKS and ANONYMITY:

Anonymous does not wear masks to promote hiding our true face, but to represent the idea that knowledge and idea stand above the individuals or even the entire group. the reason we use Guy Fawkes masks from V for Vendetta so heavily is because of the similar idea presented in the film and comic.

Practically, we also fear retribution against ourselves and loved ones, based on the widely reported hostile tactics that the CoS takes with its critics. We make this decision based on various reports in some of the most respected news sources in the world, including Time Magazine and the BBC, but we are willing to hear well reasoned and researched evidence to the opposite.

Also, the masks are more symbol than protection: In cities where masks are illegal, we still wore them, but removed them willingly at the first notice of local authorities. One notable example of this is New York City.

HISTORY and ORGANIZATION:
Anonymous in its current form has truly only existed since mid-January, when the Youtube video "Message to Scientology" was first posted. Prior to this, Anonymous had been a name applied to a facet of internet subculture concerned primarily with black, surreal and esoteric internet-based humor. it grew out of a joke on anonymous image boards (a world wide phenomena which can be most directly traced back to Japanese sites like futaba channel; the most well known of these sites for English speakers is 4chan) presuming that all posts were made by the same person: Anonymous.

This also came to be a symbol of keeping the free flow of the internet's information free. This mentality was similarly shared by multiple other online subcultures related to anonymous, like YTMND, Encyclopedia Dramatica, Something Awful and Youtube, among others.

previous to the current activism, anonymous had mainly been associated with cyber-pranks made by only a small group of its members but referenced by many others. Sometimes these were taken too far by individual users, but due to the nature of the organization, mainly that it has no hierarchy, no requirements for "membership" and, in truth, no set organizational base or leadership. even at this time, anonymous was governed by what governs it now: an approximate consensus of ideas and opinions held by anyone claiming the name anonymous. Perhaps this is the greatest accomplishment of the group, because despite the occasional person claiming violent goals or sinister ends (many of which are former users who still believe that the anonymous name should remain nothing more than a chaotic form of internet entertainment) the majority of us have banded together in the defense of freedom of thought, choice and idea and committed to doing so nonviolently in the vein of MLK or Gandhi.

The initial DDoS attacks on the Church of Scientology were at first a response to an attempt to have a Scientology video of Tom Cruise removed from the internet. They were co-opted for the use of a public declaration, much in the style of a sit-in protest, only digital. They have now been stopped by the vast majority of Anonymous, because we, above all else, support the freedom of information, knowledge, opinion and speech.

This is merely the most recent in a long line of conflicts between the CoS and the internet. To find out more on this, search for "the internet and scientology" on google. This conflict has been escalating for years, mainly based on the point that the individual owners of the websites in question (like 4chan, YTMND and even Digg) are unable to control their user base unilaterally.

In fact, most attempts to legally ban critiques on any certain topic in such user content based sites has lead to a massive flood of content relating to that topic.

With this particular conflict against the CoS, which most of the internet subculture regards not only as a suppressive but also corrupt and dangerous organization, it has now overflowed into real life protest and a new form of organization. Think of us as a "Logiacracy", an organization based on the loose democratic consensus of not every "member" but every "point of view".

As such, we fully defend peoples right to believe what they want and hold whatever view they want, but only up to the point of being aware that in the world of today, no view is necessarily superior to others and critical views are not a danger but a part of the progress and evolution of ideas. You could almost say that Anoymous believes in freedom of knowledge but disagrees with the idea of "absolute" or "correct" perspectives, because by their very nature they denounce the views and ideas of others. Any view can be "valid", but none are necessarily "correct".

The consolidation of Anonymous as it is was inspired by both these various internet sites, and more recently by the advice of well known anti-CoS activists, like Mark Bunker, and the various websites which have been our forums (in the old, Latin sense of the word) for discussion and debate. However, and we reiterate this again, these people and institutions are influences and allies, not leaders or bases. anonymous is not united under a leader or a formal organization, but by a series of ideas and values. This is why we cannot be destroyed, because ideas will persist as long as anyone, anywhere has the power to think. To beat us would be to stop thought, and a human being is nothing if not a sentient, conscious, thinking thing.

WHY DOES ANON OPPOSE THE RELIGION OF SCIENTOLOGY?

Anonymous does not oppose the faith of Scientology. in fact we encourage devoted Scientologists to consider the Free Zone, which teaches and practices these beliefs outside of the CoS and RTC and also at no cost to its adherents.

What we oppose is the Organization known as the Church of Scientology and its related firms, such as the the Religious Technology Center. These groups are not acting as religious entities but as manipulative corporations which abuse the beliefs of Scientology doctrine into a pyramid scheme and cult which costs its members hundreds of thousands of dollars and some times even there lives. They do not deserve the label of religion, the faith of their followers, or the legal position and tax exemption that come with that territory. You shouldn't be required to pay people to practice your faith.Now that you know about us, why not join us?

MARCH 15th 2008 At Your Local CoS.
Expect Us

Also, here are some good keywords to search for on google and wikipedia:
"Anonymous", "Scientology and The Internet",
Operation Freak Out", "Project Chanology", "Fair Game", "Scientology Protest". Decide for yourself, Knowledge is Free.