By now, you probably have heard that Scientologists were fined $600,00 Euros in France:
Scientologists convicted of fraud in France
...The Paris case followed a complaint by two women, one of whom says she was manipulated into handing over 20,000 euros in 1998 for Scientology products including an "electrometer" to measure mental energy...
(link HT: Fundamentally Wrong)
The LA Times has an extensive writeup of the Paris conviction. For some reason, coverage of Scientology is a big deal in LA.
Meanwhile, back at Scienceblogs, scientists are all going to wonder, what is an "electrometer?" It is difficult for nonbelievers to learn of such things. But it turns out that there is not only an explanation, but an actual photograph, somewhere on the Internet. Not only that, but the photograph shows none other than L. Ron Hubbard himself. With a sort-of smile. Looking not unlike John Travolta, without the makeup.
The photo is from LIFE
magazine, and it is reproduced from a screenshot of a Flash
presentation, making the text not fully legible. The full text is
as follows:Hubbard Electrometer, 1968
American science fiction writer and founder of the Church of Scientology L. Ron Hubbard uses his Hubbard Electrometer to determine whether tomatoes experience pain, 1968. His work led him to the conclusion that tomatoes "scream when sliced." [emphasis added]
In this photo: L. Ron Hubbard
Photo: Evening Standard/Getty Images
Jan 01, 1968
Note that Hubband appears to have stuck a ten-penny nail in the tomato. So sad it must be.
So the Hubbard Electrometer can be used to detect the emotional state of plants...as though there is no other explanation for a change in the electrical properties of a vegetable, when you insert a metal object into it. LIFE brazenly called this a "dumb invention." Which it would be, quite plainly, if the stated purpose were the intended purpose. But no, the intended purpose is to separate people from their money. It does that, all too well.
Comments
It's actually not very hard to see an electrometer. If you ever see scientologists hawking books on the street and asking if you want to sit down for an audit, they always have an electrometer on the table. That said the tomato picture is great.
Posted by: bsci | October 29, 2009 10:34 AM
The Gullibilit-E meter.
Posted by: Sigmund | October 29, 2009 12:35 PM
Los Angeles is home to the headquarters of the Church of Scientology along with its celebrity VIP center, hence the connection to the newspaper. L.A. is also the home to many other wacky religious headquarters, far outnumbering Vatican City, which only has the one.
Posted by: Michael | October 29, 2009 1:33 PM
L Ron loves me this I know
'cause my E-meter tells me so.
Posted by: wrpd | October 29, 2009 6:00 PM
Great! I've saved this page so I can use it in a discussion with a scientologist that we have been having at the freethought & rationalism board. This is easier than me trying to upload a document dealing with this very subject. This e-meter BS is like the kirlian aura bit that some people still buy into.
Posted by: Badger3k | October 29, 2009 7:24 PM
They use a similar device in the "Intention Experiment", now sign up for the montly seminars costing 200 quid each.
Posted by: Jose | November 20, 2009 9:11 AM