Re: What is PTS Handling?

Richard (richard@rjprice.demon.co.uk) wrote: : I need help with the following questions:

: If I was a Scientologist and I paid approximately 400.00 for a : 'Potential Trouble Source handling course and pack', what would I : receive?

You would receive the pack and the right to be properly supervised on the course. There is quite a bit of theory and there are various practical actions involved.

: What does PTS handling involve?

The full answer to this is in the course. It's a fairly big subject and it would be misleading to summarise it.

However, as an example, say you have a person who is being continuously upset by someone around them. They are being invalidated covertly or openly on a continuous basis. I'm sure you can think of a time you have seen this - perhaps bullying at school? So how can one help in this situation? Neither of the people involved are benefiting from what is occuring. The course gives one the theory and tools by which one can help in such situations. It's often remarkably easy if one takes the right actions.

: How do you handle a member of your family who is PTS?

Obviously it depends. About two years ago my father (who is not a Scientologist) was having trouble with his uncle - someone he wanted to be on good terms with. His uncle is an old man, angry about many things and is someone who gets upset easily. My father is very mild and conservative and he found it very difficult to get along with him as he regularly makes inflamatory and derogatory remarks. They only met about once a month but it was making my father's life a misery.

I sent him some Scientology materials which covered aspects of this exact situation. He had never made much of Scientology before but he could see how the references explained and could help to resolve the situation. When I went back home we tried drilling different ways of dealing with it. He picked one and it worked like a charm. He now gets on with his uncle much better and they are _both_ much happier. (And I felt great because I was able to help).

My father didn't need to do the course to improve his situation but if you do it you would be better able to help the people around you in similar situations.

: Can anyone out there mail me or this thread a copy of the PTS handling : pack?

It's a very big pack. If you borrow one or buy one second hand try to make sure that it is up to date.

: Is the defination of a PTS someone who asks questions some of which are : critical of Scientology? Or is someone a PTS because they know : ex-Scientologists?

Neither. If someone has asked you to do the course they should have cleared up with you what the term means. You should try and get it cleared up with a Scientology dictionary.

: Is the following statement a reasonble conclusion:

: The reason that Hubbard created the concept of PTS handling was : because if the Scientologist is speaking to someone who questions the : techniques and doctrines of the organisation, then that Scientologist : is a 'high risk' who might ask for their money back when they realise : that Scientology is a con? Another reason for encouraging : Scientologist to attribute labels like Suppressive Person and Potential : Trouble Source to people is that it helps the Scientologist to treat : people in a manner that their consciences would not normally allow?

Obviously the major problem with your conclusion is that it is based to some extent on an incorrect definition of PTS. There is a shorter course called the 'Ups and Downs in Life course' that would clear this up and it might even sort out any such situation that you have yourself. It would be cheaper and quicker - but you wouldn't get the same amount of theory on the subject. For some situations you would need the bigger course.

Going back to some of the points you make in your conclusion; there's actually nothing wrong with someone questioning the techniques and doctrines of the organisation. I think it's a good idea. To look at why Ron set things up in the way that he did is very interesting.

If someone in Scientology is PTS it is better that they sort this out before they do other Scientology services. But they aren't treated any differently. I think that there are certain posts that they shouldn't hold whilst they are PTS if they are on staff.

If someone is declared suppressive it's quite serious but there are certain steps they can take to get back in good standing. Nothing happens to them except their communication to Scientologists is limited. I've known people to do very harmful things that really set other people back. All we can do is try to prevent them from doing this on our premises and try to prevent them from upsetting Scientologists.

It's actually very difficult nowadays for someone to get declared. Before it can happen a lot of authorisation points look closely to see if the person has really tried to harm the organisation; at whether other, lighter ethics gradients have been tried - and they also look at the good things they have done. Whilst a number of people were declared in the early eighties, in my local organisation noone that I know of has been declared suppressive for over a decade now.

When I looked on the public notice board in the early eighties I would often see declare notices; nowadays I often see 'Restoration to Good Standing' orders, in other words the notification that someone has taken the steps they needed to become a Scientologist again.

Hope this helps

Michael