Out of curiosity, has there ever been a teardown of one of these to see what kind of snake oil actually powers them?
The first version was actually patented, so we know how that one worked fully. The latest versions are secretive but they still likely measure the same thing.
https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Secrets/E-Meter/hubbard-patent.html
Although you do realize that technically, if their new versions are not patented then they are considered trade secrets right? If you can get your hands on one and patent it then you have a decent pathway to sue the Church of Scientology for patent infringement.
That would be a fun one to work out
Sure, and then they either disappear you, or you have an “accident”. Or you just so happened to get beaten half to death in the restroom by a “random” act of violence.
Or anything equally as sinister, but to your finances, possessions, loved ones, or life.
Scientology is not some super powerful cult with secret enforcers all over the place. They might have that much power in Clearwater Florida but outside of that what are they going to do?
If they had the ability to act like a mafia the way that you’re suggesting then they wouldn’t be able to walk and operate freely in America without somebody from a three-letter organization breathing down their neck.
Actually this one time they infiltrated a three letter agency.
Yes. Guy on Reddit a few years ago stole one out of a tent where they were giving free readings and did a full tear down. It’s a cheap Chinese ohm meter with a few extra circuits added for fancy dials and lights. It’s basically a movie prop.
Edit: of course it was part of the purge: https://www.reddit.com/r/electronics/comments/8zrlav/detailed_teardown_of_a_scientology_emeter_high/?rdt=44960
Damn I would have loved to see that.
I found this
“Repairing” as in “noticing they don’t actually do anything beside measuring resistance like any common multimeter from the DIY shop”
Not the onion
When Scientology is your ally… You’re on the bad track
Someone should invent an e-meter that’s ten times as accurate.
ETA: That might just be a biofeedback device.
It’s hard to define concepts like “accuracy” when the basic claim is that the gadget can count the evil dead alien ghosts living in your head to hassle you.
It measures skin resistance and then has special metrics regarding Thetans or clarity.
So one could make one that is even more sensitive, that allows you to practice altering your skin resistance with mind thoughts (roaring ocean waves and salty sea air! Seagulls and warm sun! Sand squishing between your toes!), thereby potentially improving your clarity, or at least improving the measured metrics.
I’m not a Scientologist, but according to some biofeedback enthusiast friends, ASMR might help them game their readings better.
It occurs to me the CoS doesn’t need a state law preventing outside sources from repairing their gizmos. An intra-church policy will do just fine.
Similarly the Catholic Church doesnt need to impose a state law against third parties making Uriel’s®️ Heavy Duty Double-Divine Holy Water for demon huntering and exorcism when an internal ruling will do as well. The same for Uriel’s Fastin-EZ quick-transubstantiation communion wafers (available also in chocolate, mint and sweetcream flavors!).