December 29, 2005

Will They Stop at Nothing?

The Bookshelves of Doom points out an article in Wired that reveals the Scientologian underpinnings of the Neopet phenomenon:

[Neopets CEO Doug] Dohring brought two things to the company: expertise in market research and a deep commitment to the principles of Scientology. After college, he spent four years in Toledo working for the church in "counseling and communications." In the writings of Scientology leader L. Ron Hubbard, Dohring discovered a business model that would later become the foundation of the Neopets operation.
Posted by Dr. Frank at December 29, 2005 07:22 PM | TrackBack
Comments

The moment, in reading that, that I saw the obligatory sourpuss quote from Adbusters, I realised something: I'm automatically on the side of anyone that Adbusters doesn't like, Scientologists or not.

Posted by: Sigivald at December 30, 2005 08:07 PM

I was considering creating a Neopet Scientologist that would require you to make a monthly monetary contribution or it would get kicked out of its church, thus ending the game.

I don't trust any religion that can be traced back to its inception. Especially one that doesn't even go back a full generation.

I truly believe that most Scientologists aren't really that into it. They're just playing a joke on us. The ones that do believe are craaaaaazy.

God bless South Park.

Posted by: Tim at December 30, 2005 11:19 PM

Say what you want about Scientology (well, unless you're covered by draconian non-disclosure agreements), but you've got to admit the business model works.

Posted by: Wesley at December 31, 2005 08:21 AM

"Matt, Matt, here's the problem. You don't know the history of the microchip. I do."

Posted by: Jim Treacher at December 31, 2005 12:22 PM