Raoul's China Saloon (V5.0) Beta

The Bar Room => The Bar (ON-TOPIC) => Topic started by: Raoul F. Duke on May 02, 2007, 09:09:23 PM

Title: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Raoul F. Duke on May 02, 2007, 09:09:23 PM
Ladies and Gentlemen,

The time has come to publicly reveal some events that took place over the last Summer, with the folks at Raoul's China Saloon. It is a long and sordid tale of woe.

It started last May. We usually have an annual forum party here in Suzhou, and all members are invited, and it's been a gloriously good time both times we've done it.

About the time we started discussing and planning it, I got some e-mail from a member of an organization we'll call the FG; their name sounds a lot like "Fahlin' Gawng". This group is a well-known cult, originating in China, that apparently practices subversive breathing exercises and expounds upon a lot of dopey, misguided, shallow crap that they claim is somehow connected to Buddhism. The whole thing is written and directed by a nasty, bitter little man from Jilin Province now holed up in a townhouse in New York City. This group is highly illegal in China and its members are avidly hunted by the authorities. Anyway, this member was polite enough and simply asked about a reference to them in our Forum Rules. Coincidentally, at the very same time a young man from New Zealand that we'll call "Squat" joined our forum.

Squat made some nice, enthusiastic posts and showed definite interest in our party. One of our more big-hearted members and my dearest friend, whom we'll call "Bob" here, had been offering free lodging for the party and Squat accepted a bedroom.

Party time arrived. Squat spent a lot of time with all of us and seemed nice enough if a bit on the ascetic side. A non-drinking vegetarian who made rather startling assertions about Buddhism- definitely odd for our group, but nothing too extreme and he was well accepted by all concerned. We all had a good time.

Party time left and Squat was still camped in Bob's bedroom. He cooked and cleaned, but he paid no rent...and showed no signs of leaving. He didn't take a job or even look for one. He was ostensibly here to study Chinese, but that wasn't happening, either. He bought a computer printer and borrowed Bob's laptop a lot. He bought a bike and took long solo trips to parts unknown. And he was affable and harmless.

Or so we thought.

After Squat had occupied Bob's spare room for over two months, while at work one day Bob was called into his school's office. He was told that the police had encountered some kind of inconsistency in his address, and he needed to go down to the police station to clear it up.

So Bob went down to the station. There he was asked about how well he knew Squat, what Squat was doing...and about the FG. Bob replied to these questions as truthfully as he could.

Next, Bob, Squat, and a bevy of police met Bob's landlord at Bob's apartment. Bob heard the cops asking Squat about posting FG info all over town, and Squat was admitting to doing so. The police then searched the house and found piles of FG propaganda (in Chinese, which Squat doesn't read) on paper and CDs. More was found on Bob's laptop.

It turns out that Squat was using Bob's apartment as a covert base for the FG. He was printing the CD-based materials out in large amounts, riding them into Suzhou on his bike, and plastering them all over town. Being a Canadian and a gentleman, Bob had never snooped in Squat's room and had no idea this was happening. The police took away the printed materials, the CDs, Bob's laptop, and Squat. As they led him away, Squat turned to Bob and, loudly in front of the police, asked Bob to contact another member, saying they would "know what to do".

It turned out that when he first arrived, Squat gave another member an "emergency contact" that turned out to be the e-mail address of a senior FG leader in Australia. Fortunately, this address was never used and e-mail they got FROM that address was ignored.

At this point, Bob is fine. He's also lucky. The local police saw the truth in his story and believed him...it most definitely did NOT have to turn out that way. He could also have been charged, imprisoned, deported...any number of nasty things. The same is true for all of us who spent time with Squat and had him in our homes, but it's most true in Bob's case by far. Anyway, Bob seems to be entirely in the clear now. Squat is still in a Chinese jail somewhere and the PSB still has Bob's laptop; both are awaiting trial.

TO SQUAT: You came here and used our forum event, and our good natures, to pursue highly illegal activites. You deceived us all and you put all of us, especially Bob, in danger that we didn't need or deserve...and you knew in advance that you were going to do so. It is our sincere wish that you remain in a Chinese prison for a long, long time. Furthermore, I personally hope that your cellmates are acquiring an intimate perspective on your nether regions that you would have never imagined possible. (Bob adds that he'd be content if you just got 6 months, preferably washing underwear for the other prisoners, and hopes you come to realize just how stupid and nasty you really were- and pursue meaningful goals such as forming human bonds with other people, and building an actual life.  (http://deephousepage.com/smilies/znaika.gif) Bob is Canadian and nicer than I am.)

TO THE FG: FU. You've turned passive neutrals into active enemies. You like to talk about "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance", but your boy showed us NONE of those things...all under your instruction. Please know that we have all cooperated fully with the local police regarding your organization, such as we could, and that it's now open season on exposing your tactics to the world. You messed with the wrong bunch of expats.

TO EXPATS IN CHINA: I know that circumstances often tend to make us help and support one another here. And this is, on the surface, a good thing. Sadly, the truth is that we have to be careful of our fellows here and not trust them any further than we really know them. Please be careful and please ask hard questions. Please temper generosity with common sense. And please be aware of lunatic groups like the FG...yes, they really are out there!

TO THOSE WHO RUN WEB SITES/FORUMS IN CHINA: Be careful! Keep a close eye on your events and how your site is being used. All may not be as it seems.

TO THE WORLD: The FG likes to scream that they are innocent victims of an oppressive regime. It's impossible to glean much truth from this whole affair, but I can tell you one thing for sure: The FG has no qualms about creating a few innocent victims of their own if it suits their purposes. Treat this organization as you would a coiled snake, and don't take anything they tell you for granted.

Will we have a forum party in Suzhou next May? Hope so. Unfortunately, there are no more free bedrooms unless we've known you a long, long time. And you're going to eat lamb sticks and chug tequila if you want in the door.

Raoul Duke
Raoul's China Saloon
http://raoulschinasaloon.com
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Con ate dog on May 05, 2007, 11:43:45 PM
Hi, I'm Bob, and I'm a sucker.  I've been a little wiser for one year.

If there's good to come out of this, it's that I can give some warnings to fellow laowai that this loonie cult does exist, does take advantage of the unsuspecting, and can get you into trouble.  REAL trouble.

So here's a couple of tips about F auauauauau n Gong:

1.  F  auauauauau n Gong are highly illegal in China.  Promoting them is legally considered sedition, and helping them is considered treason, i.e. people get EXECUTED for conducting F auauauauau n Gong activities.  The authourities consider them to be trying to otherthrow the government, and are afraid of them- and nobody is as vicious as somebody who is afraid.

2.  These people are True Believers.  They are, in their minds, saving the world.  And, like any embattled group who are certain that they are right, they are willing to break a few eggs to make their omelette.  Hey, when the rebel forces destroyed the second, under-construction Death Star in Return of the Jedi, how many construction workers perished?  But hey, Evil was defeated, resulting in peace forever throught the universe.

True Believers think like this.  Stay out of their way!

3.  How?  Well, I noticed a few things about these practitioners:
3a. They don't smoke (or toke);
3b. They don't drink- a tiny bit to join a toast is all I saw Squat drink;
3c. They have peculiar theories on diet- the one I remember is to avoid mixing different food groups in the same meal.  I don't remember specifics, but I've heard about most diet systems, and his ideas were new and borderline bizarre to me;
3d. As brother Raoul pointed out, they have a very weird take on Buddhism.  Again, I don't remember specifics, but I studied Buddhism with passion when I was younger, and this guy had stuff wrong.

4. He hated touching people.  Sex in a movie made him extremely uncomfortable.  I don't eactly know why, let alone whether it's representative of the kind of foreigners that practice F auauauauau n Gong, but I serve it out anyways.

In short, they don't smoke, drink, eat meat or for that matter any food they haven't monitored the preparation of.  Mind you, I know plenty of marvellous people who don't either, people who would never but an Ism before people's wellbeing.  But it's a start.

The most telling sign would be that the person is uninterested in people, jobs or building a life for themselves.  A newbie wants first to set up their own infrastructure and either look for a job or travel/party; if they start building a capability to get around but don't try to either meet folks or find work, something's fishy.

The briefest and best piece of advice:  other laowai are unlikely to be politically active here, but it does happen.  Don't be a sucker.

I won't now.   
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Lotus Eater on May 06, 2007, 04:41:36 AM


If there's good to come out of this, it's that I can give some warnings to fellow laowai that religious groups and people do   exist, do take advantage of the unsuspecting, and can get you into trouble.  REAL trouble.

So here's a couple of tips about religious beliefs:

1.  Religious groups NOT explicitly approved by the Chinese Gov't are highly illegal in China.  Promoting them is legally considered sedition, and helping them is considered treason, i.e. people get EXECUTED for conducting relogious activities ?(and guess what - not the FTs but the poor bloody Chinese who fall into the trap of believing them)!).  The authourities consider them to be trying to otherthrow the government, and are afraid of them- and nobody is as vicious as somebody who is afraid.

2.  These people are True Believers.  They are, in their minds, saving the world.  And, like any embattled group who are certain that they are right, they are willing to break a few eggs to make their omelette. 
True Believers think like this.  Stay out of their way!


My changes. But we are here under explicit contracts that state we are NOT to proselytise EVEN IF OUR STUDENTS ASK!!! Our answer should be - "my beliefs are none of your concern - let's return to any English questions you have".  Anything else is breaking our contract and making of us liars.

Surely if we believe in teaching integrity this is the first line - NOT breaking contracts!!

Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Con ate dog on May 06, 2007, 11:39:37 PM
Yeah, I can live with that.  While the one I was victimized by is the most hotbutton group, most others are carefully monitored.
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: dragonsaver on May 07, 2007, 12:18:54 AM
I usually say that I don't believe in any specific religion.  I believe you should treat others like you want them to treat you.  If you are nice to someone and they aren't nice back - their loss not my loss.
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Raoul F. Duke on May 07, 2007, 09:39:44 AM
Yeah, I'm kinda with Con here. There are religious groups operating here that are perfectly legitimate in China...and not all are necessarily here to proselytise.

Having religious beliefs is not a crime.

Yeah, there are plenty of nasties too...but FG is the biggie and the one who used us, so I have no problem singling them out.
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Mr Nobody on May 11, 2007, 06:15:58 AM
Yep. Abused us and used us, and deserving of the bums rush.

There is a difference between arguing or proselytizing for or against belief, and assholes taking advantage and risking other's safety in a foreign country.

There is also something about trust abused.

Mkay them.

May they rest in bits.
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Raoul F. Duke on May 13, 2007, 07:39:20 AM
Well said, sir.

The #1 growth industry in China right now is religion. Kinda scary in a way...not sure what the kid will looks like when it grows up.
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: laura579 on June 21, 2007, 02:41:03 PM
Well if they don't smoke or drink and enjoy a good sex scene...than they lost my vote!!!  lol.. bbbbbbbbbb

 jjjjjjjjjj
Laura
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: ericthered on June 21, 2007, 11:44:44 PM
Well said, sir.

The #1 growth industry in China right now is religion. Kinda scary in a way...not sure what the kid will looks like when it grows up.

Good question. I remember coming across Christian students in Nanchang. At least they said they were Christian, proudly pointing to the crosses around their necks. Upon further enquiry I learned that their complete knowledge of Christianity was: There is God and Jesus was his son and he got killed on a cross (I tried to explain crucifiction but they said only bad men would talk about such stuff) They had no clue about the 10 Commandments, the Bible or anything. They just knew that God and Jesus wanted people to be nice to each other. It was the most innocent religious view I have ever come across. I found them to be endearingly naive. The following day, this was in December, I had to spend a whole class explaining the difference between Jesus and Santa Claus. Upon which I was told I was wrong.
The G movement had a big protest thingy here in Copenhagen a few days ago. There was a chap who wanted me to have pamphlet and sign some petition. He seemed rather miffed when I told him I did not want to...in Chinese. Then he went away.
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Stil on June 22, 2007, 12:06:50 AM
Eric you might want to edit the name FG out of your post as it might set of the missles in China.
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: ericthered on June 22, 2007, 12:08:26 AM
Sorry, forgot the eyes-in-the-walls thing. Have edited now.
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Nolefan on June 22, 2007, 12:38:14 AM
Sorry, forgot the eyes-in-the-walls thing. Have edited now.
cbcbcbcbcb cbcbcbcbcb cbcbcbcbcb cbcbcbcbcb
please do not forget again...  cbcbcbcbcb
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Stil on June 22, 2007, 12:44:27 AM
Hey Noles, for Eric that's incentive to do it again.
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: ericthered on June 22, 2007, 01:26:19 AM
Stil, you naughty boy.
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Acjade on July 03, 2007, 03:21:38 PM
All of us attending that unforgettable union of Salonites got done.

It's taken me a long time to process the whole affair.

It will take a lot longer to write. And another visit to Suzhou. Once it's been exocised of course.
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: abusalam on July 20, 2007, 04:48:03 AM


If there's good to come out of this, it's that I can give some warnings to fellow laowai that religious groups and people do   exist, do take advantage of the unsuspecting, and can get you into trouble.  REAL trouble.

So here's a couple of tips about religious beliefs:

1.  Religious groups NOT explicitly approved by the Chinese Gov't are highly illegal in China.  Promoting them is legally considered sedition, and helping them is considered treason, i.e. people get EXECUTED for conducting relogious activities ?(and guess what - not the FTs but the poor bloody Chinese who fall into the trap of believing them)!).  The authourities consider them to be trying to otherthrow the government, and are afraid of them- and nobody is as vicious as somebody who is afraid.

2.  These people are True Believers.  They are, in their minds, saving the world.  And, like any embattled group who are certain that they are right, they are willing to break a few eggs to make their omelette. 
True Believers think like this.  Stay out of their way!


My changes. But we are here under explicit contracts that state we are NOT to proselytise EVEN IF OUR STUDENTS ASK!!! Our answer should be - "my beliefs are none of your concern - let's return to any English questions you have".  Anything else is breaking our contract and making of us liars.

Surely if we believe in teaching integrity this is the first line - NOT breaking contracts!!



Raoul's story reminds me of similar situatiuons where I had tried to help out someone and got into real trouble because of that. Yes, indeed, FG is illegal in China, and it is something like neo-Buddhist/Daoist sect. I will not comment on them any further but will provide some input on religion in China and the West in general.

In the West, (Christian) religion historically was somehting set up from above - the Pope, the Emperor, the kings, etc. Among other things, it has the backing of those in real power, and religion played a role in maintaining traditional power structures.

In traditional China,it was quite the opposite: Confucianism as the "ideology" of the ruling class is a social philosophy with a strong emphasis on "inequality" - if all people were equal (or treated as equals, chaos would arise). Daoism and Buddhism are the two other "religions" left, and while Buddhism is an import from ancient India, Daoism and Budhhism have much in commonn regarding their doctrine (emptiness, desires, non-action (wuwei), etc.). Like Confucianism, they were pure philosophies initially and were only to become "religions" later when becoming popular among the "masses". Since then, Daoism and Buddhism have always played an important role in pesant risings against the system because of too heavy taxes and other problems. These social-revolutionary movements were often Buddhist/Daoist-inspired and eventually were able to overthrow a dynasty that had come to its end.

"Religion" in China thus was looked at as something that came from the heart of society - the "common people", and any government in power watches them with suspicion. This historical pattern is continuing today - any religious movement is "suspicious", and FG is no expception - among any other religious movement whether it be Christianity, Islam, or whatever.

BTW: For those among you interested in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), in Qigong, Taijuquan, etc. - their "ideological superstructure" ( a terrible expression I am using here in lack of any better at hand right now) is mainly Daoist in nature. Ever heard about the "Huangdi Neijing" (The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine) is with over 2000 years the first and oldest written document on Acupuncture and Moxibustion. It consists of three volumes - the Suwen, the Lingshu and the Nanjing, each of them containi8ng 81 chapters ("81" has a special symbolic meaning, hence this number of chapters in each volume). I have published a complete translation of those texts directly from the original text (Classical Chinese, Guwen) with many annotations and hints on text-critical matters - a work with over 1000 pages in print. Some of the "social-revolutionary" elements from a Daoist perspective can be found in larger portions of those texts even when they are really technical at times with remarks on meridians, acupunture points, the needling techniques for stimulating the Qi, etc. That is because they essentially relate to a Daoist perspective of world image and man.
In a way, they are a bit like FG - a bit obscure (difficult to comprehend; it took me over 10 years to complete my translation and critical editing of those texts before having them published!) but in a way also really "Chinese".

Let me stop here and wish a good day to all of you!
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: The Humanaught on September 24, 2007, 05:47:38 AM
I finally get off (wait, technically on) my ass and sign up here and jump into this thread first... wow, man...

Couldn't agree more with Raoul's opinion that the FLG are just right knobs for knowingly putting innocent people at risk like that - especially people that open their homes to a stranger in a strange land. bah.

I've waxed and wanned in how I felt about the "persecution" of this group in China, but I think it was sometime after reading my umpteenth Epoch Times article that I just banged my head on the desk twice and said to hell with the crazy bastards. I hate people who propagandize news for their own means.

Anyway, good to finally be pulling up a stool at the saloon. Thanks for having me guys.
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: jwbhomer on October 30, 2007, 03:10:20 PM
Any Catholics reading this thread should be aware that the FLG is not the only religious group (I was going to say "sect") being persecuted. The PRC government does not discriminate. It persecutes the Buddhists in T, the Muslims in Xinjiang, the FLG and the "born-agains" everywhere, as well as Catholic believers who do not adhere to the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association.

The CPCA is the schismatic "Catholic church" set up by the Communists not long after they seized power, in order to control the activities of Chinese Catholics, and -- while they're at it -- seize the lands and buildings owned by the Church, which they are now busily flogging off to real estate developers. Some of the Catholic bishops and priests joined the CPCA, but others went underground. The Vatican recognizes the underground Catholic Church, but not the CPCA.

According to recently published reports, all 47 of the bishops in union with Rome are in prison, in "hospitals" under armed guard, under house arrest, or in hiding.
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Mr Nobody on October 30, 2007, 08:16:44 PM
 offtopic

The subject isn't persecution, but how a fake religion exploited US personally.

Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Raoul F. Duke on October 31, 2007, 05:46:22 AM
Or, at least, a group claiming religious ties. But yeah.
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: abusalam on November 02, 2007, 12:04:44 AM
offtopic

The subject isn't persecution, but how a fake religion exploited US personally.


In my private life, I am an Anglican working priest - it means that I have a normal secular job to earn my living and do any church-related work in my free time at no charge. And in that position, I realise that there are many "fake" religious organisations at work with a "totalitarian" approach in mind.

In another posting in this thread, I have said something on the History of Religion in China in comparison to the West. Here, let me add another point:

When Christian missionaries came to China in the latter half of the 19th century, China had acquired what the present rulers would call a "half-colonial status" (Opium War, etc.). The Christian churches set up by then also had a role to play in helping foreign powers to maintain their control over the country. They have done the same in other parts of the world at that time. In China at that time, the expression of "rice Christians" was formed referring to a number of Chinese people who only became Christians to be eligible for donations (food, etc.) from foreign charity organisations. You might have done the same in a situation facing starvation. Of course, it is humiliating and not the right way to spread the gospel....

In these days, we must realise that religion is a private business of the individual and that no group - Christian, Muslim or whatever - has the right to make the claim to "save" the rest of the world. That kind of "salvation" indeed could turn out be a catastrophy if they were succesful in the end.

Having said this, I now return to my private life. Perhaps, in my next life (as certain nonb-Christian religions may assume) I will be a crocodile giving a big bite to all those self-appointed savers of the world.....ggggggggrrrrrrr.lol. bibibibibi   
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: cheekygal on November 02, 2007, 03:52:42 AM
so, youtube is unbanned. and so.. i tried to type in F***** G*** and connection was lost. i thought it is a glitch. typed youtube.com and it worked. i typed the former again and... connection with site disappeared again  ahahahahah ahahahahah ahahahahah
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: jwbhomer on November 02, 2007, 03:57:18 PM
offtopic

The subject isn't persecution, but how a fake religion exploited US personally.



Oh. So sorry. I guess that leaves those of us who weren't there with nothing to say.
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Acjade on November 02, 2007, 06:07:24 PM

Oh. So sorry. I guess that leaves those of us who weren't there with nothing to say.

And those of us who were, were pretty ruddy speechless, too. aoaoaoaoao aoaoaoaoao bqbqbqbqbq bqbqbqbqbq aoaoaoaoao
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Lotus Eater on November 02, 2007, 07:29:41 PM
I was lucky enough to be in Xi'an and far away from the action. No-one would have really cared about the idiot and his dumb activities if he hadn't used one of our members as a facade and a couple of months after he met the mob, semi-implicated him and another member in his activities.  This was potentially dangerous for both of our members, and by (frequently visited website) extension, the entire forum.

If he had moved out of our mates place within a week or so and gone about his business we wouldn't have cared.

A couple of months later when the excreta connected with the oscillation device was when real problems occurred.

Our mates were used. The rest of the forum was safe - not sure if the PSB or investigators actually went into it to look or not.  Most of us didn't know what was happening until after it had happened, and so had no way of providing assistance or anything else.

But ... the potential for problems for many was there.

Dumb activities have flow on effects.

Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Con ate dog on November 05, 2007, 03:29:37 AM
offtopic

The subject isn't persecution, but how a fake religion exploited US personally.



Oh. So sorry. I guess that leaves those of us who weren't there with nothing to say.

That's right.
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: George on November 05, 2007, 03:41:59 AM
Quote
That's right.
But don't worry about it. It was a bit traumatic for those involved, so expect som tetchy replies. agagagagag
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Raoul F. Duke on November 05, 2007, 04:25:47 AM
I disagree...those not involved directly can and should have something to say. But it should remain on the topic; persecution of religious groups in China may be quite real but doesn't really have much bearing on the particular topic at hand.
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Mr Nobody on November 12, 2007, 07:33:35 AM
Totally agree with the boss. (Sucking up due to past indiscretions, not to mention I actually think he is right this time.)
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Con ate dog on November 13, 2007, 01:51:01 AM
Might be best if I refrain from comment here in the future.  Turns out I'm still punchy about this.
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Eagle on November 13, 2007, 02:06:43 AM
Truth is "we got gonged".  None of us came here to ride white horses in an attempt to set China right according to some personal dogma.  Those that come here riding white horses and wearing white hats with the intention of making all right with the world have a huge problem and need to get back home for some serious help.  They need glasses which would actually let them see that is not right in Kansas either.

God save us from missionaries and do-gooders!  They will be the death of us yet.
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: dragonsaver on November 25, 2007, 03:56:54 PM
Not the F*G*  bqbqbqbqbq  head that almost got Con into jail and could have got the Saloon black listed.  That is what this thread was about.
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Lotus Eater on November 25, 2007, 04:00:59 PM
At least they are better than door to door preachers or salesmen!

Same people - different country! Here they prey on the students vulnerabilities, selling a particular belief (FG, Christianity, whatever)  to 'save' them.
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: cheekygal on November 25, 2007, 09:26:48 PM
and make students suicidal. aoaoaoaoao
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Escaped Lunatic on November 26, 2007, 10:43:43 AM

Happily, no one in China complained when I preached on the street corners for the cult that spends long hours prayerfully observing the amazing beauty of Gong Li.   bfbfbfbfbf

Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: AMonk on November 26, 2007, 11:50:40 AM
 bkbkbkbkbk axaxaxaxax
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: ericthered on December 21, 2007, 11:13:08 PM

Happily, no one in China complained when I preached on the street corners for the cult that spends long hours prayerfully observing the amazing beauty of Gong Li.   bfbfbfbfbf



Hmm..that does give a whole new meaning to the phrase "getting Gonged"  afafafafaf Sounds like a delightful cult.
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Raoul F. Duke on December 21, 2007, 11:21:22 PM
We've (WELL before the last poster) also given a whole new meaning to the phrase "on-topic".
Do you kids want I should stop this car right now and come back there? hhhhhhhhhh
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: spuglyfuglet on April 05, 2009, 01:51:05 PM
Just another bunch of nuts shelling there stuff
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: George on April 05, 2009, 02:28:23 PM
 mmmmmmmmmm First we got DaDan, and now here comes Spugly! mmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmm Oh well, I guess it'll come to me....eventually!
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Lotus Eater on April 05, 2009, 02:40:39 PM
Spugly - we have a reasonable number of non-smokers so you'll be OK in that category, we have  a few non-drinkers, so there will be a couple of people sitting around the saloon with their glasses filled with green tea, not the revolting civet-juice we loving call 'alcohol' in these parts. 

You seem to have passed on most other criteria - although the spelling is going to drive George nuts, and if you really want to hear bad words keep misplacing/ignoring apostrophes!!  ahahahahah

Welcome, and have a green tea on my tab.
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Schnerby on April 05, 2009, 02:48:15 PM

Now I'm not going to start drinking again been off it to long to start again now.



Phew, what woul dyour posts be like with alcohol mixed in?  aoaoaoaoao
 ahahahahah ahahahahah ahahahahah

Perhaps save the athiest ranting for the BS pit. Actually perhaps just save the ranting. There are people here of all opinions and that's the way we like it.  bfbfbfbfbf
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: spuglyfuglet on April 05, 2009, 04:08:37 PM


Ill do, sorry
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Stil on April 05, 2009, 04:11:11 PM
Spugs, You'll have no problem with people thinking you are religious nut just because you don't drink or smoke.

However, from reading your post, you might have problems with people thinking you are an all-round nut. TIFC (This is f****** China) though, so you'll blend right in.

Not drinking at the saloon can easily be overcome buy buying rounds for the rest of us. Since you don't drink any more and it could be uncomfortable for you to buy drinks, I'll take care of this annoyance for you. Just give me all your money and everything will be smoooooth sailing.  bfbfbfbfbf
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: spuglyfuglet on April 05, 2009, 04:21:09 PM
However, from reading your post, you might have problems with people thinking you are an all-round nut. TIFC (This is f****** China) though, so you'll blend right in.

Not drinking at the saloon can easily be overcome buy buying rounds for the rest of us. Since you don't drink any more and it could be uncomfortable for you to buy drinks, I'll take care of this annoyance for you. Just give me all your money and everything will be smoooooth sailing.  bfbfbfbfbf

Ok my Bank card number is ......

Hold on!!! your one of them "I need your help with the Nigirain lotto" guys, you have my bank info already, come to think of it, where is my cut of the £14,000,900 you said I would get.

as for drinks, BarPerson line em up, Drinks for all on me.

As for being an all round nut case, could be, but mad as a fox me.  bfbfbfbfbf
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Raoul F. Duke on April 07, 2009, 09:25:38 AM
I wouldn't worry...not smoking and drinking won't instantly brand you as a religious nutjob. It didn't in the case of the 'wipe that launched this story...he had to quack like a duck before being revealed as a duck.

And don't sweat the dyslexia thing. Errors are actually tolerable, especially if you don't happen to be an English teacher. We do ping on the English teachers sometimes, as well we should, and we've had some "I'am Gods' gift to teach'ing!" cases that have gotten deservedly pounded, but if you aren't teaching Math then it's OK to assert that 2 plus 2 equals 5. agagagagag

And finally, by all means take no guff whatsoever from George. He ain't exactly Merriam-Webster hisself. uuuuuuuuuu
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Mr Nobody on April 07, 2009, 11:16:12 PM
The university at which I am doing my monkey dance is apparently infested with these Gong parasites. One of the real medical type doctor surgeon - western style degree and everything - is one of these mindless suckers out to convert his students. A couple of the students I am teaching kung fu to complain to me at times, but no one can do anything. (I am the only white monkey at a TCM university with a considerable sprinkling of Bony Fido 'real' medical doctors and 'real' western style PhD types in other areas. Makes me wonder. No, actually, it doesn't.)

Another Doctor has started these crying game type group therapy sessions, and people think he is so wonderful that he just got cautioned that he is becoming a cult leader.

But the Farging Gong guy is still bothering students, no nothing. I was asked what do to. I said avoid avoid avoid, since I think that 'disappearing' people is still not legal.

Go figure.
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: dragonsaver on May 08, 2009, 11:00:11 PM
Yesterday I was going somewhere with my Chinese teacher.  As I approached the corner to get a taxi a couple of Chinese people said 'Hello'.  Then the man reached inside his jacket and said: "I have a gift for you".  He handed me a set of 3 VCD's about the Chinese New Year's celebration.

I took it and got into the taxi.  My teacher asked me if he could see the CD's.  He said it was Farkin Goong.  I said I knew about them and they were very very bad.

However, curiosity and all that, when I got back home I decided to look at one of the CD's.  I was aware what it was probably about, so I was not an 'innocent ferriner'.  I watched about 5 min, skipped to the next talking part - a white man and a female Chinese.  They panned to the audience which was all 'white folk'.  I then removed the CD, put it back in packaging and put outside into the garbage.

It was loaded with subliminal messages, such as the wise 'father type/god type' figure.  Floating images etc etc.  I have a hunch if someone unaware watched it, then it could have a megga mind trip for them.  aoaoaoaoao aoaoaoaoao

Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Raoul F. Duke on May 12, 2009, 07:18:21 PM
I've watched some of the VCDs they hand out outside the train station in Hong Kong. Pure garbage; it's unbelievable that anyone could fall for such a load of pseudo-mystical tripe. bibibibibi

FG grew out of DongBei (Changchun, specifically) and still seemed to have its primary Mainland stronghold there. There were lots of cases of recorded phone messages to everyone in town, people caught handing out the materials, and so on. TV and radio broadcast stations in Changchun had armed guards; FG activists had briefly seized some of them in the past.
But the FG does have weasels everywhere. I hope the doctor guy gets "disappeared". asasasasas
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Escaped Lunatic on June 09, 2009, 03:42:09 PM
So they've got the HK train station too?  I was at the local ferry terminal in March, and it looked like FG HQ.  They outnumbered all the magazine and souvenir vendors about 3:1.  I was planning to wait for a friend there, but ended up retreating to the observation deck near the clock tower to get away from the cult crazies.
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Mr Nobody on June 09, 2009, 03:48:19 PM
Soon will be some kind of anniversary. The schools are on alert for anyone - teachers, students - missing classes that day. This week I think it is.

So, don't miss any classes this week.

I hope they get the bastard at my school.
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Raoul F. Duke on June 11, 2009, 04:52:40 PM
The bastards have been a fixture at Hong Kong's Mongkok train station- the station where trains leave for and arrive from the mainland- for years and years. They have a huge semi-permanent tent affair set up just outside the main doors. ffffffffff
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Con ate dog on June 11, 2009, 05:21:39 PM
Every time I walk by them I wish I had a fire extinguisher.
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Raoul F. Duke on June 13, 2009, 09:18:05 PM
Well, we do always have a bladder with us... bbbbbbbbbb uuuuuuuuuu
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Invictus on May 19, 2010, 10:16:05 AM
The bastards have been a fixture at Hong Kong's Mongkok train station- the station where trains leave for and arrive from the mainland- for years and years. They have a huge semi-permanent tent affair set up just outside the main doors. ffffffffff

Here in New York they are all over Chinatown and Flushing, the city's main Chinese enclaves. But they will often also set up camp at other high traffic places, such as Union Square park. Most of the time they pass fliers. Other times the campaigns are more graphic, with pictures of people bloodied or beaten. On occasion they (or, more often than not, directly controlled groups that do not necessarily openly declare themselves as such) will have some demonstration that will block traffic and generally annoy everyone, such as they had in Flushing a few months ago.

Generally, most people ignore them.
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: mlaeux on May 19, 2010, 11:31:23 AM
They also have strong presence on the web llllllllll but, they are easy enough to spot, as Invinctus stated -
Quote
the campaigns are more graphic, with pictures of people bloodied or beaten.
If the tell tale signs of bloody beaten bodies isn't so obvious, then you can also sniff them out because their rhetoric is a little bit off.  :wtf:
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Raoul F. Duke on May 20, 2010, 12:44:06 AM
Of course, the Chinese also use graphic images of burned, beaten, mutilated "victims" of FG... mmmmmmmmmm
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: mkate on February 10, 2011, 03:44:36 AM
I vote a drinking competition is in order then.

Can I have my lamb well cooked, maybe bbq'ed?  bhbhbhbhbh
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: nikki on February 22, 2011, 02:25:40 AM
 bfbfbfbfbf
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: xwarrior on February 22, 2011, 03:28:54 AM
Gee, nikki.... that is the most beautiful grass I have seen since I left New Zealand. Nice to see a photo of grass with something that is not a cow in it  ababababab  agagagagag
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Escaped Lunatic on March 11, 2011, 08:15:28 PM
Just saw another sign of those crazy gongheads a few days ago.

I was sorting my stray 1 RMB notes after shopping, getting change on the bus, etc. and notice that someone had decided to redecorate one of them.  They added a zero to change it from a 1 to a 10 (also edited it in Chinese) and drew glasses on the Chairman.  Very middle-school, but still slightly amusing.  I showed it to my fiancee and she turned the bill over and started reading some additions to the back side of the bill.

It was a message from the gongsters calling on officials to leave the party and join their cult.  I'm pretty sure a defaced 1 RMB note is not going to have any effect as a recruiting tool, but it's kind of creepy knowing they are around and trying.

I'm not sure what to do with that piece of money.  I'd hate to be reported as the one who spent it.
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Day Dreamer on March 12, 2011, 07:53:44 PM
EL, either use it to pay for a bus trip or hide it amungst a pile of others when you pay for a cab or groceries (not at your local hang out)

The g/f went home last weekend, about 2 hours by bus. On the return one of them sat next to her and "chatted". She said he was about 80 years old placing him around 1930 or 19 y-o when 1949 rolled around. She said she never spoke a word to him, played her MP5 and dozed off. She hates them!
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: El Macho on March 13, 2011, 10:18:50 PM
During winter break my (Chinese) fiancee and I visited the US, and went to the Chinatown in my city. A little old lady on a street corner gave my fiancee a "How to leave the Comm. Party" pamphlet, published by the Gongs. She was pretty upset by and about the whole thing.

Edit: Which reminds me: When I taught in Changchun I lived in an apartment block populated entirely by Chinese retirees. One of the old couples in the building was arrested by the police for being Gong activists, and all the flats had multi-page letters glued to the door, telling us who was arrested, why they were arrested, and that we would be arrested if we did the same.

Frankly, both sides of the equation leave a bad taste in my mouth.
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Chinaren on March 20, 2011, 10:53:52 PM
I was in HK recently, and there was an open (small) display with FG stuff out in the middle of a very busy street.  My (Chinese) missus stopped and looked at it, she wasn't sure what it was, written in the old language as it was, but I saw the words and pulled her away. 

Even though it didn't seem to be a big thing down there, I wanted nothing to do with it!

Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: fen on September 20, 2011, 04:40:32 PM
I usually say that I don't believe in any specific religion.  I believe you should treat others like you want them to treat you.  If you are nice to someone and they aren't nice back - their loss not my loss.
    bfbfbfbfbf  philosophic.
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Paul on September 25, 2011, 04:45:49 AM
I usually say that I don't believe in any specific religion.  I believe you should treat others like you want them to treat you.
    bfbfbfbfbf  philosophic.

And complicated.  Maybe you're a masochist.  Then the Golden Rule is a little inadequate.
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Raoul F. Duke on September 25, 2011, 09:32:03 PM
Well, isn't that special. mmmmmmmmmm
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Raoul F. Duke on December 09, 2011, 08:42:24 AM
bümp
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: The Local Dialect on December 29, 2011, 11:33:56 PM
Our house was Gonged today! Some guy dropped off FG literature on our doorstep, I saw his back walking away just as I was leaving my house. When I came back home I didn't really look closely and thought it was just advertising and brought it inside and put it on the table. My husband was leafing through the stuff on the table and was like "where did you get this?" Told him some guy left it at the door and he proceeded to tear it up, then burn it.

These FG folks are pretty balsy, I would have thought they'd have been more circumspect. It was about 4:30pm, so lots of people are at home or just coming home, and it is snowing today some folks are mostly inside. He could easily have been caught.
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: dragonsaver on December 30, 2011, 01:12:04 AM
A year ago I was stopped on the street in Dalian by 3 people who gave me some DVD's about Spring Festival (and maybe some papers).  I was with my Chinese teacher at the time.  He said throw it away it is bad.  It was FG videos.  They are everywhere!!
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: xwarrior on December 30, 2011, 03:12:44 AM
Quote
It was FG videos.  They are everywhere!!

Yes. A woman on a bike pulled alongside me in the street and gave me one of those 'entertainment' videos. I had no idea of the contents until I had a look later that night.

The next day I dumped it in a rubbish bin a block away from my college.
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: El Macho on December 30, 2011, 03:13:26 AM
It's pretty pathetic that they're as good as the CIA can do fomenting dissent.

Those anonymous phone calls they're able to make are pretty impressive, though.
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Raoul F. Duke on January 01, 2012, 12:35:25 PM
Quote
The next day I dumped it in a rubbish bin a block away from my college.
Noooo! Save it to use in blackmailing your school owner. uuuuuuuuuu
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Arnold J. Rimmer on February 25, 2013, 02:51:14 AM
Has anybody else received 1 yuan notes with FG stuff printed on them?

Got one a while back that had their three word mantra printed on it.

They are getting really creative! I kept one for a while as a sort of souvenir, which I now realise was a little stupid. Luckily I absent-mindedly spent it one day and got rid of it.
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: becster79 on February 25, 2013, 03:17:29 AM
What's that? Is it legal tender? Where is this wording you're talking about?
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: The Local Dialect on February 25, 2013, 03:24:35 AM
What's that? Is it legal tender? Where is this wording you're talking about?

Just regular 1RMB notes upon which someone has written FLG slogans in ballpoint pen. I've run across them too.
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Escaped Lunatic on February 25, 2013, 01:54:33 PM
I got one with a rather lengthy pro-FG manifesto scribbled on it.  Was a little too obvious, so I didn't dare spend it for fear of being associated with those idiots.
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Arnold J. Rimmer on February 25, 2013, 02:49:52 PM
What's that? Is it legal tender? Where is this wording you're talking about?

Just regular 1RMB notes upon which someone has written FLG slogans in ballpoint pen. I've run across them too.

This one went a bit further. It was actually printed on in big, red letters. Mrs. AJR translated it for me.

I'm not sure how safe it is to write the words together, so I'll say it said 'tr**h', 'com***sion' and 'for****ance'.

 kkkkkkkkkk
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Stil on February 25, 2013, 03:57:38 PM
Why would you be worried about using the notes with Chinese writing on it.

It's a well known fact that foreigners can't read Chinese.

Just use them like any other bill. You'll find phone numbers for all kinds of things on many bills  afafafafaf

Keeping the bills with your regular money and using them is less suspicious than making a point to separate them.
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Escaped Lunatic on February 26, 2013, 12:17:40 AM
It's a well known fact that foreigners can't read Chinese.

Hand out enough things with FuGly squiggles on them and you'll get a free ride downtown to discuss the situation whether you can read what they say or not.
 aoaoaoaoao aoaoaoaoao aoaoaoaoao

I wouldn't worry about the other things.  The police are far less likely to care about those.
Title: Re: We Got 'GONGED!
Post by: Phillis on June 02, 2015, 08:01:12 PM
A long time ago when I was still slim, handsome and had rock 'n' roll hair halfway down my back, I started a small friendly cult after I had first heard of the FG.

I kinda liked the name. It had a cool ring to it. So I rounded up some Maritimers and Newfies and we started a private but extremely dedicated and active cult of our own.

We called it "Banga Gong" and we sat around with pounding heavy rock: lots of Zep and Van Halen, getting loaded on Alexander Keith's India Pale Ale and smoking shitloads of weed and hash.

We would all sit around my table and start with a short prayer, "Please someone...anyone listening...let this reefer be righteous."

Then we would all roll one joint to the best of our abilities. Then one by one, we'd smoke 'em and vote. We called this "The Great Reefer Roundup."

As each reefer got enjoyed we would all vote on it with 3 criteria: taste, consistency and runs (you know when a reefer burns too fast on one side and ya gotta lick yer finger and kinda put that side out a bit)

Each was worth 5 points for a total of 15.

Usually the first reefers got shit on hard, but the more we smoked the better the marks got. We never did figure out why.

When all were gone, we all rolled another and of course drank more beer. Then we started The Great Reefer Roundup again.

This would last all night, sometimes till dawn. At the end, the guy who had the most total points got to take a small plastic trophy of The Stanley Cup home, but had to bring it the next week for the next GRR. For we were a dedicated and serious cult and took our oath to heart.

"Please someone...anyone listening...let this reefer be righteous. Your's truly, for ever and ever Banga Gong".