Objectivism + Scientology = Neo-Tech
October 16, 2012 7:01 PM Subscribe
Of all the spinoffs that came as a result of Ayn Rand and Objectivism, Neo-Tech has to be the strangest.
Started by Frank R. Wallace, an author of gambling advice books, in 1984 and largely spread through direct mailing in its early years and SPAM in later years. Not a whole lot of information exists about this bizarre cult (?). All that is left available is the delightfully time capsule-esque official site and what would seem to be the remnants of people (warning, TriPod) who bought in early (warning, TriPod) then retreated back to Objectivism but never remembered to take their webpages offline.
A distillation of the politics of Objectivism with the Sci-Fi elements of Scientology. Neo-Tech promises eternal life and love on Earth, universal peace and love in joining a Universal Civilization, and the resurrection of all our loved ones passed through the information their spirits left encoded in the Luminiferous Ether all within the course of a single generation if we just allow free market capitalism to rule absolutely.
Started by Frank R. Wallace, an author of gambling advice books, in 1984 and largely spread through direct mailing in its early years and SPAM in later years. Not a whole lot of information exists about this bizarre cult (?). All that is left available is the delightfully time capsule-esque official site and what would seem to be the remnants of people (warning, TriPod) who bought in early (warning, TriPod) then retreated back to Objectivism but never remembered to take their webpages offline.
A distillation of the politics of Objectivism with the Sci-Fi elements of Scientology. Neo-Tech promises eternal life and love on Earth, universal peace and love in joining a Universal Civilization, and the resurrection of all our loved ones passed through the information their spirits left encoded in the Luminiferous Ether all within the course of a single generation if we just allow free market capitalism to rule absolutely.
mediocre: do you remember what the teacher charged her students in exchange for her teachings?
posted by hoople at 7:16 PM on October 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by hoople at 7:16 PM on October 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
Prosperity Gospel: Atheism Edition
posted by griphus at 7:25 PM on October 16, 2012 [9 favorites]
posted by griphus at 7:25 PM on October 16, 2012 [9 favorites]
I dunno, man, a lot of the present transhumanist stuff does weird me out pretty hard.
posted by LogicalDash at 7:27 PM on October 16, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by LogicalDash at 7:27 PM on October 16, 2012 [2 favorites]
I'm gonna read this, I really am, but I opened it in another window while watching the debate, and first thing I hear is this flat Aspergian voice launching right straight into the philosophy. It's gonna have to wait a few minutes.
posted by Countess Elena at 7:28 PM on October 16, 2012
posted by Countess Elena at 7:28 PM on October 16, 2012
Actually, chasing your links through, this response to a negative review from a likely Neo-Tech supporter is amazing:
posted by hoople at 7:30 PM on October 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
This is in response to the extreme rejection and criticism leveled against this book that was issued based on a very narrow premise - that the book was fiction and not already established fact....I mean, really. One of the things I find eternally fascinating is the interplay between the use-of-ideas and the use-of-ideas-as-signals, and although this fringe group seems a good mine for that sort of material this response is itself is a pretty remarkable artifact.
...
That the book was advertised as real served actually as a psychological tool to put the reader in the frame of mind that the dreams and ideas contained therein were tangible and could therefore be achieved. In my view, all thee things can be achieved if true progress is not impeded, is defended, and is thus allowed to flourish.
...
This book speaks of one day electing a president who will introduce a pure law based simply on initiatory force and fraud being the only criteria for determining criminality.
posted by hoople at 7:30 PM on October 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
I would really like to see how this check-list from 2003 is going:
[ ] Earn $20K on a flipped house (Florida/Nevada)
[ ] Win local marathon
[ ] Mad passionate romance with wife
[ ] Develop anti-gravity machine
posted by rh at 7:39 PM on October 16, 2012 [2 favorites]
[ ] Earn $20K on a flipped house (Florida/Nevada)
[ ] Win local marathon
[ ] Mad passionate romance with wife
[ ] Develop anti-gravity machine
posted by rh at 7:39 PM on October 16, 2012 [2 favorites]
Prosperity Gospel: Atheism Edition
That is my new alternative title for Libertarianism.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 7:59 PM on October 16, 2012 [6 favorites]
That is my new alternative title for Libertarianism.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 7:59 PM on October 16, 2012 [6 favorites]
This is a great find, thanks for posting it.
I saw a cable-access infomercial for neo-tech sometime in the early 90s. It was especially eye-catching as it consisted mainly of a man ("Mr. Neo-tech") in a black satin mask (with regular closeups of his eyes) seated calmly at a desk, extolling the virtues of neo-tech and its ability to help its practitioners overcome various life obstacles.
I'd later read about a card-counter (I want to say Jerry Patterson, though it's been awhile) who preferred being photographed in a black satin mask, and wondered if he was the same guy.
Naturally the for-more-information addresses were lost to time, and much later in life googling for 'neotech' became an exercise in frustration, but from this it looks like the gambling connection was correct.
I wish I still had that VHS tape...
posted by ipe at 9:07 PM on October 16, 2012
I saw a cable-access infomercial for neo-tech sometime in the early 90s. It was especially eye-catching as it consisted mainly of a man ("Mr. Neo-tech") in a black satin mask (with regular closeups of his eyes) seated calmly at a desk, extolling the virtues of neo-tech and its ability to help its practitioners overcome various life obstacles.
I'd later read about a card-counter (I want to say Jerry Patterson, though it's been awhile) who preferred being photographed in a black satin mask, and wondered if he was the same guy.
Naturally the for-more-information addresses were lost to time, and much later in life googling for 'neotech' became an exercise in frustration, but from this it looks like the gambling connection was correct.
I wish I still had that VHS tape...
posted by ipe at 9:07 PM on October 16, 2012
Wow. Just...wow. Tripod still exists?
posted by davidmsc at 10:29 PM on October 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by davidmsc at 10:29 PM on October 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
Who is Brett Peters? [archived blog] "He worked shoulder to shoulder with Eric Savage, Mark Hamilton, and Dr. Frank R. Wallace at the Neo-Tech Research and Writing Center from 1986 to 1993. He was responsible for helping thousands of Neo-Tech readers to inject the Neo-Tech concepts and philosophy into their everyday lives. He was the catalyst behind the Consultation Packages (his first product) and brought those secret, monthly Neo-Tech executive meetings to listeners worldwide. …He was also the force behind the Neo-Tech Report (his baby), Job Power, and The Neo-Tech Protection Kit, The Neo-Tech Memo Book and more. Read as he reflects back on his memorable time while at I&O/Neo-Tech Publishing Company: how he got the job, the birth of the Consultation Packages, his current views on biological immortality and romantic love, the story behind the Neo-Tech billboard campaign, launching hot-air balloons in full view of the value destroyers of November 3rd, and much, much more!"
posted by unliteral at 10:55 PM on October 16, 2012
posted by unliteral at 10:55 PM on October 16, 2012
mediocre: "...millionaires by the time they are 10 and so utterly ahead of the rest of humanity in intelligence that they discover the technological secret to absolute immortality..."
This sort of explains Sheldon.
posted by yiftach at 11:13 PM on October 16, 2012
This sort of explains Sheldon.
posted by yiftach at 11:13 PM on October 16, 2012
Wallace's book on poker is memorable for its amazing, crazy cynicism. The subtitle is A Guaranteed Income For Life. It still has something of a cult following even now.
posted by Yakuman at 11:16 PM on October 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Yakuman at 11:16 PM on October 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
My father used to receive pamphlets from Neo Tech when I worked for him in the late 80's to mid 90's. I would stage dramatic readings from them for the entire day when one came in, in between appointments. I used to look forward to them so much.
I hadn't thought about it for decades until I was visiting some friends a few years ago who are growing increasingly paranoid about chemtrails and illuminati and such, and Ross brought out this book that he'd picked up in a second hand shop. I saw the cover and was thrilled. I was about to do some readings from it when he informed me that the book contained the Truth. Being the cowardly custard that I am I stifled my dramatic impulses and quickly turned the conversation to something uncontroversial, but man, what a blast from the past.
posted by h00py at 3:28 AM on October 17, 2012
I hadn't thought about it for decades until I was visiting some friends a few years ago who are growing increasingly paranoid about chemtrails and illuminati and such, and Ross brought out this book that he'd picked up in a second hand shop. I saw the cover and was thrilled. I was about to do some readings from it when he informed me that the book contained the Truth. Being the cowardly custard that I am I stifled my dramatic impulses and quickly turned the conversation to something uncontroversial, but man, what a blast from the past.
posted by h00py at 3:28 AM on October 17, 2012
TOYNBEE IDEA
IN KUbricK's 2001
RESURRECT DEAD
ON PLANET JUPiTER
posted by overeducated_alligator at 5:09 AM on October 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
IN KUbricK's 2001
RESURRECT DEAD
ON PLANET JUPiTER
posted by overeducated_alligator at 5:09 AM on October 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
the book contained the Truth.
THE Truth?
Not just A Truth, some truth, or once you use this book to break a clock the clock will be right at least once a day truth?
Well if it has THE Truth - where is the new-tech kindle addition from Amazon?
posted by rough ashlar at 5:10 AM on October 17, 2012
THE Truth?
Not just A Truth, some truth, or once you use this book to break a clock the clock will be right at least once a day truth?
Well if it has THE Truth - where is the new-tech kindle addition from Amazon?
posted by rough ashlar at 5:10 AM on October 17, 2012
There was a mainstream comic that espoused Neo-tech. Not a great comic, but kind of fascinating.
posted by not_that_epiphanius at 6:15 AM on October 17, 2012
posted by not_that_epiphanius at 6:15 AM on October 17, 2012
Luminiferous Ether? Really? (And why not spell it "Aether" for that prime arcana cachet?) Did he also advise how to balance one's humours, maximize one's phlogiston flow for optimum vitality, and focus on the mind-body connection in the pineal gland to strengthen one's will?
posted by Philofacts at 8:09 AM on October 17, 2012
posted by Philofacts at 8:09 AM on October 17, 2012
We are Scratch. The migrate to electronics movement.
posted by blackfly at 8:46 AM on October 17, 2012
Wow. This is fascinating. Thanks for the post!
posted by brundlefly at 10:16 AM on October 17, 2012
posted by brundlefly at 10:16 AM on October 17, 2012
Man, this is straight out of my Great Woo archives. I recall around 1993 actually meeting a small group of true believers. This is sadly just another pyramid marketing scheme, but the philosophy was so spot on at targeting the early man-children of the 80's and 90's. It's so strange to see the hooks they used back then being rehashed and used again today with other great Woo peddlers.
I miss the innocence of the 80's some times.
posted by daq at 10:28 AM on October 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
I miss the innocence of the 80's some times.
posted by daq at 10:28 AM on October 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
For unbridled, sheer sociopathic venom, nothing can match Poker: A Guaranteed Income For Life. The writer appears to have forsaken his humanity and reverted entirely to the reptile brain. Perhaps unknowingly, though, he did embed at the end the negating critique of his whole premise in a statement something like "Yes, poker can indeed bring you a guaranteed income for life. But you will spend your entire life in the company of losers."
posted by tspae at 11:04 AM on October 17, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by tspae at 11:04 AM on October 17, 2012 [3 favorites]
I remember encountering the neo-tech website back in like 1998 and having a what the fuck moment. Then I saw they were selling a self help book and mystery solved.
posted by clarknova at 8:31 AM on October 19, 2012
posted by clarknova at 8:31 AM on October 19, 2012
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posted by mediocre at 7:06 PM on October 16, 2012 [7 favorites]