[Albion Wilde]

What is the deal with the clams?

I'd like to know, too -- and I don't want to go research it on the Internet in case they send aura-control worms back to my computer.

I mean, look how well L. Ron's theories have worked out for Cruise and Travolta.

[Scoutmaster]

Part of an early book in which Hubbard taught his Scientologist testers how to make a point with 'non-clears' asked them to think of engrams of clams - and how there was a continual battle between the force to open the clam shell and the force to close the clam shell.

He claimed that if a tester would make a tiny 'clam' with their thumb and forefinger and rapidly open and close it, many or most non-clears would react violently at the engram. It would be too disturbing for a non-clear to watch a Scientologist's little finger 'clam' to open and close.

He claimed many non-clears would suffer severe jaw pain from watching, pain that could last several days.

As a result, former Scientologists and those who debunk Scientology refer to Scientologists as 'clams' and a gathering to discuss Scientologists or a website about issues with Scientologists as a 'clambake.'

Scientologists are not humored by being called clams.