FAIR’s European Rescue 2024

[drumdude]

Given that the speakers were accompanied by their spouses, some missionary couples turned up, and someone had to open and close the building they used, I’d suggest we can account for maybe 15 people in the audience at Rome. In that basis, did anyone, ANYONE, independent of the above, actually show up?

If they did, how many Italians knew about the church’s American financial drama? How many looked up independent reporting on it once FAIR let them know there was a problem that isn’t a problem?

[Marcus]

Given that the speakers were accompanied by their spouses, some missionary couples turned up, and someone had to open and close the building they used, I’d suggest we can account for maybe 15 people in the audience at Rome. In that basis, did anyone, ANYONE, independent of the above, actually show up?

And Peterson had only 8 in the picture of his presentation, If I recall correctly. That's not even everyone who got the free 2 week plus vacation.

[Tom]

FAIR’s European Rescue 2024 tour is hitting the fair city of Göteborg tomorrow. I am reliably informed that FAIR made a stop in the same city a few years—err, decades ago and attracted a sizable audience made up of FAIR enthusiasts hailing from Denmark, Norway, Finland, Germany, and even Sweden.

This time, however, will likely be different. Unreliable sources inform me that local church authorities are not exactly excited about the prospect of another visiting troupe of American mopologists with tricks up their sleeves and manuscripts in their briefcases. You see, Swedish church leaders remember or have heard about the disastrous “Swedish Rescue” of a dozen years ago in which the church dispatched two Americans, Elder Marlin Jensen (Church historian) and Elder Richard Turley (assistant Church historian), to stem a tide of apostasy among the Swedish saints. We know how that mission turned out. (Hint: it didn’t.) Swedish church leaders can hardly be faulted, then, for declining to lend their ecclesiastical endorsement to this group of performers.

But tomorrow’s audience will probably be small for several other reasons. First, many Latter-day Saint youth, young adults, middle-aged adults, and seniors living in and near Sweden would rather relax comfortably at home watching Euro 2024 matches than sit for upwards of six hours in uncomfortable pews listening to a series of pedantic lectures from six Americans about how attendees need to develop critical thinking skills and discern reliable sources by feasting on the FAIR wiki and Interpreter articles.

Second, audience members are expected to fork out 150 kr for a fika featuring Postum and cinnamon buns and a Swedish meatball lunch catered by the IKEA in Göteborg.

Third, there are ugly rumors that The Herreys plan to sing “Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley,” plus standards from ABBA and Roxette, during the lunch hour.

And fourth, word has apparently spread that most of the FAIR lectures are repeats that can be watched on YouTube.

It’s essentially a perfect storm that will keep Latter-day Saints away in large numbers.

[Everybody Wang Chung]

I just don't get the low turnout. It seems very hard to justify the cost of flying everyone to Europe to speak to an audience of 5 people. It's starting to look like this whole trip was just an excuse for DCP to waddle around Europe for free.

The low turnout makes me think that these people might not have heard DCP won the Bronze Telly award for Witnesses or that he was given the Lifetime Achievement award by FAIR, twice.

There really should be throngs of adoring fans clamoring to hear his perfect German. I just don't get. I mean, this is Dan Freaking Peterson we are talking about here!

[Gadianton]

And just to clarify, these 'conferences' are 6 hour meetings on a Saturday, on June 1, June 8, and June 15. Did the speakers on these vacations in these conferences go home in the weeks between the 6 hour mtgs? Or are they staying and enjoying Europe?

The way I envisioned it is that most speakers if not all of them will speak one time on their weekend, they would have a paid flight plus paid accommodations for a night or two. So the conference spans three weeks but each participant is only there for a day. That seems to me the frugal way to do it.

[Marcus]

And just to clarify, these 'conferences' are 6 hour meetings on a Saturday, on June 1, June 8, and June 15. Did the speakers on these vacations in these conferences go home in the weeks between the 6 hour mtgs? Or are they staying and enjoying Europe?

The way I envisioned it is that most speakers if not all of them will speak one time on their weekend, they would have a paid flight plus paid accommodations for a night or two. So the conference spans three weeks but each participant is only there for a day. That seems to me the frugal way to do it.

Excellent point. The proprietor's travelogue of blog entries between each Saturday suggests a less frugal approach was taken for him and his companion.

[I Have Questions]

The way I envisioned it is that most speakers if not all of them will speak one time on their weekend, they would have a paid flight plus paid accommodations for a night or two. So the conference spans three weeks but each participant is only there for a day. That seems to me the frugal way to do it.

Excellent point. The proprietor's travelogue of blog entries between each Saturday suggests a less frugal approach was taken for him and his companion.

Peterson has blogged about spending time on visits with Scott Gordon and his wife. So I don’t think they are jetting in and out of Europe for a one night stay for each conference date.

[Gadianton]

Peterson has blogged about spending time on visits with Scott Gordon and his wife. So I don’t think they are jetting in and out of Europe for a one night stay for each conference date.

...you're saying the mention implies Scott is there for the entire conference also? Multiple meetings over multiple days or weeks? I find that hard to believe, to be honest.

[drumdude]

Excellent point. The proprietor's travelogue of blog entries between each Saturday suggests a less frugal approach was taken for him and his companion.

Peterson has blogged about spending time on visits with Scott Gordon and his wife. So I don’t think they are jetting in and out of Europe for a one night stay for each conference date.

The conference is a good excuse to go for a month+ long European vacation and make it look like Dan is still on a self-declared “special senior mission” for the church.

[Marcus]

Peterson has blogged about spending time on visits with Scott Gordon and his wife. So I don’t think they are jetting in and out of Europe for a one night stay for each conference date.

...you're saying the mention implies Scott is there for the entire conference also? Multiple meetings over multiple days or weeks? I find that hard to believe, to be honest.

Ikr??? But...
Monday, June 10

My wife and I went out with Scott Gordon and his wife to the Salzburger Freilichtmuseum — the open-air museum — in Großgmain, not too far outside of Salzburg.

I am shocked. Shocked, I tell you.