Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > Synanon

Where are the Synanon Ex-Members?

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Antigen:
Yeah, the Elan site is like that. The just go about effecting the bum's rush a little differently. Ok, very differently! But it's about the same game at the root of it.

There's another good book, the Tunnel Back, that I just passed along. Can't remember too much of the content as it's been years since I read it, but it did give me some affirmation about the commonalities I thought I might be just imagining.

Oz girl:
What books have been written on Synanon

Antigen:
Book? Magazine? DVD?

Amazon Synanon links

Ursus:
Oh, my goodness!

From the Synanon website, History section, 1963:
# San Diego house opens
# IRS audit upholds tax exempt status
# First dissipation - hosted by Chuck & Betty in San Diego
# Milt Cooper donates hot stamping machinge (start of ADGAP).
# Betty and CED marry

And here is what I found, when I googled "Adgap":

http://www.adgap.com/particulars/history.html

The gift of a rickety pencil hot-stamping machine sparked the birth of AdGap in 1964.

We got our start in 1958 selling imprinted pencils to small business in order to support the works of a nonprofit community. From these unlikely roots, we evolved into a leading provider of integrated marketing solutions to Fortune 100 firms.

In 2002, we merged with Newton Manufacturing Company, one of the largest, oldest, and most respected promotional products distributors in the Nation. This has enabled AdGap to serve it's clients with even more resources.

Located in central Iowa, Newton Manufacturing Company was established in 1909 as a manufacturer of promotional products. We employ over 150 people who provide innovative marketing support, state-of-the-art technologies and premier service programs for nearly 800 sales representatives located in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Newton Manufacturing Company is an employee-owned organization where each employee-owner has a vested interest in building our success by achieving your goals. www.newtonmfg.com

AdGap's principal offices are in the San Diego, California area.

Antigen:
there's method to it, though. I was looking around for a place to bury a copy of this where it won't be very deeply buried, if ya know what I mean. It's just the best telling of such a common story that I don't want it to get lost.

Anyway, I came across this question and thought Anne's condensed life story offers one answer to the op's question. Where are they now? Taking over the world 10 - 50 thousand families at a time.


--- Quote from: ""Anne Bonney"" ---
Thanks for the kind words, it's a little embarrassing to talk about my pain to someone who's lost a child.  I cannot fathom that.

Yes, I was forced into Straight in the early 80's.  They told me that if I signed myself in (this was after an 6 hour 'intake' in a small room surrounded by and being berated, shamed and belittled by other kids in program and staffers) I would only have to stay for a 2 week evaluation, but if I didn't my parents would have me court ordered for 2 years (a lie, they couldn't).  I ended up there 2 years.  The first 8 months were spent on "1st phase", shuffling from 'host home' to host home because I had to earn the "privilege" of returning to my home and my parents.  I made it up to 2nd phase and was set back to 1st phase shortly after for some insignificant rule infraction, real or manifested by them.  I eventually made it up to 4th phase and someone decided I wasn't "shining" anymore, so therefor I must be dishonest and hiding something.  I wasn't and said so.  I was tired.  I got virtually no sleep day after day after day.  Well, that means I'm in denial so the whole group confronted me for a few hours, spitting in my face, calling me a slut, loser, whore, bitch, cunt and whatever else they could hurl in my direction.  They started me over and that means started over.  I eventually began to 'progress' again and just did whatever I had to to get out.

After I got out it, I was required to go to 'aftercare'.  That lasted for about 2 months, and I did something wrong (again, some minor infraction of meaningless rules) and was 'terminated' from the 7th Step Society (the aftercare group).  No one was allowed to speak to me from then on.  Taht would have been great, but I started dating another 'termination', got pregnant (within 4 months of 'graduating').  I was pressured to either have an abortion or get married.  Pressure meaning that Dad followed Straight's advice adn pulled the 'tough love' crap.  I got married, had a baby, had another and decided to get a divorce.  I ddin't like being slapped around by a cokehead.  But....I was (((GASP))) drinking and smoking the occasional joint.  My dad and my ex's parents hired lawyers (Dad got one on the board of Straight) and took my kids.  Remember, I was trying to get out of an abusive situation, clear my head up, get my life together and when I asked for help I was given the 'tough love' speech.  The grandparents couldn't decide who would make the better temp parents, so they split up my girls.

I got them back 3 long years later (it was really difficult being on my own w/ no resources being up against my "dx" from Straight and THEIR lawyers), the grandparents continued to occasionally either take the kids again for some small infraction (like drinking) or threaten to do so.  during this time my ex husband had gotten a DUI manslaughter charge, went to prison, got out and joined AA.  He, off and on when he wasn't coked out, would clean himself up, go to AA, become the golden boy in the judges eyes (for the simple fact that he was in AA, even though eh was in and out and constantly 'relapsing').  I had a therapist tell me once that I lived in a constant and acute state of fear for almost 20 years.  It wasn't until my kids were old enough taht the grandparents and my ex lost power that I really began to heal.


Whew.  Sorry if that was long and repetitive for those who already know what happened to me.
--- End quote ---

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