Radio Inside Scoop

[Helena Handbasket]

Though the programs were named as adolescent drug rehabs, it is my understanding that one hit off a joint, or one drink of alcohol was enough for someone to enter.  There were NO drugs available while you were in the program, so that is NOT what was addressed mostly.  The issues that WERE addressed (mostly) were attitude, self-esteem, identifying feelings, owning up to actions, taking responsibilities and communicating productively.  Drugs were a symptom of the problem.  The HEART of the problem was what started kids to the path of wanting to drink or use (those issues listed above).

You sound EXACTLY like someone else I talked to from LIFE.  

Is this why every introduction began with "Hi, I'm Sara, and my drug list is... "

Is this why every pre-open meeting, people would come around polling you for additions to your drug list and any stashes to report?  

Is this why you even use the phrase to this day "when I was using"?

Because the main focus wasn't drugs?

Ok, the short form of my story - no drugs... EVER.  No problems communicating, no problem with self esteem or motivation.  Honor roll, two jobs, volunteer work.  Got it?

Staff didn't.  Wanna explain?

I never stated that kids weren't restrained.  I did see that. But never for fun, only for the safety of those around them.  Many kids were full of anger and rage, and it wasn't uncommen for them to bust on someone next to them.  You bet your ass I'm gonna grab an arm  or leg of someone next to me raging, than to get hit, kicked or let them do that to anyone else.  

Why not just get outta the way and let 'em go?  If they wanted out so badly - why couldn't they leave?  Why couldn't they make a phone call.  You gotta wonder why those "ragers" felt so strongly about getting the hell outta there.

And who gave you the authority to restrain a minor child?

Who gave LIFE the power to hold minor children hostage without due process?

And who gave people on either side of me authority to hold my hair back and flap my arms around?  I was just sitting there - minding my own business.  Explain that.

I did not enjoy standing up and talking about the crap I pulled at home, the stupid things I did when using, and how low my self esteem was from the beginning, BUT I'm SO glad I did.  I can remember standing up on 1st phase and the staff working on gettig me to bring out my VERY muffled anger (contstructively).  They had others mimick me, and it WORKED.  I eventually allowed myself to EXPRESS my REAL thoughts and angry feelings.  It was a turning point for me.  It boosted my self confidence and I learned to not worry about how others thought so much, but to be honest with MY feelings.

I don't get it.  What does this have to do with the real world?

When you're on the job, and you have a customer/client/whomever "raging" in your face, as they sometimes do (Yes, I'm being hypothetical - but I deal with the public, so I stick to what I know), do you restrain them and mimick them and use the tactics you were taught in the program?

  Once I got down to the root of some issues within my self, it was uphill from there.  I had a SHORT drug list, but plenty of irresponsible and negative attitudes and behaviors to deal with. THAT's what was discussed in raps. How to improve with actions, and thoughts (M.I.'s and R.S.A.'s).

  I learned humility, appreciation, respect, resonsibility, self control... and the list goes on.  Had my parents asked me if I'd LIKE to go work on myself through day in and day out counseling for the next year, I would have NEVER said yes. Never.  Do I now wish I hadn't gone through it?? No.

How is it that every other kid learns this stuff through their parents or on their own??

I'll tell ya what - in plain english - my custodial parent was and is a TOTAL fuckup.  So assuming I learned nothing in LIFE (which I've been accused of, and I will GLADLY accept!) and I didn't get it at home - how in the hell do ya think I pulled it off?

I had a friend who got into depper trouble than I did, after I entered the program.  Her name was in the paper while I was in the program, for Burglery.  My parents reconnected with her mom and told her if my big improvements since entering the program.  Her mom did not bring her daughter to the program. A couple years after I finsihed the program, my friend's mug shots were on the fron of the local section of the paper.  Murdered (stabbed to death) and left on the side of the road.  I've always wondered if things would have been different... maybe.  

I had a friend of mine jumped and beaten to pulp while leaving a football stadium.  You mean to tell me that if he'd worked some kind of program this wouldn't have happened??

  As for parenst dropping their kids off, well that COULD have happened IF you were an out-of-towner.  However, if you lived IN area, it was a HUGE committment as a family to be in the program, and rules had to be followed.  I know my family committed, and were a "host home" for about 1 year.  Kids stayed with us almost EVERY NIGHT.  I had one friend who was a "permanent foster sister" (as we called them) from the other coast.  We are good friends today (20 yrs later).  We were at each others weddings and our kids play together.  Her parents and my parents stay in touch, and our dads play golf together sometimes.  That's a lot of years of good memories.  Doubt our paths would have ever crossed without the program.  I thankful that they did.  So, those parents who were TRULEY concerned and committed, reaped success from the program.


  Parents who couldn't abide were called and the child was terminated from the program. I saw it happen several times.  The program wouldn't work if the family did not work on themselves as well.  Some parents pulled their kids when it became too much committment for them.  I saw that happen many times too.

Mmmmmkay... glad you guys are so close.

Back to the facts.  I lived in Sarasota.  My mother was excused from many things because she a single parent who worked two jobs in a respected profession (where do you think she got HER drugs from? :smile: )  

Therefore, it was already decided that we would not be a host home.  In fact, when I finally won the Oscar to 2nd phase, I was fostered out for a week.

On my return home, I was informed that I didn't have to go back... not that I would have anyway. (see, after three drinks,  she'd be out cold, and I was to be on my way to the bus station)

Anyhoooooo... tell me why for AT LEAST a week - (somehow I think it was two, because at some point I figured it was safe to answer the phone, and it wasn't)  someone called demanding I return to the program?  Hell, one of those calls from a senior staff member - was a direct threat to come get me!  

Explain THAT.

[Anonymous]

lol.   seems as though I've struck a NERVE.  Talk about SNAP OUT OF IT?  Life is good and there was no abuse, torture, or mis treatment at the program I was in.  Again, that goes SO against your cause that I would EXPECT you to pick apart my previous post and attack/question/twist every angle.  WHO are the ones OBSESSED with the program and it ways MANY years later?  (I've posted here maybe 4 times, compared to HOW MANY Antigen?  Helena? For how many YEARS??)
  You wanted me to answer, I did.  I do not feel compelled to have to further explain myself or my experience.  It is what it is.  You feel YOUR way, and I'll feel mine.
  Just do a CHECK that what you're REALLY trying to accomplish in your plight is GOOD for the wrold and not REVENGE and rage on people from the past.  It's a DEAD end road.

[Anonymous]

Not when it's still going on to this day.  I'll fight til I haven't a breath left in my body to help ensure that another kid doesn't have to go through what I did.  I'l STILL recovering!!!!

[Anonymous]

The issues that WERE addressed (mostly) were attitude, self-esteem, identifying feelings, owning up to actions, taking responsibilities and communicating productively. Drugs were a symptom of the problem. The HEART of the problem was what started kids to the path of wanting to drink or use (those issues listed above).

Same shit, different wrappper.  You'd better put your kid in here b/c he/she is a DRY DRUGGIE!!!   Fuck!!  Any kid with an attitude problem (the majority of kids) would be considered a 'dry druggie' in need of LIFE's help or they'd end up DEADINSANEORINJAIL.  Fucking AMAZING!!!  Exactly when did these people develop the skill of reading minds and being able to see into the future?  :lol:

[Helena Handbasket]

On 2005-11-16 06:49:00, Anonymous wrote:

"

lol.   seems as though I've struck a NERVE.  Talk about SNAP OUT OF IT?  Life is good and there was no abuse, torture, or mis treatment at the program I was in.  Again, that goes SO against your cause that I would EXPECT you to pick apart my previous post and attack/question/twist every angle.  WHO are the ones OBSESSED with the program and it ways MANY years later?  (I've posted here maybe 4 times, compared to HOW MANY Antigen?  Helena? For how many YEARS??)

  You wanted me to answer, I did.  I do not feel compelled to have to further explain myself or my experience.  It is what it is.  You feel YOUR way, and I'll feel mine.

  Just do a CHECK that what you're REALLY trying to accomplish in your plight is GOOD for the wrold and not REVENGE and rage on people from the past.  It's a DEAD end road."

Funny how you came to love the confrontation in the Rap Room .  But this is real life, babydoll.  People want answers.

Love ya staffer, have a seat.  Let's have a song :lol:[ This Message was edited by: Helena Handbasket on 2005-11-16 08:04 ]

[Nihilanthic]

On 2005-11-16 06:49:00, Anonymous wrote:

"

lol. seems as though I've struck a NERVE. Talk about SNAP OUT OF IT? Life is good and there was no abuse, torture, or mis treatment at the program I was in. Again, that goes SO against your cause that I would EXPECT you to pick apart my previous post and attack/question/twist every angle. WHO are the ones OBSESSED with the program and it ways MANY years later? (I've posted here maybe 4 times, compared to HOW MANY Antigen? Helena? For how many YEARS??)

You wanted me to answer, I did. I do not feel compelled to have to further explain myself or my experience. It is what it is. You feel YOUR way, and I'll feel mine.

Just do a CHECK that what you're REALLY trying to accomplish in your plight is GOOD for the wrold and not REVENGE and rage on people from the past. It's a DEAD end road."

Ah, doing it again I see... were you trained to pull these antics or did you just learn them by having it done to you in the program so much?  :wave: NIIIICE Try. But Im not letting you get away with it. You have to confront YOUR issues, which is you cant accept that what you feel the truth is, is infact, not true, not because Im going to "CONFRONT" you about it, but because its about the truth.

On your OWN time you should go see a psychologist about your SEVERE cognitive dissonance and your habit of either changing the subject or attacking the person who just discredited what you had to say instead of admitting youre wrong.

you Momma is a big fat's ________
--Leroy Brown

[Antigen]

Did you guys do TR at LIFE? (timeout room)

Let me explain what that is. Say a kid is an oldcomer when they get confronted for some thought crime or other. First, they get a setback. If they let slip any anger or frustration about it, they're deemed a misbehaver. Once that happens, sometimes staff would pull from their bag of nasty tricks "Who wants to take Lucy to TR?" Arms flail, the group is worked up into a vindictive lather, eager to help Lucy see the light!

Several people are chosen to take Lucy to one of the TR rooms, where they scream in her face, poke her in the chest, demand confession and contrition, etc. If that doesn't produce a convincing faccimili of true remourse and gratitude, it escalates, often resulting in broken bones, bruises and other semi-serious injury. This can go on for hours and days and sometimes include things like forcing the misbehaver to stand 24/7 w/o sleep, adequate food, water or bathroom breaks because they have an endless supply of fresh phasers to tag team her.

Did you ever see that happen in LIFE?

I've heard about Petermen's fetish for pulling little girls around by the hair. I wonder if she got that from Virgil or the other way around or if it was just coincidence. Anybody care to describe that scene in some detail?

Sue, you can sit this one out since you never saw any of that.

Oh, and thanks for you kind concern for my mental and emotional wellbeing. But you need not trouble yourself. I'm quite healthy and happy these days.

At present there is not a single credible established religion in the world.
--George Bernard Shaw, Irish-born English playwright

[Anonymous]

How did LIFE manage a film crew in and out for a full year (early 80's) to do a full length documentary for 4 teens going through the program, without encountering all this abuse you speak of??

  Can't wait to hear what you come up for for this one.

[Helena Handbasket]

Ya know - I honestly can't remember.  I don't recall that scene, exactly, and I don't think there was a specific room.  However, I do know that runners were grilled for hours in the "Intake Room".  

If someone attempted to run, or misbehaved in some way to warrant a "takedown", they were first secured in the back of the Rap Room, and that would be a cue for the rest of the group to sing Disney's happy song.  If you chose not to sing Zip-a-dee-Do-Da, you still couldn't look at the action, and if you tried to, your head was forcefully turned forward.

After the misbehaving druggie was subdued, they were marched out of the rap room, sometimes for hours, or the next day, always looking worse for wear.

I saw Petermann yank a newcomer guy by the hair once.  See, when she entered the room, it was akin to an "Officer on the Bridge" - everyone sat up all nice and (koff) Straight, and waited for her to speak first.  

This poor latino kid wasn't there very long and probably didn't know this - he was hunched forward in the crash position.  When Helen saw that he didn't sit up at attention, she turned on her heels, marched back to the appropriate row and reached across the person sitting on the end to yank his head up.  

If memory serves me correctly, she also gave a lecture to the oldcomers about their responsibility to enforce newcomer behavior.

Such vanity!

[Antigen]

On 2005-11-16 10:41:00, Anonymous wrote:

"  How did LIFE manage a film crew in and out for a full year (early 80's) to do a full length documentary for 4 teens going through the program, without encountering all this abuse you speak of??



  Can't wait to hear what you come up for for this one."

Oh, ya got us! We're busted!  :rofl:

Uh, same way Straight did for Nancy Reagan, Princess Di, the 60 Minutes crew, etc? How do you think they pulled it off w/ "Brat Camp"? Do you really think Sage Walk is that tame when the cameras are not around?

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to put on a little dog and pony show. Especially if the "documentary" people are inclined to put forth a slanted portrayal. What documentary are you talking about? Who was the producer? Do you remember?

On the dogmas of religion, as distinguished from moral principles, all mankind, from the beginning of the world to this day, have been quarreling, fighting, burning and torturing one another for abstractions unintelligible to themselves and to all others, and absolutely beyond the comprehension of the human mind.
--Thomas Jefferson, U.S. President, author, scientist, architect, educator, and diplomat

[Antigen]

On 2005-11-16 11:03:00, Helena Handbasket wrote:

If someone attempted to run, or misbehaved in some way to warrant a "takedown", they were first secured in the back of the Rap Room, and that would be a cue for the rest of the group to sing Disney's happy song. If you chose not to sing Zip-a-dee-Do-Da, you still couldn't look at the action, and if you tried to, your head was forcefully turned forward.

Sue, did you not wittness or participate in this sort of thing? Or do you just not recognize it as abusive?

G:   "If we do happen to step on a mine, Sir, what do we do?"
EB:  "Normal procedure, Lieutenant, is to jump 200 feet in the air and scatter oneself over a wide area."
-- Somewhere in No Man's Land, BA4

[Nihilanthic]

On 2005-11-16 10:41:00, Anonymous wrote:

"  How did LIFE manage a film crew in and out for a full year (early 80's) to do a full length documentary for 4 teens going through the program, without encountering all this abuse you speak of??



  Can't wait to hear what you come up for for this one."

Hey, how about some proof it even exists? And on top of that, how about you actually find a way to show it to us.

The Christian God can be easily pictured as virtually the same as the many ancient gods of past civilizations. The Christian god is a three headed monster; cruel, evil and capricious. If one wishes to know more of this raging, three headed, beast-like god, one only needs to look at the caliber of the people who say they serve him. The are always of two classes: fools and hypocrites.
--Thomas Jefferson, U.S. President, author, scientist, architect, educator, and diplomat

[Helena Handbasket]

On 2005-11-16 10:41:00, Anonymous wrote:

"  How did LIFE manage a film crew in and out for a full year (early 80's) to do a full length documentary for 4 teens going through the program, without encountering all this abuse you speak of??



  Can't wait to hear what you come up for for this one."

A documentary exists?  From what year?  Who did it?  Where is it?

Short answer:  Aren't you putting your best face on when there's a camera in the room?

Long answer:  Consider nursing home abuse.    Nursing homes are inspected by the state.   Every so often, you hear about a really horrible case that makes the news, yet if you check the history  of the yearly inspections, they have "Superior" ratings.  How is this?

About a month before the inspection, which lasts a maybe a week, there's a huge meeting involving everyone from the Administrator to the ladies who fold the sheets.  People are required to come in even if it's their day off.  

Everyone's told "It's JHACO Time again people... and you know what that means!"

Yes... this means it's inspection time, and you can't get away with barely enough people to provide patient care.  So, when you usually have 2 licensed staff on the floor, when the Inspectors come in, you have 3 or 4.  The normally stressed-out assistant team of 4 is now increased to 6 or 7.  

They start scruitinizing patient charts. If they find things out of place, the nursing staff is instructed to go back and write something, and sign their initials ... just try to be careful not to write in a day you had off.

For that week, the patients get Cadillac care.  Every call bell gets answered, every request gets met, and every employee is relieved that they don't have to kill themselves to get the job done.

So when the inspectors leave, they hand out highest honors to a place where, eleven months out of the year, the patients are laying in their excrement for hours becuase the owning corporation refuses to book enough staff per day to take care of the demand, and the staff morale is so rotten, they don't even resemble the compassionate human beings that they're supposed to be anymore.

Get the picture yet?

[Anonymous]

lol  Like I said, I couldn't wait to hear what you'd come up with for that one.  (enjoyable)

  Yes, a long-term documentary was filmed there (I was present during part of it).  Filming during raps, private one-on-one's, family condferences, an 18 yr old who wanted to pull himself from the program but decided against it, stayed and graduated, host homes, open meetings, everything.

  Yes, I know the producer's name, the year it was made AND that he received an EMMY for it - I even OWN a copy. (Oh, and this man and company had NO relatives in the program, in case you were going to assume it was a parent trying to warp what happened there.)

  Will I pass it along to you?  I think not.  Lord only knows what kind of pathetic things you'd do with it (probably edit it to somehow SUIT your needs).  Why should I do anyone here any favors?  No thanks.

  So, get those investigative hats on and start your search.  Could be FUN for you!

[Antigen]

On 2005-11-16 15:57:00, Anonymous wrote:

Yes, I know the producer's name, the year it was made AND that he received an EMMY for it - I even OWN a copy. (Oh, and this man and company had NO relatives in the program, in case you were going to assume it was a parent trying to warp what happened there.)

 :rofl:  :rofl:  :rofl:

Yeah, that's the reason.... suuuurrreeee!

Men seldom, or rather never for a length of time, and deliberately, rebel against anything that does not deserve rebelling against.

--Thomas Carlyle