On 2003-05-31 15:13:00, Anonymous wrote:
"Being "Armed" held onto is a restraint. Clients have been tackled when trying to leave the facility. Confrontational therapy is abuse. Being made to feel ashamed, guilty, humiliated in front of others. The clients do abuse each other with insults. Prohibiting communication between client and family is abusive. No privacy when going to the bathroom is abusive. denying them a phone is abusive. The place is a fire trap with only one exit."
Look, friend, no need to even go into it on this level. Just take a breath and then take a look at some of the vicious attacks on Ryan that some of the proud graduates have made.
For those of you readers who were never in this cult, let me explain to you a little bit about what's going on behind the scenes here. Just months ago, these very same people who are tossing around these harsh insults toward Ryan were his best and only friends in the whole world.
Not that the kid ever had a hard time making friends. I've never even met him so I have no way of even guessing one way or the other aside from how he conducts himself here. And, frankly, if I were the medeling type, I might be looking to introduce him to my daughter based on that.
The reason why Ryan had not a friend in the world outside the Program is because it's against the rules to even smile at anyone other than other cult members. Getting busted having a meaningful conversation or corespondence with anyone, even family, who the staff has not given a member permission to talk to could land the kid back on first phase.
If Ryan had never said a word and not withdrawn from the cult (never dissented, in other words), right now these same people would very likely be gushing with teary eyes about how much they love him and respect him and look up to him for being SUCH a GOOD example to them. But expressing any kind of dissent is an unforgivable crime in this cult, as in any other.
The kinds of insults and cruel shots at what these people know to be this kid's most tender spots are nothing compared to what they'd be saying and doing to him if they could get their hands on him in Group. Here, there's a limit to what people will put up with. Inside, there's no escape and just about no limit to how kids will take out their agression on other kids, especially when the allegedly responsible adults are gleefully egging them on.
Think Lord of the Flies. Then think again about whether this is the right program for your son.
A drug is neither moral nor immoral - it's a chemical compound. The compound itself is not a menace to society until a human being treats it as if consumption bestowed a temporary license to act like an asshole.
--Frank Zappa
