ISAC $$$$$$?

[MelissaR]

ISAC is now charging a subscription to the site? Now you must pay money to fight for a cause... that was a shoddy move in my book. I'm slowly beginning to lose trust for ISAC as well. I'm totally confused....I'm pretty close to bowing out of the anti-WWASP confederation, it's all too logistical these days.

[Anonymous]

ISAC is very anti-parent right.  I believe they've taken it over board and are not seeing the big picture.  When you look at activists, most are tunnel visioned and if it isn't their way, it's wrong.

I lost respect for them when I read their report on TB and it was filled with the same garbage as the newspaper, not telling the whole truth, or stating their "opinions" without anything worthwhile to back it up other than a handful of what I've read on this site. Of course, everyone is entitled to their "opinion" but to disguise it as "fact" is going to bring them down...hard.

[Anonymous]

ne happy isac has spent there own time and money into this trajic subject, isac has every right to charge for there much appreciated time and efforts they have put into this. Someone has to pay for there site and what not. They have helped in so many ways and they have made a huge difference in this fight against wwasps abuse.

[Anonymous]

ISAC is the best! Tough to continue without funding. So what if they want $10.00.  If my $10.00 saves a kid, it is the best $10.00 I spent.People that didn't like the TB report, all I can say is the truth hurts.

[Anonymous]

Anon,

I'm curious to know what you would consider the whole story .

Isac isnt interested in the kool aide drinking,brainwashed,tunnel vision parents input.

In the Isac report kids shared their true experiences.I know that information is accurate.

You continually negelct to aknowledge people did experience inhumane treatment at TB. That is true.

If any child had been harmed that is one too many.

As a parent who has spoken with Isac personnel many times I can assure you they are not anti parent. They are kind and understaning.They do not tolerate "treatmnet programs,Speciality schools" that abuse kids behind closed doors in the name of TREATMENT.

Go jump off a bridge. They have one in Montana for you. Close to SCL .Ask Cameron he'll accomadate you.

[anon]

[ This Message was edited by: KarenZ on 2003-10-18 13:50 ]

[Anonymous]

I went to the their site today and it didn't cost me anything.   Maybe I just missed it or Melissa did.

[MelissaR]

You can't access anything without paying a login fee. For being a kid, and being responsible for my own credit card, I can't risk putting it into the computer. And yah, like Deb said...this  definitely makes me distrust ISAC, why are they a profiteering organization? Fornits isn't, and they generate a lot of assistance for people. To tell you the honest truth I thought it was nice that there was an non-profit organization backing this up, generated purely on the support of it's members. ISAC has now misrepresented themselves. But now that I think about it, what does ISAC do anyway? They have no way of routing people to communicate with eachother and get eachothers opinions, they simply generate propaganda. Unfortunately, the same type of propaganda WWASP uses to promote their programs. I thought the TB report was good and  I don't discredit that at all, but that is probably the only semi-adequate source of information I've seen from ISAC. Furthermore, to be perfectly honest, ISAC has so little credibility at this point that the TB transcript was obviously not taken seriously. Based simply on what was in that document, if it was taken seriously, I believe the US and Jamaican government would be forced to launch a full investigation....pretty much all I've seen happen is people reading it and saying "Oh, that's nice, GO ISAC..." Alas, to the government, ISAC is not a credible organization so they're not acknowledged. I think I'm going to stick to Amnesty International.

[Anonymous]

It's costing ISAC money to run their service.  Websites get charged based on the traffic they generate.  If ISAC is getting overwhelmed by freeloaders, it's *reasonable* for them to ask for a *small* fee---and $10 is small---to cover their webhosting expenses.

When I talked to Shelby about a school I was concerned about, she took the time to run down a former employee of it for me---she didn't owe me anything, but she helped.

If they provide services to those outside their own dues paying (if they charge dues) membership, then they have a right to charge.

Anyone who would consider charging $10 for that to be "money grubbing" would come across to me as being being spoiled and whiny.

This doesn't look like greed to me.  This looks like an attempt to weed out website hits (and thus costs) to screen casual visitors out from serious ones so they can either cut their ISP fees *or* cover the costs for all the site traffic.

Bandwidth ain't free.

[anon]

[ This Message was edited by: KarenZ on 2003-10-18 13:51 ]

[MelissaR]

I'm confused as to why being concerned about the credit I am responsible for is being "spoiled and whiny" to you. I have a job, I make my own money, and if my credit goes down the toilet, it will affect me for the rest of my life. I just think that organizations like ISAC should be doing a service free of charge. I would be more than happy to make a *donation* for the cause, but seeing as I don't have a child I am considering placing a program, at $10.00, their services are useless to me. It's not even so much the $10.00 that bothers me, it could be $10.00 or $100,000.00.... I just think the principle behind it is not okay, seeing as they are not even a very credible organization at this point. What about weary parents that are on the brink of sending their teens...grimacing at the 30 grand already down the shitter? They're not going to take the time and money to question their decisions. It was simply a bad move on ISAC's behalf.

[ISAC]

Our site is currently free as their is "guest" account set up. There has been for over a week. We will be charging as ISAC spends hundreds of hours a week working, thousands of dollars in mail outs, phone bills, internet access, website fees and more. This requires us to charge a small fee as it is difficult for survivors to continue to fund ISAC fully.
All information that parents need to get information on a program will ALWAYS be free.
We currently have saved over eighty children however, it does cost money to run ISAC.
We also offer ANYONE that if they can not afford the ten dollars to email us and we will give them access if they can not afford it.
ISAC works closely with as many parents as possiable.

[Anonymous]

On 2003-09-21 16:51:00, MelissaR wrote:

"I'm confused as to why being concerned about the credit I am responsible for is being "spoiled and whiny" to you. I have a job, I make my own money, and if my credit goes down the toilet, it will affect me for the rest of my life. I just think that organizations like ISAC should be doing a service free of charge. I would be more than happy to make a *donation* for the cause, but seeing as I don't have a child I am considering placing a program, at $10.00, their services are useless to me. It's not even so much the $10.00 that bothers me, it could be $10.00 or $100,000.00.... I just think the principle behind it is not okay, seeing as they are not even a very credible organization at this point. What about weary parents that are on the brink of sending their teens...grimacing at the 30 grand already down the shitter? They're not going to take the time and money to question their decisions. It was simply a bad move on ISAC's behalf."

Melissa, it's obvious from your comments about Ryan F. and here about ISAC that you have real "issues" with the whole concept of money to the point that you consider even charging to cover *part* of costs incurred in providing a service to be immoral "money grubbing."

I think you should seriously consider whether when you air those personal "issues" to bash people that are actually doing something concrete and positive to help stop child abuse by the teen help industry that you are doing more harm than good.

When your personal "issues" start getting in the way of people who are actually getting the job done, it's time to consider whether a particular gripe is just you and airing it is counterproductive.

The idea that everyone has to tell everyone else every nasty thought that wanders through their mind is the tool of the Programs.  In real life, some things are just better left unsaid.

Your criticisms of people who aren't engaging in any kind of fraud, and are charging amounts that bear a reasonable relationship to the cost of providing the service, for "money grubbing" are some of those things better left unsaid, because it's destructive, not constructive.

[Anonymous]

On 2003-09-21 15:53:00, KarenZ wrote:

"I agree they are doing a good job at what they do.

This is why I have so often refered to them. I myself don't think there is any attempt here to profit; and I understand cost are involved.

I'm just consirned with how it might look to others - others being the post program students I send there.

I don't feel comfertable sending them to a site were they have to pay to log on.

There are Some who might go so far as to claim I'm profiting from it if I did!

I feel a little discouraged by this; but imagian it'll some how work out for the better.

They are good people at ISAC, and I imagian they know what their doing; but personally, I regret it.

"

Well, when you refer a post program student there, you can tell them up front that if they can't afford the $10 they can write and tell ISAC so and ISAC will waive the fee---which is what they just said in another post, and which is mighty decent of them.

It sounds to me like they're just trying to cover some of their costs so they don't have to cut back on services.  Given the good work they do, and given that they'll waive the fee in cases of financial need, it seems to me like they're making the best choice they can.

[Anonymous]

Karen wrote: Mom and Dad might not be so keen on helping out, ya know?

What does that mean?   :wink: