facts on ALA

[Antigen]

If you hire a hit man to come kill me, please hire a good one. I wouldn't want some unprofessional slack to do a half assed job nor some sadistic sob who will torture me before finishing the job.

There are good ones and there are bad ones. But they're all in the same business, aren't they?

Thought that is silenced is always rebellious. Majorities, of course, are often mistaken. This is why the silencing of minorities is necessarily dangerous. Criticism and dissent are the indispensable antidote to major delusions.
--  ALAN BARTH, The Loyalty of Free Men, 1951.

[Anonymous]

But be fair -
the situation is not as dire as all that!

I have given this a lot of thought and I still maitain -
There are kids who do really need some kind of long term type of intervention. Some of them need to be escorted. In fact, if they don't need some kind of pressure applied to get them there; I'd guestion the need to send them.
However, as you so elliquently point out; abuse can and does take place; and this is appalling in the extream.
So - for me the question has become -
Can programs and escorts be regulated and legislated in an effective mannor to make this far less likely?
That is my present hope.

[Anonymous]

I am puzzled at the posting of the Strawn account on this thread. It has its own thread; as well as one other also devoted to the subject.
I suppose your slinging mud at ALA due to the occassional use of escorts? (thats all of Tara you'll ever get!!)
Do you have info on ALA ever using Strawn?
I do a little doubt it.
I think wwasp keeps him busy.
I don't understand this narrow minded view that if one is 'bad' all must be; weather we're talking about escorts or programs or dogs - whatever.
I understand the emotions behind the inclination; but surely your intellect suggests otherwise?

Posting about Strawn under this link is very appropriate.  Karen who supports and advocates "ALA" and "help your teens" used Strawn and his services.  Those who want to know about ALA and those who may have relied on the "wisdom" of Karen and her experience should know that she does not really have very good judgement when it comes to the care of their teens, much less her own teen.

And by the way, all programs are bad.  Why?  They are far to risky.    Why are they too riskiy?There are many reasons.  Two name only two, two that are reason enough, because they are unregulated and because they imprision minors without due process.  Many parents claim to put there kids in these programs because the child is engaging in risky behavior. They see and read in the media about other teens who overdose or who are killed in car accidents as a result of their risky behavior.  So they tell themselves they are saving their child from that risk.  Well any parent who puts their child in a program is putting their child at risk.  We read about children in programs being hurt and dying as well.  Parents who risk their childs life to save their child life is a hypocrit at the very least.

One more thing, that article on Strawn, it blew me away when I read the childs curfew hours.  His parents were wacko.  The kid did not have a problem, his parents did.  And look who is paying the price.

[Anonymous]

Karen, when are you going to figure out that you are part of the problem, not the solution? Please, find another "higher purpose", one that does not merge the gospel with tormenting kids.

 :roll:

[Anonymous]

On 2004-06-26 05:46:00, Anonymous wrote:

"I am puzzled at the posting of the Strawn account on this thread. It has its own thread; as well as one other also devoted to the subject.

I suppose your slinging mud at ALA due to the occassional use of escorts? (thats all of Tara you'll ever get!!)

Do you have info on ALA ever using Strawn?

I do a little doubt it.

I think wwasp keeps him busy.

I don't understand this narrow minded view that if one is 'bad' all must be; weather we're talking about escorts or programs or dogs - whatever.

I understand the emotions behind the inclination; but surely your intellect suggests otherwise? "

OMG, the RED EARTH OF TARA? Karen, have you completely lost your mind?  We're talking about an industry where kids are at risk of being manipulated, brainwashed, abducted, physically restrained, raped, beaten, sleep deprived, drugged, starved, and other horrible forms of maltreatment (including being exploited by greedy program recruiters) while you talk in riddles and shamelessly promote programs and escorts as being God's gift to humanity.

[Antigen]

On 2004-06-26 09:54:00, Anonymous wrote:

There are kids who do really need some kind of long term type of intervention.
...
So - for me the question has become -
Can programs and escorts be regulated and legislated in an effective mannor to make this far less likely?
That is my present hope.

You're asking the wrong question. Are there kids who need what you describe as long term intervention? What, exactly, is this intervention? How does it work? Why does it work? Does it really work? Are there side effects?

What, exactly, are the risks and do they outweigh the risks of letting the kid grow up w/o the forced behavior mod? Do you know any of this? Have you any more reson to recomend forced behavior modification than Washington's doctors had for administering leaches?

The most fundamental fact about the ideas of the political left is that they do not work. Therefore we should not be surprised to find the left concentrated in institutions where ideas do not have to work in order to survive.


--Thomas Sowell

[Anonymous]

Its not a riddle my friend. Its meant to convey a message to one person and one person only and I feel confident they will understand the message.

I know Ginger. I know.
But what then is a parent with a kid who is really in trouble with drugs or whatever supposed to do?
I can't go along with you on "Nothing", and the short term out patient options are well known to be useless. . .
So what's a parent who feels it is their responsibility to do something, supposed to do?
And please save me the platitudes about "talk with them; spend time with them". Parents in this situation have been there and done that. It isn't working.

You, you other anon, know full well I have herd all that before ( How you do go on )and I couldn't care less. Your opinion is worse than useless as far as I'm concerned.

[Anonymous]

But what then is a parent with a kid who is really in trouble with drugs or whatever supposed to do?

If you are a parent who advocates putting children in risky programs, then I doubt your ability to judge whether or not a kid truely is in trouble with drugs.  Obviously your judgement sucks.

[Anonymous]

Yes, Anon, sometimes my judgement sucks.
I have made grave mistakes.
I have regrets.
I do what I'm able to rectify the situation.
How 'bout yourself?

[Anonymous]

Are there any programs this guy Strawn won't transport kids to?  If so, which ones?

[Anonymous]

If you hire a hit man to come kill me, please hire a good one. I wouldn't want some unprofessional slack to do a half assed job nor some sadistic sob who will torture me before finishing the job. There are good ones and there are bad ones. But they're all in the same business, aren't they?

Ain't that the truth! Personally, I think every teenager in America should hand-cuff themselves to their beds at night.  At least that way, the abductors-for-hire would have to actually work to earn their $2k salary and the parents would be so stressed out by all the chaos that they might have a heart attack.

 :smokin:

[Anonymous]

I do what I'm able to rectify the situation.

Are you still putting your stamp of approval on some programs?  Even given your mistakes and your bad choices?  Are you still claiming to be an expert on which programs are "good" and which programs are "bad"?

How 'bout yourself?

What are you talking about with that remark?  Could you please clarify what 'bout" myself your are getting at?

[Anonymous]

and the parents would be so stressed out by all the chaos that they might have a heart attack.

 :lol:  :lol:

[Anonymous]

Ginger, be fair - I don't claim to be an expert on anything. I have had various experainces; some good and some bad; which I hope I have learned from. I try to make  dicisions based on this.
I'm sure I will continue to make mistakes; and I hope continue to learn from them.
How 'bout yourself?
:wink:

[Antigen]

On 2004-06-26 16:31:00, Anonymous wrote:

"

I know Ginger. I know.

But what then is a parent with a kid who is really in trouble with drugs or whatever supposed to do?

Grow up and realize that there simply isn't any magical mystery cure for a difficult adolescence. Shipping a kid off to some expensive program may make some parents feel really good. It's a form of martyrdome. But you're not doing your kid any good.