Fornits
Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform => Straight, Inc. and Derivatives => Topic started by: Anonymous on September 04, 2005, 11:54:00 PM
-
(This survey can also be found on the "Troubled Teen Industry" forum.) I wanted to be sure those of you in Straight, Inc. had a chance to take part in this survey. We are going to try to get the results published through a university, and will work with others to see how we can best use the data.
Seeking survivors
If you are survivor of a residential teen program and would like to take part in this survey, please answer the following questions:
1. Which program did you attend?
2. How long were you in the program?
3. Why were you sent there?
4. Did you feel your parents were justified in sending you away?
5. How did you get there? Escort service pick you up in the middle of the night, or did you go willingly.
6. If you went willingly, do you feel the program was misrepresented to you? If so, how?
7. Education: Did you get a good education while you were in the program? Did you have teachers who gave lectures or was it all self teaching? Did you receive a high school diploma, or were you able to finish and get a diploma on time? Do you feel the education was adequate and helped you move on to college?
8. How was the food? And the cleanliness of the place?
9. Were you abused? If so, how? How many times? By whom?
10. Did you witness others being abused? If so, what form of abuse and how often?
11. Overall, was your experience positive or negative?
12. If it was positive, please summarize your experience.
13. If it was negative, please summarize your experience.
Thank you for your time.
-
I am a straight suvivor (Dallas), and stumbled onto this site quite by accident. I have been an emotional disaster all day but am glad I found it. I am afraid I cannot take this survey unless I know who you are and what exactly will be done with this information...................
Busy, curious, thirsty fly, Drink with me, and drink as I.
-- William Oldys (1696-1761): On a Fly drinking out of a Cup of Ale.
-
1. Which program did you attend?
Straight Orlando 90-92
2. How long were you in the program?
30 months
3. Why were you sent there?
Drug use and chronic runaway
4. Did you feel your parents were justified in sending you away?
sure.
5. How did you get there? Escort service pick you up in the middle of the night, or did you go willingly.
Parents tricked me. They said we were going to check this place out. Few other parents came along for the ride. I ended up staying.
6. If you went willingly, do you feel the program was misrepresented to you? If so, how?
N/A
7. Education: Did you get a good education while you were in the program? Did you have teachers who gave lectures or was it all self teaching? Did you receive a high school diploma, or were you able to finish and get a diploma on time? Do you feel the education was adequate and helped you move on to college?
You couldn't go to school on 1st and 2nd phase and since I spent a majority of my time on those phases I just got my GED and and a job at 16. Education was not at all a priority.
8. How was the food? And the cleanliness of the place?
ok, I guess.
9. Were you abused? If so, how? How many times? By whom?
I'm not really sure how to answer that.
10. Did you witness others being abused? If so, what form of abuse and how often?
Again I'm not sure how to answer that. Too many instances I'm not sure where abuse or something that could be justified. I was a teenager.
11. Overall, was your experience positive or negative?
negative
12. If it was positive, please summarize your experience.
13. If it was negative, please summarize your experience.
Summarize 30 months of my childhood? It sucked.
-
http://fornits.com/SIBS (http://fornits.com/SIBS) :tup:
-
I must remain anonymous, sorry, I don't have a user name here for a good reason. Please believe that I am doing this for the right reason. You can go on "The Troubled Teen Industry" portion of Fornits where you'll find this survey there as well.
We are trying to put something together and working with psychologists at a university. One big piece missing is that we do not, as yet, have any solid statistics. It's time to start, so this is where we start. I'm hoping people will trust the process, and I know that trust is a tough thing for most.
A little about me - I got into this because kids who I love (friends) were sent to WWASP programs, were abused, and needed my help during the aftermath.
Once I learned about this industry and what was really going on (and believe me, I'm still learning and shocked every day) there was no turning back.
Survivors' realities became mine and their voices and faces, the many I have now talked to and helped, will not ever leave me. I have to do something to help and this is one way I figure I can do something constructive and that will help others in the future who are trying to put an end to this madness.
You see, as I see it right now the industry has the upper hand. I would like to see that change. In order for that to happen some things need to be in place. Up to now, again as I see it, our voices are not being heard in any substantial way. It is hard to ignore hard, cold, gathered data in the form of a survey, especially if we can get a university professor to publish the data and then put it out there on every website and forum.
I know it's not the almighty answer, and I know there is not one single act or one person or one organization who is going to stop this maddness. It is going to take the work of many, the united efforts of many, the chipping away of many, to make a difference. This is just one way of trying to help make a dent in this mess.
-
I really don't see how you can have a respected, published survey with you being anonymous and the people surveyed being anonymous. You want my name, I'll give it to you, I will back what I say with my real name and address. Please excuse me if I am incorrect, but I don't think this is what is meant by a "double-blind" study...
-
Yes, we do need names of the people responding to the survey. I should have put that as number 1, thank you for pointing it out.
We are still in the process of seeking out psychologists who will be willing to publish the data for us, we think we've found some interested parties.
-
Who is "we" who is working with psychologists at a university? Take a basic statistics class at that university of yours. There's protocol, there's logic, you can't get respected, solid stats from anonymous internet posters, it's a skewed and "biased" sub-population, although our bias against behavior modification schools happens to be correct, intelligent and healthy. You would have to, I believe, get enrollment lists and mail every single person who attended a given school a survey, and try again if they did not respond. That there is basic procedure, correct me if I'm wrong if we have any professional or degreed statisticians around here.
Now, you could write something compelling from the answers people give here, but it would not even be up to journalistic standards to use anonymous postings on an internet forum, you can't even see IP addresses to verify that posts are coming from different people. You don't know, in the journalistic sense of having any verified identity and history on any respondents, that the posts are from actual program survivors.
Maybe your intentions are as you say they are. But at the same time I'm irritated that you would treat program survivors with such disrespect that you would ask them for potentially identifying information when you yourself won't give any. At least don't hype this survey to be something it could not possibly be.
I'll back that opinion with my name in a PM and you can verify with the webmistress here that I am a distinct individual, and I can verify any statements regarding my incarceration in Straight with paper documents and/or references for your journalistic needs there.
Don't take my rash language personally. PM me at ex-prisoner for my verifiable information once you give me your verifiable information. No hard feelings, you're probably a program survivor who suffers paranoia for good reason, or someone who's job or personal security is at risk. These cults can get violent and retaliatory, I would not dismiss those fears outright. I just have to point out to people some academic facts here. Correct me or else correct your stated purposes and the actual possibilities with this "survey".
That being said - and my main point really is to stand behind what you are doing with your identity and not misstate the possible uses of the completed "survey" so we can all feel comfortable that things are above-board and ethical in your dealings here with people who were treated very unethically in these programs, to say least - you have a decent start with the questions there.
-
Alright, let's regroup. My intentions are very good and I do have legitimate people who are willing to help work on this. When I first posted this questionnaire I didn't think about the fact that, as you are saying here, there is a protocol that must be followed for the survey to be valid.
So I'm researching that right now. You seem to know quite a bit, and that's great, all help is needed. What I would like to do is to gather data that can actually be used to the good of the cause. I know it is a missing link and a very important piece therapists and others are needing and missing.
Having said that, I am very open to working with others willing to help give me the information I need to get this underway. I have my very legitimate and good reasons for not letting my identity be known. I hope we can leave it at that, I would think that many of you would understand the position I'm in.
So, I'm researching this and will find out what we really need to do to make this a legitimate survey. No, I don't like the idea of survivors putting their names out here who are not comfortable doing so.
I am looking into an online survey. What do you think about those? Would they be legitimate if people provided their contact information, and that information went only to those who are conducting the survey? It seems to me it would be next to impossible for us to get addresses to enough people who survived the programs so that we could send the surveys to them. Correct me if I'm wrong. I think online there would be more of a chance that people would participate.
What about something like this? http://www.keysurvey.com/?source=Overtu ... C=standard (http://www.keysurvey.com/?source=Overture&OVRAW=survey&OVKEY=survey&OVMTC=standard)
Thanks.
-
ps - It would be nice if people would come together here to give their advice and knowledge about how we could go about conducting a legitimate survey rather than start bashing people who are trying to do something good for the cause. This is the reason nothing ever gets done. People try and are put down for their efforts. Not everyone is the bad guy, sometimes it's just a matter of helping out and working together. There is nothing daunting or scary about asking for help on how to conduct a good, solid, legitimate survey. That is all I'm asking for now, and then we can go from there. My hope is that someone will have knowledge about the topic and that we can get good advice here. The online survey is the best idea because I feel it is the most realistic way it will happen.
Remember, there are "trolls" out there who will want to start something here, because they are not going to like the idea of a survey. If I start getting negative feedback I'm going to assume it's coming from them and will ignore it. I am looking for good, positive, solid feedback from those of you who know and care. Thank you.
-
that's cool, i'm just feeling protective of program survivors here. look, maybe you should work with a third party, an established non-profit or child-interest group. then we know the survey results are going to a legit operation. you can explain to them that you need to stay behind the scenes because of potential threats to your safety. if you can understand, it simply is not wise to send personal identifying information to unknown parties. i don't know if my concern is warranted that the lawsuit against WWASPS is going on, and we should watch out for impostors. my suggestion of a trusted, respected third party would solve this issue. they would know who you are and verify what your intentions are.
i have not taken stats, i just know what i've heard on the streets. we need someone who knows how to set up this kind of thing. i agree with your idea and have been thinking it would be good to have something like this, studies and surveys and whatnot cabinets made by people who practiced craftwork.
-
[ This Message was edited by: Withdraw on 2005-09-22 23:08 ]
-
OK, I think we're onto something here. I'm the one who started this thread. I am definitely going to look into doing this the proper way with the proper people so that survivors will feel safe in participating.
I in no way want to ever cause fear or anxiety in survivors. They've suffered enough. I just want to do something that I think would be useful and helpful. I'll keep working on it. If anyone has suggestions, please pass them on.
If I could I'd reveal who I am. I know you all understand why I can't. It's very frustrating at times, but it's the reality we have to live with. Thank you for your feedback and suggestions.
-
I believe the partial diagnosos would be post traumatic stress disorder
-
major depression
-
I think you are so right about the post traumatic stress disorder and depression diagnoses. The symptoms most talk about after being in programs seem to fall in those two categories. I've heard from so many people that they can't be in a room without facing the door, they can't eat a meal normally, without fear, they can't sleep a full night, some wake up soaked with sweat in the middle of the night, years after they were there, and the list goes on and on. Something must be done. Something will be done, it may take a little time, but your voices will be heard.
-
I get night sweats too, I didn't know that was related to PTSD or program survivors.
Add to the list: headaches, TMJ, digestion problems from anxiety.
Anyone who works on my shoulder and back muscles: "wow, you're all knotted up."
-
And some like myself have also manifested cancer and heart disease amongst other things. There is a famous physician who has many published works about trauma and how it relates to catastrauphic diseases. By the way did you know that you are speaking to more than one person?
-
it's great to conduct a survey. but in this case it's like polling people who used to be in the mafia. it's not safe to divulge your name. you have to find a way to collect the informationj that is anonymous but also valid.
-
Yes, I know I'm talking to more than one person and that's fine. I think survivors of programs, when they start to compare notes, would see that many of you are suffering from many of the same physical ailments. It's all part of the post traumatic stress you suffered.
You are right that the survey is a very good idea.
-
[ This Message was edited by: Withdraw on 2005-09-22 23:09 ]
-
What is EDMR ?? Have you tried listenin' to the Commodores..."i see ya there dyin' in your wisdom... Where do ya go...?? Tell Me where do ya go ?? ...Jus' see the light shine through your window...tell me why can't ya see... why can't ya see... i'm longin' ta see whether your search will find peace o' mind...this is your life..."
Hold on i gotta let that play thru...
"i see the children of the world searchin' to find themselves 'n' who they are..." Well that was the first verse 'n' i already let that play through. Dig!??
-
On 2005-09-07 21:54:00, Withdraw wrote:
"I think this is a form off Post Traumatic stress also. But In alot of ways , I think it's also diffrent from the sterotypical PTSD. There is more to it, and the longevity is insane. I don't see EDMR fixxing it for us. It's like its always there. After thinking more about the "symptons " ( I use Symptom loosely ) they seem to go way deeper than what Ive read about PTSD. Its like it is a part of my soul now, make me what I am ... Which is partly good , but also very tragic.
I do believe if someone could do a study and give us a name for it ... we can heal. It's the not knowing what is wrong that is literally killing me and destroying my life.
It's like PSTD , ALL phobias ,slightly psychotic , way beyond major depression, Mixxed personality disorder all wrapped into one big OMFG package.
One thing that never goes away is the full awareness of EVERYTHING inside and out.
I function ok, but I can't think ok. So I pretend , like many of us do. And every so often it all becomes so real again, I have to process it again. This process usually takes me 2-4 weeks.. Then I do ok again for several months. But its a continous cycle."
-
Withdraw-
i feel ya, i know they aint got no name for what we got. It's too complicated 'n' fucked up for anyone ta get a handle on. It's jus' sickness 'n' despair, sickness o' the mind. Jus' keep tellin' me what's wrong. i want ta heal ya soon as i can. Fear is an illusion.
P.S. i talk shit when i'm drunk. i don' really know, but i know you aint confused by the language i speak. Ya feel me ??[ This Message was edited by: starry-eyed pirate on 2005-09-08 00:57 ]
-
he had stars in his eyes that just never went away................
-
Now that you have had fun with your booty and plunder, I guess you are now away in a drunken slumber....................
-
. Which program did you attend?
dallas/irving....march 91'-july 91'
2. How long were you in the program?
4 months
3. Why were you sent there?
had been treatment many times.....insurance made me pick a residential program to keep coverage
4. Did you feel your parents were justified in sending you away?
they didn't....they hated straight from day one...i was almost 18 when i went in
5. How did you get there? Escort service pick you up in the middle of the night, or did you go willingly.
willingly
6. If you went willingly, do you feel the program was misrepresented to you? If so, how?
yes....i was a senior in hs...told me i would still graduate in time....said i could pick up my car// go home after 6 weeks...that my life would still be the same...just had to go to host home for 6 weeks
7. Education: Did you get a good education while you were in the program? Did you have teachers who gave lectures or was it all self teaching? Did you receive a high school diploma, or were you able to finish and get a diploma on time? Do you feel the education was adequate and helped you move on to college?
no no no......i never looked at a school book until the last week or two i was there...after being promised that i would graduate in time (was two months from graduation with an A average)....finally let me start my courses by correspondence...one hour a day to complete 7 subjects of work.....so no, i did not recieve my hs diploma....got GED in August of 91' and went to college the next fall
8. How was the food? And the cleanliness of the place?
food was fair to disgusting...place was pretty dirty
9. Were you abused? If so, how? How many times? By whom?
emotionally by all staff....no physical abuse though
10. Did you witness others being abused? If so, what form of abuse and how often?
yes, at least once a week by restraints....emotional abuse was constnt though
11. Overall, was your experience positive or negative?
negative, but life changing
12. If it was positive, please summarize your experience.
no answer
13. If it was negative, please summarize your experience.
suffered post traumatic stress syndrome....need i say more?
Thank you for your time.
-
On 2005-09-07 21:54:00, Withdraw wrote:
"I think this is a form off Post Traumatic stress also. But In alot of ways , I think it's also diffrent from the sterotypical PTSD. There is more to it, and the longevity is insane. I don't see EDMR fixxing it for us. It's like its always there. After thinking more about the "symptons " ( I use Symptom loosely ) they seem to go way deeper than what Ive read about PTSD. Its like it is a part of my soul now, make me what I am ... Which is partly good , but also very tragic.
I do believe if someone could do a study and give us a name for it ... we can heal. It's the not knowing what is wrong that is literally killing me and destroying my life.
It's like PSTD , ALL phobias ,slightly psychotic , way beyond major depression, Mixxed personality disorder all wrapped into one big OMFG package.
One thing that never goes away is the full awareness of EVERYTHING inside and out.
I function ok, but I can't think ok. So I pretend , like many of us do. And every so often it all becomes so real again, I have to process it again. This process usually takes me 2-4 weeks.. Then I do ok again for several months. But its a continous cycle."
i like what you're sayin'. There is way more goin' on than jus' PTSD. It does seem like there is some crazy mix of psycho-social conditions/diseases effectin' me.
It's strange to say but i feel like as long as i'm alone my mind is fairly clear, it's jus' in social situations that i break down. i was kidnapped and forced to join a cult when i was 16. The effects of that experience are with me to this day. i mean str8 was my whole world for over 2 years of my life. Not to mention the residual effects of the brainwash. i don' even know what was goin' on in the outside world at that time. Sometimes people ask me if i remember a certain band or a song or maybe some world event and if i can't remember i ask them: "was it between 1985-87 ??" and they usually respond: "Yeah". Well that was when i was in this cult and had an extremely limited and perverted relationship with the outside world.
It seems to me that jus' when i should 'a' been formin' into a man and discoverin' who i was 'n' where i fit into the world all my contexts were removed. i have never recovered from this. It's been 20 years 'n' i'm still socially confused. i can't function in any kind of an institutional setting, can't hold a job or go to school. i was even diagnosed with anti-social personality disorder about 10 years ago but i think that is a misdiagnosis. You are onto somethin' withdraw. Let's keep lookin'.
-
[ This Message was edited by: Withdraw on 2005-09-22 23:09 ]
-
i too have concerns about ANON claims of legitimacy but on the brights side a friend, also a mission montain school survivor, has sent me this link and explained there has been work done on a survey and expects it to be out there soon. I too feel protective of survivors and felt that the level of paranoia expressed by ANON too much, as if our paranoia isn't enough.
http://cfs.fmhi.usf.edu/cfsnews/2005news/A_START.html (http://cfs.fmhi.usf.edu/cfsnews/2005news/A_START.html)
especially for all you straight survivors, the survivors of all survivors- i'll bet this has been something youve been waiting for. ive been waiting for a while and am relieved.
-
- i'll bet this has been something youve been waiting for. ive been waiting for a while and am relieved."
-indeed
-
if you want me to edit your post so that it makes sense, you will have to explain to me what it means first.
-
On 2005-09-06 10:48:00, Anonymous wrote:
"ps - It would be nice if people would come together here to give their advice and knowledge about how we could go about conducting a legitimate survey rather than start bashing people who are trying to do something good for the cause.
seems the difference between bashing and holding accountable is being confused here as i have read other posts and notice that when those express concern about legitimacy and qualifications as a 'researcher' it is taken personally and not as construcitve criticism. if we are to make any progress we need doctors to get on the ball...it appears thats coming into full form now from what ive seen in the link posted about USF and am seeking to confirm through email correspondence with Dr. Pinto. Certainly this is very good news
-
On 2005-09-08 22:34:00, Anonymous wrote:
"if you want me to edit your post so that it makes sense, you will have to explain to me what it means first."
edit what post? the survey?
-
It seems that a survey is already under way, I'm glad to hear it.There's no need for me to duplicate efforts.
-
Do you have a link for the survey?
-
think its a work in progress but should be available soon.
-
[ This Message was edited by: Withdraw on 2005-09-22 23:09 ]
-
FINALLY there will be some PROGRESS.
-
Do you know which title it's under, (the link I mean)? There is alot of stuff in there.........
-
looking for suvivors , I believe
-
This post =)
http://fornits.com/wwf/viewtopic.php?to ... tart=20&29 (http://fornits.com/wwf/viewtopic.php?topic=11442&forum=9&start=20&29)
-
I found it thanks..............
-
[ This Message was edited by: Withdraw on 2005-09-22 23:10 ]
-
Pfffff. Oh my Jesus Fucking Lord. "The Safe and Therapeutic use of Residential Treatment"?
How fucking stupid can you people be? These guys are the ENEMY! Jesus Lord, I cannot babysit all of you.
-
What wwasp program did your friends attend? I was at a wwasp program for a while and actually have some valuable insight and information that was silenced by the bigwigs while in the program, but that changed the way that they conduct some of their seminars...anyway, I can understand if you don't want to be known, but there may be some other means of communicating securely through here. Anyway, repost if so.