Fornits
Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform => The Troubled Teen Industry => Topic started by: Anonymous on August 25, 2009, 03:08:05 AM
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http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=85436140553 (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=85436140553)
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http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=85436140553
Why would you want to do that? It is just a bunch of people who want to get back together and talk about old times. They are working on getting a reunion going. It all seems very positive to me. Why would talking about your past experiences be threatening to you or a bad thing for others?
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I wouldn't say it's simply a group for people simply interested in"talking about the old times," unless you consider 'blown away the Idaho way' just a guy out for nostalgia. It would be good for the victims to post their accounts alongside the brainwashed---but I see those posts get deleted?
When the torturers and guards of the CEDU gulag are successfully sued into bankruptcy and imprisoned then there will be a very "positive" group to sit around and talk about that experience.
It would be interesting to compare what proportion of AARC survivors are "positive" about their time being being tortured v CEDU the surivors.
Brainwashed CEDU victim:
Kevin wrote at 10:43am on August 11th, 2009
"The friendships while we were there are like family to me. However not a single person since that I have contacted has shared that same feeling..."
[Kevin, most people don't like getting brainwashed and tortured!}
Brainwashed AARC victim:
"When "powerless" was first aired, I just laughed and shook my head because not only was it completely biased, but the graduates and people who have witnessed the good AARC has done for individuals and families know the difference between the truth and what the media portrays as the "truth". I am so grateful for AARC and all it's done for me, my family, and my friends. "
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So why force your feelings on them? Why not let it all fall where it may? Some will see their past as positive and others as negative. Why weigh one above the other?
Your quote from Kevin went on to say:
"Most of the stories I have heard since graduation have been positive and most have made a good life. I was in enough RAPS to know the evil and hate of your past lives.
Why is it so hard to connect again with my peers? Why is there no bond? Why is it not ok to be open?
These are all good things!"
If you look at the percentage of kids who attend even a regular highschool reunion it is small. People from RMA came from different parts of the country and many kids look back on their time in a program as a rough patch in their life (not exactly the high point) and many would rather not go back there.
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http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic ... #post63622 (http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=10831&post=63622&uid=85436140553#post63622)
Kevin does not recall abuse taking place at RMA while he was there. You guys should add your input.
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So why force your feelings on them? Why not let it all fall where it may? Some will see their past as positive and others as negative. Why weigh one above the other?
Your quote from Kevin went on to say:
"Most of the stories I have heard since graduation have been positive and most have made a good life. I was in enough RAPS to know the evil and hate of your past lives.
Why is it so hard to connect again with my peers? Why is there no bond? Why is it not ok to be open?
These are all good things!"
If you look at the percentage of kids who attend even a regular highschool reunion it is small. People from RMA came from different parts of the country and many kids look back on their time in a program as a rough patch in their life (not exactly the high point) and many would rather not go back there.
Why are you "forcing" your feelings onto us here by insinuating that CEDU was whatever you felt it was, as if there is no objective reality you pathetic troll?
FACT: CEDU abducted, imprisoned and subjected victims to a variety of brainwashing techniques taken from a variety of cults including Synanon and Lifespring, held its victims incommunicado from the outside world so they could not reach help, used them as slaves, starved them of proper nutrients, and drove a percentage of its victims to suicide and insanity.
Whatever "goodness" successfully brainwashed people want to read into it does not change reality--nor does that make CEDU nothing more than a "rough patch."
I would assume people post there to prevent misinformation about an abusive, violent and murderous cult being disseminated--out of some respect to the victims of the place and to truth, for the same reasons people challenge holocaust deniers, you fucking slime-ball.
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Are the first and second poster on this thread the same person?
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Or maybe you are trying to force everyone to see RMA thru your experiences without respecting theirs. Why should your beliefs and experiences trump other peoples. Kevin is expressing what he experienced and how he feels. Would it be fair or right for a Muslim to kill you because you were a non believer? Or behead you because you are gay? Many extremists, like yourself, believe they are doing the right thing the same way you believe Kevin doesn’t deserve a voice to express his beliefs or talk about his past.
Let them speak the truth their own way. They are not recruiting parents to send their kids away. They are just trying to have a reunion because they have RMA in their past as a common thread. Nothing evil about that.
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I added the group to our wiki datasheet (http://http://wiki.fornits.com/index.php?title=Main_Page).
I don't care what they talk about. I know that they at a point will learn that it was not the curriculum at the program which improved their lives. It was time.
All youth mature regardless if they are in a program or not. If they leave the program and their entire life improves from that point off, it is with 99,9% certainty because they mature while they were warehoused in the program.
In Denmark we have no requirements regarding education when it comes to establishing a group home. All we have it frequent unannouced inspections by the authorities. There are no statewide strategy about placing youth in care. It is about money and warehousing. Often the youth run off and then it is the job for the police to get them back, but with the one expection of Solhaven (Garden of sun) none try to impose a new identity on them. It is not necessary because time will do the job by itself.
But why having survivor groups on the wiki at all. Because a lot of the survivors are burdened with guilt over what they have been forced to do to their peers during raps. They need to meet those who were in the program with them at be forgiven. All to many time we are contacted by people who want to meet people who were in the program with them. They have left the program and started their lives as adults alone. They may have established families etc. But they are lonely when it comes to get the experiences they have seen during the program out of their system. I have never been in a program. I am not able to help them. They need to come to terms with other peers from the program.
If you was able to be a fly on the wall once they meet at the reunion you will learn that they are not there to celebrate that they completed the program, they are there to celebrate that they survived the program and when they have eaten a lot of good food and starts talking with a full stomach then the healing process starts.
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Your quote from Kevin went on to say:
"Most of the stories I have heard since graduation have been positive and most have made a good life. I was in enough RAPS to know the evil and hate of your past lives.
Why is it so hard to connect again with my peers? Why is there no bond? Why is it not ok to be open?
These are all good things!"
Actually the quote went on to say:
"The friendships while we were there are like family to me. However not a single person since that I have contacted has shared that same feeling
To any RMA grad, to me you are family as we all have a bond, as we shared in education. But no a single person has a ability or want to return these feelings.
"I am puzzled and amazed that such a deep and emotional experience can be twisted to such hate.
This is wrong.
Most of the stories I have heard since graduation have been positive and most have made a good life. I was in enough RAPS to know the evil and hate of your past lives.
Why is it so hard to connect again with my peers? Why is there no bond? Why is it not ok to be open?
These are all good things!"
Can't stop lying, can ya, CEDUite, even have to misrepresent a brainwashed or 'fake' student's account about how everyone he contacted was disgusted by CEDU.
Freak, most people who survived Auschwitz will have "positive stories" since leaving the camps--that does not mean Aushwitz was unharmful. I'm sure that boy Mel Wassermen called "nigger" while forcing him to wash his feet has "positive stories" since leaving CEDU--if he didn't kill himself immediately afterward.
A true study of CEDU survivors will find a group with many more suicides, institutionalizations, and (CEDU caused) suffering than even a group of teens hospitalized for psychiatric issues. The contacts available through facebook(kevin's contacts) eliminates the suicides and institutionalized and leaves only a group interested in networking enough to set up a facebook account. In MY 'peer group' EVERYONE committed suicide or struggled mightily from what CEDU did to them before righting themselves--if they ever did. Though they will not say so to a casual acquaintance, let alone a CEDUite-- when a stranger calls and asks how you're doing, you don't report your pain.
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Your quote from Kevin went on to say:
"Most of the stories I have heard since graduation have been positive and most have made a good life. I was in enough RAPS to know the evil and hate of your past lives.
Why is it so hard to connect again with my peers? Why is there no bond? Why is it not ok to be open?
These are all good things!"
Actually, the quote "went on to say":
"The friendships while we were there are like family to me. However not a single person since that I have contacted has shared that same feeling
To any RMA grad, to me you are family as we all have a bond, as we shared in education. But no a single person has a ability or want to return these feelings.
"I am puzzled and amazed that such a deep and emotional experience can be twisted to such hate.
This is wrong.
Most of the stories I have heard since graduation have been positive and most have made a good life. I was in enough RAPS to know the evil and hate of your past lives.
Why is it so hard to connect again with my peers? Why is there no bond? Why is it not ok to be open?
"
Can't stop lying, can ya, CEDUite, even have to misrepresent a brainwashed or 'fake' student's account about how everyone he contacted was disgusted by CEDU?
Freak, most survivors of Auschwitz have "positive stories" since leaving the camp--that does not mean Aushwitz was unharmful. I'm sure the boy Mel Wassermen called "nigger" while forcing him to wash his feet in the center of the peer denouncement circle has "positive stories" since leaving CEDU--if he didn't kill himself immediately afterward.
A true study of CEDU survivors will find a group with many more suicides, institutionalizations, and (CEDU caused) suffering than even in a group of teens hospitalized for psychiatric issues. The contacts available through facebook(kevin's contacts) eliminates the suicides and institutionalized, and leaves only those together enough to be interested in networking. In MY 'peer group' EVERYONE committed suicide or struggled mightily from what CEDU did to them before righting themselves--if they ever did. Though they will not say so to a casual acquaintance, let alone a CEDUite-- when a stranger calls and asks how you're doing, you don't report pain.
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Seems everyone is guilty of just posting the parts they like.
Here is the whole quote:
The friendships while we were there are like family to me. However not a single person since that I have contacted has shared that same feeling.
That is my only regret.
To any RMA grad, to me you are family as we all have a bond, as we shared in education. But no a single person has a ability or want to return these feelings.
I am puzzled and amazed that such a deep and emotional experience can be twisted to such hate.
This is wrong.
Most of the stories I have heard since graduation have been positive and most have made a good life. I was in enough RAPS to know the evil and hate of your past lives.
Why is it so hard to connect again with my peers? Why is there no bond? Why is it not ok to be open?
These are all good things!
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Seems everyone is guilty of just posting the parts they like.
Here is the whole quote:
The friendships while we were there are like family to me. However not a single person since that I have contacted has shared that same feeling.
That is my only regret.
To any RMA grad, to me you are family as we all have a bond, as we shared in education. But no a single person has a ability or want to return these feelings.
I am puzzled and amazed that such a deep and emotional experience can be twisted to such hate.
This is wrong.
Most of the stories I have heard since graduation have been positive and most have made a good life. I was in enough RAPS to know the evil and hate of your past lives.
Why is it so hard to connect again with my peers? Why is there no bond? Why is it not ok to be open?
These are all good things!
Actually, John Reuben "everyone" is not "equally guilty of only quoting the parts they like."
I quoted him only to compare him with the brainwashed of the AARC--the entire post is useful for that, but the fact that no one but him was still drinking the kool-aid is striking.
There seem to be more brainwashed AARC victims than CEDU victims as everyone he contacted had (to paraphrase) "twisted their stay into hate" --that is to say, are not fond of being tortured and brainwashed.
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Here is the whole quote:
The friendships while we were there are like family to me. However not a single person since that I have contacted has shared that same feeling. I wonder why?
That is my only regret.
To any RMA grad, to me you are family as we all have a bond, as we shared in education. But no a single person has a ability or want to return these feelings. There is a good reason for this!
I am puzzled and amazed that such a deep and emotional experience can be twisted to such hate.
This is wrong.
Most of the stories I have heard since graduation have been positive and most have made a good life. I was in enough RAPS to know the evil and hate of your past lives. Why is it so hard to connect again with my peers? Why is there no bond? Why is it not ok to be open? These are all good things!
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John Reuben, when not driving my son to suicide likes to troll fornits! Maybe ya noticed!
Here is the whole quote:
The friendships while we were there are like family to me. However not a single person since that I have contacted has shared that same feeling. I wonder why?
That is my only regret.
To any RMA grad, to me you are family as we all have a bond, as we shared in education. But no a single person has a ability or want to return these feelings. There is a good reason for this!
I am puzzled and amazed that such a deep and emotional experience can be twisted to such hate.
This is wrong.
Most of the stories I have heard since graduation have been positive and most have made a good life. I was in enough RAPS to know the evil and hate of your past lives. Why is it so hard to connect again with my peers? Why is there no bond? Why is it not ok to be open? These are all good things!
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Like I said, in the first post, which thewho has since tried to distract from: Kevin, they "hate" CEDU because people who aren't brainwashed into confusion hate being abducted, imprisoned, used as a slave, tortured and brainwashed! Surprise !
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Take it easy on Kevin, guys. Seriously. The dude definitely has conflicted feelings about the program. I can safely say that there are several people on this site who thought the program was full of shit but also valued the friendships they had there. Lets not conflate interpersonal relationships with peers with being pro-CEDU. To do so would be as myopic as those who feel that the place was all that and a bag of chips. I don't want to speak for him, but my impression was that he's kind of dealing with what the fuck happened there. His opinion sounded far from favorable... rather more on the ambivalent side.
I talked to him on the phone a while ago, as did blownawayIdaho, and without disclosing anything specific, he's got a lot on his plate.
But as for the facebook thing... yeah.. Im staying away from that. Too much drama.
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Like I said, in the first post, which thewho has since tried to distract from: Kevin, they "hate" CEDU because people who aren't brainwashed into confusion hate being abducted, imprisoned, used as a slave, tortured and brainwashed! Surprise !
Actually there was no quote in the first post. The quote was cut and pasted and parts were left out in the 3rd, 4th, 6th, 10th, 11th and I pasted the quote, in its entirety in the 12th post, just to clarify .
And I responded to the OP title by saying that those people are entitled to speak openly about their feelings and experiences without people like you telling them how they should feel and how the program affected them.
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Take it easy on Kevin, guys. Seriously. The dude definitely has conflicted feelings about the program. I can safely say that there are several people on this site who thought the program was full of shit but also valued the friendships they had there. Lets not conflate interpersonal relationships with peers with being pro-CEDU. To do so would be as myopic as those who feel that the place was all that and a bag of chips. I don't want to speak for him, but my impression was that he's kind of dealing with what the fuck happened there. His opinion sounded far from favorable... rather more on the ambivalent side.
I talked to him on the phone a while ago, as did blownawayIdaho, and without disclosing anything specific, he's got a lot on his plate.
But as for the facebook thing... yeah.. Im staying away from that. Too much drama.
QFT
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I don't think anyone is attacking Kevin over relations he built with other students. The argument heated up when he said (in a nutshell) "I don't recall any abuse while I was there."
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I read the argument in the discussion forum. Kevin would have been roasted on this website if he denied abuse at RMA. He is living in his fantasy world.
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Take it easy on Kevin, guys. Seriously. The dude definitely has conflicted feelings about the program. I can safely say that there are several people on this site who thought the program was full of shit but also valued the friendships they had there. Lets not conflate interpersonal relationships with peers with being pro-CEDU. To do so would be as myopic as those who feel that the place was all that and a bag of chips. I don't want to speak for him, but my impression was that he's kind of dealing with what the fuck happened there. His opinion sounded far from favorable... rather more on the ambivalent side.
I talked to him on the phone a while ago, as did blownawayIdaho, and without disclosing anything specific, he's got a lot on his plate.
But as for the facebook thing... yeah.. Im staying away from that. Too much drama.
If his opinion isn't favorable, why is he claiming, "I didn't witness/see abuse when I was RMA?" It sounds to me, he was affected by abuse around him, including abuse in raps, propheets and workshops. He is a classic case of denial.
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http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=Rocky ... opic=10831 (http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=Rocky+Mountain+Academy&init=quick#/topic.php?uid=85436140553&topic=10831) He deleted the posts where his denial was refuted. This is the second time he has done this.
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I have been seeing the videos, and have come to this conclusion, It is as factual as you wish this to be.
If you see the people in the video's you may see their pain, and their distorted view that only help justify the anger that they felt. I dont wish to take away there right to post and feel that way. I agree that they should voice there opinion, But even Liam is biased in the view that he is a conspiracy theorist. That brings to question that everything that is posted could be wrong in his view.
There are many who have had a great time there, some that have moved on and many that wish to reconnect. All this is great.
I choose to post these videos and allow them due to the main fact that, all opinions are valid, much like RAPS. But It is up to each and everyone to take this information and process it in your own way. To either slander or not post it is wrong. Its out there and its a voice. Its not about negative or positive, its opinion and I want this group to be aware of what is out there and do with it as you may.
For me this is unsettling and I still have very fond memories of the school, despite the harsh experiences that I went through, since the alternative was no better at all.
The light that this sheds about the staff, also has no bearing on my view of my experience of the school. While I was there I was unaware of these problems, not that I ignored it but I can not say I was mistreated in any manner.
I look forward to seeing all of you at the reunion. Its going to be a chance to discuss, reminisce about the years gone by and just make up for lost time and rekindle a friendship lost over the years. Perhaps make new RMA friends. In this world we all need as much support as possible.
Kevin Leung
The following videos below were posted. Kevin Leung just deleted them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsD2R_8rss8 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsD2R_8rss8) > Synanon (Founder of Rocky Mountain Academy was a member of Synanon)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga0nQpXa61w (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga0nQpXa61w) > Caroline Wolf
http://liamscheff.com/daily/2008/06/20/ ... ment-10310 (http://liamscheff.com/daily/2008/06/20/cedu-documentary-i-and-me-and-summit-scripts/comment-page-2/#comment-10310) > I and Me and Summit Scripts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8g-lCjZ5 ... re=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8g-lCjZ5Vw0&feature=related) > The Cedu Schools - Come Work for Us! > Dr. Bush (RMA staff)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkbdjrUS ... re=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkbdjrUS1y0&feature=related) > Mixed Feelings
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pJnj4m5 ... re=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pJnj4m5IIU&feature=related) > Raps at CEDU
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If his opinion isn't favorable, why is he claiming, "I didn't witness/see abuse when I was RMA?" It sounds to me, he was affected by abuse around him, including abuse in raps, propheets and workshops. He is a classic case of denial.
That's a far cry from saying that the program was great. Maybe he didn't. There are lots of things I dont remember about the place, and what memories I do have were certainly colored by my ability, or lack thereof, to deal with what happened to me, and what I witnessed happen to others. I certainly didn't outright reject the koolaid when I bounced out the door in 89.
For those of us who condemn the program, didn't we all go through denial at some point? Im sure there are those super amazing tough guy folks who said "I never bought that crap for a second." bravo for you, have a cock-shaped cookie. That wasn't my experience.
Here's the mental progression of how things went down for me, for example purposes.
1. That place was awesome and taught me a whole lot of things.
2. That place was awesome, except for the homophobia
3. That place sucked, but at least it kept me out of trouble
4. That place sucked, whether it kept me out of trouble or not is arguing the hypothetical, but we still did some fun stuff there, and hey, Im not scarred for life or anything
5. That place sucked, I acknowledge the good memories, but when put in the context of the program, it's multiplying it by 0. There's some seriously nasty baggage, but Im working through it.
6. That place is a product of a large, corrupt industry that preys on the fears of parents, was born out of a cult, is a moneymaking scam, and abuses children. I've worked through most of my shit, but there is still a nerdy, masochistic part of me that finds the whole situation surreal and fascinating, which is why I slum around survivor boards.
7. ???????
8. Profit!
Maybe it would be better for those frothy types on facebook to ask questions as opposed to outright attacking. The internet tough guy thing just doesnt fly in this case, IMO. I sure as fuck am glad that I didnt have access to the internet when I worked through my shit, lemme tell youuu.
So he might be in denial. Why the fuck do you care? Do you know him and care about him personally? It seems that there is a lot of butthurt on both sides when people's opinions about that duck farm don't jibe with our own sensibilities, especially since we can perceive that to be a threat to our own perspective and how we feel about it. This, incidentally, has absolutely NOTHING to do about concern for another person, nor concern about what is happening to kids who are in these places NOW... as in... TOO-fucking-DAY and has everything to do with self-righteousness and taking things personally. Im guilty of it too.
Im not asking you to give a fuck about the guy, but remember.. he went through this shit too. A lot of us are quick to become armchair shrinks. I dont know about you... but I've had my fill of armchair shrinks. Two and a half years is enough, thanks.
Fact of the matter is, there is some pretty mentally unhealthy crap going on with people on both sides of the fence. I can say with certainty that I am in no way qualified to make a psychological assessment about where someone else is at with all of that mess. I'm too busy trying to fix the cuckoo clock I have in my *own* cerebellum.
I'm also not into missionary work, and I don't have a conversion quota I need to keep in order to prevent god from dumping a bucket of locusts on me.
I'll repeat what Ive said several times about this crap... getting mired in personal anecdotes is all very nice, and is compelling, but it causes all of us to see the trees and not the forest.
Macro, as opposed to micro. It's a big fucking industry, with a lot of money pouring into it, and a lot of people "graduating" with extremely mixed results, that appear to indicate that these TTI folks aren't delivering what they promised, which calls into question the efficacy of the tough love philosophy, and certainly indicates fraud.
Now... this is all well and good, but most people dont give a fuck. It was a long time ago for a lot of us, and for many, it was a blip on the radar. So... if you have issues about CEDU, and are:
1. Mainly interested in the immediate issue of someone not having what *you* feel is the appropriate attitude about his/her own experience.
As opposed to:
2. Concern with the broader context in general. (which is fine.)
Then the solution is simple:
3. Don't go to the fucking reunion.
Also... please stop pretending to be three(plus) different people in this thread. It's downright confusing. I'm not sure why you have such a boner for Kevin but find a fucking hobby or something and stop being such a choadscholar.
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Eh... There is a time and place for everything I suppose. He deleted one of my posts as well, but then I sort of expected him to delete it considering I was suggesting to those who visit RMA to scatter blotters of acid, condoms, and hits of E around the campus.
What I don't see him doing is advocating for anyone going to the program. He might not think that what he experienced was abuse, but that isn't surprising either. Many people who were abused as children go on to witness other acts and when they compare the two they often dismiss the later experiences as inconsequential.
I was going to troll the guy, but now the more I think about it the more I've come to the conclusion that he isn't harming anyone and he just wants to touch bases with some friends he made back when he was in the program.
I say let him.
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http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=Rocky+Mountain+Academy&init=quick#/topic.php?uid=85436140553&topic=10831 He deleted the posts where his denial was refuted. This is the second time he has done this.
what a twisted coward!
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http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=Rocky+Mountain+Academy&init=quick#/topic.php?uid=85436140553&topic=10831 He deleted the posts where his denial was refuted. This is the second time he has done this.
what a twisted coward!
Right, deleting a post is a sure sign of cowardice, whereas responding to your *own* post is the new black. O0
I think your sock drawer is missing a few puppets.
*sigh* this new batch of fornits trolls bores me terribly. Guards, throw this goat-molester to the lions and bring me some real entertainment.
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http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=Rocky+Mountain+Academy&init=quick#/topic.php?uid=85436140553&topic=10831 He deleted the posts where his denial was refuted. This is the second time he has done this.
what a twisted coward!
Right, deleting a post is a sure sign of cowardice, whereas responding to your *own* post is the new black. O0
I think your sock drawer is missing a few puppets.
*sigh* this new batch of fornits trolls bores me terribly. Guards, throw this goat-molester to the lions and bring me some real entertainment.
I didn't respond to "my post," and I'm not a troll. As a minimizer of the torture and murder at CEDU ("just a blip on the radar") can't say I'm surprised your mind wonders to "molesting goats."
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You know I'm sickof you people coming around here arguing all the time. You know when you're bsing, just look in the mirror! Your lips are moving, aren't they? I thought so. Time to wake up, smell the coffee and pull your head out. Now get to posting on that RMA site about how f'ed it was and quit making trouble around here. Get along, now....go on....GIT!!!! :flame:
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John, I gotta say that you are probably the most clever & level headed person I've ever had the pleasure to get to know. :notworthy:
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Ryan Collins wroteon July 22, 2009 at 4:01pm
What do you think kids? Were we brainwashed? Abused?
Reply to RyanReport
Post #2
Kevin Leung replied to Ryan's poston July 23, 2009 at 9:38am
In our modern world of the new millennium, the word "cult" has become largely overused and is now a catch-all for any group, religion or lifestyle which someone doesn't understand, or with which they happen to disagree. This is a dangerous trend, as many of the organizations labeled a cult by dissidents are truly legitimate groups. Once the taint of the term "cult" is applied to a particular group, it is often difficult to change that image to the public.
To avoid careless labeling which could be harmful to a group and its adherents, it is important to know just exactly what a cult is, and how it is defined. A cult, by modern standards, is any group that incorporates mind control to deceive, influence and govern its followers. Although most people think of cults as being religious, they can also be found in political, athletic, philosophical, racial or psychotherapeutic arenas.
The mind control, or brainwashing, exerted by cults often take the form of at least several of the following elements:
A totalitarian control over the lifestyle and time of its members - Many cults tend to dictate exactly what its followers should read, eat, how and with whom they should spend their time, and even what they should do in off hours. This totalitarian control is necessary for the leaders to indoctrinate the followers in everything they do, and is also an attempt to separate them from anything not associated with the cult. This is why cults often live together in groups.
A charismatic, self-appointed leader with complete authority - Cult members are taught not to question the teachings, practices, or ideas of the leader. Many cult leaders truly are charismatic people, and are able to influence people to believe them. It is common that a cult member is not told everything up front when joining the group, but that they are taught increasingly controlling ideas and teachings as they go. In the case of some of the more well-publicized cults that have come and gone, it is also common that the leader's ideas and demands evolve over time, becoming increasingly controlling and restrictive. One very clear identifying element dealing with the leader of a cult is that the leader will always focus the attention and veneration of the members upon himself or herself. At the heart of a cult usually lies a very self-centered and self-seeking person.
A focus on withholding truth from non-members - Many cults teach their followers to be completely open and truthful within the group, while at the same time they are encouraged to be secretive and evasive when questioned by people outside of the group. This is another form of mind control-instilling guilt in the members if they hold anything back within the group. The members are taught that outsiders wouldn't understand or that they would only make fun of the ideas and practices and requirements for living within the group. Only specially-commissioned members are appointed to recruit members from outside. New members are usually encouraged to keep silent or even lie, especially to their families and close friends.
The three elements listed above are very successful ways to create a group mentality, an us-against-them way of looking at things. This is essential for any cult that wants to keep its members. The more afraid of the outside world the members become, the more strongly and faithfully they will keep within the safe fold of the cult.
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I didn't respond to "my post," and I'm not a troll. As a minimizer of the torture and murder at CEDU ("just a blip on the radar") can't say I'm surprised your mind wonders to "molesting goats."
True, you're not a troll. That would require thought and strategy.
You (http://http://encyclopediadramatica.com/You) are just fail.
My relationship with my goat is purely consensual... and platonic... except for when we fuck.
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My relationship with my goat is purely consensual... and platonic... except for when we fuck.
(http://http://img.chan4chan.com/img/2009-03-30/1238445378249.jpg)
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New meme?
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You know I'm sickof you people coming around here arguing all the time. You know when you're bsing, just look in the mirror! Your lips are moving, aren't they? I thought so. Time to wake up, smell the coffee and pull your head out. Now get to posting on that RMA site about how f'ed it was and quit making trouble around here. Get along, now....go on....GIT!!!! :flame:
Is he still deleting posts? :smashcomp: