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Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform => Straight, Inc. and Derivatives => Topic started by: Marnie on July 22, 2002, 06:49:00 PM

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: Marnie on July 22, 2002, 06:49:00 PM

remember them?

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: 85 Day Jerk on July 23, 2002, 06:19:00 PM

Once I started thinking about Marlene, it only took about an hour before Jenny emerged from the fog. If Kenny was the guy who was joined at the hip with Greg Wishart and Doug Hemmenger as 5th phasers on the guys side, then yeah, otherwise I never met him.

Jenny had mousy brown hair, about shoulder length and looked sorta like a cross between Chris Everette (tennis pro) and Cher. Marlene was pretty easy on the eyes too, but I still cannot forgive the torture they put us through sitting on stools up front of group on those sweltering afternoons in Milton Roy with absolutely HUGE glasses of iced tea leading a rap, with us guys paying rapt attention to their every move. Watching as you raise the glass to your lips and take a sip. It was'nt you we were drooling over on the guys side, it was the tea!!!!!!!! Glad to hear from a familiar face. P.S. Jenny also gave me the best haircut ever out of all the "manglers" they had in there. Remember That???

[ This Message was edited by: 85 Day Jerk on 2002-07-23 16:18 ]

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: Marnie on July 24, 2002, 10:06:00 AM

Well You may remeber me ....but I am having a hard time remembering you - Bob is it? - I am sorry for the "tetly torture" - Staff memebers sucked back then.... we got away with murder! My brother Kenny was not in the program at all when you were there - Long gone..... so no he did not hang with thos fifth phasers - Tell me more

Marlene (Marnie)

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: ClayL on July 24, 2002, 11:22:00 AM

Marnie, did you ever wind up in Atlanta?

CL

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: Marnie on July 24, 2002, 11:29:00 AM

Yes.....I was not staff in Atlanta ....but my mother Dorothy was working at Straignt in Atlanta for approx. I year - I do know that we moved up there and there was a staff member named Charles Pendergrass - I got a job in Marietta while my mother helped to establish Straight Atlanta - was it as bad as the others?

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: Anonymous on July 24, 2002, 12:01:00 PM

I was in St pete80,81, then sent to Atlanta with Bobby Rugles, sarasota(??), for pissing off MILLER THE GOD really badly. I have never talked to any survivors before. I guess I am not alone....
Bill

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: Antigen on July 24, 2002, 02:26:00 PM

Holy crow, Bill! I've always wondered what happened to Bobby. Man, did they beat him up in Sarasota. I don't remember him being there after that incident (but there's a lot I don't remember). Did they take him to Atlanta right from Sarasota? Something else? Was he ever alright after that? Please, do tell... Do I know you? Please feel free to contact me privately.

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: Anonymous on July 24, 2002, 04:00:00 PM

Marc Newton (son of satan)and some goon from sarasota program had a rental car. I was pulled from group after a long and productive period of crawling Millers skin and refusing to blindly give up my own free will. They knew I hated cold, so to the new atlanta group we were shipped. They broke the news to me in front of group, Ruth ann newton vindictively saying I didnt deserve my family, so you get to go to atlanta. Last ditch effort to break the spirits of us both. If I recall, Kathy had been in St Pete for awhile. Maybe I am wrong. Bobby was in Atlanta but they kept us away from each other BIG TIME. I split 3rd and 5th phase from atlanta, and got pulled 12/82. I remember everything. I just need time to jell my thoughts for now. It's been a long time...
Bill

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: ClayL on July 24, 2002, 04:04:00 PM

I went out to dinner with another person who was in there the day before yesterday and we discussed this. I, being above average stupid in some things, was in there twice. The first time, in the early 80's things were everybit as bad as all the things I hear everyone talking about.

The second time was during te late 80's. There had been MANY changes. Steppers back in group weren't blasted constantly (thank God) and there was very little restraining. People were never taken out of group that I can remember. Heck, even the misbehavers were boring. I can think of no phaser carving in their arms. In fact, all my horror stories come from the early 80's.

The reason I asked if you were ever in Atlanta is I can remember Terry E. (tall, really skinny, model good looks, blonde hair) confronting a 7-stepper from St. Pete named Marnie in ATL on a refresher. Thought it might have been you. I was wrong though.

CL

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: wayeast on July 24, 2002, 04:59:00 PM

You're actually the first person I've seen on these boards who would have been in Atlanta when I was there in 1982. I doubt you'd remember me, because I wasn't there long, but I might remember you. Did Bobby have dark straight hair? I remember a fifth-phaser named Bobby who got confronted for some small-time misbehavior like kissing a girl, drinking water from the tap in the bathroom, and some other things. Was that the same guy?

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: wayeast on July 24, 2002, 05:02:00 PM

Marnie,

When were you in Atlanta? I know you weren't in group, but I just realized that you said you were there for the beginning of the joy there. If your mother worked there, you might know something about the dynamics of the Buttimer-Oliver-Tilley group.

Regards,
Charlie

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: Marnie on July 24, 2002, 05:46:00 PM

I moved there with my mom (Dorothy) to open the facility - I was not a staff member - I had left staff by then....I was actually working in Marietta at a school for the disabled - I would go to Straight on occasion - but I was trying to put an end to my working association with Straight - I wish I had done that years earlier!!!!!!!

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: Anonymous on July 24, 2002, 06:10:00 PM

Yep, that was him

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: Tampa survivor on July 24, 2002, 06:32:00 PM

Hey, I just set up a username. Well, yeah, Bobby got busted that day.. I do remember.I stayed with the Chastains, Crows, and remember a larry Vaughn, a group of older guys in Gwinnet county(names fuzzy).Atlanta sucked but at least it was away from the source of the disease in St Pete. Ms Byrds face as I took off through the kudzu by Dobbins AFB after splitting school on 3rd phase. Catch me now you flat faced wrinkle-ball!!!!
Bill

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: kosmonaut on July 24, 2002, 06:41:00 PM

Quote

I stayed with the Chastains, Crows, and remember a larry Vaughn, a group of older guys in Gwinnet county(names fuzzy).

Those names sound familiar to me. Also the Gwinnet county people. Did they live in a trailer?

Quote

Ms Byrds face as I took off through the kudzu by Dobbins AFB after splitting school on 3rd phase. Catch me now you flat faced wrinkle-ball!!!!

Bill

:lol:

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: Tampa survivor on July 24, 2002, 07:29:00 PM

The family in Gwinnet had a couple of way older guys...redheaded, one brother drove a big old Cordova. They were fine country folks who treated me decently. They lived in an old wood house with a porch, real woodshop out back, etc. The Crows(Dunwoody area) had been with us in St Pete b4 ATL opened, when I was sent there, I stayed with them. Travis and his brother played guitars alot and Ann(mom) made the best biscuits in the world. They were real into it all. Lots of people had me stay cause I burned them out I guess.
Any info on Rick Humphries...jr staffer in ATL? He raised hell with my parents when they flew me home, told them all the usual garbage about pull offs....What about a real hot staffer named Pam?

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: kosmonaut on July 24, 2002, 07:51:00 PM

Quote

On 2002-07-24 16:29:00, Tampa survivor wrote:
The family in Gwinnet had a couple of way older guys...redheaded, one brother drove a big old Cordova. They were fine country folks who treated me decently. They lived in an old wood house with a porch, real woodshop out back, etc. The Crows(Dunwoody area) had been with us in St Pete b4 ATL opened, when I was sent there, I stayed with them. Travis and his brother played guitars alot and Ann(mom) made the best biscuits in the world. They were real into it all. Lots of people had me stay cause I burned them out I guess.

Any info on Rick Humphries...jr staffer in ATL? He raised hell with my parents when they flew me home, told them all the usual garbage about pull offs....What about a real hot staffer named Pam?

I don't remember a Pam. I have a hard time with names, always have. Now, these 2 brothers that played guitars, did they have a dad who was an airline pilot? I stayed in a house with 2 brothers like that. Really super nice people and both brothers were really cool. The mom made us chocolate chip pancakes on Sundays! It was unbelievable. I think I even got a bed to sleep on.

About the red-headed brother family- I think that may have been the first family I stayed with in Straight. Did they have an elaborate alarm system set up so that everyone could get up on time at 5am and make it to group?

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: Tampa survivor on July 24, 2002, 09:01:00 PM

The choclate chip pancakes on sundays...wow, we were at the same house. Jay and Travis Crow. They had big bucks, lived in Dunwoody, and were very nice. The mom was way up in the thick of shit at the program, but i think she was a true believer, always nice. They knew my parents from St Pete(b4 ATL opened). I don't know where the hatred and love got all mixed up, but this program sure twisted up some good people. One thing for sure, the more $$$ Daddy had in the bank, the longer you were stuck!!!
Bill

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: wayeast on July 25, 2002, 09:32:00 AM

Bill,

So if you cut out on Mrs. Byrd in Atlanta, were you there before they sent her off to Virginia? Singing her favorite song: "Tell Me Why" in group as a tribute to her holy awesomeness.

Just curious, what did you and Bobby Rugles do to tick off Newton so bad in Sarasota? I only saw the guy once, when he went red-faced ballistic in the back of the room when we weren't being hard enough on someone. We never even knew he was there until he was yelling at the top of his lungs.

Would you mind saying what you looked like back then?

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: Anonymous on July 25, 2002, 10:36:00 AM

I remember Pam, if she was a pretty, dark-haired Junior Staffer who was sweet and cute. Groups with her were always more human. She even stood up one guy who was mildly retarded and told him she believed in him. Contrast that with the usually roving finger of scorn that most staffers practiced, and you can see why she stood out.

To agree with what someone else said, though, confidentiality at Straight was a joke. Pam worked with one of my friends from school, and she talked with him about me. It didn't bother me, because it wasn't apparently anything too bad, but it said something about Straight.

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: Tampa survivor on July 25, 2002, 11:24:00 AM

I was from St. Pete, Bobby from Sarasota. His drama involved a bunch of splits and physical torture at Sarasota. Details were sketchy as we were not allowed to talk on ride to ATL or afterwards.
I had split 3rd and 2nd phase, misbehaved for a few months in between, made it to 4th in St Pete, got knocked back down and decided that they could all get screwed. Every little strategy Newton came up with, like isolation from group, banning my parents from open meetings, eating p'nut butter for 2 months,just made me tune them out more. I did some fighting with HRS people around. I tried to act out on Nancy Reagans 1981 visit. Miller Newton couln't bend me mentally and it pissed him off. Oh, wasn't Newton great when his whole head would damn near turn purple with rage? I loved doing that. His sick perversion of force+confrontation+breaking down=love from your peers screwed up a bunch of kids. I am proud that that peacock bastard, charlatan of redemption,con artist with a mail order PhD never broke me. Screw playing along and making staff. What, become what I hated most?
Mrs. Byrd....I had bailed on my 2nd day of school(3rd phase). I was taken to ATL 'cause I liked to split. Not knowing ATL very well, I walked right down a main road, hitchhiking, when a little crappy car pulled over to give me a ride. IT WAS HER!! She told me to get in the car. Ha, yeah right. A little quick math and I figured there was no way she herself could catch me, so down the embankment I went. Kudzu is thorny, but it sure slows down executive directors better than it does a 15 yo on a mission for freedom.
I was (am)tall, turned 15 in ATL,had dark blonde hair, and was thin from my incarceration and food deprivation. I relished sleeping in the woods that night.Bill

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: Tampa survivor on July 25, 2002, 11:41:00 AM

I remember a young lady with decency and compassion as you described. I had a terible crush on her before she left staff, abruptly and without explanation, as if there was ever any other way people left staff!!

Atlanta was a netherworld for me..distant from home...strange accents....alone. People like Pam made it easier. Then they would disappear....

[ This Message was edited by: tampa survivor on 2002-07-25 08:48 ]

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: ClayL on July 25, 2002, 11:53:00 AM

That was Pam S. and when I got there in '82 she was a Sr. She later married Alan H. (whom I detested). For later phasers, remember the wedding pictures in the photoalbum in the front office? That was Pam and Alan's wedding. Pam was nice to look at, but I don't have fond memories of her.

Ricky P. when I forst got there was still a Jr. and was a hard case, but always fair to me at least. When I went in on the Mini-Program, Ricky was back on staff and a Sr. HE had changed a lot and was one of the nicest people there. He could still be a hard case, but most of the time was quite mellow. He left staff after about 2 weeks of my mini.

Kosmo- I can remember the alarm system you are talking about. I was hooked to like a police siren or something. I think I stayed there as a Nuke with my oldcomer. Wasn't one of the guys named Johnny L, an import from Alabama?

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: ClayL on July 25, 2002, 11:58:00 AM

The two guys that had a dad who flew for delta were Paul and (Begins with a "P" also)

CL

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: kosmonaut on July 25, 2002, 02:30:00 PM

Yes, that damn alarm system. It was unbelievable! It really was a police siren they had wired up to a car battery and a clock. At 5am it was WAHWAHWAHWAHWAHWAHWAH at full volume. Everyone would LEAP out of bed scared sh*tless! Then we'd drive to group in this funky old Detroit gas guzzler. I think I stayed there about a week. Can't really remember. They were pretty nice people.

So, the Crow family were the ones with all the money. That was definitely a luxurious time. That guy Paul was really nice to me as well. I think he was on 5th phase when I was on 1st at their house. He took out his Gibson SG and showed it to me. I was salivating over that (being a musician) and we talked about guitars and music. I knew it was wrong, and so did he, but we never got caught. One of the few highlights of being in Straight.

Now I also remember the staffer Alan, but not his wife Pam. Oddly enough, I still remember what his voice sounded like. Didn't he have a slight lisp or something?

Wasn't there a staffer who got diagnosed with lung cancer too? Derek?

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: ClayL on July 25, 2002, 03:35:00 PM

YES! He did have a lisp!

Derek got cancer?! Man that REALLY sucks! I think he was the only person that ever got some, with staff permission. Derek came back on a mini-program also and had gotten married in the mean time. He'd take off for the week-end and come back all smiles. While on staff Derek would come into group in the AM playing air guitar and singing "Black Beatty". Once when Someonereported me for listening to druggie music and putting on images in my car, Derek took me aside after group. He asked me what I was listening to and I told him BOC. Derek replied their pretty cool and that was that.

CL

[ This Message was edited by: ClayL on 2002-07-25 12:36 ][ This Message was edited by: ClayL on 2005-03-26 13:26 ]

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: kosmonaut on July 25, 2002, 04:04:00 PM

Honestly, that's just a rumor I heard. Hopefully he's fine because that guy was cool. I'm pretty sure he was responsible for getting me on 2nd phase. He was always really nice to me, or at least as much as he could be.

Who was that other staffer, the guy with blond hair and the mischevious look in his eye?

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: kosmonaut on July 25, 2002, 04:13:00 PM

Quote

On 2002-07-25 07:36:00, Anonymous wrote:
I remember Pam, if she was a pretty, dark-haired Junior Staffer who was sweet and cute. Groups with her were always more human. She even stood up one guy who was mildly retarded and told him she believed in him.

I believe the guy you are talking about was Mike MaCallum (as remembered by ClayL earlier). Remember that one staffer, the black guy, who used to make fun of him and call him the "lemon squeezer"?

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: ClayL on July 25, 2002, 04:43:00 PM

The Staffer was an Exec.? Mike really hated it there. Always looked like he'd eaten something that tasted bad. Can't remember the exec's name, buy he really knew his stuff. Was working on a PhD at Georgia St. and also worked at Grady Memorial in their Psyc Ward. Didn't last long at Straight, Imagine that.

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: ClayL on July 25, 2002, 04:43:00 PM

I have no idea who your talking about.

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: wayeast on July 25, 2002, 08:44:00 PM

Bill,

When I was there in September and October of 82, there was a guy who was tall, with dark blond hair, and thin, who I can't ever remember speaking in group during that period. His face was a complete blank, like he hadn't smiled, cried, laughed, or shown any emotion in a long time. It was like he'd been there so long that they'd bleached the emotion out of him. He sat in the third or fourth row usually, and I was on the front row, so I don't know if he ever motivated, but seeing him sitting there, it was hard to imagine that he did. I wondered what his story was. Could that have been you?

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: wayeast on July 25, 2002, 08:52:00 PM

Was Alan the taller, thin, dark-haired guy who looked like he was too old to be involved in Straight? There was a guy who looked like he was in his late twenties or early thirties.

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: Tampa survivor on July 25, 2002, 09:08:00 PM

Yeah, that description sounds like me me. I was in a severe funk as I had been busted down hard, then split, then caught. By late October I decided it was time to go. I am slowly getting the details straight in my mind...which split went with which phase, foster home...hell. I made second phase again,FOS of course, while living with a Darren Chastain, great family, nice home in Symrna. Being a Tampa kid I stayed with them after making second. Well, right before X-mas, I took a letter out to be mailed, said goodbye to Darrens cute as a bug little sister, and scooted through the woods.
So yes, that was probably me. I thought a lot. I nearly lost my mind, but by that time I was fully internalizing, not fighting anymore. I will never forget ruth-Ann and Satan Newton threatening to send me to cincinatti if I didn't get my crap together. They taunted me in group about my dislike for cold weather, and lied about my parents supporting a transfer to Cinci!! Arrogant shits...I talked my parents into giving it a shot and never stepped foot in either St pete or ATL program again.
You could also be remembering a Bobby Ruggles, who was also from Florida....hard case that went a million miles away for days at a time, then fought like a monster to let it out. He got busted from 5th about the same time. He had straighter hair than I. I did what it took to get 2nd and get the fuck out....I was NOT DOING a THIRD X-mas at that place.

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: Tampa survivor on July 25, 2002, 09:31:00 PM

I can say that the earlier mentioned Gwinnett county guys were like 22 and 25 or some crazy crap. I was 15 when I got out.
Bill

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: wayeast on July 25, 2002, 09:36:00 PM

Oh, man. I can't believe I'm talking to you. I've always wondered what the hell happened to you to put you in that pale, zombie state (not that we weren't all pale). I was kind of surprised you didn't get confronted for never saying anything. It seems like I remember that one time they started picking on you trying to get a reaction, but you weren't cooperating by getting mad.

As for Bobby, I remember that he was kind of a jerk as a fifth-phaser. When they busted him, they put him on "zero phase, which is about one step away from getting thrown out of the program." I want to say it was Pam who made the announcement, but I can't remember that for sure. It may have been ex-stripper Debbie Castro. I don't remember what Bobby was like after getting busted.

I'm whole-heartedly and sincerely glad to hear you lived. It was obvious that something was really wrong. You must have scared the hell out of them.

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: kpickle39 on July 25, 2002, 09:41:00 PM

My first day was Dec 26, 1978. Don't know if you remember me . . . You never gave me a hard time, although I don't think you were on staff for too much longer after I got in the program. Good to hear from you. Hope you are doing well. take care

Mike, Straight Survivor '78 - '80

[ This Message was edited by: kpickle39 on 2002-07-26 19:15 ]

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: Tampa survivor on July 25, 2002, 10:13:00 PM

Oh, I remember her raising hell in St pete back in the day. She went on and up and I even stayed in her house one time when I was misbehavin in atlanta, but I never got to see her strip. I heard she screwed up bigtime. What ever happened? She had a cute butt...Bill

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: Marnie on July 26, 2002, 09:51:00 AM

Hi Mike....Yes I Do remember you from St. Pete - My memory is quite foggy - it has been so many years and I knew so many people - I have seen a picture or two of you from some of the events you have attended and hosted - sounds like you are doing very well - I sent an e-mail to B Patterson about my life from Straight to know - So as not to repeat myself I can forward that if you would like

I would like to hear more about what you are involded in now

thanks for the post ......Marnie

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: ClayL on July 26, 2002, 10:12:00 AM

I remember there was another transfer from St. Pete, a Mark (?). Short, worked out, dark hair. Y'all remember him. I think he was the only transfer there not on a mini-program. I came in April 1982.

CL

[ This Message was edited by: ClayL on 2002-07-26 08:00 ]

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: Tampa survivor on July 26, 2002, 10:18:00 AM

Mark Short...WOW...that took a minute.
Yeah, me in him were on 4th in St Pete, 1981. He was a cool enough guy, we went on "permission", so forth. Did he do ok? I hope so. I wonder why he went to Atlanta?
Anybody know? How'd it turn out?
Bill

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: ClayL on July 26, 2002, 10:58:00 AM

Shortly after making 5th phase they sent him back to St. Pete so he could 7-Step from that group. That was in '83-'84. Atlanta was much more laid back than St. Pete and he was really scared. Don't know what happened to him after that.

CL

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: 85 Day Jerk on July 26, 2002, 12:23:00 PM

During the first few months in the Morgan Yacht building after the start of school in the fall of '78 you used to team up after lunch with a dude that looked the a dark haired version of Robin Zander (lead singer of CHEAP TRICK) I finally remember his name.
Chris Burns, it was and you two were unbeatable at getting performance out of us.
Chris had hair like a rock star, and the girls would gush when he came into group. You had us kids eating out of the palm of your hand. While Liz & Chris Cassler had cornered the market on Love Raps, you and Chris were tag team champs at getting us to uncover hidden weaknesses. I remember this one rap where you gave us 1st phasers a chance to stand up a higher phaser and describe them in just one word. You called on me and I stood up a guy that had only related 3 or 4 times in big group since I had been there. He was a 4th phaser named Dan Tishner. The word I used to describe him was 'illusion.' I was'nt trying to impress anybody, but our eyes locked briefly and it was like you were staring into a crystal ball or something. It scared the shit out of me. He got put on a refresher that day, and split the program the next morning, the minute the car door opened in front of the Yacht building. His short lived oldcomer even kept the beltloop as a souvenir! That event always freaked me out and I made it a point to never let it look like I was a staffer's pet ever again. Just because I had a little more insight from being a jerk and simply observing, did'nt mean a kid deserved to be taken away from home and treated like shit like that.

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: Tampa survivor on July 26, 2002, 02:40:00 PM

Marnie,
Whats it like to read the above and see you remembered as a staffer? Having worked through the program, then willingly join staff to lead interrogation raps which set people back,etc. I ask this because I have just stumbled into this emotional roller coaster, and find myself drawn to reading the old posts, people far away in places 10 and 15 years after us continued to go through this. It is hard not to get overwhelmed by all this.
Bill

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: Anonymous on July 26, 2002, 04:28:00 PM

Was Short really his last name?

I remember a guy who fit that description who did my intake. He ended up making a run for it, but then got caught and came back. The girls were making fun of him because he ran straight back to his girlfriend.

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: ClayL on July 26, 2002, 04:47:00 PM

No, he was short, well er, shorter than me about 5'6".

CL

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: Anonymous on July 26, 2002, 06:05:00 PM

SINCE I HAVE FOUND THIS WEBSITE i HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE - I AM STILL TAKING IT ALL IN - EVEN THOUGH I WAS A STAFF MEMBER - I WAS BRAINWASHED AND A VICTIM

I am still trying to deal with the past even today

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: GregFL on July 26, 2002, 06:28:00 PM

Quote

On 2002-07-26 15:05:00, Anonymous wrote:
SINCE I HAVE FOUND THIS WEBSITE i HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE - I AM STILL TAKING IT ALL IN - EVEN THOUGH I WAS A STAFF MEMBER - I WAS BRAINWASHED AND A VICTIM

I am still trying to deal with the past even today

Marnie, of course that is true. In some ways, you are more of a victim than most, being thrown into "treatment" at only 11 and then spending your entire teenage years in the program. It is shamefull what happened to you, you never deserved it.

You are now among real friends, the only people whom can possibly understand what you went thru. Let any guilt or bad feeling go, none of it is your fault.
We all share a painfull past and a screwed teenage life, both before and after the program. One thing most of us share is we are from a disfunctional families and neglectfull and/or abusive parents. While this isn't true of everyone, it is true of most of us.
There comes a time to look at your childhood, see it for what it was and let the pain go. Then it becomes almost like a story from a book and you can move on. I wish that for all that were harmed by the program.
I know for myself that I carried great shame about being there, about giving in, about not running, about even graduating and being a part of it. I also carried anger towards my family for placing me there, for leaving me, for not understanding why I hated it, for rejecting me when I tried to grow away from the program. I had sorrow for losing a normal childhood.
I have now forgiven myself and understand the intense pressure I was under.
Marnie, yes you were brainwashed. Yes you were a victim. Let it go, no one blames you today for anything that happened to them. If they do, they are still mentally stuck back there and mistaken and I will set them right.

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: Tampa survivor on July 26, 2002, 09:18:00 PM

Marnie,
I cannot even begin to fathom the depths of your confusion about all of this. I read ALL of your posts, and learned how at 11 you were sucked in and the hold was upon you for many years. We all lost so much. The years 13-16 were stolen from me. You had your entire teen life warped. I found this site about the same day you did. If you are anything like me, the rush of emotions, incidents long forgotten, faces without names is crushing you. I felt the pain in your last post. The regret. Greg is right, we were all brainwashed. On my higher phases I ratted, confronted, and righteously took misbehavers home to my house. You led raps for us. Had I not split and generally been up and down for 2 years, I could have been right there with you. When I began the program, I looked up to you and the other staffers. I came close to stepping once, then blew it.
I blame the bastard adults who "ran" the program for placing under-educated kid/victims in charge of the rest of us.
Now today Marnie, you and I have found a new group, as Greg indicated. He has had many years to soak it up. I spent last night reading archives here about these girls up north where Satan Newton went next. I cried, and I am not normally a teary guy. These posts are mind bending to me... and to any body else who has recently stumbled across them.
Let me know if I can do anything for you Marnie. I am dazed and confused but feeling rather alone about all this now. My kids(custodial dad x 3) think I have an internet girlfriend, my mom wants to act like it never happened, and I think I know how you do feel with the past rushing forth.
Good Luck to us all.
Bill

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: GregFL on July 26, 2002, 09:40:00 PM

Hey Bill, how old are your kids? My experience in the Seed was my big secret, but about 2 years ago, I outed myself to my close friends and then my kids, and you know what? they understand! They even see in grandpa the horror I must have had to endure, yet they still love them. The capacity to heal begins at home.
My daughter is twelve and she almost came with me to my last protest, but at the last minute went somewhere with her mom.
I am a single dad of two, ages 19 and 12. What I have told my kids has been valuable to them as well as me.
Think about it.

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: Tampa survivor on July 26, 2002, 11:03:00 PM

I have had custody of my kids since I divorced 4 years ago. My girl is 5, my boys 9 and 13. I know what you mean...I never 7 stepped, I just drifted away. My shame. My X-wife heard a touch, and as a nurse she was appalled, but I generally NEVER talked about it. My son is struggling in a grand way, but I am trying to handle it differently than my folks did. It sucks. The allure of the "program" to parents is understandable. I mentioned to him a little about the fact that I was sent away yesterday and today. He knows something has rattled dad badly.

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: Tampa survivor on July 26, 2002, 11:21:00 PM

To ANON re: Mark Short.
Yes, there was a short Short with Mark as a first name. He was lean muscular and fits you ATL peoples description, and I have little doubt that we are knowing the same guy.
Bill

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: bilabong69 on May 05, 2003, 06:30:00 PM

Didn't Bobby have a sister named Kathy in Sarasota. I remember Bobby being a very skinny cat who could wriggle and escape from anywhere and anyone:) GOOD FOR HIM!!!!!!!!!!
Mark Chitwood Sarasota 81-83

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: Tampa survivor on May 05, 2003, 11:06:00 PM

WOW...
...seeing this post again...WHOA
I had just recently found the board then.
Well, thanks for bringing it up. Bobby was slicker than a cat. We were shipped to Atlanta together for fun and games with mint juleps and soft southern hatred to further warp our little rebelious asses.
PPFF**CCKK that. Neither one of us seven stepped.

I heard bobby lost his mind. I hope its not true.
We went through hell together, and I almost lost mine from 20-30.
Beyond that, I know nothing.
Kathy is a vanish in the wind case too.
See ya round Mark. Welcome to the fray. Avoid the politico relig arguements, and reading the old posts was catharetic for me.

Bill Hadley
St Pete and Atlanta
12-80/12-82
PS e me @ whadley002@earthlink.net if you want.
I think I may know you. If you are who I think you are, I am gonna trip out. Cool

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: bilabong69 on May 06, 2003, 10:07:00 AM

Hey Bill, thanks for hollaring back at me:) yea I just found this forum yesterday, hehe, seeing it was my 22 annivers. I went into Straight Sarasota May 5th 1981, remember it clearly. My mom brought me down from cincinnati to go into the program cause I was such a ahole punk (I really was).I had a pack of smokes in my pocket with 2-3 fat ones rolled up, thinking later that night I was going to the beach and burn them. Little did I know what excatly was in store for me.My memory is very fogged from that period of time, I apologize if for not remembering you. I can only remember a handful of names-BUT after reading this board several more came into my mind, like Bobby and Kathy.
My brother came into the program several months later, Mike Chitwood, and he whizzed through the program, my brother new how to play them like the fools they were, he was in and 7th stepped like in 7-9 months. But he told me stories of 5th phase when he was supposed to be at work he was out reading playboys and hanging on the beach, hehe.
I was in the program for almost 2 full years, It took me awhile to understand their system and conform, ughhh. After 7th stepping I thought it was ludacris to not be able to date and started my rebelious attitude then. I started hanging with the folks in my high school that thought I was nuts in the program and they became my friends. I started doing the things a normal 16-17 year old would do, going to Riverview High footbball games, dating the lovely ladies, drinking a few beers at parties and just being an adolescent. Well the 7th steppers got word of my actions and it got ugly, they called me in and I got confronted, told them I was basically through with them and was ready to be on my own. Dr.Burns came into the office and told me that If I left I would have to leave my car keys with him because my grandmother gave me the car and if I wasnt in the program I wasnt driving. So I gave him my car keys and got my insulin and syringes from him and walked out the door and started to hitchhike down Cattelman road. I went to Carl Greenwalds(I think thats his name)he had a sister named Holly, house and hung for a few days. After that things get blurry. Bits and pieces I remember. I wound up going into the Florida Prison system for a two year stint. After getting out of prison the first time Sammantha Monroe got in touch with me and we became friends, sad thing was I became a stupid drunkard and drank like a fish and she basically didnt want anything to do with me after that. Life started going even further down, I was shooting up, living on the beaches, commiting burglaries, and just basically being a F*** Up. I wound up going back into the Florida Prison system for a 9 year sentence, I did 3 of the nine years, should have only done 1 1/2 but since I encited riots, sold pot, and basically was very rebellious I had to do a little over 3 years, thats the only way to stay alive in there. After getting out for the second time,(Mind you my family has stuck by me through all this)I went and stayed with my brother for a few weeks over on Beneva road. Then I went to live with my mom in NY, I said if I can make it in NY I can make it anywhere. I came here in 89, met my wife, got married in 91, had my first child (girl) now 7 and a 5 year old boy-Jake and Jessica. I have been working in the IT field for the past 8-10 years and have recently been working for IBM on a project for Qwest communications doing project management. Well I didnt mean to ramble on and on and on, it all just started flowing. If you have any questions, please feel free to shoot me an email at chitwoodm@aol.com.

Smoke em if ya got em
:smokin:
TTYL
Mark

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: ehm on May 06, 2003, 12:27:00 PM

Me too. Thought I'd say hi.
Morli :wink:

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: bilabong69 on May 06, 2003, 02:02:00 PM

Hey now, Hello there too. :smokin:

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: Anonymous on May 10, 2003, 10:34:00 PM

are you serious? I was there in 1990, i saw PLENTY. I saw a kid get his arm broken, another his nose, many black eyes, half the girls side in restraints at one point, i got someone else's blood splattered on me from a chair fight, i was denied bathroom breaks, abuse at the host home... went three weeks with strep and NEVER saw a DR, no one ever did... maybe it was worse in the 80's, but it was not pretty in 1990 Clay.

thea

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: wayeast on May 11, 2003, 07:38:00 AM

This string is probably cold now, but Mark (Short?) did my intake too. Along with a guy named (Darrin?) and Mike Bush. Since then, I've wondered if Mike was one of THE Bush clan, but it seems unlikely. He was too human.

Then Tim Mantooth came and did my strip search. What a day. The only thing I'm glad about from that day was that I told Dennis Buttimer to F**k off. And that I think I made Tim uncomfortable because I mentioned a common friend.

I remember when Mark came back into group, and I remember them giving him hell for going back to his "druggie girlfriend(s)." The girls seemed to tease him quite a bit about that. I remember wondering why everybody gave him a hard time about that. It wasn't like everybody wouldn't have done the same thing.

Anybody remember a "Darrin" from the ATL group?

Charlie

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: ClayL on May 12, 2003, 08:42:00 AM

Thea:

Never mind

Clay[ This Message was edited by: ClayL on 2005-03-26 13:28 ]

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: RTP2003 on July 26, 2004, 09:45:00 PM

I felt really bad for Ken Sykes, the way he was treated and abused. Miller should die.

Title: Marnie, Jennie & Kenny Sykes
Post by: whiterabbit on July 30, 2004, 12:10:00 AM

Wow so many names I recognize. I was in st Pete Straight from 10/80 to 10/83. My 15th birthday to my 18th. I remember you Marnie-before the Sarasota group left. I remember Debbie Castro too when she was in St Pete. She put up a huge fight. I never knew she was on staff. What ever happened to her?

Did Greg Wishart have a sister in the program? I remember the last name, I want to say her first name was Diane. She was so thin she looked like she'd break.

Bill I think I remember you too-I actually have a picture of a guy who's first name I know was Bill but I'm not sure about the last name. Pic was taken at Seminole Park in 82. Tall (of course that's relative and I'm only 5'2)thin and blonde?

Marcia

               The body of
        Benjamin Franklin, printer,
      (Like the cover of an old book,
            Its contents worn out,
    And scripts of it's lettering and gilding)
       Lies Here, food for worms!
     Yet the work itself shall not be lost,
For it will, as he believed, appear once more
                 In a new
         And more beautiful edition,
          Corrected and amended
                By it's Author!

Epitaph for himself.

--Benjamin Franklin 1706-1790