I know that I said I wouldn't write again, but I was curious to see the reactions to what I wrote-and I have to say, I really love it when people prove my point. This website might help people. To be honest with you, it reminds me of AA meetings- just a bunch of bitter people making eachother feel justified in being bitter. Maybe you all think I'm rude and egocentrical for criticizing something that has improved a few peoples' lives- but do you really think that AARC hasn't improved a single person's life? I feel the need to clarify my statement that "AARC abused me". We always say "AARC", but it's not like the building abused us. When I say I felt abused, I am mainly talking about a couple of oldcomers I had and two staff members who (to my knowledge) no longer work at AARC- Mr.G and Mr.Haag. If I found out that they still worked at AARC, then I would have different feelings about it. I believe that Dr.Vause started AARC with good intentions but he has made mistakes. 5 years ago, I was so angry and confused that I would have NEVER believed that I would even slightly defend Dr.Vause, but I know for a fact that he cared about me, as I'm sure he feels about all of the kids who have gone through AARC. I respect what you are trying to do Velvet, but like you, Dr.Vause did what he thought would help us when we had very few alternatives. Maybe Dr.Vause did get a bit cocky over the years and can't see his mistakes because his head is so far up his ass, but from what I've heard about KIDS and STRAIT, AARC is not as bad as some people are making it sound.
My point is, if AARC is still bothering some of you this much after 10 or so years, then you have deeper issues. Although AARC might not be great, it's all some (very unfortunate) people have. A few people I know personally have greatly benefited from AARC, so even though I haven't- I don't think that it's right to try to stop something that for some people, is their only hope. Coming on this website and bitching about AARC and how Dr.Vause is responsible for someone's suicide is just pathetic and harsh and does not help anyone. You can focus on the good things that you learned in AARC, or you can focus on all the bad. Some of you even claim to still be sober- do you honestly think that AARC had no part in that? In your reply Velvet, you can replace your feelings about this website with Dr.Vause's feelings about AARC. You might not think that that is a fair comparison because this website doesn't abuse people, but I think that it does- I think that it contributes to bitterness and gives people an excuse to not take respnsibility for their lives. I CANNOT REST UNTIL YOU ARE ALL STOPPED! (that was a joke)
I sincerely sympathize with some of you and wish you all the best, but move on or seek professional help- this website is not the way.
[ This Message was edited by: AARCgrad on 2002-12-03 00:08 ]