Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > The Seed Discussion Forum

I'm serious--let's do something

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marcwordsmith:
Hi. On another thread, I posted the suggestion that maybe those of us who felt strongly about the existing Seed copycat programs could take some action together.

I didn't mean that we should disrupt our lives or organize vast media campaigns, but perhaps we could at least take a few humble steps.

Some people on this site have done extensive and admirable research into the Seed clones and copycats that are in operation now. My wife told me yesterday that there are several in California; she knows this through a friend who works with teens.

My idea for the moment is something very simple. Target a few of the locales where clearly identified Seed-type programs exist and place simple letters to the editors of local papers signed by all of us who are willng to sign. The gist of such letters could be, "We are graduates of a program called the Seed, which operated out of South Florida in the 1970s, and which was similar in style and technique to [insert program name here]. We are now middle-aged, but we can never forget our experiences, and would not wish them to be visited on other teens. We simply want the community to understand what these programs involve: namely, systematic destruction of a teen's sense of self, through psychological and physical abuse, including sleep deprivation, highly restricted access to the bathroom, and constant verbal lashings by other group members and by program staff. The net effect of this treatment is to replace a teen's sense of identity with a new identity--the identity of the program. This may work for a while to get a teen to stop experimenting with drugs, but we feel strongly that in all but the most desperate cases, this kind of treatment does more damage--to self-esteem, ability to form relationships, ability to think clearly, etc.--than good. We only ask that parents and others who may be thinking of remanding their child to [program name] should consider that this decision could have unforeseen, and very undesirable, long-term consequences both to their child and to themselves.
Sincerely, etc."

and we could all sign.

Something like that. I don't know.

My thought is that even if we kept ONE child out of a Seed-like program, it would be worth it.

Or am I just pissing in the wind here? Reality check please.

starry-eyed pirate:
Great idea.  The tentative draft is well worded too without bein' inflammatory and it could be easily done(i was not in the Seed but i was in Str8)  i support this idea.

Antigen:
No, your reality check did not bounce.

Here's how I see it. There are a damned lot of us around the country and the world now who have firsthand experience w/ these types of programs. And we all have our opinions. It's my belief that they only way the Program can work is if there's some central, top down control of group opinions, available info and communications. My primary objective in hosting these forums and hawking all available research has been just to get us all thinking and talking about the issue and sorting it out.

What each of us does w/ it depends on our own talents and personalities as much as what oportunities present.

Your quite correct, imo, that letters to editors can be about the most effective, efficient, low demand means of broadening that dialog. Your letter is just about perfect; as to the point as this rather complex topic allows. I'd say it's publishable if the editor is so inclined.

If anyone wants to brush up on effective strategies and accepted LTE decorum, Media Awareness Project has some very good resources. Folks around here may agree or disagree anywhere from moderately to vehemently w/ the stated objectives of MAP, Inc. and/or some of their affiliates. But they do have an objetively solid and proven database and networking foundation.

I would not be at all averse to hosting a forum modeled after the same structure, provided someone were willing to moderate. That's a taller order than I am willing to commit to, but if someone else wants to do it, I'm all for it. You'd have to be a hard ass and restrict postings to published articles and press releases strictly relavent to the issue (and there will be argument about that) and to published LTEs on topic. MAP wound up hosting a seperate list for sent LTE's with more lax rules on what is and is not on topic.

But even w/o a formal, organized effort, there's no reason why anyone reading here can't post relavent articles, responses, discussion, suggestions, etc. about the industry in an informal way.



All our liberties are due to men who, when their conscience has compelled them, have broken the laws of the land.
--William Kingdon Clifford
--- End quote ---

FueLaw:
Marc,

Your idea is fine but the best way to do some worthwhile damage to these places is to sue them. This way you can get discovery on them. Discovery is taking depositions (sworn statements) and obtaining written records through subpoena's. Once you file a lawsuit you have the power of the court behind you. After you get the records you can turn them over to appropriate government agencies.

However, there are two problems.  First, you need a plaintiff. That is someone who is currently in one of these programs or someone recently released or who was lucky enough to escape. Without a plaintiff you cant sue anyone. Second, you need lawyers that will take these cases on the come and who will bankroll the case.  I would do one in Dade or Broward county.( Boy would I love to get my hands on a John Underwood or Art Barker wannabe) The rest of the country may be a problem.

For backround info or specific examples you may want to read some of the articles on Wes Fagers site, http://www.thestraights.com  [ This Message was edited by:  on 2005-09-05 16:32 ]

Napolean Bonafart:
As corrupt as the current government is you're probably kinda out of the range of stopping this from happening right now.
Those who beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those who don't.
-- Anonymous

--- End quote ---

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