Two things. I find Stripe to be an engaging and well thought out poster. Perhaps your feelings toward her are directly in proportion to her attitude about the seed?
Who knows? That is for you two to work out.
However, as one of the few that was both in the seed and who has attended a rap and an open meeting at a modern day incarnate of one of these programs, and who has also met with for several hours the director and participants and parents of the incarnation program, I will offer my opinion on your comment.
There are differences between the modern programs and how the Seed was run. The differences are as thus.
1) The modern day programs are run on a professionalized version of the seed in order to qualify them for insurance. Therefore, there are likely to be certified counselors on staff and even a real doctor or psychologist.
2) The amount of time required to finish the program is much longer, as is the "phases" themselves.
3) The leaders don't seem to be anywhere near as charasmatic or endear as much love (and hatred) as
Art could muster.
4) The violence for the most part is less overt. I should probably explain. They have written and published policies against contact. From time to time, these policies are violated, and much or less depending on the individuals in charge (like the seed st pete vs the seed ft laud).
5)The kids don't describe themselves as "heading down the path to certain ruin", they describe themselves as addicts, thanks in part to Dr. Miller Newton's book.
Other than that Ft Lauderdale my friend, these kids are singing seed songs, screaming "im coming home" at open meeting, rapping and motivating away to the signs, steps, and serenity prayer, participating in boy's and girl's raps, and secretly plotting their escape to freedom. The basic model that Art popularized remains intact.
The similarities far outweigh the differences.
