well i said i would post the outcome of a mtg i had yesterday with a midwest graduate, so here goes. the guy i talked to graduated midwest 3 to 4 months ago and is getting along pretty good. no, he is not a brainwashed program moonie or anything like that, i know most everyone here hates to see another point of view, (including personal attacks if i don't seem to quite agree w/ them). he is VERY glad to be done w/ the program and back out in the real world. we talked for about an hour as he had to get going for a family easter thing.. he for sure doesn't think it is the be all and end all for troubled teens, but he's glad he went through it, he thinks it saved his life---again does that mean he thinks it is the only possible answer for what he was going through(meth, heavy alcohol abuse, etc.)-HELL NO!!
he's doing college courses and working, and has adjusted well to the outside world.. he's 18 now and still sees old friends(some of them--not the tweakers-which he considers to be a dead end to life), by the way the school's credits transfered fine, which means the place is accredited. when i asked about his view on the seminars, his answer was about like mine, pretty wierd..but he did get some useful help out of them(by the way, his mom "choose out" when she went through focus--saying it was all to nuts for her) i did get some eye rolls when we went in to some specific's of the program--my point being he is NOT a program moonie. so overall he thought it was a good experience for HIM..
to answer a few of your questions in advance, this mtg. was not set up by the program, he is a friend of a friends son. when i showed him this forum i got alot more eye rolls, he did agree with some of the points, but the physical abuse,(the hobbit, the hole, the pepper spray, restained and on your belly, etc) DOES NOT happen there. he could not believe some of the posts on these type of topics--not to say they are lies--just that they don't happen there..
anyway, my quest for more opinions and info continues-------i'll put on my armour now, so the attacks can begin, after all, this is a different point of view from most on this sight.........
thanks for your time----wwasp dad