I'm not sure I can communicate in words the differences between the two programs, especially after 80's. Here goes. . .Many people here expereienced seed in 70's or straight in 80's. In 80's seed was quite different than its early years. . .it became much, much tighter in its group dynamics. I am not promoting seed as any better, just very, very different than straight.
Yes, there were major elements copied from seed to straight, but the "feelings" or "expeienece" (albeit an illusion) were much more powerful in seed. At seed, you really felt that this was the real deal in many ways; at straight there was not a sense deeep, deep comraderie among the group. There was much more sneakiness and not a core of personalities, who claimed to be at a higher level as individuals, boith in character and emotional strength and wisom , not mention claims of being smarter. There was a clear sense at seed that to "leave" or in any way be disloyal to the core persoanlities was to also be disloyal to yourself. That was the danger zone.
As others have posted, straight had "a meaner edge." Seed was too smart for this. As the years evolved, seed became pretty much above any violence and direct --in your face-- attack therapy was minmal, only when felt "absolutely necessary." (this was no longer often). Seed became more open in its connection with practical world politics (with a libral - democratic twist), although it is true that emotional/psychological pressure continued to exist.
At straight there seemed to be a feeling that even though you were pressured by others around you, they were still, ultimately, strangers, that you could forsee breaking bonds with in the future; at seed these were your "soul brothers and sisters" and it was "meant to be that you had come to know each other in this lifetime." Most there really believed you were on a destined road. The rest was copy-cat from the seed perspective. And the truth is, although an illusion, that the power was much, much stronger at seed. You internalized a deep sense of loyalty, committment, life-journey tp a core group of persoanlites and your peers, that was supposed to be "forever." So you became more than friends, friends to a much deeper level than just these people you interacted with at a rehab, many no longer even associated it with a rehab or even an organization at all. At straight very few personalities were revered in a place close to perfection. At seed, several personalities were thought of as close to perfection as possible and the strong desire of wanting to emulate these people was about spiritial growth -- almost like becoming a "wise soul."
Thoughtless reaction towards others and uneccesary hype became the less common at seed. Instead, thoughtful manipualation seemed to reign in a way that kept the inner and outer group centered around the core. Straight personalities were simply not as convinving or psychologically penetratins, so it was no wonder that restraints were needed. At seed one look from one of the key personalities could shatter every part of the confidenece that "had been given to you" beacuse it was like the gods were always watching.
