Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > Elan School

Elan Connection to the People's Temple?

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Troll Control:
Hey people, just an item of curiousity here.  I know Elan is a Synanon-based program, like Daytop.  However, I never heard of "The Ring" (making attendees fight one another physically) being used anywhere at Daytop.

I was watching a channel thirteen documentary today about the People's Temple - the Jim Jones cult that killed a congressman and committed mass suicide in Guyana.  In this film they were talking about people being "called up front" (a group confrontation/confession session where members would have to confess intimate details of their lives - who they slept with, etc - to the group), whereupon the leader (Jones) would give "consequences" ranging from bitch-slappings to paddlings to sexual assault to "the ring"...  This caught my attention.

My question:  Does anyone know wheteher "the ring" came from the People's Temple or some other source for cult abuse tactics?

In any case, this documentary was fascinating and was laden with program-speak and tactics.  I knew before of the People's Temple, but I had never heard it in the words of survivors and, let me tell you, it sent a shiver down my spine...

Anonymous:
Interestingly enough, there was a sign at "The Pavilion" of the People's Temple's headquarters in Guyana, where the mass suicide occurred.  It read: "Those Who Forget Their Past Are Condemned to Relive It."  Sound familiar?

Well, sometimes TC programs became cults.  Doesn't mean they all were.  I don't think Elan and the PT were connected, but it's likely they both borrowed stuff from Synanon or similar programs.

Anonymous:
Hello Dysfunction Junction, glad to see your back. BTW, have you ever figured out your function yet??

Troll Control:
"Hooking up words and phrases and clauses..."

Driving a choo-choo maybe...? :question:

Anonymous:
I guess if a person wanted to make a connection youd have to look at a few facts. Time-line...association...application etc.

Elans "Ring" was used most often when a person physically confronted another and in some cases as a consequence for intimidation and or threats. I think it was geared more to a simple lesson not unlike teaching a toddler not to bite. (by biting them back)

The ring was not exactly a brutal act, physically anyway. Participants would glove up with real boxing gloves. 16 ounce I think, which were not exactly a tool for inflicting pain and injury.  Myself, I witnessed at least a dozen occasions of the ring, and was the "bad guy" once, and the good guy 4 or 5 times.

Most of the "bad guys" didnt even fight back and they covered up and got thumped around with gloves for 5 minutes and it was over.

No blood, no injuries...but I wonder why the nurse was never present? I mean every sanctioned boxing match theres always someone with a medical background present. Maybe the "nurse" didnt know about these things?

I doubt there was any connection with Elans ring, and the cult you speak of. First, I was in daytop and never saw the ring once. though I was only there 2 months, there were plenty of occasions when it could have been used as punishment for things that happened there. But Daytop also had a lot of people come in and just get kicked out or hauled off to jail if they assaulted someone.

To link the ring with a cult, and to link the similar "philosophies" such as the one posted is more likely a coincidence. The "philosophy" mentioned isnt uncommon and I doubt it was created by a TC or cult group.
The ring in its most basic principal really isnt any different than the real world, if you hit or intimidate someone, youre eventually going to get your ass kicked.

Works in society, why not Elan?

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