Ladies, gentlemen and all them others,
First, let me apologize for my extended absence. Sometimes life just takes you somewhere and you don't have the time to get around to the things you want to do. I also want to express my awe and sincere respect for the energy and stone cold stubbornness it has taken to keep this thing afloat through all the turmoil. Course, Psy has done an awsome job of admining through troubled times and Kelly before him and let's not forget all those who have kicked cash, service and good vibes too. I think what this thing is may actually be a community after all.
Just lately, more than a few community members have been complaining about the perennial attacks on Art. At first I just thought it was the same ol'e same ol'e momentary frustration that occasionally amounts to a complaint or three, few demands and little, if anything else. Having looked over the New Elan Site thread and, in so doing, reeled my mind up with all the old history I no longer think this is just another momentary emotional outburst on the part of those complaining.
Of course,
all of it
could be fiction. One never knows. But if half of what I'm finding out is well founded, boy you guys are some sick, sick bastards. I mean that sincerely. Whether you're doing it purely for sadistic pleasure or to obfuscate and prevent effecitve discussion of Elan, either way you're assholes!
Now, please allow me to explain why I'm not going to edit, censor or ban any of it without a legit, legally binding, air-tight court order.
My first stop on this journey was, of course,
http://www.elansurvivorsgroup.com/ Oh, the irony! [attachment=0:2qa08dnp]formerlyfreewebs.jpg[/attachment:2qa08dnp]
This speaks to the legal reasons why I won't moderate. Formerly Freewebs, like most hosting providers, does moderate their content. As such, I guess they can't call themselves free any longer, wouldn't be honest. That's fine. I'm not trying to get webs to do as I do. They're about something entirely different that what we're doing over here. Wish I could make the money they're making, but there's just no commercial value to this content that I can find. If you think of someone who could benefit from advertising here without changing the above stated policy, PLEASE do not hesitate to give them my number!
On the question of ethics, what's fair is fair. If I chose to intervene on behalf of someone I happen to like, agree with or believe to be innocent then I would have to give equal consideration to them others. Meaningful criticism of the troubled parent industry and public sector gulags would very quickly become impossible because no one would be allowed to say anything unless they could prove it. I happen to believe that our argument can stand on it's own without my tipping the scales to prop it up.
For tactical reasons, folks, this is the primary purpose of Fornits right from the git go! We all have stories that are difficult to prove because they occurred behind closed doors with the only eye witnesses being slandered minors (in most cases) held by force and/or coercion and unable to communicate with the outside world. How in the hell can we find one another to corroborate our stories so that we can prove them if we can't tell those stories unless and until they're proven?
Removing that control on communication yanks the linchpin out of an important protection that these cults have enjoyed for generations.
Now what about the intellectual integrity of discussion and all that? Well, my dear fellow program vets, survivors and supporters, proud or properly shameful. I think it's evident to any outsider reading much content here that we are nearly all pretty fucked up cup cakes! Sorry, you just can't get an insider's view of something as horrible as brainwashing without risking injury from some of the mental shrapnel that so often comes poking out at the worst possible moment.
I've watched this pattern play out in real life and on these forums for decades now. Specifically, I've watched what seem to be the same individuals work the same scam using several different people as targets. Art's just the only one who keeps checking in once in awhile, or maybe they're hounding him irl a little more than the others. I don't know. But they keep after him.
I sincerely do believe that the attacks on Art are entirely baseless. This has been going on for YEARS now. What could possibly drive such devotion to making some stranger on the net miserable? Some think it's just cause Art gets so upset and, just like ill behaved grade school bullies, that makes it fun. But these are the same people hounding this guy over years, across many web sites, even funding and producing their own Art bashing sites from time to time. Could be that these people are just that completely damaged by their Elan experience. But it seems, by far and away, more likely that they're doing this for a specific purpose. Nothing personal against Art in particular. But he'll do cause he responds and that's all they need. But the purpose I believe drives this is to interrupt and prevent any meaningful discussion about Elan. I think they're true believers protecting their cult. It's an effective red herring maneuver. That would be the simplest explanation that fits all the facts.
Any way, though, that only works if you let it. So please, folks, there is a LOT of valuable content in this forum. You just have to look for it. And thanks to Dan for bumping good threads and to Felice for hunkering on this stinking pile of drek no matter what. You is one tough biatch, biatch!
