On 2004-12-22 07:22:00, Stripe wrote:
"Right now, I'm thinking the whole Good/Bad Seed idea may, and my idea/hypothesis is just in its early stages - I think it might be a matter of whether a person operates from the base brain or the higher brain.
Hmm, interesting point. I wonder, though, if the difference is more between the intensity of the experience rather than whether we perceive it as good or bad.
I was not really very affected by the Program either way. I
was disturbed to find these lunatics who I'd thought I'd escaped writing public policy mandating spending in their industries. Moreso because they focus their attention and efforts on my kids.
I've heard from a lot of other people who simply blew the whole thing off. Never got all that involved to begin with, sort of skated in and out on the perifery. To them, the whole thing was some fucked up shit not worth talking about or a vaguely pleasant, but equally uninteresting experience.
Those who were always on the floor and those who were eager to go on staff are the ones most affected. At the time, I viewed both extremes as evidence of being broken. The whole key was to never divulge anything really important, never be vulnerable, never lose your temper.
Are there no official studies on the effects of these programs?
Actually, yes, sort of. I can't remember the reference right now, but someone posted in the past month or so about a government study of tough boot-camp style treatment. It was not favorable. Next best thing we've got are extensive studies into Korean brainwashing methods (mostly by CIA and affiliates) and cult studies, coincidentally or not, mostly by FBI and their professional wittnesses.
I shit you not. I'm not being expansive here or flip or trying to piss anybody off or argue symantics. If you look into those two topics, you may be surprised to find a lot of familiar concepts and practices. The whole method amounts to reducing someone to just that state of mind that you describe.
You get sleep deprived and are not allowed privacy or self reflection. You're stressed w/ all the shouting and new rules, new names, constant scrutiny and just weirdness. None of your familiar comforts, even that annoying way your mother might whine and lecture, were available to you. You get fatigued, confused and sometimes paranoid. You know this, so you begin to doubt your own judgement and even perception of things. There's constant and overpowering peer pressure to adopt a very tidy, simplistic way of seeing things and you're just too damned tired and disgusted to question it anymore. The easiest way to get feeling good (or at least a little less bad) is to just go w/ the fucking flow and think about it later.
Immortality: A toy which people cry for, And on their knees apply for, Dispute, contend and lie for, And if allowed Would be right proud Eternally to die for.
--Ambrose Bierce
_________________
Ginger Warbis ~ Antigen
Seed sibling `71 - `80
Straight South (Sarasota, FL)
10/80 - 10/82
Anonymity AnonymousSome days, it's just not worth chewing through the leather straps.