To the 7 steppers and Pull-offs,
I've just read the entire article written by Trevor Aaronson. I, myself, am a pull off that finds many exaggerations and non-truths to the article. I went through the program from Feb 1995 to April 1996. I was placed in the program by my father. He had custody of my self and my sister. I was a very rough child. I had been skipping school. I was being physically violent w/ my father and little sister. I was using pot and alcohol on a daily bases. No one could tell me different. I knew what was best for me. When my mother asked if I cared what happen to me I replied "no. If I die, I'd consider it a blessing, b/c life sucks". When my father had learned this from my mother, he realized he had lost all control and enrolled me in GT. I was one of (at the time) the "worst misbehaviors ever", as we were frequently told. I came in and went to 'No-Phase' within my first two days. I have more stories of being juvenile and rebellious toward the staff then most of you out there. I had just happen to have one of (and still is) my best friends in there. His parents had suggested it to my dad, since he was already in there. During my newcomer time, we had many stupid, immature games that we'd play on one another, but NEVER to the extreme detailed in this story. I am not saying these incidents did not occur. I am, however, asking those who went through the program if they remember it being this bad? Don't reply if you are a parent or a sibling, b/c you didn't have to do shit. Life was rough for you, but NOTHING, compared to what we went through. I'll be the first to tell any one "GT sucks ass". I'll also be the first to tell anyone "I would not be speaking to you today had I not gone in". Brainwashed? no. If you're that easily manipulated to believe ever word uttered from staff's mouth, you're an idiot. I took a plethora of wonderful, life helping, personal analysis, information from the program. I left the bullshit there. Beatings? Sexual-abuse? These things didn't happen during my program. We had two sides of the spectrum. The girls side were rule crazy, over the top extremist. The problem I always had with GT was staff didn't stop them from being extreme. There was no gray. During my program, the girls took the rule 'no talking behind peoples back' to the extreme of 'you can't say a person's name if they aren't in your eye site'. F'ing ridicules. Thank god 'the mighty mighty' guys side didn't work like that. On Guys side when we went home, our parents sat down and let us bitch our hearts out. Then they'd ask us to figure out how we could change it with out anger or violence. 99% of the time it was staff that we hated. This gave our parents a chance to see why were always mad at them. The saw us from outside the fiery circle. It helped every dude I went there with. I'd sit with my father and my assigned staff member and talk to him about what he did that hurt me. He'd do the same. For the first time in our lives we did it without insulting each other or yelling. We talked. I was 16 yrs old and 'talking', really 'talking' to my father for the first time. I owe that to GT and some staff members. Again,it helped EVERY dude I went there with. Whether they want to admit it or not. All the ones I keep in close contact with, that didn't give up on themselves, is doing just awesome. I know a few that have hit rock bottom, a couple that are dead, and one that's a vegetable. I also know one that graduated UF, one that is a manger for a major restaurant, one that served in the Air Force, and myself who has a great career, is in a committed relationship, and on the verge of being his first home. Traumatic? No shit. It's supposed to be traumatic. Sandy pines is the easy rehab. Ping pong, juice and cookies, and Nintendo aren't going to stop anyone from letting their life go down the crapper. I'd just like to see what other G.T.ers think???
p.s. - F Mickey Bowman. I still hate that Cee yUo Next Tues. to this day!!! Rotten ass b*tch.