Fornits

Fornits Home for Wayward Web Fora
An open discussion about the troubled parent industry

I'll stay in the present, thanks

it's cool that you can use the search function!

so you didn't need ursus to tell you about jingle bells -

I was in cleveland for a month or so before it closed, so yes, pretty vague

"CAUSE EVERY DAY WE'RE STRAIGHT, IT'S LIKE CHRISTMAS!!!

I'm happy you feel that way

We sang it under duress, as an act of conformity, part of a ritual
reasons were stated, but the real reason was simply to get a aroup of people to simultaneously engage in a mindless activity on command
it was a component of conditioning

We now have free will
we sing or not of our own volition

I cannot imagine why you would sing it at all, given the experience you have documented here
you surely have your reasons, while I could speculate, I do not understand them

I choose not to sing jingle bells at all;


In addition to all of the baggage, the mention of snow rubs the whole heat vs humidity arguement in my face, perhaps it is time to look into a summer place in Canada

You were in there when?
WHere was it?

I suggest that my experience of the program was considerably differet than yours as the environment was completely different;

Jr staff watching the door?  in my time people on 3 nites did that, there were no bathroom monitors, 2 guys sat by the gate, again, 3 nites or recent graduates - we played with the ant lions;

most people took a year on the program;

There were plenty of people who had been around for quite a bit longer than I had and many who arrived at around the same time I did and stayed well after I left -and a few who had been around for tropical park, blimp hangar, St. pete

The seed was in decline, only SR 84 remained - group was 100 or less (usually a lot less)
There was a lot of emphasis on getting people to stick around;
The group went to Dania beach every weekend and played football (there are several other threads dealing with that)
I didn't play well with others so I watched the house - which was a pretty good deal.

it was 10 to 6
Sr staff was Libby and a few others
Staff were only a couple people
I think I may have seen one or 2 people referred to as jr staff

I spent my time in the truckers shed, or fixing stuff around the building, at barkers house, fixing cars, his boat etc.
Didn't spend a whole lot of time in the group after year 1.  was never thought of or referred to as staff;

Lived in a house with 10 people, like I said, cheap!
Fairly institutional, with no newcomers, things were pretty open, got pretty good at chess, had a decent job, constant sense that it could all go away at any moment;

you seem to have a fixation with winter songs - perhaps someone can help you out with that - it is summer where I am;

How do you stay for 5 years?
First you drink the Kool-Aid, this is possible if you actually feel like you fucked your life up before you arrive (I did);
If you feel like you are doing OK when you show up, then this is impossible - either you aquiece or get driven into submission.

At the outset I thought that the folks doing my intake had it together more than I did and they had 5 years in so I decided I could go that long.

Then you start to see the contradictions, the holes, the exceptions, learn the (real) rules, find the boundaries, see where people are really at, who the players are, who is serious and who isn't;
Once you know the lay of the land, it is pretty easy, also cheap;
It becomes a game - how far can you push things before you have to bail out (about 5 years it seems)

I achieved my goals, and learned a lot (maybe not what was on the curriculum, but I learned)
Once you step outside, and become more of an observer, you get a pretty good insight into the how cults, societies, churches, and governments maintain control.



I agree with Antigen, they thought they were doing good.
Their egos got in the way.

All sounds really depressing;
and so dramatic;
probably could have been out in 4-6 weeks if you just shut up and went along for a few days during the first week.
Sometimes it is best to get the lay of the land before charging ahead like the Light Brigade.

What trolls? I don't see any trolls.

but their poop is all over the place