Fornits
Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform => Straight, Inc. and Derivatives => Topic started by: Anonymous on September 29, 2005, 01:02:00 PM
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During this time I?ve been reading through this website some memories have come back. I wanted to share a story, if I may. This one in particular is more light-hearted than most, but shows how someone could use the ?knowledge? that we were force-fed to beat the system itself.
I went through the intake process, uneventful as far as some described here, but I went through nonetheless. As the intake progressed I got the feeling that I may be searched at some point. I happened to have a stash and an old wood pipe in my pocket (you see I thought I'd be going to the beach afterwards so I came prepared). At some point, I don't remember if I was left alone or if everyone was distracted, but I was able to get the stash and pipe out of my pocket and into the couch crease behind me without anyone noticing. Big deal, right?
Well, fast forward. I proceeded through the program and made it to fifth phase and after an open meeting one night my newcomer and I were told to wait in the intake rooms until it was time to leave. It was the same intake room where I was "interviewed". Of course my curiosity got the best of me. I had to check the couch never expecting that my stash would still be there.....but it was! So, I had a dilemma. Should I tell that it was mine from a year prior? If I did that I would certainly be ?honest?, but certainly be started over as well. My rational side took over, so I lied. I told staff that when I sat down I noticed a lump in the couch and this is what I found. I was praised and not long after that I graduated. But the kicker is that I was invited to join staff as well. I did and went to junior staff, but left by the time I was 16 as I?ve said before.
This is an entirely true story. I hadn?t thought about this in 20 years. Had I been caught I would have been started over or at least demoted and more than likely experienced some of the awful things that I have read here. I was a lucky liar or maybe just ?conning my way through?.
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:smile: :lol:
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This story would be so much better if you had smoked weed out of the pipe, passed it to your newcomer, with both of you copping out while you were still high.
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Fuck Yeah !! :lol: :lol: :lol:
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But it's all true.
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yeah ?? No doubt.
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You don't have to believe me, but it's true.
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We believe you. You did exactly what a good Straightling would have done, Heh ..
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OK....the story is true...though it's amazing that it laid there so long without being discovered. I believe had I been on 5th phase I'd would have done the same thing. If you had admitted it was yours you defintately would have been started over, versus dropped a phase....at least at the straight I went to.
One question...what straight did you go to? We dind't have couches in our (Springfield) intake rooms. At least not while I was there.
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It was St. Pete.
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Could this have really happened?
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This is SILLY!
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What, your straight didn't have couches in the intake rooms? Pffftt... :lol:
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I'm not sure why I started thinking about Straight today... So, I went to my computer and typed in 7-stepper hoping to find something but I didn't. After typing in "Straight Inc." though...a whole bunch of stuff came up.
I was one of the ones who truly embraced straight. I worked hard to get through and went on staff for 5-6 years. I graduated in Michigan and went to California to work there. Straight took over Dr. Newton's KIDS program and then I was transferred to St. Pete in 1990. I worked w/Liz Gay in Florida until they closed around 1991-92. Liz was one of the most understanding, easy to talk to persons I've ever met.
I was in bad shape when I went in. I smoked pot 4-5 times a day plus whatever other drugs I could get a hold of and my life was generally out of control. I met people in Straight who, when they finally opened up, were just like me in spite of their pasts.
I'd enjoy hearing from anyone who was in Michigan in '86 and California in '89 or '90 or Florida after that. Chances are we might know one another.
I can't say that straight was the ideal place because I remember the chaos too. However, it was such a HUGE part of my life that it would simply be nice to reconnect w/someone who also went through what I (we) did.
Feel free to contact me: [email protected]
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Hi Len,
You were on staff during my program and I'm curious do you even feel bad about the way you treated people? You were actually one of the milder staff members, but none the less I want to know if you have any regrets of ever going on staff.
You were one of the people I was intimidated by and let me say it did wonders for my anxiety being a nervous wreck in group each day and wondering if I would be next to be set back for some percieved wrong.
I hope you stick around as I think it would be helpful to have some honest dialouge.
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One other question I would like to know is do you have any knowledge of why in the hell I was on 5th phase for a year? How could staff ever think that was helpful in healing me?
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yeah,no way you could go and say..."listen, during my intake I stashed this dope in the couch and just found it now."
Man, you would have been accused of "conning" and violating the first rule.
You did what anybody whould have done, I think.
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Hi Christine,
Thanks for your response. Unfortunately, I do not remember you just by your first name?? And therefore I can't tell you why you were kept on 5th phase for so long.
You asked if I ever feel bad about the way I treated people? That's a pretty general statement. It sounds like you didn't like me very much. I wonder if there is any one incident that comes to your mind about me? And, if so, can you tell me what it is?
Michigan was a very mild place compared w/some of the other programs. I have only good memories from there. However, yes, I do feel about bad one incident in California and if I ever get the chance to apologize to this person I will.
I have so many memories. I remember my first days in Straight. I remember some of the chain-of-command from my program. I remember the songs. I remember trying to run away. I remember why my parents said they wouldn't take me home if I left, they called it tough-love and I hated them for it. I remember so many people.
I remember having a clear conscience and practicing what I preached. If I did something wrong I told someone about it. I didn't smoke or date before I was allowed. I stopped hanging out with friends who were doing all the things I used to. And, I stayed sober.
My parents are still grateful for what Straight did for our family. As I said before, I was in bad shape when I entered the program, I'll never forget it and Straight saved my life!
Len
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Thank you for responding Len. It was a long time ago, so no I don't have a specific incident in mind. However, I do remember you ripping people while leading raps. I agree Michigan was prolly the mildest of programs, but it still was no walk in the park.
There still was fear instilled in all of us. One never knew when there would be a confrontation and a set back for doing some "wrong". I mean come on Len, that place was not the way you help anyone.
I'm talking on the phone to Sue D. right now discussing the absurd "treatment" of that place. She was on staff and can even admit to how wrong straight was. Sue says hi BTW. She posts on the alumni site not here.
I'll send you a pic to refresh your memory. I was the chick that wore flowered bell bottoms and dresses all the time. Blonde. The 5th phaser that flipped out in open meeting when she did not graduate.
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You were allowed to wear dresses? was that a higher phase thing?
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5th phase chicks had to wear dresses on monday and friday open meetings. Guy's wore ties.
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Can you please send me the alumni site address?
Thanks,
Len
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http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Straight_Inc_Alumni/ (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Straight_Inc_Alumni/)
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On 2005-10-07 16:38:00, Anonymous wrote:
"Hi Christine,
Thanks for your response. Unfortunately, I do not remember you just by your first name?? And therefore I can't tell you why you were kept on 5th phase for so long.
You asked if I ever feel bad about the way I treated people? That's a pretty general statement. It sounds like you didn't like me very much. I wonder if there is any one incident that comes to your mind about me? And, if so, can you tell me what it is?
Michigan was a very mild place compared w/some of the other programs. I have only good memories from there. However, yes, I do feel about bad one incident in California and if I ever get the chance to apologize to this person I will.
I have so many memories. I remember my first days in Straight. I remember some of the chain-of-command from my program. I remember the songs. I remember trying to run away. I remember why my parents said they wouldn't take me home if I left, they called it tough-love and I hated them for it. I remember so many people.
I remember having a clear conscience and practicing what I preached. If I did something wrong I told someone about it. I didn't smoke or date before I was allowed. I stopped hanging out with friends who were doing all the things I used to. And, I stayed sober.
My parents are still grateful for what Straight did for our family. As I said before, I was in bad shape when I entered the program, I'll never forget it and Straight saved my life!
Len"
I don't know you or anything, but one thing that it sounds like you were unaware of, is that lots of kids actually made up their drug lists just to stop getting yelled at. Lots of kids had to lie in order to be believed. Not everyone needed to be there and a lot of kids learned to lie and play the system in order to get ahead. None of this would have been necessary if the place itself hadn't been dishonest. Full of shit as they say. It sounds like it was positive for you but it definitely wasnt' a good place itself. No offence meant, just wanted to point this out since it sounds like you didnt know this. Some kids even forgot they had made up their drug lists until much later. That's all I will say.