Fornits

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An open discussion about the troubled parent industry

After assembling nearby, the group arrived shortly before 5pm hoping for a successful protest. Our expectations were surpassed beyond anyone's expectations!

The number of clients definitely appears to be on the decline.....only 2 cars picked up newcomers at the end of the night. There was less open meeting traffic than past protests as well.  The blistering sun made it rough for some of us for awhile...thankfully some survivors thought to bring coolers filled with water and other drinks.

The protest itself was very eventful! A confrontation with programmed staff, police and protesting survivors- instigated by Pathway Family Center; an unexpected media appearance/interest; numerous interested passersby stopped for more information, etc. Former clients of Straight and KHK who have previously been unaware of our protests stopped by. One was even from my time who I remember! Another was a very angry recent PFC/KHK client.

Surprisingly, PFC did not send out counter protestors of their own this time as they have done in response to previous protests. However, current PFC staff/7 steppers arrived at the end of the night and engaged us in "peaceful" discussions. There were moments when the talks became a bit heated and emotional. Certainly there was much disagreement. But for the most part, both sides remained civil. Clearly, PFC alerted those PFC staff/7 steppers that we were there and probably sent them to gather information. But that was interesting nonetheless. 

In all there was about 11 protesters, signs everywhere such as "Coercive Thought Reform is Not Treatment," "Stop the Abuse", "Close PFC NOW," "Tough Love is a Hate Group," "Pathway = Abusive Treatment Modality," and many others were held and displayed. Countless DVD's and flyers were distributed! 

This was by far the most successful protest I have personally participated in!

After assembling nearby, the group arrived shortly before 5pm hoping for a successful protest. Our expectations were surpassed beyond anyone's expectations!

The number of clients definitely appears to be on the decline.....only 2 cars picked up newcomers at the end of the night. There was less open meeting traffic than past protests as well.  The blistering sun made it rough for some of us for awhile...thankfully some survivors thought to bring coolers filled with water and other drinks.


The protest itself was very eventful! A confrontation with programmed staff, police and protesting survivors- instigated by Pathway Family Center; an unexpected media appearance/interest; numerous interested passersby stopped for more information, etc. Former clients of Straight and KHK who have previously been unaware of our protests stopped by. One was even from my time who I remember! Another was a very angry recent PFC/KHK client.

Surprisingly, PFC did not send out counter protestors of their own this time as they have done in response to previous protests. However, current PFC staff/7 steppers arrived at the end of the night and engaged us in "peaceful" discussions. There were moments when the talks became a bit heated and emotional. Certainly there was much disagreement. But for the most part, both sides remained civil. Clearly, PFC alerted those PFC staff/7 steppers that we were there and probably sent them to gather information. But that was interesting nonetheless. 

In all there was about 11 protesters, signs everywhere such as "Coercive Thought Reform is Not Treatment," "Stop the Abuse", "Close PFC NOW," "Tough Love is a Hate Group," "Pathway = Abusive Treatment Modality," and many others were held and displayed. Countless DVD's and flyers were distributed! 

This was by far the most successful protest I have personally participated in!

Ok, so were waiting on other survivors who are en route as I type this. Survivors from Virginia, Pennsylvania, Massachusets, Ohio, Kentucky, etc. will all participate in today's protest in Milford Ohio.

But this morning between 7-8am, 2 protestors already showed up at 6070 Branch Hill Guinea Pike, armed with signs propped against a nearby telephone pole, a video camera, and flyers. While holding more signs, such as "Free the Newcomers" and others, one car pulled in with 3 clients, at least one of which had to be a newcomer because the car let the passengers out at the CAGE. No other cars pulled into Pathway Family Center between 7am to 8am. Pathway doesnt seem to be very busy! But we will get a clearer picture later and will report back!

The Cincinnati Beacon also ran a short article covering the protest.

Here is the link:

http://www.cincinnatibeacon.com/index.p ... ping_kids/

There is a comment section below the article as well.

http://www.cincinnatibeacon.com/index.p ... ping_kids/

most of the people i went through and know went through are just fine also just this tiny select few who cant get over the fact and all they have is pathway to blame for the life they have created! get a grip people move and stop being such a baby.

so, are you saying that those "select few" that say have diagnosed disorders CAUSED by Pathway/Straight should just "get over it"? I think it is completley reasonable to blame the cause, Pathway/Straight because the individual certainly did NOT create a Pathway/Straight caused disorder, Pathway did. I think its completely fair to place blame where it should go. Accepting clients who dont belong IS Pathway's/Straight's fault. Traumatizing people IS the fault of Pathway/Straight. No matter what a kid does before Pathway/Straight that supposedly "gets him placed there in the first place," does not justify the crap that goes on in that place, it does not justify mistreating people. Stop making excuses for Pathway/Straight which DOES CREATE problems for people, REAL problems they never had before Pathway/Straight. People who are (in your mind) blaming, being a baby, or whatever are actually doing something very different....speaking out against something they dont agree with, trying to speak the truth because Pathway/Straight did not allow them to speak out, object, sharing their experience with others who have been there, etc, etc. There are too many valid reasons to lists....

Every time I read posts like yours I am reminded of just how powerful mind control and denial can be.

*dupe post*

Happy Birthday Steve!

My brother Steve, woulda been 40 today. That's a bit hard to swallow but what do ya do? I just know he did what he could to make anyone he encountered smile, he was selfless and thoughtful and such a great person.  Above all else he was so compassionate and helped people even when he himself was in need of help.  In the end i think him opening himself up the way he did and having to take in all the crap straight was shooting at him was just too much, I think it would have been for most people.

Fuck Straight Inc.!  Fuck Mel Sembler! Fuck Mel Riddile!  Fuck Dean Mistretta!  Fuck anyone who thinks they have the right to hurt another human being!

I love you Steve. RIP!

All you smokers have a toke for my bro! Or a shot or some milk and cookies, whatever! LOL

 ::bandit::  :smokin:  ::cheers::

now were we cute or WHAT? lol  I'm the midget!

Hang in there girl! Try to cheer up!

Thank god.  I feel like such an idiot about it, but I'll just never be one of those who get that 'older' cut.  What I have is definitely not that.

I saw this woman today, she works in my building.  She's probably 50 - 55 (Im 42).  She has straight, fine hair....just like mine.  She let it go all gray and....swear to god, she looks fantastic!!  I'm going gray to the point that it is noticeable.  Not anywhere near completely, but enough to bother me.  So I have it colored.  ::seg::  This woman looked so good that a big part of me just wanted to go 'fuck it.  I ain't no slave to fashion' and go for it.


Nah, prolly not.  Not there yet.
 :wink:  

I have been colorring my hair for 10 years to hide the grey (I started getting grey in my late 20's). About 4 years ago I was told I was 30% grey...by now its prolly 50%. I will ALWAYS color my hair!

I also still shop in jr departments/stores and REFUSE to shop in "womens" clothing stores, etc because I REFUSE to wear "age appropriate" clothes (I am 39). Nothing wrong with it for other people...just no way am I doing it!

I wont grow up damn it, cant make me! LOL

It's an analogy I use because it is extremely difficult to explain STRAIGHT to anyone who has not had first hand experience.

I spent a number of years immediately following Straight having nightmares about being confined and unable to escape. Even after waking, it took some time to realize I was safe.

From time to time, even now these nightmares will make an ugly appearance. It's easier for me to snap out of the fear because when I wake, I see my husbands face and I know that I am safe.

"Existing" with no purpose. Your there, but your not. That is how I can begin to explain the emotions of being there.

I haven't allowed myself to fully place my brain back at the time of Straight. Does that make sense? LOL

What I remember, is all I want to remember for right now. I don't think I want too, but a part of me knows I need too.

For a long time, I'm not sure I even understood what was happening to me. I was young. I do know that I have issues, mostly trust issues. Who doesn't, right?

It's fucked up all the way around. What's more fucked up is that there are kids, just like us who are still trapped in these places.

Have you ever heard people say, "This is my job in life"? I believe my job, is to expose every business, person and funder who was involved with Straight. All of them.

Its a good anaolgy too.....I always took that dream as symbolic of how deeply damaged we all were by Straight. And it is extremely difficult to explain to people what Striaght was like....which is why I always say, the more of us that write about our experience, the better.

I have had the same nightmare, being confined and unable to escape with a few added things, the kidnapping and no one ever believing me. Only mine didnt start until I found the boards....which in my case was likely due to how deeply I suppressed and blocked Straight out altogether. Funny, as horrible as the nightmares are, I take it as a healthy thing. Does that make sense?

And yes it makes sense that you havent completely let yourself go there yet. I did that too, by not allowing myself to contact people I found that I actually remembered from Striaght. I started out by talking to people from other branches, not mine, in part because I was not completely ready to "go there." It took me months before I did that....

Oh and I completely get "This is my job in life" and the exact same "job description." I have sensed that since I was 20 years old.....its only the past 2 years since finding the boards that my "job description" has become crystal clear.

Hang in there....alot of us here completely get it.