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Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform => Mission Mountain School => Topic started by: Anonymous on February 26, 2006, 03:36:00 PM

Title: News
Post by: Anonymous on February 26, 2006, 03:36:00 PM
Two girls ran away from MMS.  Made it to SoCal supposively.  There has been no word from them since... They have been gone for a few weeks...
Two girls (Different from above) broke into the office and stole one of the vehicles, the excursion.  Got it about a half mile down the road before crashing into a snowbank... Returned the keys to the office before they went back to bed... how considerate.
The school is down to about 20 students after the March graduation.  More people have been sent to wilderness... people have left early... etc.  Maybe the school will shut down? Wishful thinking?
Title: News
Post by: Anonymous on February 27, 2006, 10:42:00 AM
Quote
On 2006-02-26 12:36:00, Anonymous wrote:

"Two girls ran away from MMS.  Made it to SoCal supposively.  There has been no word from them since... They have been gone for a few weeks...

Two girls (Different from above) broke into the office and stole one of the vehicles, the excursion.  Got it about a half mile down the road before crashing into a snowbank... Returned the keys to the office before they went back to bed... how considerate.

The school is down to about 20 students after the March graduation.  More people have been sent to wilderness... people have left early... etc.  Maybe the school will shut down? Wishful thinking?"


More power to the runaways! And the car thieves! At least the brainwashing didn't work on them. The Mercers must have been livid. Perhaps the wishful thinking will come to be, not just for MMS, but for all such places. The more people talk, the more truth gets out and hopefully fewer parents will be willing to sign their kids over to strangers.
Title: News
Post by: katfish on February 27, 2006, 03:20:00 PM
Quote
On 2006-02-26 12:36:00, Anonymous wrote:

"Two girls ran away from MMS.  Made it to SoCal supposively.  There has been no word from them since... They have been gone for a few weeks...

Two girls (Different from above) broke into the office and stole one of the vehicles, the excursion.  Got it about a half mile down the road before crashing into a snowbank... Returned the keys to the office before they went back to bed... how considerate.

The school is down to about 20 students after the March graduation.  More people have been sent to wilderness... people have left early... etc.  Maybe the school will shut down? Wishful thinking?"

Can you tell us more about what MMS looks like- what so called therapy is being implemented, rights afforded youth (like in juvi or psych wards) to advocates or is it still like an open jail? It John running groups?  Do you still have to confess real pesronal stuff or be punished with work or labor?  Do they humiliate girls still?
Title: News
Post by: waggytail_lickydog on February 27, 2006, 04:00:00 PM
well... i attended mms from january 2004 until i did not return from a home visit in june of 2005.  after my off-campus, i had a hard time adjusting to being back at mms.  i ended up using self-mutiliation as a way to cope with the fact that i had no support from anyone around me, with the exception of three girls.  because of this, i had calls to my parents cancelled for three weeks, i had no contact with them at all.  anything i wanted to say to my family, had to be approved a relayed to my family.  my first home visit, over christmas, was cancelled.  on my first home visit, i was involved with a male friend of mine.  when i returned to mms and was honest about what i had done, the school took away another home visit, my therapist met with me daily to see if i had realized that anything sexual is bad forever, and every group session was focused on what the other girls thought about what i had done.  i felt like all i could do was agree with what everyone was saying about me and the way i felt emotionally, while holding in all my true feelings.  i kissed another student at the school, and for weeks, the other students, again with the exception of my three friends, would not even approach me.  my history of sexual abuse was denied by staff and students alike.  i did not even start working on it until a couple months before i left.  in my first session of addressing this issue during group, eight girls held me to the ground while i tried to escape.  this was at the prompting of my therapist at the time.  i could not sleep for weeks afterwards, fearing that my past abusers would find me.  i could see nothing but their faces when i closed my eyes.  i think that this was just a part of the school's way of dominating me.  i have recently taken out my journals from my time at mms.  the things i wrote during my time there are highly disturbing and it makes me sick to my stomach just to read about it now.  well... if you guys want to know more, you can email me at [email protected]  i would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has had any similar experiences, or anyone who will not judge me for what i have to say.  
-kim
Title: News
Post by: Anonymous on February 27, 2006, 08:46:00 PM
when i left john was just beginning to take a part in the school again, perhaps because everything was going haywire because all the staff were hightailing it out of MMS.  By the time I left only 2 staff (I dont count john and colleen b/c they were never there while i was there) had actually been there the whole time i was.  the cook and one of the office people.  once in awhile john came in and smashed those who were being 'naughty' and was high and mighty.  All the problems (why the staff were leaving, etc.) were blamed on the student body outright.
Title: News
Post by: katfish on March 15, 2006, 11:58:00 AM
Quote
On 2006-02-27 13:00:00, waggytail_lickydog wrote:

 on my first home visit, i was involved with a male friend of mine.  when i returned to mms and was honest about what i had done, the school took away another home visit, my therapist met with me daily to see if i had realized that anything sexual is bad forever, and every group session was focused on what the other girls thought about what i had done.  i felt like all i could do was agree with what everyone was saying about me and the way i felt emotionally, while holding in all my true feelings.  

 this was at the prompting of my therapist at the time.  i could not sleep for weeks afterwards, fearing that my past abusers would find me.  i could see nothing but their faces when i closed my eyes.  i think that this was just a part of the school's way of dominating me.  
-kim"


Kim, wow- this is intense, I hardly know how to respond.  Who was the therapist?? Someone who worked at MMS?
MMS  so badly handles sexual problems. They program was incredible shaming and so not about education and fact nor addressing the natural feelings that come about from just being human...  Certainly the way they handled it while I was there, and sounds like they still do, is about shame.  While some sexual acts can be driven by motives that are not about sexual intimacy, like seeking love type intimacy that's confused with sex...but they NEVER mad ethe distinction, presumably it's to far above their training capacities? (just like everything else, overly simplistic, black and white) and they ALWAYS placed sex in the BAD catagory.  ...so instead of knowing where to draw the line and be healthy about it, it's just sex=bad...that's a really messed up message to drill into someone head.  
Everything was essentially turned into a 'cop out' - that's why when I say their reality was imposed upon me, it's true...they decide what the world looks like and your place in it and how you fit...and then you're dropped in the real world to pick up the peices.  It's outrageous to hear that this is STILL happening.

Oh, and of course the role of the students, as you mentioned Kim, is to rienforce and legitimize the schools power.  While I was there NO ONE who had been there longer than 8 months spoke a word of dissent...that was a punishible offense and they would punish everyone.  Of course, it's all about control and dominance...At this rate- I'm not sure that our so-called democracy can handle any more authoritarian, rigid minded, unquestioning, overly obedient people like those shaped through schools like MMS.  
Beyond that, control and dominance is inconsitent with the ethical principles of APA and...well, any meidcal person whose work is to heal.  HEALING is impossible in such conditions as you describe, so to pretend like MMS is therapuetic is absurd....jail like, maybe.  and all girls prison with psuedo therapy, yes...therapuetic, no way.  It's simply impossible under those conditions.
Title: News
Post by: Anonymous on March 16, 2006, 11:12:00 AM
look, I agree that some things that happen at MMS were out of bounds, but I was there for a lot of what Kim was saying and it is exagerated and one sided. If you want yourself to have any credibility than you have to stick to the facts.
Title: News
Post by: granny19 on March 16, 2006, 11:30:00 AM
Kim, my granddaughter was at MMS from August 2004 to December 2005. She no longer speaks to me, or most of her extended family. Whatever they did to her appears to have changed her into a different person. Since there was nothing wrong with her in the first place, it is very heartbreaking. Please learn to love yourself again and don't let that happen to you.
Title: News
Post by: Anonymous on March 16, 2006, 03:08:00 PM
The facts are as followed:  when she was at the school, kim felt like shit because people were reeming her...and now that she's gone your'e still doing it.  There are no facts when your dealing with feeling my dear, you should know this by now! The whole point of this web-site is to express how we feel.  It's turned into a bunch-a-getcha gotcha bullshit(You all remember that phrase don't you). Let people have an opinion.  Whoever the moderator is...or x-student/staff person needs to get a clue.  Quit trying to impress John and let a fellow graduate express herself.
Title: News
Post by: Anonymous on March 16, 2006, 03:15:00 PM
ugh
"feelings aren't fact"
"getcha-gotcha"

It's so funny and strange...those terms and, all MMS speak, is permanently etched into my brain.  I hate that!  Mostly becos so much of there was B.S.

Is it ok to say I have never hated someone as much as I hate John Mercer.  I hate John Mercer.  Wow, that felt really good.  I never thought I could ever say that.
Title: News
Post by: Anonymous on March 16, 2006, 10:16:00 PM
okay, I wasn't trying to be mean. I really liked kim and I'm sorry you(kim) felt you were so disliked.
I am in no way trying to take your feelings away.
I am in no way trying to defend or berate MMS. I had my own experiences too. My point was more to everyone on this website. When you are trying to gain support for your story separate the facts from the feelings. When things seem exagerated people are just going to laugh. I've seen people do it.  
I really am trying to help you. I know that you all have some valid points about the school. I want you guys to be heard. I just know that by most this site is looked at as a joke until they have really experienced what is being talked about. I know that I did.
Title: News
Post by: Anonymous on March 17, 2006, 04:22:00 PM
Quote
On 2006-03-16 19:16:00, Anonymous wrote:

" When you are trying to gain support for your story separate the facts from the feelings. "


I think the feelings about facts are entirely relevant, the 'facts' are meaningless without a discription of how one subjectively experienced something that can be construed either as a negative or a positive...
Title: News
Post by: Anonymous on March 18, 2006, 03:12:00 PM
Quote
I just know that by most this site is looked at as a joke until they have really experienced what is being talked about. I know that I did.


You mean, you read this site before MMS?
Title: News
Post by: katfish on March 18, 2006, 03:25:00 PM
Quote
When things seem exagerated people are just going to laugh. I've seen people do it.  
<


What a strange reaction, to laugh at the tragedy described on this MMS forum.  That's just plain weird- I would say that those are not the people any one of us who feel MMS violated many of our basic rights would like to reach out to anyway, as clearly they are not receptive.  There are worthy people out there who are reachable ...those folks may questions some things, but may not find this matter to be at all a laughing matter.  

The issue with descring MMS in fact rather than feeling is that it's very confusing to pinpoint the precise problem- it takes years to figure out the way in which the MMS philosophy systematically dominates your body first and then your mind.  Liz mentioned Foucalt, who touches on this topic of control-- the best analysis of this that I've read, however, is Dr. margaret Singers examination of coercive psychological systems.  It offers in my opinion, fascinating insight into what MMS and many other facilities really do to kids, but they switch the label around and call it therapy. See link for Margaret Singer's readable and fascinating breakdown of the invisible steps MMS used in succeeded to silence and confuse so many of us.
http://cafety.org/index.php?option=com_ ... &Itemid=35 (http://cafety.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=66&Itemid=35)
Title: News
Post by: Anonymous on March 18, 2006, 05:02:00 PM
Parents of girls who go there read this site all of the time. Most see the school as a savior. I heard another girls mom talking about it so I looked on it when I was on a visit. Then I thought everyone was crazy because I liked it there. I hadn't heen mistreated and was fortunate to have some really caring staff there supporting me. To many people thats still how they see things so when you guys are talking about this stuff it just seems unbelievable and crazy to many, especially to those who are there at the same time. Now that I've gone through my own trials I can see what everyone here is saying. My whole point in everything is that facts are important. Feelings are just as important, but a distinction needs to be made between the two if your trying to prove any sort of point. I really don't feel like I need to argue this. I just was trying to make a point and let you know. Take it or leave it.
Title: News
Post by: katfish on March 18, 2006, 07:02:00 PM
Quote
On 2006-03-18 14:02:00, Anonymous wrote:

"Parents of girls who go there read this site all of the time.

They do...hmmm...who knew?

Quote
On 2006-03-18 14:02:00, Anonymous wrote:

I liked it there.
 

I must be missing something- just curious, why did you like MMS?



Quote
To many people thats still how they see things so when you guys are talking about this stuff it just seems unbelievable and crazy to many, especially to those who are there at the same time.
 

I'm not trying to be argumentative at all, juust curious -  what seems crazy exactly?

Quote
Now that I've gone through my own trials I can see what everyone here is saying.    

What do you 'see'?

 
Quote
Feelings are just as important, but a distinction needs to be made between the two if your trying to prove any sort of point.


I disagree with this point only insofar as that I think feelings are crucial to proving a points, in fact- that's the point being made but certainly examples of what events those feelings pertain to are important.  The biggest problem I have noticed, especially older MMS girls is a blocking of the experience.  So many girls simply don't rememeber, it's all foggy...I can think of at least 12 who have said they have mostly 'feeling' memories- their recollection is generally too painful to broach. Hence the absent of fact, perhaps?  Still, not sure about the laughing part you describe but that's ok.

So, while John's lack of education, his arrogance, the arbitrary way the program picks on girls to single out in group, the way  other girls serve to carry out program philosophy, the lack of ability to dissent, the presumption that girls are manipulative are all examples of the manner in which MMS program is flawed in that it insidiously monopolizes the mind of the child , mostly I think that comes about becaus of lack of ability to dissent, but it's a combination of all the coercive elements and it being called keeping the girls 'safe' that I think also confuses girls, maybe this also makes 'fact' difficult?
Title: News
Post by: Anonymous on March 18, 2006, 07:03:00 PM
Quote
On 2006-03-18 14:02:00, Anonymous wrote:

"Parents of girls who go there read this site all of the time. Most see the school as a savior. I heard another girls mom talking about it so I looked on it when I was on a visit. Then I thought everyone was crazy because I liked it there. I hadn't heen mistreated and was fortunate to have some really caring staff there supporting me. To many people thats still how they see things so when you guys are talking about this stuff it just seems unbelievable and crazy to many, especially to those who are there at the same time. Now that I've gone through my own trials I can see what everyone here is saying. My whole point in everything is that facts are important. Feelings are just as important, but a distinction needs to be made between the two if your trying to prove any sort of point. I really don't feel like I need to argue this. I just was trying to make a point and let you know. Take it or leave it.  

"


Concretely, factually, my friend having to carry rocks on her back, causing bruising or the humiliation and pain resutling from tight control on bathroom breaks becaos it was considered 'manipulative', the singling out people and making them wear signs or certain color clothing (really stupid and completely harmful in it's intent- humilation) or the difficulty with which to obtain medical care because we were deemed 'manipulative', or the nature of the 'disclosure' approach- rather than providing nuturance with  an element of a voluntary healing approach, therapy was antagonistical with the constant looming threat of being kept away from home longer or being sent somewhere worse, intervention, or work crew or group punishment.  This obviously would make any therapy group not only unpleasent but unproductive. How is that kind of isolation and terror at such a young age a good thing, is what I'd like to know?
Title: News
Post by: Anonymous on March 18, 2006, 07:24:00 PM
Quote
On 2006-03-18 16:03:00, Anonymous wrote:

"
Quote

On 2006-03-18 14:02:00, Anonymous wrote:


"Parents of girls who go there read this site all of the time. Most see the school as a savior. I heard another girls mom talking about it so I looked on it when I was on a visit. Then I thought everyone was crazy because I liked it there. I hadn't heen mistreated and was fortunate to have some really caring staff there supporting me. To many people thats still how they see things so when you guys are talking about this stuff it just seems unbelievable and crazy to many, especially to those who are there at the same time. Now that I've gone through my own trials I can see what everyone here is saying. My whole point in everything is that facts are important. Feelings are just as important, but a distinction needs to be made between the two if your trying to prove any sort of point. I really don't feel like I need to argue this. I just was trying to make a point and let you know. Take it or leave it.  


"




Concretely, factually, my friend having to carry rocks on her back, causing bruising or the humiliation and pain resutling from tight control on bathroom breaks becaos it was considered 'manipulative', the singling out people and making them wear signs or certain color clothing (really stupid and completely harmful in it's intent- humilation) or the difficulty with which to obtain medical care because we were deemed 'manipulative', or the nature of the 'disclosure' approach- rather than providing nuturance with  an element of a voluntary healing approach, therapy was antagonistical with the constant looming threat of being kept away from home longer or being sent somewhere worse, intervention, or work crew or group punishment.  This obviously would make any therapy group not only unpleasent but unproductive. How is that kind of isolation and terror at such a young age a good thing, is what I'd like to know?"


yup