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The Seed Discussion Forum / Some Posts Deleted
« on: July 23, 2008, 12:37:14 PM »
It appears that some posts from January thru June got deleted. Should I be paranoid that mine got deleted?
Here it is again.
I had just been reading the Seed Forum for a while and when I was going to post something, it went down. There was some discussion of no interest in this forum. I am sure many others will hear about or eventually find this insightful, challenging, conflict-filled place.
I know there is not a lot of activity on this message board lately, but I wanted to share my own personal perspective. Just for me, if for nobody else.
I felt terrible when I heard about those that came to the Seed that had problems that may have been beyond the Seed' s expertise. I am thinking particularly of those that were too young to benefit and those that had issues that were not addressed such as abuse or molestation. I do not want to make excuses, but in some circumstances young people or those with other difficulties were unable to get appropriate help or what they needed from anywhere else in the traditional mental health community. I was taken to therapists, psychiatrists, a priest (he did not try an exorcism), court staff, etc.. It seems that a lot of people's problems may have been the result of the high standard set at the Seed. True, a high standard was set there, and it was difficult to live up to, but even after being in the Seed for a while, I personally thought that the best I would ever achieve in my life would be to be a full-time "pothead" only and a laborer in a factory.
My life now is truly rich (or am I deluding myself) and I truely know that I would not be where I am if not for the Seed.
For myself, the Seed and Art Barker took someone that was totally hopeless and put me on the path toward happiness. When I first came to the Seed on State Road 84 in 1974 I had recently read a Psychology Today article about the brainwashing in prison camps. I initially thought that the Seed was just like them. Then I began to realize that the goal of the Seed's "brainwashing" was to get me to care about myself, respect myself, have courage in my convictions, etc.. Not the usual topics that brainwashers emphasize. I never felt that the goal was to do anything evil to me. I felt sincere caring from the others there. Yes, personalities got involved since it was a human endeavor and no one is perfect. So with regard to the definition of brainwashing, it was against my will and it did change my mind from my previous belief system that I could never have changed on my own. If that system had not been challenged at the level it had, I doubt that I would have ever accomplished anything in my life or be as happy as I am now.
I once saw a girl come back into the program after graduating and being away from the Seed for a while. She said that during her first time on the program she just learned to mimic the people at the Seed and never learned to internalize the values, attitudes and behaviors. She chose to come back after she turned 18 in order to try to make the Seed beliefs a part of her life. When she related that in the group, I saw several staff members shaking their head in agreement regarding her reasoning. I never saw any of the negative behavior of staff that others on this message board recall. I will always be grateful that the Seed was in my life. I appreciate everything that my oldcomers and staff did for me.
I just ran across an old address book from my time at the SR 84 Seed from 74 to 76. I recall going to sing in the Orange Bowl with Pat P. from New Orleans. I remember going to the state park on Sunrise and route A1A with a lot of people after I got off of my program. Among them were Joe K. (who lived off of 84 and had a female cousin in the program), Guido C., Debbie M. (whose parents owned a preschool), Jim L., Laura G., Jerry J., Steve C.(from the Boca area?), Rick ? (from Miami was at TCC) Orlando ?, Americo ?, and Tim J.. I remember going to TCC with other graduates, stopping after the meeting for ice cream, fishing in the Keys, playing tennis, bowling, movies, etc.. What a great time.
I lived with others Seed guys at Tropic Terrace Apartments. Nick G. and his wife managed the apartments. Jim P. also worked there.
Others from the group I remember include Rufus M, Janet C., Brian and Cathy C. (from Michigan and their brother came in later, then his son), Robin H., Marcelo M., Candy R., Camby C., Joe and Alfie S., Lee B, Oren ?, Seth S, Jeff M., Don M., Liz and Joan H., Hughie ?(that used to cut hair), Rose I., Kim L., Rick and Robin C., Maria C., Nestor B., Alan D., Beth F., 2 Carlos’ (one in the apartments in Miami and one off of Federal in N. Ft. Lauderdale) Alice H., Deb D., and Tim F. (Ohio), Delise S. (from Jacksonville) that married Mandy ?, Hank M., Skip ?
Thanks for this site. It has been a good experience for me, but I am truly sorry for what happened to some of the others.
[email protected]
Here it is again.
I had just been reading the Seed Forum for a while and when I was going to post something, it went down. There was some discussion of no interest in this forum. I am sure many others will hear about or eventually find this insightful, challenging, conflict-filled place.
I know there is not a lot of activity on this message board lately, but I wanted to share my own personal perspective. Just for me, if for nobody else.
I felt terrible when I heard about those that came to the Seed that had problems that may have been beyond the Seed' s expertise. I am thinking particularly of those that were too young to benefit and those that had issues that were not addressed such as abuse or molestation. I do not want to make excuses, but in some circumstances young people or those with other difficulties were unable to get appropriate help or what they needed from anywhere else in the traditional mental health community. I was taken to therapists, psychiatrists, a priest (he did not try an exorcism), court staff, etc.. It seems that a lot of people's problems may have been the result of the high standard set at the Seed. True, a high standard was set there, and it was difficult to live up to, but even after being in the Seed for a while, I personally thought that the best I would ever achieve in my life would be to be a full-time "pothead" only and a laborer in a factory.
My life now is truly rich (or am I deluding myself) and I truely know that I would not be where I am if not for the Seed.
For myself, the Seed and Art Barker took someone that was totally hopeless and put me on the path toward happiness. When I first came to the Seed on State Road 84 in 1974 I had recently read a Psychology Today article about the brainwashing in prison camps. I initially thought that the Seed was just like them. Then I began to realize that the goal of the Seed's "brainwashing" was to get me to care about myself, respect myself, have courage in my convictions, etc.. Not the usual topics that brainwashers emphasize. I never felt that the goal was to do anything evil to me. I felt sincere caring from the others there. Yes, personalities got involved since it was a human endeavor and no one is perfect. So with regard to the definition of brainwashing, it was against my will and it did change my mind from my previous belief system that I could never have changed on my own. If that system had not been challenged at the level it had, I doubt that I would have ever accomplished anything in my life or be as happy as I am now.
I once saw a girl come back into the program after graduating and being away from the Seed for a while. She said that during her first time on the program she just learned to mimic the people at the Seed and never learned to internalize the values, attitudes and behaviors. She chose to come back after she turned 18 in order to try to make the Seed beliefs a part of her life. When she related that in the group, I saw several staff members shaking their head in agreement regarding her reasoning. I never saw any of the negative behavior of staff that others on this message board recall. I will always be grateful that the Seed was in my life. I appreciate everything that my oldcomers and staff did for me.
I just ran across an old address book from my time at the SR 84 Seed from 74 to 76. I recall going to sing in the Orange Bowl with Pat P. from New Orleans. I remember going to the state park on Sunrise and route A1A with a lot of people after I got off of my program. Among them were Joe K. (who lived off of 84 and had a female cousin in the program), Guido C., Debbie M. (whose parents owned a preschool), Jim L., Laura G., Jerry J., Steve C.(from the Boca area?), Rick ? (from Miami was at TCC) Orlando ?, Americo ?, and Tim J.. I remember going to TCC with other graduates, stopping after the meeting for ice cream, fishing in the Keys, playing tennis, bowling, movies, etc.. What a great time.
I lived with others Seed guys at Tropic Terrace Apartments. Nick G. and his wife managed the apartments. Jim P. also worked there.
Others from the group I remember include Rufus M, Janet C., Brian and Cathy C. (from Michigan and their brother came in later, then his son), Robin H., Marcelo M., Candy R., Camby C., Joe and Alfie S., Lee B, Oren ?, Seth S, Jeff M., Don M., Liz and Joan H., Hughie ?(that used to cut hair), Rose I., Kim L., Rick and Robin C., Maria C., Nestor B., Alan D., Beth F., 2 Carlos’ (one in the apartments in Miami and one off of Federal in N. Ft. Lauderdale) Alice H., Deb D., and Tim F. (Ohio), Delise S. (from Jacksonville) that married Mandy ?, Hank M., Skip ?
Thanks for this site. It has been a good experience for me, but I am truly sorry for what happened to some of the others.
[email protected]