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CEDU / Brown Schools and derivatives / clones / Re: Cedu as Prison and work-camp/Gulag; REBELLION - impossible?
« on: October 28, 2008, 07:57:27 PM »
Understanding it as a prison has been quite valuable for me -
Raises the question - did you run? How many times? When did you stop running, and why?
I think most of us tried to run, probably more than once. I think we rebelled as we could over and over again, till we were pretty well beaten and bludgeoned and naked and bloody, and skinless, really. So.. at some point, did we stop trying to run? Or did we just turn inward and die many deaths?
That's a lot of what makes the prison aspect important in understanding the experience. Most of us would have left, if given a better option, all the way through. The better option was not offered, and that made hanging on for the last 6 months at Cedu, getting a HS diploma, and therefore a key to liberation from an abusive homelife, well, not tolerable, but, prison. Prison whose terms would soon - we counted down the days, we prayed and prayed - would be finally finished.
Was there a Cedu hangover? Sure, yes, there was.
How long did yours last? What did it consist of?
Raises the question - did you run? How many times? When did you stop running, and why?
I think most of us tried to run, probably more than once. I think we rebelled as we could over and over again, till we were pretty well beaten and bludgeoned and naked and bloody, and skinless, really. So.. at some point, did we stop trying to run? Or did we just turn inward and die many deaths?
That's a lot of what makes the prison aspect important in understanding the experience. Most of us would have left, if given a better option, all the way through. The better option was not offered, and that made hanging on for the last 6 months at Cedu, getting a HS diploma, and therefore a key to liberation from an abusive homelife, well, not tolerable, but, prison. Prison whose terms would soon - we counted down the days, we prayed and prayed - would be finally finished.
Was there a Cedu hangover? Sure, yes, there was.
How long did yours last? What did it consist of?
3
CEDU / Brown Schools and derivatives / clones / Re: Was Cedu a wonderful place in the mid-1990s - 95-96? Anyone?
« on: October 28, 2008, 07:46:06 PM »
Please see the post on the Synanon program that really is the Cedu program -
http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic. ... 61#p318031
Some Cedu tools: Leveling wild, derrogatory accusations without evidence, disappearing behind veils of self-righteous hostility, and then, of course, the all-exculpating penance of emotional purging.
Synanon too. Go figure. Two programs for the price of your youth.
http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic. ... 61#p318031
Some Cedu tools: Leveling wild, derrogatory accusations without evidence, disappearing behind veils of self-righteous hostility, and then, of course, the all-exculpating penance of emotional purging.
Synanon too. Go figure. Two programs for the price of your youth.
4
CEDU / Brown Schools and derivatives / clones / Re: Cedu Synanon Reading list - addendum 1
« on: October 28, 2008, 07:38:57 PM »
More Synanon terms:
Dishpan (Dinner Dishes).
Splitting, splittee.
Contract.
"You can't do that here/ We don't do that here" (ie - homosexuality, other taboo human functions).
Processes that stayed while terms changed:
"synanons/game" = Cedu raps - and feature, at Synanon, wild, incredible, near-fabricated exaggertions of a persons negative intentions, beliefs, rationale, thoughts, and actions - exaggerate the negative was key. Again, it's necessary to remember that the Synanites were heavy and recalcitrant major drug addicts, thieves, prostitutes, degenerates, criminals, etc. (It's important to remember that the kids at Cedu were not).
"haircuts" - these we called simply, "getting blown away." Could happen in or out of raps, in the staff office, in any family room, or out on a work assignment.
Public humiliation was key - the center of the experience. This was the cornerstone of the Synanon - and Cedu - experience. Public exaggeration of a person's deficits, or real (or imagined/invented) bad behavior.
The central therapy of Synanon was constant, chronic and inescapable immense public ridicule ("synanons"), in which real hatred would be leveled from person to person, group to person, person to group, and back again - this was constant, chronic, inescapable, and never-ending.
There was a secondary kind of group ridicule, this from a larger group to one individual. At Cedu, we had to do this in various raps, propheets, etc; it was generally called "receiving feedback"; no argument was permitted. In Synanon, it was called, in Dederich-speak "haircuts" - where the verbal denigration was sometimes accompanied by literal head-shaving.
Charles E. Dederich: Read the books for his biography - Barely reforming alcoholic with eating disorder, massive phobias, and some apparent narcissistic disorders, penchants for peer-abuse and verbal cruelty and psychological violence, with little, very little, precious little, and mostly erroneous understanding of human development, or biology of addiction.
While in A.A. and suffering from various phobias, he reads a few lines of R.W. Emerson, immediately quits his job, and starts, with a couple other A.A. members, his new 'school', his cult, his religion - which found not insignificant support among some, (but not all) rather permissive and probably desperate, or easily persuaded, or charmed, or bullied, or impressed, liberal psychologists in the 1960s.
One gets the clear sense, reading these dated histories, that what was available for drug rehab was little to nothing ... we are somewhat more humane dealing with major addiction today, but it's hit and miss. But to read the starry-eyed apologetics for the program by these few psychologists, or independent writers (listed in the previous post) is an exercise in open-jawed disbelief. What is being described is so cruel, and so invasive, and so unregulated, and based so much on a sort of ramshackle, wildly-unstable 'strongman' patriarchal tribal hierarchy - you just can't believe that these folks thought this would really work as a genuine, lasting therapeutic solution to what some of these people were doing.
Find these books in your local library, and read the tales of the early Synanites. Those who went through Cedu will recognize the distasteful, home-grown, illogical, insane, exaggerated, grotesque, bullying, isolating, humiliating aspects of the program.
Dishpan (Dinner Dishes).
Splitting, splittee.
Contract.
"You can't do that here/ We don't do that here" (ie - homosexuality, other taboo human functions).
Processes that stayed while terms changed:
"synanons/game" = Cedu raps - and feature, at Synanon, wild, incredible, near-fabricated exaggertions of a persons negative intentions, beliefs, rationale, thoughts, and actions - exaggerate the negative was key. Again, it's necessary to remember that the Synanites were heavy and recalcitrant major drug addicts, thieves, prostitutes, degenerates, criminals, etc. (It's important to remember that the kids at Cedu were not).
"haircuts" - these we called simply, "getting blown away." Could happen in or out of raps, in the staff office, in any family room, or out on a work assignment.
Public humiliation was key - the center of the experience. This was the cornerstone of the Synanon - and Cedu - experience. Public exaggeration of a person's deficits, or real (or imagined/invented) bad behavior.
The central therapy of Synanon was constant, chronic and inescapable immense public ridicule ("synanons"), in which real hatred would be leveled from person to person, group to person, person to group, and back again - this was constant, chronic, inescapable, and never-ending.
There was a secondary kind of group ridicule, this from a larger group to one individual. At Cedu, we had to do this in various raps, propheets, etc; it was generally called "receiving feedback"; no argument was permitted. In Synanon, it was called, in Dederich-speak "haircuts" - where the verbal denigration was sometimes accompanied by literal head-shaving.
Charles E. Dederich: Read the books for his biography - Barely reforming alcoholic with eating disorder, massive phobias, and some apparent narcissistic disorders, penchants for peer-abuse and verbal cruelty and psychological violence, with little, very little, precious little, and mostly erroneous understanding of human development, or biology of addiction.
While in A.A. and suffering from various phobias, he reads a few lines of R.W. Emerson, immediately quits his job, and starts, with a couple other A.A. members, his new 'school', his cult, his religion - which found not insignificant support among some, (but not all) rather permissive and probably desperate, or easily persuaded, or charmed, or bullied, or impressed, liberal psychologists in the 1960s.
One gets the clear sense, reading these dated histories, that what was available for drug rehab was little to nothing ... we are somewhat more humane dealing with major addiction today, but it's hit and miss. But to read the starry-eyed apologetics for the program by these few psychologists, or independent writers (listed in the previous post) is an exercise in open-jawed disbelief. What is being described is so cruel, and so invasive, and so unregulated, and based so much on a sort of ramshackle, wildly-unstable 'strongman' patriarchal tribal hierarchy - you just can't believe that these folks thought this would really work as a genuine, lasting therapeutic solution to what some of these people were doing.
Find these books in your local library, and read the tales of the early Synanites. Those who went through Cedu will recognize the distasteful, home-grown, illogical, insane, exaggerated, grotesque, bullying, isolating, humiliating aspects of the program.
5
CEDU / Brown Schools and derivatives / clones / Cedu Synanon Reading list
« on: October 28, 2008, 02:18:11 PM »
For your interest, if you can stomach it!
reading the histories of Synanon, I find every parallel -
the format - raps, agreements, ‘cleaning up resentments/anger’/etc, with someone, the screaming, crying, self-annihilating therapies, the all-night, multi-day wearing-away-at-self ‘experiential’ cultish, quasi-religious invented ‘therapy’ experiences -
the invasive, abusive, denigrative tone of even normal conversations, and the absolutely insane level of personal cruelty exhibited in the ‘game’ (cedu’s ‘raps’)
and even the language - ’splitting,’ ‘contracts,’ and then the readings lifted from Khalil Gibran and R.W. Emerson, (de-contextualized and inappropriately applied to the nonsense we were experiencing).
I’m now reading these books, which I can recommend for your investigations. These two are from former inmates, and critical of the program:
http://www.amazon.com/Escape-Utopia-Ten ... 0913300543
http://www.amazon.com/Paradise-Incorpor ... 375&sr=1-3
These three are from outsiders ("squares") visiting the program, circa 1961/62, who seek to validate the program. They describe, in some detail, the major abuses (games/synanons - our 'raps'), but seem to think that this torment and torture - and obvious abuse, violation of rights, and the chronic use of cult programing methods - are somehow 'good' for the inmates -
http://www.amazon.com/Tunnel-Back-Synan ... 374&sr=8-5
http://www.amazon.com/So-Fair-House-Sto ... 374&sr=8-2
http://www.amazon.com/Synanon-S-Guy-End ... 458&sr=8-1
And, again, Synanon was a place, absolutely and without a doubt, for people who were nearly dead and badly beaten by chronic heroin use/street prostitution/violence, etc, etc.
So, welcome to Cedu? Wecome 16 year old slightly depressed high schoolers with divorced parents and no emotional support? 15 year old showing a predisposition to alcohol addiction? 14 year old ritalin kids who were beaten up in the 6th grade a few times? 17 year old lovelorn girl threatening to run away with boyfriend (because of a desire to get away from creepy parents and molesting uncles?) Welcome to Cedu? Yes, indeed.
In reading the many descriptions and long citations from Charles E. Dederich, I can hear very clearly the words, language, tone and the vicious, unyielding invasiveness of a Rudy Bentz, Guy Bonanno, Jill Bentz, Pam Abell (when she was playing this 'game'), etc. It's all there - programmatic. Like these idiots moved to a mountaintop and found themselves in these absolute positions of power, with a script to operate from, and in a short course, they were 'walking the walk... talking the talk...' and beating the snot out of kids, for personal catharsis and profit.
Check out the reading, very interesting, sure to provoke thoughts, and a few bad dreams.
ps - and a 1985 CBS Movie of the Week on the slightly fictionalized collapse of Synanon - (it looks soft-boiled at best, but, might be worth seeing for research purposes).
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.h ... wanted=all
reading the histories of Synanon, I find every parallel -
the format - raps, agreements, ‘cleaning up resentments/anger’/etc, with someone, the screaming, crying, self-annihilating therapies, the all-night, multi-day wearing-away-at-self ‘experiential’ cultish, quasi-religious invented ‘therapy’ experiences -
the invasive, abusive, denigrative tone of even normal conversations, and the absolutely insane level of personal cruelty exhibited in the ‘game’ (cedu’s ‘raps’)
and even the language - ’splitting,’ ‘contracts,’ and then the readings lifted from Khalil Gibran and R.W. Emerson, (de-contextualized and inappropriately applied to the nonsense we were experiencing).
I’m now reading these books, which I can recommend for your investigations. These two are from former inmates, and critical of the program:
http://www.amazon.com/Escape-Utopia-Ten ... 0913300543
http://www.amazon.com/Paradise-Incorpor ... 375&sr=1-3
These three are from outsiders ("squares") visiting the program, circa 1961/62, who seek to validate the program. They describe, in some detail, the major abuses (games/synanons - our 'raps'), but seem to think that this torment and torture - and obvious abuse, violation of rights, and the chronic use of cult programing methods - are somehow 'good' for the inmates -
http://www.amazon.com/Tunnel-Back-Synan ... 374&sr=8-5
http://www.amazon.com/So-Fair-House-Sto ... 374&sr=8-2
http://www.amazon.com/Synanon-S-Guy-End ... 458&sr=8-1
And, again, Synanon was a place, absolutely and without a doubt, for people who were nearly dead and badly beaten by chronic heroin use/street prostitution/violence, etc, etc.
So, welcome to Cedu? Wecome 16 year old slightly depressed high schoolers with divorced parents and no emotional support? 15 year old showing a predisposition to alcohol addiction? 14 year old ritalin kids who were beaten up in the 6th grade a few times? 17 year old lovelorn girl threatening to run away with boyfriend (because of a desire to get away from creepy parents and molesting uncles?) Welcome to Cedu? Yes, indeed.
In reading the many descriptions and long citations from Charles E. Dederich, I can hear very clearly the words, language, tone and the vicious, unyielding invasiveness of a Rudy Bentz, Guy Bonanno, Jill Bentz, Pam Abell (when she was playing this 'game'), etc. It's all there - programmatic. Like these idiots moved to a mountaintop and found themselves in these absolute positions of power, with a script to operate from, and in a short course, they were 'walking the walk... talking the talk...' and beating the snot out of kids, for personal catharsis and profit.
Check out the reading, very interesting, sure to provoke thoughts, and a few bad dreams.
ps - and a 1985 CBS Movie of the Week on the slightly fictionalized collapse of Synanon - (it looks soft-boiled at best, but, might be worth seeing for research purposes).
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.h ... wanted=all
6
CEDU / Brown Schools and derivatives / clones / Date Correction: Re: Liam's documentary is coming to LA and San Fran
« on: February 16, 2008, 04:46:20 PM »
Hi,
Yes, we're inviting all Cedu program grads to a get together in LA for the purpose of doing some filming, chatting, etc.
The dates are a little more flexible than listed previously, so please get in touch, if you're going to be in the area/s on or around the dates listed below:
Los Angeles: on the last weekend of Feb (this month, in 2 weeks or so) somewhere between the 27,28th, to about the 1st, 2nd...
San Francisco: weekend of the 7,8th March.
The get-together is for our little documentary, will be informal, to hear the bits of your experience that you feel are good for sharing with the world, or that you'd like to be known - or just to say you went there, and survived the Cedu experience.
Please write me at [email protected] for more info, or to confirm that you will be in town 1, or town 2, on those dates. We'll work from there, and get the info to those interested in being in the doc.
Thanks!!
Liam
Yes, we're inviting all Cedu program grads to a get together in LA for the purpose of doing some filming, chatting, etc.
The dates are a little more flexible than listed previously, so please get in touch, if you're going to be in the area/s on or around the dates listed below:
Los Angeles: on the last weekend of Feb (this month, in 2 weeks or so) somewhere between the 27,28th, to about the 1st, 2nd...
San Francisco: weekend of the 7,8th March.
The get-together is for our little documentary, will be informal, to hear the bits of your experience that you feel are good for sharing with the world, or that you'd like to be known - or just to say you went there, and survived the Cedu experience.
Please write me at [email protected] for more info, or to confirm that you will be in town 1, or town 2, on those dates. We'll work from there, and get the info to those interested in being in the doc.
Thanks!!
Liam
7
CEDU / Brown Schools and derivatives / clones / Re: Is Your School/Organization A Cult?
« on: January 31, 2008, 02:09:37 AM »
Another measuring tape... I like this one, too.
Quoted entirely from: http://www.factnet.org/rancho1.htm
THE PURPOSES AND TACTICS OF COERCIVE PERSUASION
Coercive persuasion or thought reform as it is sometimes known, is best understood as a coordinated system of graduated coercive influence and behavior control designed to deceptively and surreptitiously manipulate and influence individuals, usually in a group setting, in order for the originators of the program to profit in some way, normally financially or politically.
The essential strategy used by those operating such programs is to systematically select, sequence and coordinate numerous coercive persuasion tactics over CONTINUOUS PERIODS OF TIME. There are seven main tactic types found in various combinations in a coercive persuasion program. A coercive persuasion program can still be quite effective without the presence of ALL seven of these tactic types.
TACTIC 1. The individual is prepared for thought reform through increased suggestibility and/or "softening up," specifically through hypnotic or other suggestibility-increasing techniques such as: A. Extended audio, visual, verbal, or tactile fixation drills; B. Excessive exact repetition of routine activities; C. Decreased sleep; D. Nutritional restriction.
TACTIC 2. Using rewards and punishments, efforts are made to establish considerable control over a person's social environment, time, and sources of social support. Social isolation is promoted. Contact with family and friends is abridged, as is contact with persons who do not share group-approved attitudes. Economic and other dependence on the group is fostered. (In the forerunner to coercive persuasion, brainwashing, this was rather easy to achieve through simple imprisonment.)
TACTIC 3. Disconfirming information and nonsupporting opinions are prohibited in group communication. Rules exist about permissible topics to discuss with outsiders. Communication is highly controlled. An "in-group" language is usually constructed.
TACTIC 4. Frequent and intense attempts are made to cause a person to re-evaluate the most central aspects of his or her experience of self and prior conduct in negative ways. Efforts are designed to destabilize and undermine the subject's basic consciousness, reality awareness, world view, emotional control, and defense mechanisms as well as getting them to reinterpret their life's history, and adopt a new version of causality.
TACTIC 5. Intense and frequent attempts are made to undermine a person's confidence in himself and his judgment, creating a sense of powerlessness.
TACTIC 6. Nonphysical punishments are used such as intense humiliation, loss of privilege, social isolation, social status changes, intense guilt, anxiety, manipulation and other techniques for creating strong aversive emotional arousals, etc.
TACTIC 7. Certain secular psychological threats [force] are used or are present: That failure to adopt the approved attitude, belief, or consequent behavior will lead to severe punishment or dire consequence, (e.g. physical or mental illness, the reappearance of a prior physical illness, drug dependence, economic collapse, social failure, divorce, disintegration, failure to find a mate, etc.).
Another set of criteria has to do with defining other common elements of mind control systems. If most of Robert Jay Lifton's eight point model of thought reform is being used in a cultic organization, it is most likely a dangerous and destructive cult. These eight points follow:
Robert Jay Lifton's Eight Point Model of Thought Reform
1. ENVIRONMENT CONTROL. Limitation of many/all forms of communication with those outside the group. Books, magazines, letters and visits with friends and family are taboo. "Come out and be separate!"
2. MYSTICAL MANIPULATION. The potential convert to the group becomes convinced of the higher purpose and special calling of the
group through a profound encounter / experience, for example, through an alleged miracle or prophetic word of those in the group.
3. DEMAND FOR PURITY. An explicit goal of the group is to bring about some kind of change, whether it be on a global, social, or
personal level. "Perfection is possible if one stays with the group and is committed."
4. CULT OF CONFESSION. The unhealthy practice of self disclosure to members in the group. Often in the context of a public gathering in the group, admitting past sins and imperfections, even doubts about the group and critical thoughts about the integrity of the leaders.
5. SACRED SCIENCE. The group's perspective is absolutely true and completely adequate to explain EVERYTHING. The doctrine is not subject to amendments or question. ABSOLUTE conformity to the doctrine is required.
6. LOADED LANGUAGE. A new vocabulary emerges within the context of the group. Group members "think" within the very abstract
and narrow parameters of the group's doctrine. The terminology sufficiently stops members from thinking critically by reinforcing a "black and white" mentality. Loaded terms and clichés prejudice thinking.
7. DOCTRINE OVER PERSON. Pre-group experience and group experience are narrowly and decisively interpreted through the absolute doctrine, even when experience contradicts the doctrine.
8. DISPENSING OF EXISTENCE. Salvation is possible only in the group. Those who leave the group are doomed.
COERCIVE PERSUASION IS NOT PEACEFUL PERSUASION
Programs identified with the above-listed seven tactics have in common the elements of attempting to greatly modify a person's self-concept, perceptions of reality, and interpersonal relations. When successful in inducing these changes, coercive thought reform programs also, among other things, create the potential forces necessary for exercising undue influence over a person's independent decision-making ability, and even for turning the individual into a deployable agent for the organization's benefit without the individual's meaningful knowledge or consent.
Coercive persuasion programs are effective because individuals experiencing the deliberately planned severe stresses they generate can only reduce the pressures by accepting the system or adopting the behaviors being promulgated by the purveyors of the coercion program. The relationship between the person and the coercive persuasion tactics are DYNAMIC in that while the force of the pressures, rewards, and punishments brought to bear on the person are considerable, they do not lead to a stable, meaningfully SELF-CHOSEN reorganization of beliefs or attitudes. Rather, they lead to a sort of coerced compliance and a situationally required elaborate rationalization, for the new conduct.
Once again, in order to maintain the new attitudes or "decisions," sustain the rationalization, and continue to unduly influence a person's behavior over time, coercive tactics must be more or less CONTINUOUSLY applied. A fiery, "hell and damnation" guilt-ridden sermon from the pulpit or several hours with a high-pressure salesman or other single instances of the so-called peaceful persuasions do not constitute the "necessary chords and orchestration" of a SEQUENCED, continuous, COORDINATED, and carefully selected PROGRAM of surreptitious coercion, as found in a comprehensive program of "coercive persuasion."
Quoted entirely from: http://www.factnet.org/rancho1.htm
THE PURPOSES AND TACTICS OF COERCIVE PERSUASION
Coercive persuasion or thought reform as it is sometimes known, is best understood as a coordinated system of graduated coercive influence and behavior control designed to deceptively and surreptitiously manipulate and influence individuals, usually in a group setting, in order for the originators of the program to profit in some way, normally financially or politically.
The essential strategy used by those operating such programs is to systematically select, sequence and coordinate numerous coercive persuasion tactics over CONTINUOUS PERIODS OF TIME. There are seven main tactic types found in various combinations in a coercive persuasion program. A coercive persuasion program can still be quite effective without the presence of ALL seven of these tactic types.
TACTIC 1. The individual is prepared for thought reform through increased suggestibility and/or "softening up," specifically through hypnotic or other suggestibility-increasing techniques such as: A. Extended audio, visual, verbal, or tactile fixation drills; B. Excessive exact repetition of routine activities; C. Decreased sleep; D. Nutritional restriction.
TACTIC 2. Using rewards and punishments, efforts are made to establish considerable control over a person's social environment, time, and sources of social support. Social isolation is promoted. Contact with family and friends is abridged, as is contact with persons who do not share group-approved attitudes. Economic and other dependence on the group is fostered. (In the forerunner to coercive persuasion, brainwashing, this was rather easy to achieve through simple imprisonment.)
TACTIC 3. Disconfirming information and nonsupporting opinions are prohibited in group communication. Rules exist about permissible topics to discuss with outsiders. Communication is highly controlled. An "in-group" language is usually constructed.
TACTIC 4. Frequent and intense attempts are made to cause a person to re-evaluate the most central aspects of his or her experience of self and prior conduct in negative ways. Efforts are designed to destabilize and undermine the subject's basic consciousness, reality awareness, world view, emotional control, and defense mechanisms as well as getting them to reinterpret their life's history, and adopt a new version of causality.
TACTIC 5. Intense and frequent attempts are made to undermine a person's confidence in himself and his judgment, creating a sense of powerlessness.
TACTIC 6. Nonphysical punishments are used such as intense humiliation, loss of privilege, social isolation, social status changes, intense guilt, anxiety, manipulation and other techniques for creating strong aversive emotional arousals, etc.
TACTIC 7. Certain secular psychological threats [force] are used or are present: That failure to adopt the approved attitude, belief, or consequent behavior will lead to severe punishment or dire consequence, (e.g. physical or mental illness, the reappearance of a prior physical illness, drug dependence, economic collapse, social failure, divorce, disintegration, failure to find a mate, etc.).
Another set of criteria has to do with defining other common elements of mind control systems. If most of Robert Jay Lifton's eight point model of thought reform is being used in a cultic organization, it is most likely a dangerous and destructive cult. These eight points follow:
Robert Jay Lifton's Eight Point Model of Thought Reform
1. ENVIRONMENT CONTROL. Limitation of many/all forms of communication with those outside the group. Books, magazines, letters and visits with friends and family are taboo. "Come out and be separate!"
2. MYSTICAL MANIPULATION. The potential convert to the group becomes convinced of the higher purpose and special calling of the
group through a profound encounter / experience, for example, through an alleged miracle or prophetic word of those in the group.
3. DEMAND FOR PURITY. An explicit goal of the group is to bring about some kind of change, whether it be on a global, social, or
personal level. "Perfection is possible if one stays with the group and is committed."
4. CULT OF CONFESSION. The unhealthy practice of self disclosure to members in the group. Often in the context of a public gathering in the group, admitting past sins and imperfections, even doubts about the group and critical thoughts about the integrity of the leaders.
5. SACRED SCIENCE. The group's perspective is absolutely true and completely adequate to explain EVERYTHING. The doctrine is not subject to amendments or question. ABSOLUTE conformity to the doctrine is required.
6. LOADED LANGUAGE. A new vocabulary emerges within the context of the group. Group members "think" within the very abstract
and narrow parameters of the group's doctrine. The terminology sufficiently stops members from thinking critically by reinforcing a "black and white" mentality. Loaded terms and clichés prejudice thinking.
7. DOCTRINE OVER PERSON. Pre-group experience and group experience are narrowly and decisively interpreted through the absolute doctrine, even when experience contradicts the doctrine.
8. DISPENSING OF EXISTENCE. Salvation is possible only in the group. Those who leave the group are doomed.
COERCIVE PERSUASION IS NOT PEACEFUL PERSUASION
Programs identified with the above-listed seven tactics have in common the elements of attempting to greatly modify a person's self-concept, perceptions of reality, and interpersonal relations. When successful in inducing these changes, coercive thought reform programs also, among other things, create the potential forces necessary for exercising undue influence over a person's independent decision-making ability, and even for turning the individual into a deployable agent for the organization's benefit without the individual's meaningful knowledge or consent.
Coercive persuasion programs are effective because individuals experiencing the deliberately planned severe stresses they generate can only reduce the pressures by accepting the system or adopting the behaviors being promulgated by the purveyors of the coercion program. The relationship between the person and the coercive persuasion tactics are DYNAMIC in that while the force of the pressures, rewards, and punishments brought to bear on the person are considerable, they do not lead to a stable, meaningfully SELF-CHOSEN reorganization of beliefs or attitudes. Rather, they lead to a sort of coerced compliance and a situationally required elaborate rationalization, for the new conduct.
Once again, in order to maintain the new attitudes or "decisions," sustain the rationalization, and continue to unduly influence a person's behavior over time, coercive tactics must be more or less CONTINUOUSLY applied. A fiery, "hell and damnation" guilt-ridden sermon from the pulpit or several hours with a high-pressure salesman or other single instances of the so-called peaceful persuasions do not constitute the "necessary chords and orchestration" of a SEQUENCED, continuous, COORDINATED, and carefully selected PROGRAM of surreptitious coercion, as found in a comprehensive program of "coercive persuasion."
8
CEDU / Brown Schools and derivatives / clones / Re: Smushing? Please contact for interview
« on: January 23, 2008, 12:36:44 AM »
Hi Guest one, two, three, four - especially "KH".
I'm taking interviews, for print and possibly a video documentary, and want to get some of these stories on the record. Please see my myspace post, and drop me an email. I'll send you all details, and answer any and all questions. I was a peer of yours, if you were there from 88 to 90, and remember Martin, and his boy crushes... sorry, don't know what else to call them.
Bests,
Liam Scheff
http://www.myspace.com/liamscheff
http://liamscheff.com
I'm taking interviews, for print and possibly a video documentary, and want to get some of these stories on the record. Please see my myspace post, and drop me an email. I'll send you all details, and answer any and all questions. I was a peer of yours, if you were there from 88 to 90, and remember Martin, and his boy crushes... sorry, don't know what else to call them.
Bests,
Liam Scheff
http://www.myspace.com/liamscheff
http://liamscheff.com
9
CEDU / Brown Schools and derivatives / clones / Please contact with these stories - for the record
« on: October 22, 2007, 11:24:50 PM »
Hi,
Cedu wiki, great idea.
But, and, please consider - still taking interviews, with about 7 done and 4 pending. Very interesting, illuminating, personally quite satisfying, to review with some of you the strange (and probably legally tenuous) experience of that very odd place.
Please contact me at http://www.myspace.com/liamscheff
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fusea ... =290309991
And don't be shy, please. If you have a story to tell, I'm doing my best to assemble a bit of research that will give some future use to writers, film-makers, investigators, etc.
Thanks to all who've been interviewed - I'm working on transcribing, takes a little time, but it's on its way.
Best regards to all,
Liam Scheff
Cedu wiki, great idea.
But, and, please consider - still taking interviews, with about 7 done and 4 pending. Very interesting, illuminating, personally quite satisfying, to review with some of you the strange (and probably legally tenuous) experience of that very odd place.
Please contact me at http://www.myspace.com/liamscheff
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fusea ... =290309991
And don't be shy, please. If you have a story to tell, I'm doing my best to assemble a bit of research that will give some future use to writers, film-makers, investigators, etc.
Thanks to all who've been interviewed - I'm working on transcribing, takes a little time, but it's on its way.
Best regards to all,
Liam Scheff
10
CEDU / Brown Schools and derivatives / clones / Please contact with these stories - for the record
« on: October 22, 2007, 11:22:00 PM »
Hi,
still taking interviews, with about 7 done and 4 pending. Very interesting, illuminating, personally quite satisfying, to review with some of you the strange (and probably legally tenuous) experience of that very odd place.
Please contact me at http://www.myspace.com/liamscheff
And don't be shy, please. If you have a story to tell, I'm doing my best to assemble a bit of research that will give some future use to writers, film-makers, investigators, etc.
Thanks to all who've been interviewed - I'm working on transcribing, takes a little time, but it's on its way.
Best regards to all,
Liam Scheff
still taking interviews, with about 7 done and 4 pending. Very interesting, illuminating, personally quite satisfying, to review with some of you the strange (and probably legally tenuous) experience of that very odd place.
Please contact me at http://www.myspace.com/liamscheff
And don't be shy, please. If you have a story to tell, I'm doing my best to assemble a bit of research that will give some future use to writers, film-makers, investigators, etc.
Thanks to all who've been interviewed - I'm working on transcribing, takes a little time, but it's on its way.
Best regards to all,
Liam Scheff
11
CEDU / Brown Schools and derivatives / clones / Please contact with these stories - for the record
« on: October 22, 2007, 11:20:09 PM »
Hi,
still taking interviews, with about 7 done and 4 pending. Very interesting, illuminating, personally quite satisfying, to review with some of you the strange (and probably legally tenuous) experience of that very odd place.
Please contact me at http://www.myspace.com/liamscheff
And don't be shy, please. If you have a story to tell, I'm doing my best to assemble a bit of research that will give some future use to writers, film-makers, investigators, etc.
Thanks to all who've been interviewed - I'm working on transcribing, takes a little time, but it's on its way.
Best regards to all,
Liam Scheff
still taking interviews, with about 7 done and 4 pending. Very interesting, illuminating, personally quite satisfying, to review with some of you the strange (and probably legally tenuous) experience of that very odd place.
Please contact me at http://www.myspace.com/liamscheff
And don't be shy, please. If you have a story to tell, I'm doing my best to assemble a bit of research that will give some future use to writers, film-makers, investigators, etc.
Thanks to all who've been interviewed - I'm working on transcribing, takes a little time, but it's on its way.
Best regards to all,
Liam Scheff
12
CEDU / Brown Schools and derivatives / clones / Still taking interviews Cedu/Brown/Bench schools - speak up!
« on: October 22, 2007, 11:19:18 PM »
Hi,
still taking interviews, with about 7 done and 4 pending. Very interesting, illuminating, personally quite satisfying, to review with some of you the strange (and probably legally tenuous) experience of that very odd place.
Please contact me at http://www.myspace.com/liamscheff
And don't be shy, please. If you have a story to tell, I'm doing my best to assemble a bit of research that will give some future use to writers, film-makers, investigators, etc.
Thanks to all who've been interviewed - I'm working on transcribing, takes a little time, but it's on its way.
Best regards to all,
Liam Scheff
still taking interviews, with about 7 done and 4 pending. Very interesting, illuminating, personally quite satisfying, to review with some of you the strange (and probably legally tenuous) experience of that very odd place.
Please contact me at http://www.myspace.com/liamscheff
And don't be shy, please. If you have a story to tell, I'm doing my best to assemble a bit of research that will give some future use to writers, film-makers, investigators, etc.
Thanks to all who've been interviewed - I'm working on transcribing, takes a little time, but it's on its way.
Best regards to all,
Liam Scheff
13
CEDU / Brown Schools and derivatives / clones / Sue Scheff
« on: August 24, 2007, 01:38:30 PM »
PS - And for the record, I do not know, am not affiliated with, am not working with or for the Sue Scheff, "parent advocate", in question.
Scheff is a fairly rare last name, and I don't know how it got stuck to both of us. As a rule, I don't tend to feel much sympathy for parents who need "advocates" to send their children away to military and reform schools.
To be fair though, I don't know the woman. I found her auto-bio blog here - http://www.helpyourteens.com/true_story.html - she seems to have fair criticisms of many of the programs.
But, fill me in on the story, if it's of interest.
Liam
Scheff is a fairly rare last name, and I don't know how it got stuck to both of us. As a rule, I don't tend to feel much sympathy for parents who need "advocates" to send their children away to military and reform schools.
To be fair though, I don't know the woman. I found her auto-bio blog here - http://www.helpyourteens.com/true_story.html - she seems to have fair criticisms of many of the programs.
But, fill me in on the story, if it's of interest.
Liam
14
CEDU / Brown Schools and derivatives / clones / Moving weekend, still here on earth!
« on: August 24, 2007, 01:10:43 PM »
Hi,
Johnny P. wrote and told me to make a peep over here, so "Peep!"
I've been on the road, away visiting friends in the near South, and now, moving back to my beloved Boston.
So, this weekend is focacta for work, other than meditative packing, taping and hoisting boxes...
I have taken interviews thus far with 4 or 5 Cedu folk, and have a few more in line, plus a couple or more RMA'ers, and one 70's Cedu fellow who wrote, but then disappeared.
The interviews have thus far gone well, with fellow Cedu'ers and I reviewing and, I think, beginning to systematize, to a degree, the pattern of life in the place, so that it will be easily comprehensible to the new reader.
I am happy to talk with any and all who have a Cedu story to tell. Please see the post at the top, or the myspace page link, for details (in short - I am very simply trying to put some actual voices and experiences on the record, for posterity's sake, to record a very hidden bit of our American history.
For my part, I am fascinated, for a variety of reasons, I'm sure, by hidden histories, intentionally forgotten events, buried passages in our past (and present).
I am looking for contacts with staff who will talk openly as well, in praise or criticism of the place.
I once had contact, years ago with Randolph Reynolds, who was, I will maintain to this day, a very decent human being, at least as and while I knew him in the Cedu years. He was a rarity, in my experience, at the place.
There is a Sabro, who showed up on this forum, who I would like very much to talk with, if anyone can help with that.
As for final work - books, etc - there are always possibilities. My purpose is to make the work clear, accurate, representative of individual's points-of-view, and to make it easily publicly available. That, to me, is the first step, and where I can be of use.
Those of you with film cameras, or with aspirations to further work, I think there's plenty there, and the interview series will be of good use to you.
I expect to be done with this work - interview taking - by year's end, and to be transcribing and releasing the work through the first half of 2008.
That's a probable schedule, given other work demands.
But don't wait, if you want to give an interview! B/c at some point - probably Dec/Jan, I'll have to focus my attention on the transcribing and editing for publication.
Thanks for your interest, all, and do email me, not here, but at
http://www.myspace.com/liamscheff
Be well all, bests,
Liam
Johnny P. wrote and told me to make a peep over here, so "Peep!"
I've been on the road, away visiting friends in the near South, and now, moving back to my beloved Boston.
So, this weekend is focacta for work, other than meditative packing, taping and hoisting boxes...
I have taken interviews thus far with 4 or 5 Cedu folk, and have a few more in line, plus a couple or more RMA'ers, and one 70's Cedu fellow who wrote, but then disappeared.
The interviews have thus far gone well, with fellow Cedu'ers and I reviewing and, I think, beginning to systematize, to a degree, the pattern of life in the place, so that it will be easily comprehensible to the new reader.
I am happy to talk with any and all who have a Cedu story to tell. Please see the post at the top, or the myspace page link, for details (in short - I am very simply trying to put some actual voices and experiences on the record, for posterity's sake, to record a very hidden bit of our American history.
For my part, I am fascinated, for a variety of reasons, I'm sure, by hidden histories, intentionally forgotten events, buried passages in our past (and present).
I am looking for contacts with staff who will talk openly as well, in praise or criticism of the place.
I once had contact, years ago with Randolph Reynolds, who was, I will maintain to this day, a very decent human being, at least as and while I knew him in the Cedu years. He was a rarity, in my experience, at the place.
There is a Sabro, who showed up on this forum, who I would like very much to talk with, if anyone can help with that.
As for final work - books, etc - there are always possibilities. My purpose is to make the work clear, accurate, representative of individual's points-of-view, and to make it easily publicly available. That, to me, is the first step, and where I can be of use.
Those of you with film cameras, or with aspirations to further work, I think there's plenty there, and the interview series will be of good use to you.
I expect to be done with this work - interview taking - by year's end, and to be transcribing and releasing the work through the first half of 2008.
That's a probable schedule, given other work demands.
But don't wait, if you want to give an interview! B/c at some point - probably Dec/Jan, I'll have to focus my attention on the transcribing and editing for publication.
Thanks for your interest, all, and do email me, not here, but at
http://www.myspace.com/liamscheff
Be well all, bests,
Liam
15
CEDU / Brown Schools and derivatives / clones / Seeking interviews with Cedu Survivors
« on: July 23, 2007, 10:26:02 PM »
Hello,
Thanks to Johnny P. for posting my myspace blog here. I look forward to hearing from any and all.
http://www.myspace.com/liamscheff
I do hope to hear from those who've been through that ringer, whether you loved it, hated it, or are somewhere in between.
My goal is to take a comprehensive and complete, honest and actual account of what went on, from person to person, your stories, your thoughts, with your consent as to how much information you give, and what you hold back.
These stories are remarkable, precious, odd, strange, different, and at times shocking, upsetting, and terribly revealing about a deeply hidden face of our culture.
I would like to hear from any and all, former students, staff and parents, who would like to put their stories on the record. (That said, I will respect requests for anonymity, of course).
I will answer any questions any of you have about me, my work, the interview process, etc, if you contact me by email.
Thanks,
Liam Scheff
[email protected]
Thanks to Johnny P. for posting my myspace blog here. I look forward to hearing from any and all.
http://www.myspace.com/liamscheff
I do hope to hear from those who've been through that ringer, whether you loved it, hated it, or are somewhere in between.
My goal is to take a comprehensive and complete, honest and actual account of what went on, from person to person, your stories, your thoughts, with your consent as to how much information you give, and what you hold back.
These stories are remarkable, precious, odd, strange, different, and at times shocking, upsetting, and terribly revealing about a deeply hidden face of our culture.
I would like to hear from any and all, former students, staff and parents, who would like to put their stories on the record. (That said, I will respect requests for anonymity, of course).
I will answer any questions any of you have about me, my work, the interview process, etc, if you contact me by email.
Thanks,
Liam Scheff
[email protected]
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