Fornits

Fornits Home for Wayward Web Fora
An open discussion about the troubled parent industry

Anonymous
Posted: 2004-12-06 19:17:00   
"OH MY GOD!! You guys have WAY too much time on your hands!

Are any of you employed?"

Ahhhhhh. Here we go. The old you must be a loser if you don't support Straight or you must be a loser if you participate in these forums or you must be a loser if you have anything more than 3 sentences about anything that isn't self congratulatory or insulting you must be a loser and can't possibly be successful BLAH BLAH BLAH

Yes I have a great job, make lots of money and am highly respected in my industry. Top 10 in the country at what I do.

I also have about 25 years worth of unanswered questions. This IS the Straight DISCUSSION forum correct? I mean that would be a good place for me to post those questions right?

Or should I follow your lead and just float around anonymously (and rather spinelessly I might add) insulting other people's posts because I have nothing of value to add myself?

I have to agree with animals on this one....F#@* OFF! ::smokingun::

We should be careful to get out of an experience only the wisdom that is in it - and stop there;  lest we be like the cat that sits down on a hot stove-lid.  She will never sit down on a hot stove-lid again---and that is well;  but also she will never sit down on a cold one anymore.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search?tag=circlofmiamithem&keyword=mark+twain&mode=books' target='_new'> Mark Twain

Good post Pietra.

 :tup:

It may be that our role on this planet is not to worship God, but to create him.
--Arthur C. Clarke, author

We have checked several records and find NO evidence there is any show whatsoever. Those people who post that anyone has gotten in contact with them are not known by the more than thirty people in our group here.

Please be careful when posting or giving any information to Wes Fagger and Ray or anyone else here, they not use it for your betterment.

Remember that any statute of limitations that you have not exceeded can, in future, be used against you in any court of law. We are highly aware of old timers here who get VERY busy whenever there are new Survivors who come out of their denial or submission. They want your information!!! Your information means that your statute of limitations are ticking as soon as you give it to them.

Please consult an attorney before giving any information on this site, and check all references. If they are not willing to give you the information you request...then follow your gut and you can't go wrong.


Thank you for your concern. But I'm not looking to sue or win any lawsuit. I'm sure I'm well beyond the statute of limitations. I want to educate. Better yet if our efforts here resulted in real regulations and standards for the teen help industry then I'd consider it a success.......
You break my heart sometimes.

Here's freedom to him who would read;
 
Here's freedom to him who would write;

None ever feared that the truth should be heard,

But them that the truth would indict.


--author unknown (circa 1914)

You know you're just used to your story. Weren't you only 12 or something when you went in? That in itself is horrifying. I look at my 12 year old son and think about him under those circumstances and it makes me want to weep.


I just emailed Wes that I'd go. I've not heard back. I am afraid of doing it but I want that story told more. Straight should never happen again.

That's not to say you should do it. Do what you feel comfortable with.  It could be very vulnerable.

But don't stay home because you don't think you were treated badly enough.

The prestige of government has undoubtedly been lowered considerably by the Prohibition law. For nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing laws which cannot be enforced. It is an open secret that the dangerous increase of crime in this country is closely connected with this.
--Albert Einstein, My First Impression of the U.S.A., 1921

I saw a Doctor while in Straight. My initial physical. A very thorough physical. Where are those medical files?
Did Straight have authorization from parents to perform medical examinations?

Are medical professionals required to keep records of those they treat? What about mental health professionals?

Aren't these records confidential?
If so shouldn't SOMEONE know where they are?
Shouldn't records of this nature be released to the client  or client's physician or mental health professional upon request?
If my Doctor, therapist or psychologist wants to see my records from Straight, who should they contact?

I was put on medication a few months later without seeing a Dr. Who determined what medicine?
Who prescribed?
Did they get authorization from my parents for the physical?
The medicine?
Was Wanda Minton legally permitted to dispense medication?
Was the board aware that jr and sr staff members most no more than 20 years of age were dispensing prescription medication?

Who invented the penalties?
Who determined that 28 days at a time of that pathetic excuse for a pb & j was medically safe for 15 year olds.
Was there ever a psychologist psychiatrist or therapist who visited Straight that endorsed their practices?
Any that was informed of each practice and THEN endorsed it?

I was in Straight for 2 years. I never saw a psychological professional of any sort. Was it determined that professionals from this field were unnecessary in a behavior modification program for children? Who determined this?

Did the board of directors review disciplinary practices?
 Did they review basic practices?
Medical practices?
The hiring and firing of staff?
The overall treatment goals and objectives?
Did they review the needs for meeting these objectives such as staffing, compensation, financial gains/losses?
Were any members of the board concerned that there were no mental health professionals on staff?
No trained therapists, psychologists.
Did any board member ever express concern about the lack of trained professionals on staff?
Was it ever suggested that perhaps some professionals from the mental health field would improve the treatment protocols and/or success rate?
Did the board of directors believe that Miller Newton was more knowledgeable about the mental health treatment protocols than EVERY professional who visited?
Was the board of directors aware that Miller Newton was not a medical doctor, was not a doctor of psychology, psychiatry?
Did the board of directors know that Miller Newton had his Doctorate in medical anthropology? That he had no background in mental health?
Did the board review the staff members at Straight?
Did the board realize that 90% of the staff were not college graduates and had no formal training in drug treatment or mental health other than their own time served as a client in Straight?
 Who other than the board of directors was responsible for overseeing Miller Newton's performance?
Did the board review the business plan?
Were profit margins reviewed by the board? Were increases/decreases explained?
Did the board participate in determining their targeted market? Was the board informed of failures such as pull offs, terminations, splits, suicides?
Was the board informed of the concerns of professionals that did visit Straight such as members of the ACLU, medical profession, psychology professionals or other drug treatment professionals?
Who informed them?
Were notes taken at board meetings?
Are these notes available for review in court?
Were they advised of their comments?
Were they concerned about their comments?
Did any board members ever express concern that such overwhelmingly negative comments from so many professionals might constitute a genuine threat to the well being of their clients?
did anyone ever suggest an inquiry or internal review?
A review by outsiders who would report findings directly to the board?
Surely in the face of so many lawsuits, newspaper and tv articles, allegations from the aclu and concern and even outrage by professionals in the field, surely a responsible & conscientous board of directors would insist on an outside review team. Did they?
 Wouldn't any board that failed to do so be considered negligent given that the physical and mental health of children were at stake?
The board must have been informed of lawsuits. Were members concerned about the number of lawsuits?
Were they concerned about the allegations made in the lawsuits? Were the allegation specifics shared with the board?
Were any internal investigations ever requested to examine the possibility that the allegations were true?
Did the board knowingly aid in passing the Marchman act in order to legalize the imprisonment of innocent and/or untried youths thereby ensuring a more reliable income?
Was Fred Collin's legal award of concern to the board?
Was this perceived as a possible trend?
If juveniles had the legal right to leave and the legal system upheld that right, was there a concern that this might reduce the number of clients?
Was there a concern that these type of lawsuits would increase and reduce the profitability of Straight Incorporated?
How much did lawsuits effect the profit margins of Straight Inc? Was the board ever advised of this as a trend?

Gee I could go on and on. I'd love to depose them. What fun.   :em:

It is fear that first brought Gods into the world.
--Gallus Petronius, 1st Century Roman courtier

More research is urgently needed to determine if abusive treatment centers can induce mental illness. Individuals predisposed to mental illness would certainly be more likely to develop them when placed in these conditions.

 I wonder if there is any research suggesting treatment centers are a contributing factor to drug abuse. It's not much of a stretch. People with mental illness, those suffering from trauma and even those who suffer from learning disabilities have been known to self medicate.

Most mental health professionals would agree that long term abusive conditions like those found in Straight can precipitate a psychic break.

I wish a study could be conducted to determine which is more hazardous to your mental health, Straight or Marijuana. Having done both, Straight gets my vote as the clear winner. Not even a close race. In fact in terms of  disruption to my coping skills, self esteem, relationships, mental health & happiness, there is nothing that is even a close second.

I wish some genuine statistical research could be done on the subject. I'll eat my car if it doesn't prove that Straight was hazardous to your health.

The sadist cannot stand the separation of the public and the private; nor can he grant to others the mystery of their personality, the validity of their inner self...in order for him to feel his maximum power, he wants the world to be peopled with concrete manipulatable objects...
-- ERNEST BECKER, The Structure of Evil, 1968.

Hi Margaret!

I was in St Pete Straight from October 1980 -1983. I was in a bit later than you but not by much.

Love Ya Margaret........and welcome
 :em:

The prestige of government has undoubtedly been lowered considerably by the Prohibition law. For nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing laws which cannot be enforced. It is an open secret that the dangerous increase of crime in this country is closely connected with this.
--Albert Einstein, My First Impression of the U.S.A., 1921

My intake was on my birthday-my 15th. This Wednesday will be 24 years since my intake...and 21 since my termination.

I was terminated on my 18th for refusing to go in for a "14 day" refresher.

Babylon in all its desolation is a sight not so awful as that of the human mind in ruins.
-- Scrope Davies: Letter to Thomas Raikes, May 25, 1835.