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When I was labeled a ‘troubled’ teen, I obliged

nytimes.com

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Re: When I was labeled a ‘troubled’ teen, I obliged

#21

Post by bell-cot »

starwind wrote: post #7

How do these cases not result in mass prosecutions? It shouldn't be too hard to tie a few people to the abuse at these schools, then police say, "give us names and help us understand who was responsible at the top, or you're looking at many, many years in prison for child abuse and we'll just find someone else who'll talk" You know, the same way prosecutors go after mobsters and drug rings

Whatever nice-sounding things the little kids are told, the police, "justice" system, etc. are actually more interested in enforcing the existing social order than they are in being the good guys, or the letter or spirit of the law.

And such "schools" are certainly all about enforcing the existing social order, upon "residents" who the Cops & Co. are not favorably inclined toward.

Re: When I was labeled a ‘troubled’ teen, I obliged

#22

Post by rOOb85 »

fassshd wrote: post #10
rOOb85 wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was one of the unlucky people who spent time at elan. It was a terrible terrible time. Much like the author of the article I was awoken by 2 big dudes in my bedroom and was given the choice to get dressed and go peacefully or they would drag me out of bed and take me away in my underwear. I said I'm not doing shit until my parents give you permission to take me. They handed me a piece of paper with both my parents…

Have you read the comic linked above? Is any of it embellished or is how it’s portrayed pretty close to how it actually is?

I’ve read some of the comic but not all of it. From what I read it’s fairly accurate. I witnessed “the ring” and experienced first hand the psychological manipulation.

Re: When I was labeled a ‘troubled’ teen, I obliged

#24

Post by dghlsakjg »

rOOb85 wrote: post #6
dghlsakjg wrote: post #3

If you want to read something truly horrific check out elan.school . It was a troubled teen school in Maine that sounds unbelievable until you read multiple identical stories from students

I was one of the unlucky people who spent time at elan. It was a terrible terrible time. Much like the author of the article I was awoken by 2 big dudes in my bedroom and was given the choice to get dressed and go peacefully or they would drag me out of bed and take me away in my underwear. I said I'm not doing shit until my parents give you permission to take me. They handed me a piece of paper with both my parents…

How long were you there?

Did your parents ever realize/own up to what you went through?

Edit: sorry for my ghoulish interest. Reading that comic absolutely blew my mind, and left me shook.

Re: When I was labeled a ‘troubled’ teen, I obliged

#25

Post by rOOb85 »

gregmac wrote: post #15
dghlsakjg wrote: post #3

If you want to read something truly horrific check out elan.school . It was a troubled teen school in Maine that sounds unbelievable until you read multiple identical stories from students

Seconded. This is a very compelling read, and a great graphic novel style. One of the things Joe says several times is how part of the design of the elan program is to be so absolutely insane that it literally sounds unbelievable if described to anyone. Coupled with a separate, well-groomed veneer presented to parents and the outside world, any "troubled" kids trying to explain what's really going on just come off as…

It’s also more then that. elan was VERY good at disguising themselves as a caring and helpful place. On paper, elan had it all. But it was all an illusion. My parents spent over 3 months researching different schools and elan seemed to have everything I “needed”. This was before the internet had social media and review sites so the people who elan abused didn’t really have a visible soapbox. My parents even went to elan and took a tour before sending me there.

elan also had complete control of every letter or phone call. You have to earn the privilege to them. I had no contact with my parents for the first 2 months. And when I did, it was over a speakerphone in a room with a elan staff member who literally had their finger on the button to hang up if I pleaded for my parents to take me home. And before the call that day they had been coaching me for days on what I could and could not say. And if I said something I wasn’t supposed to I would lose all privileges and go “on shotdown”. elans vicegrip on communication actually led to my parents withdrawing me. They sensed something wasn’t right and (against elans wishes) demanded a in person visit with me(in person visits are a extremely privileged event). They saw I had lost a ton of weight and looked all fucked up and withdrew me.

Re: When I was labeled a ‘troubled’ teen, I obliged

#26

Post by klyrs »

starwind wrote: post #7

How do these cases not result in mass prosecutions? It shouldn't be too hard to tie a few people to the abuse at these schools, then police say, "give us names and help us understand who was responsible at the top, or you're looking at many, many years in prison for child abuse and we'll just find someone else who'll talk" You know, the same way prosecutors go after mobsters and drug rings

Others have mentioned https://elan.school -- it's a horrific eye-opener. I'd recommend against binging the story; it's heartwrenching. There's a few methods they use: (a) they do shit so horrific that folks don't believe their own children (b) they brainwash, gaslight the kids so they're conditioned to not talk about it, even teach them lies to tell their parents with dire consequences (c) police and politicians are actually in on it.

Shorter answer, lots of americans are hard-core authoritarians and this is what "law & order" actually means.

Re: When I was labeled a ‘troubled’ teen, I obliged

#27

Post by rOOb85 »

dghlsakjg wrote: post #24
rOOb85 wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was one of the unlucky people who spent time at elan. It was a terrible terrible time. Much like the author of the article I was awoken by 2 big dudes in my bedroom and was given the choice to get dressed and go peacefully or they would drag me out of bed and take me away in my underwear. I said I'm not doing shit until my parents give you permission to take me. They handed me a piece of paper with both my parents…

How long were you there? Did your parents ever realize/own up to what you went through? Edit: sorry for my ghoulish interest. Reading that comic absolutely blew my mind, and left me shook.

I was very fortunate that my parents believed me and withdrew me after ~5 months.

My parents sent me there with the best intentions. But elan tricked them. And they realized that. They have both apologized numerous times and explained how they regret the decision. Last year, so over 20 years later, out of the blue my dad just blurted out “I’m so sorry we sent you to elan. We truly didn’t know…”. It took me by surprise.

Re: When I was labeled a ‘troubled’ teen, I obliged

#29

Post by rOOb85 »

Gunax wrote: post #12

I am so glad these abuses are receiving mainstream attention. The way we treat children in our society is rotten. 18 years a slave.

As weird as it may seem, Paris Hilton was actually sent to one of these places and has spoken out about them and shed some light on them.

Re: When I was labeled a ‘troubled’ teen, I obliged

#30

Post by 999900000999 »

Gunax wrote: post #12

I am so glad these abuses are receiving mainstream attention. The way we treat children in our society is rotten. 18 years a slave.

Even when you turn 18, the nightmare doesn't end.

I'm exceptionally lucky in that when I got my first apartment at 19 years old, you could still find an apartment in LA for $600. Now you're just screwed, I've met tons of people who are essentially trapped in extremely abusive homes well into their twenties and beyond.

I've seen this happen to people from practically every background, with a good chunk of my Asian friends experiencing something like that. One lived in a homeless shelter for a while just to get away from his parents.

Getting rid of the current FASA system which assumes harmonious families, would do so much to help young people get started. If I had a magic wand, I'd ban affirmative action completely, and in its place give everyone financial aid even if they don't have a relationship with their parents.

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