This story is awful and sounds so much like Joe vs. Elan School <<WARNING: Very graphic descriptions and depictions of violence and abuse>> which is a (very long and still ongoing) webcomic drawn...
This story is awful and sounds so much like Joe vs. Elan School <<WARNING: Very graphic descriptions and depictions of violence and abuse>> which is a (very long and still ongoing) webcomic drawn by an attendee of a similar kind of "camp" that, in excruciating detail, explains the full horror of the abuse he suffered at Élan School, a similar "troubled teen" camp.
It's simply inhuman what they're put through and every parent should be aware of the abuse the "troubled teen" industry is made of.
I honestly wonder if it would be better if we were to outlaw all troubled teen camps. I was thinking that parents who voluntarily send their kids to these kinds of program are very likely to be...
I honestly wonder if it would be better if we were to outlaw all troubled teen camps.
I was thinking that parents who voluntarily send their kids to these kinds of program are very likely to be abusive themselves, even if they don't realize it. Even if it's all above-board, camp programs that isolate kids are very extreme, and Cameron's story doesn't mention his parents trying to find a local therapist. The fact that these programs are so isolated from society suggests to me that the people that run it (and perhaps the parents in some cases) might realize that what they are doing is abusive.
Heck, the simple act of removing a child from all of their support communities is abusive. I had a parent who did that to me and it was really damaging. Maybe if they were trying to intervene on a child's drug use that might be more understandable since their support communities would include the people who are providing those drugs, but I can't even imagine anyone thinking that pornography was bad enough to justify this kind of thing.
There's a fascinating Behind the Bastards podcast about Dr. Phil and how he profited off the troubled teen industry. Very insightful, one of my favorite podcasts nowadays.
There's a fascinating Behind the Bastards podcast about Dr. Phil and how he profited off the troubled teen industry. Very insightful, one of my favorite podcasts nowadays.
Thanks, sounds interesting to check out, although I was really annoyed by the only BTB show I've listened to so far. Robert Evans, the podcast host, repeatedly mispronounces the name of a cult...
Thanks, sounds interesting to check out, although I was really annoyed by the only BTB show I've listened to so far. Robert Evans, the podcast host, repeatedly mispronounces the name of a cult leader, the subject of the episode. I found the correct pronunciation could be quickly and easily confirmed in less that 60 seconds online, in a multitude of recorded news stories and interviews. It made me skeptical about the accuracy of the rest of that show and of other episodes.
I was sent to a residential treatment center as a teen. They're adjacent to troubled teen camps. While my parents have their issues, I will say that the troubled teen industry is incredibly...
I was sent to a residential treatment center as a teen. They're adjacent to troubled teen camps. While my parents have their issues, I will say that the troubled teen industry is incredibly predatory, and actively worked to convince my very scared and confused parents that I needed to be heavily drugged and eventually locked up.
The industry took advantage of my parents fears and profited. Whereas a number of the residents did in fact have abusive parents, I think its important to recognize that that's not the only factor involved, and above all else it's the predatory nature of the industry that is the driving factor in convincing parents that their child might be best "helped" with extreme types of intervention.
My condolences. I've expressed anger at these kinds of programs, but really, the core of that feeling is a profound sadness. I think that for the most part, parents aren't trying to be abusive....
My condolences.
I've expressed anger at these kinds of programs, but really, the core of that feeling is a profound sadness. I think that for the most part, parents aren't trying to be abusive. They just don't know how to deal with their kids. And the more they reach out for help the more they come into contact with messages that alienate them from their child's basic humanity. Kids are dealing with tough shit happening in their lives, and their parent's don't see that and start thinking that the kid is the problem. Although I haven't been put in one of those programs, I have seen this pattern firsthand in my childhood. It took years to heal from the abuse. That's why I get so upset about these kinds of stories.
That's an accurate description. And I agree, it's incredibly sad. Thank you for letting me share, and your compassionate response. The fact that these places still exist sickens me. I've had...
That's an accurate description. And I agree, it's incredibly sad. Thank you for letting me share, and your compassionate response.
The fact that these places still exist sickens me. I've had friends try to talk me into writing out my experience, but honestly sitting down and rehashing it alone makes my brain spiral. I've told people I'd be glad to share if asked and you're welcome to write it, but I'm not about to go through that in isolation all over again. Living through it was isolating enough as it is.
The impact it has had on my life is undeniable but totally outside the preview of most people's experience, and thus near impossible to talk about or share in any manner that doesn't "other" me. Most people I meet and talk to will never know that that was a significant part of where I come from.
Holy shit, I hadn't hear of that but I just looked up a synopsis and fuck me dude it sounds like she's doing something truly phenomenal. Is that the case? Thank you for sharing that. It might be...
Holy shit, I hadn't hear of that but I just looked up a synopsis and fuck me dude it sounds like she's doing something truly phenomenal. Is that the case? Thank you for sharing that. It might be really difficult for me to listen to but I may see if my spouse is willing to listen to it with me.
Yeah, my sentiments exactly. I'm honestly amazed that the creator has been able to process what happened to him there and how it reflects on his life afterwards to the point that he can...
Yeah, my sentiments exactly. I'm honestly amazed that the creator has been able to process what happened to him there and how it reflects on his life afterwards to the point that he can communicate it. I think in his shoes I would have been reduced to nothing but seething hate. I can't imagine being a survivor like him.
Agreed. As i read, at first i thought i might have reacted differently, but quickly saw i would have done at least as much as he had. It’s a truly profound read. I’m honestly still processing a...
Agreed. As i read, at first i thought i might have reacted differently, but quickly saw i would have done at least as much as he had.
It’s a truly profound read. I’m honestly still processing a lot of it. I was also sent to a troubled teen program, though it was a lot less horrific than Elan.
There’s a lot of parallels to Viktor Frankl’s, “Mans search for meaning” and that’s about surviving the Holocaust.
There’s lighter parallels to any system where the victims outnumber their oppressors, but still act as their agents.
I did not know that these "troubled teen" camps were still a thing. I thought they were done away with like 10 years ago. I'm honestly disgusted that there are actual, real people who look at...
I did not know that these "troubled teen" camps were still a thing. I thought they were done away with like 10 years ago. I'm honestly disgusted that there are actual, real people who look at these camps and think it's okay to send there child there just because they are "deviant".
I wish there was a way to just completely outlaw them nationally. There seems to be so much abuse that happens at these camps that it easily outweighs any "benefits" in allowing them to continue to run.
The amount of rage I feel in knowing that the US has allowed these programs to continue to run is indescribable.
This story is awful and sounds so much like Joe vs. Elan School <<WARNING: Very graphic descriptions and depictions of violence and abuse>> which is a (very long and still ongoing) webcomic drawn by an attendee of a similar kind of "camp" that, in excruciating detail, explains the full horror of the abuse he suffered at Élan School, a similar "troubled teen" camp.
It's simply inhuman what they're put through and every parent should be aware of the abuse the "troubled teen" industry is made of.
I honestly wonder if it would be better if we were to outlaw all troubled teen camps.
I was thinking that parents who voluntarily send their kids to these kinds of program are very likely to be abusive themselves, even if they don't realize it. Even if it's all above-board, camp programs that isolate kids are very extreme, and Cameron's story doesn't mention his parents trying to find a local therapist. The fact that these programs are so isolated from society suggests to me that the people that run it (and perhaps the parents in some cases) might realize that what they are doing is abusive.
Heck, the simple act of removing a child from all of their support communities is abusive. I had a parent who did that to me and it was really damaging. Maybe if they were trying to intervene on a child's drug use that might be more understandable since their support communities would include the people who are providing those drugs, but I can't even imagine anyone thinking that pornography was bad enough to justify this kind of thing.
There's a fascinating Behind the Bastards podcast about Dr. Phil and how he profited off the troubled teen industry. Very insightful, one of my favorite podcasts nowadays.
Thanks, sounds interesting to check out, although I was really annoyed by the only BTB show I've listened to so far. Robert Evans, the podcast host, repeatedly mispronounces the name of a cult leader, the subject of the episode. I found the correct pronunciation could be quickly and easily confirmed in less that 60 seconds online, in a multitude of recorded news stories and interviews. It made me skeptical about the accuracy of the rest of that show and of other episodes.
I was sent to a residential treatment center as a teen. They're adjacent to troubled teen camps. While my parents have their issues, I will say that the troubled teen industry is incredibly predatory, and actively worked to convince my very scared and confused parents that I needed to be heavily drugged and eventually locked up.
The industry took advantage of my parents fears and profited. Whereas a number of the residents did in fact have abusive parents, I think its important to recognize that that's not the only factor involved, and above all else it's the predatory nature of the industry that is the driving factor in convincing parents that their child might be best "helped" with extreme types of intervention.
My condolences.
I've expressed anger at these kinds of programs, but really, the core of that feeling is a profound sadness. I think that for the most part, parents aren't trying to be abusive. They just don't know how to deal with their kids. And the more they reach out for help the more they come into contact with messages that alienate them from their child's basic humanity. Kids are dealing with tough shit happening in their lives, and their parent's don't see that and start thinking that the kid is the problem. Although I haven't been put in one of those programs, I have seen this pattern firsthand in my childhood. It took years to heal from the abuse. That's why I get so upset about these kinds of stories.
That's an accurate description. And I agree, it's incredibly sad. Thank you for letting me share, and your compassionate response.
The fact that these places still exist sickens me. I've had friends try to talk me into writing out my experience, but honestly sitting down and rehashing it alone makes my brain spiral. I've told people I'd be glad to share if asked and you're welcome to write it, but I'm not about to go through that in isolation all over again. Living through it was isolating enough as it is.
The impact it has had on my life is undeniable but totally outside the preview of most people's experience, and thus near impossible to talk about or share in any manner that doesn't "other" me. Most people I meet and talk to will never know that that was a significant part of where I come from.
If you don’t mind me asking, if you listened to it, how did you feel about Paris Hilton’s podcast on the troubled teen industry?
Holy shit, I hadn't hear of that but I just looked up a synopsis and fuck me dude it sounds like she's doing something truly phenomenal. Is that the case? Thank you for sharing that. It might be really difficult for me to listen to but I may see if my spouse is willing to listen to it with me.
Elan was in bed with local LEO and several judges. The options were often like “juvie or Elan.”
That was an amazing and powerful read. I couldn’t look away until i finished it. Horrifying story but very well told.
Yeah, my sentiments exactly. I'm honestly amazed that the creator has been able to process what happened to him there and how it reflects on his life afterwards to the point that he can communicate it. I think in his shoes I would have been reduced to nothing but seething hate. I can't imagine being a survivor like him.
Agreed. As i read, at first i thought i might have reacted differently, but quickly saw i would have done at least as much as he had.
It’s a truly profound read. I’m honestly still processing a lot of it. I was also sent to a troubled teen program, though it was a lot less horrific than Elan.
There’s a lot of parallels to Viktor Frankl’s, “Mans search for meaning” and that’s about surviving the Holocaust.
There’s lighter parallels to any system where the victims outnumber their oppressors, but still act as their agents.
I did not know that these "troubled teen" camps were still a thing. I thought they were done away with like 10 years ago. I'm honestly disgusted that there are actual, real people who look at these camps and think it's okay to send there child there just because they are "deviant".
I wish there was a way to just completely outlaw them nationally. There seems to be so much abuse that happens at these camps that it easily outweighs any "benefits" in allowing them to continue to run.
The amount of rage I feel in knowing that the US has allowed these programs to continue to run is indescribable.