PYF unnerving article or story: Why is everything always so fucking weird - The Something Awful Forums

Register a SA Forums Account here!
JOINING THE SA FORUMS WILL REMOVE THIS BIG AD, THE ANNOYING UNDERLINED ADS, AND STUPID INTERSTITIAL ADS!!!

You can: log in, read the tech support FAQ, or request your lost password. This dumb message (and those ads) will appear on every screen until you register! Get rid of this crap by registering your own SA Forums Account and joining roughly 150,000 Goons, for the one-time price of $9.95! We charge money because it costs us money per month for bills, and since we don't believe in showing ads to our users, we try to make the money back through forum registrations.

The Something Awful Forums > Main > Post Your Favorite: Carefully Curated > PYF unnerving article or story: Why is everything always so fucking weird

Sarcopenia: May 14, 2014

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/08/la-longreads-the-mystery-of-the-boy-in-the-chimney.html

Boy found in chimney :smith:

:smith:

# ? May 28, 2016 21:18

Adbot: ADBOT LOVES YOU

# ? Jun 13, 2024 04:05

Zopotantor: Feb 24, 2013; ...und ist er drin dann lassen wir ihn niemals wieder raus...

Pendragon posted:

The vaccine for shingles is only good for about 10 years of protection, and it's a one shot deal: getting another one later offers no protection. Thus , it's best to get it when people are most at risk, which is age 50 to 55.

That leaves me less than 4 years to get it. :corsair:

:corsair:

# ? May 28, 2016 21:56

Nckdictator: Sep 8, 2006; Just..someone

"POWERFUL AGENTS OF THE UNSEEN.

THEY DESTROY HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS OF A FAMILY.

CAUSE A BASIN OF WARM BLOOD TO EXPLODE, PRODUCE HORRID VERMIN FROM ARTICLES OF FOOD, AND TOSS FIREBRANDS AND OTHER MISSILES TO THE IMMINENT DANGER OF MORTAL MAN."

That's certainly an eye-catching headline, lets see what the story is behind it.

quote:

New England is full of quaint old villages with cobblestone fences, irregular streets, gigantic shade trees and pretty gardens and most of them are full of romantic legends and mystic lore. One of these, situated among the hills of Worcester County, Mass., was a few years ago the locale of three haunted house, two of which have been destroyed by lightning. That which is left stands among the residences of the best citizens, sadly dilapidated, with ragged roof and windows, in an inclosure, overgrown by brush and weeds, at the mercy of the elements, for nobody enters its creaking doors nor approaching it nearer than necessity demands. To old and young alike it is the abode of mystery and dread�of specters to torment and vanquish the strongest man! These people have had sufficient proof of the vicious devils who dwell in the ancient house about whose reality they permit no one to doubt, and that others may understand the logic of such faith it is only necessary to make a brief appeal to facts.

IN ONE OF THE HOUSES

Mentioned there transpired the phenomena which are described as follows: A Mrs. Dane, descended from Puritan ancestry and a rigid Presbyterian, was one day sitting her parlor, when she heard much of the crockery and glass in a china closet fall and break. Almost at the same moment a servant entered and announced that the dishes in a kitchen pantry were leaping from the shelves, and being smashed upon the floor. There had been other disturbances in the house on former occasions, but nothing like what was now occurring, and, the women were much frightened. An additional cause of alarm was gathered from the fact that as fast as the pieces of glass and crockery were gathered up, they were seized by unseen hands and thrown about the room with violence, striking and cutting all the inmates. This frightful performance was continued until the women desisted from meddling with the debris. Later in the day a servant undertook to sweep the rooms thus littered, whereupon the broken bits sprang up from the floors, as if endowed with independent motion, and began another attack upon the people. When

THE MEN OF THE FAMILY

Came in from their work and ridiculed the fears of the weaker sex another attempt was made to clear away the fragments of glass and delft, but the result was even greater disaster. The pieces not only flew about with renewed force, but they destroyed windows, mirrors, paintings and vases and placed everlasting marks of identification upon all the furniture. They also cut rents in the carpets.

The fragments of glass and china were not further disturbed and soon the conditions appeared to be normal. But in about a month there was a fearful disturbance all over the house. It began at 11 o�clock in the night and called all the family from their beds at the first shock, for the house vibrated upon the foundation walls as if shaken by an earthquake. The noise awakened the neighbors and they flocked to the beleaguered habitation to witness a strange and unaccountable sight, but not only everything of a fragile sort, but the furniture which was mostly of the ponderous kind used by our ancestors, was being broken and the fragments hurled about in the wildest confusion. Bedsteads, bureaus, tables, sofas, chairs, all the belongings of a substantial household, were going to pieces without making visible the agent of destruction, apparently without cause or motive, and it seemed to the spectators that the besom of destruction was wielded by the powers of the air, incited to the act by pure malice. All the furniture, bedding, carpets, drapery and other belongings of the household were rendered worthless in the space of three or four hours, and the work of those who had sought to save several sacks of what by conveying them to another building was rendered useless by an agency which dragged the sacks from their hidden repository and emptied their contents into a near-by pond!

THE FAMILY WAS COMPELLED

To seek quarters elsewhere, and went to the dwelling of a Mr. Graham, a relative. Late next day a large concourse of citizens, headed by the clergyman and Magistrates, visited the Dane house and saw �evidences of devastation more thorough than could have been accomplished in the same time by 50 able-bodied men.� It was a complete wreck.

On the third night after the Danes were domiciled at Graham�s sounds of chopping, sawing and breaking furniture were heard all over the house, accompanied by laughter, loud and shrill, but upon striking lights the terrified people found all the furniture in place and intact, and there was nobody in sight or hearing so long as the candles were alight. When darkness filled the room the racket was resumed and in little time it became necessary to the repose of the family to keep the house fairly illuminated during sleeping hours. Even then they were sometimes awakened by strange voices in conversation, singing and laughter, and occasionally they heard threats against the various occupants of the house, calling them by name and relating incidents in their private history which they would rather have had untold.

Matters proceeded upon these lines till a night in August, known locally as

�THE BLACK NIGHT,�

When, in the climax of a terrific thunderstorm, the candles were extinguished and the imps of darkness took full possession. When lightning projected vivid flashes into every nook and corner of the Graham domicile it was found to be peopled with an innumerable multitude of gnome-like creatures, with large eyes and noses, perpendicular mouths, a superabundance of hair on heads and chins, and complexion of bright green. These monsters laughed grimly and made threatening gestures. As an evidence that they prided themselves upon their hideousness the most grotesquely hideous among them were the leaders of their orgies, and gave the word of command, supplemented by voluminous profanity.

The Danes felt that they had brought calamity to the Grahams, and proposed to seek an asylum elsewhere, at which there was a shout of laughter from the invited crowd. All occupants of the dwelling were up and dressed, but suddenly they were propelled toward the beds, upon which they were thrown and deprived of the power to rise. One, who afterward described his sensations on this occasion, said he could not have been more completely deprived of the power to act had he been held by a score of giants.

Then began an orgy of grosser kind than can be risked in a description for the public eye. Truthfully might these devoted people have felt that �Hell is empty and all is devils here,� for in the bottomless pit no darker devilments are devised. The house was suddenly illuminated by phosphorescent gleams, making the green gnomes still greener, and at once their acts were of the grossest and most utterly indescribable obscenity. Those old tales of phallic orgies in Pompeii seem to have been rendered tame and semi-decent in comparison with some legends preserved of these doings on �the Black Night,� when the outraged modesty of the enforced onlookers displaced fear by detestation and inexpressible disgust. The language of the hideous devils was consonant with their acts, foul beyond expression, and they capped this preliminary enormity with a song so gross that our informant made many apologies for remembering a single couplet. The sooner he forgets it the better for his mental health.

At this point several of the mortals found they were able to move, and, although the storm was still raging, got up with the intention of leaving the house. The laugh from the fiends when this purpose was announced was the essence of mockery. They could leave if they so desired was plainly intimated by their tormentors, but there were five females in the house, and they were still bound by the spell which had been upon all the mortals. Soon they were calling for release and it was found that the fiends had devised for them

A SPECIAL TORMENT

A severe castigation with little bundles of what our informant describes as �illuminated wires,� while the women were in puris naturalibus. Their natural protectors made a rush for their rescue, when instantly darkness enshrouded the scene, and every man and boy was knocked down with such force as to leave him insensible to subsequent proceedings. It was upon the rays of pleasant morning that their eyes reopened when they found themselves lying upon the floor, the furniture in disorder and nobody stirring. The women had all fled to one room, where it was found two were sick with fright and abuse. By a comparison of experiences, it was learned that all had seen the occurrences of the night in the same way, and in proof of the reality of the vision, two of the women carried the marks of the devil�s flogging as long as they lived.

We have given only the beginning of the trouble at Graham�s but the most abhorrent feature, according to our information, leaving much to be inferred. Upon every recurrence of a thunderstorm there was another visitation and upon every visitation there was a variation of the phenomena and the phenomenasts, if the term is allowable. But always there were devils in the crowd, indicated by the deeds they committed, on one occasion sprinkling the people with a fluid which looked like blood, but caused the flesh where it lodged to break out in virulent sores; at another time, after requesting food, causing the bread to assume the form of rats, and the meat to evolved a nest of hissing serpents; again, throwing simulated firebrands among the inflammable materials and preventing everybody from interposing to avert disaster. One a fiend affrighted Mrs. Graham into a fit and her husband, a doctor, resorted to blood-letting for her relief.

THE OPERATION COMPLETE

At which the foul devils jeered, the blood stood in the basin a moment and then was thrown out with great force, accompanied by a sound like a violent explosion and a hissing as of steam escaping without the assistance of any discernible power. It bespattered everything in the room with an indelible stain, where it was seen as long as the house stood.

It was finally concluded to lay the demons by a prayer meeting in the house, and a great number of devout people were invited to join in the supplication for relief. Many attended and the prayers were long, eloquent and to the point. Although these exercises continued till a late hour of the night, they were undisturbed by an uncanny manifestation. In those days, however, it was customary to serve refreshments at the close of every meeting at a private house and this occasion offered no excuse for an exception. Wine and cake were offered first to the pastor of the congregation. He raised the glass to drink, but by a volition not his own it was carried above his head and drained of the last drop before he had the power to prevent. Then he said: �Good friends, we must continue in prayer. The power of the evil one is not yet abated.�

All knelt and supplications were renewed. While the good pastor was in the midst of his effort he was overturned bodily and his chair piled upon him and in a trice everyone in the room was similarly served. Prayers were not resumed that night. The wine had mysteriously disappeared, s they took their cake dry and adjourned sine die.

DURING A THUNDERSTORM

Which occurred after this trial of prayer the demonstrations against the Graham residence were the most severe it had yet suffered. Great bowlders, one of which weighted more than 12 pounds and several exceeding eight pounds were hurled against the house and through the windows and three were dropped down the chimney into the large fireplace. So fierce was this bombardment that most of the shingles on the house were broken, necessitating replacement by new ones and many weatherboards were similarly shattered. Strangest of all, a bowlder, which displaced several bricks in one of the chimneys very neatly fitted the aperture it had made and remained in that place till the dwelling was destroyed and it is now preserved as an invaluable relic by a scientist of the this village.

During this same storm it is said that a luminous apparition appeared and denounced those extra-judicial murders for witchcraft which for more than 100 years had drenched in blood the religio-legal records of New England, but immediately upon a report of this phenomenon reaching the public it was denounced as an attempt to defend his own, and, therefore, was not effective. But, in the light of the present time, it seems reasonable to conclude that no work of his agents could have been more pleasing to the devil than that done for the suppression of so-called witchcraft.

The Dane house was the first which lightning destroyed. It was struck early in a July evening, and immediately burst into flame. A few citizens attempted to save it, but without the last hope of success. Two of these left strange testimony as to what they saw in the eager element as it wrapped its far-reaching tongues around the beams and rafters of the old structure. With astonishment they beheld creatures with the form and stature of men and women, unclothed, of a bright green color, nimbly climbing about the place, pulling down boards and studding into the fiercest part of the burning and laughing with glee as they saw them lapped by the seething waves of destruction. T.P.

Cincinnati [OH] Enquirer 6 July 1895: p. 6.

http://hauntedohiobooks.com/news/creature-feature-elemental-devils/

# ? May 28, 2016 22:10

venus de lmao: Apr 30, 2007; Call me "pixeltits"

Were old-timey people just really loving stupid or what? Surely there's some kind of research into why stories of what can be charitably described as utter horseshit seen so prevalent in accounts of pre-industrial European and American settlements.

# ? May 28, 2016 22:57

Solice Kirsk: Jun 1, 2004; .

Much like papers today post bullshit stories for entertainment, they did so back then too. Look up some airship sightings stories from the 1800's. They were never written to be taken seriously.

# ? May 28, 2016 23:00

SneezeOfTheDecade: Feb 6, 2011; gettin' covid all
over your posts

Bertrand Hustle posted:

Were old-timey people just really loving stupid or what? Surely there's some kind of research into why stories of what can be charitably described as utter horseshit seen so prevalent in accounts of pre-industrial European and American settlements.

The idea of even historical records, let alone the news, being objective and factual is relatively recent. There's a lot of "this is pretty interesting, bet you can't prove it's wrong" even today, and the proportion of that to actual news goes way up if you go more than about a century back.

# ? May 29, 2016 02:02

Aesop Poprock: Oct 21, 2008; Grimey Drawer

Reading about iron lungs lead me to reading about some of the history of medical treatment for breathing/lung problems which lead me to this uh, charming image

# ? May 29, 2016 02:17

crowoutofcontext: Nov 12, 2006

I don't know if the idea of putting an infant in that ??? contraption or the mutated features of the infant itself are more disturbing.

# ? May 29, 2016 02:31

Nckdictator: Sep 8, 2006; Just..someone

Here's some older articles on rather macabre subjects.

http://www.thomas-morris.uk/human-piggy-bank/

quote:

In 1826 The London Medical Repository and Review reported the case of Jacques de Falaise, a French quarry worker from Montmartre. His career was unremarkable until the age of 62, when he suddenly developed a strange new habit.

"Having had a fatiguing day, and being at supper with his fellow-workmen, their admiration was excited by the singular rapidity with which he caused repeated bumpers of some kind of drink which is not specified to disappear; and one of them told him jestingly, that he seemed as if he could swallow the canary-bird which was in a cage near them, and the property of the landlady of the inn. Strange to say, the man determined to try whether he could or not; and, in spite of the tears and entreaties of the landlady, he put the poor canary-bird into his mouth and swallowed him, feathers and all, in a moment, to the great astonishment of the whole company, himself included; for he told them he had no expectation of being able to swallow the bird, and was quite surprised to find it go down so easily. This feat was only the precursor of many similar ones, to the great terror of the birds about Montmartre."

The extraordinary bird-swallowing abilities of Jacques de Falaise soon became the talk of the town, and the manager of a Parisian theatre engaged him as a novelty act. In return for an annual salary of 400 francs (with food and clothing thrown in), he was asked to swallow anything the public gave him.

"In his public career he swallowed birds, and cards, and flowers, and money: he was one day announced to swallow three hundred francs in five-franc pieces, a coin, as many of our readers well know, as large as an English crown-piece; but as the manager had agreed, that whatever Jacques swallowed was to become his property, he was not indulged with more than 150; after which the manager told the audience, that if they wished to see him swallow any more, they must contribute them: about twenty more pieces were thrown on the stage, and quickly followed the rest into the performer�s stomach; where their weight, and propensity to roll about, caused such distress to the poor fellow, that he was obliged to wear a bandage tight round him until the whole sum had fairly passed through the intestinal canal.

After this, he frequently swallowed frogs, crabs, eels, and even snakes; the crabs and eels, however, we are told, caused him particular inconvenience by their subsequent movements; and, on one occasion, an eel, which disapproved exceedingly of the unceremonious disposal of him, found his way back up the oesophagus, whilst poor Jacques was on the stage, and caused extreme pain by endeavouring to find a way through the posterior nares. At last the eel put its head rather near the performer�s teeth, upon which Jacques crushed it, and swallowed him again: after this unpleasant accident, be adopted the habit of crushing the heads of all the animals he swallowed, by a very rapid application of his molar teeth."

We are not surprised to learn, that after pursuing this business for some time, Jacques de Falaise became affected with gastroenteritis: he was admitted into the hospital Beaujou, and remained there some months.

"On being discharged, he returned to his trade of swallowing; but was soon more severely affected than before,� was re-admitted into the hospital, and had a long and painful convalescence. He now listened to the advice of his physicians, and, renouncing his dangerous avocation, was afterwards employed about the hospital until his death. He recovered his health and strength, but not his spirits; and at last, after spending a night in drinking, hanged himself."

http://www.thomas-morris.uk/inexpressibly-loathsome-sickening/

quote:

Unlikely tales were often swallowed unquestioningly by the editors of medical journals in the nineteenth century, so it was a welcome corrective to find this preface to a case report published in The Boston Medical and Surgical Journal in 1854:

"An esteemed correspondent has sent us an account of �a most extraordinary case,� which he says he �clipped from a newspaper printed at Willimantic, Conn.� We should have preferred that our friend had investigated the circumstances of the case before he sent it to us. These snake, lizard and worm stories, connected with human life, disease and death, have been quite common for many years, and when they have been fully investigated by scientific men, have generally turned out to be but �two cats, ours and another one,� or else nothing of the kind ever happened.

But this case appears to be of a different character, and we therefore publish it as reported.

The deceased was a maiden woman, some 55 years of age, named Nancy Chaffee. She was not of the sharpest intellect. Her health had been poor for about a year, yet she had all the while a remarkably voracious appetite. She would eat more than two hearty men, and still she was exceedingly thin, and appeared to be wasting gradually away. She was able to keep about the house usually. Saturday, the day before her death, she felt a little worse than usual, and ate little. Sunday morning she arose much as commonly, and ate her breakfast. Soon after she felt faint, and had assistance to lay her on the bed, where, in an hour, she died.

In two hours after her death worms crawled out of her mouth and nose upon her face, to the number of a dozen; and before the body was put into the coffin, which was about sundown the same day, 23 had come from it through the same avenues. Life had scarcely departed before an insufferable stench proceeded from the corpse; and when the body was about to be prepared for the coffin, alvine secretion was discovered oozing through the skin of the abdomen, and overflowing the mouth.

The sight and smell were so inexpressibly loathsome and sickening, that the persons engaged in these last duties to the dead, were obliged to fly the room. The most that could be done was to roll the corpse up in the clothes the deceased had on when she died, and put it in the coffin as it was. It is evident the poor woman was literally eaten up with worms. The intestines had been eaten through, and the contents, in a fluid state from a cathartic which had been administered a short time before death, had discharged into the trunk. "

http://strangeco.blogspot.com/2016/05/newspaper-clipping-of-day.html

quote:

Independent Record," December 1, 1883:

For forty-two years past Richard Rossiter, commonly known as "Grandfather Dick," has lived in the Southwest. Yesterday he returned to his old home on Staten Island. He was soon surrounded by a group of relatives and friends, to whom he told many startling stories, of which the following is one of the mildest. It should be said that amid many temptation to exaggerate, "Grandfather Dick" has preserved an untarnished reputation for veracity:

"In 1843, while Texas was yet an independent republic, I was engaged as manager for a herder named Francis Seph. I was engaged with a party of rancheros upon the Rio Grande, near Laredo. Just across the river was a Mexican town, also called Laredo. The river at this point is nearly a mile wide, but during the dry season is fordable. The fall of '43 was uncommonly dry. and every day our camp was visited by miners and herders from the Chihuahua mountains. They were rough-bearded fellows, who would rather fight than eat, and thought no more of blazing away with a pistol than I do of drinking a glass of beer. One night we heard the familiar splash of the mustangs' hoofs in the water, and soon no fewer than thirty greasers were lounging about our big fire. In its ruddy light their fierce, swarthy faces looked darker and wilder than ever.

"Alvie Dederick, an escaped Prussian convict, one of my gang, after drinking pretty freely, began to tell how Dick Tuloul, a Canadian miner, was very unlucky, never striking it rich, but always begging aid of his comrades. 'It's a lie,' replied the Canadian, who was lounging in the long, trampled prairie grass on the other side of the fire; 'and even if it were not, I'd rather beg of the boys than steal their dust.'

"'What do you mean?' demanded Dederick, jumping up, with his eyes sparkling like a tiger's and his hand on his knife. 'You know best what I mean--thief!'

"A moment before you could have heard our noise 'way across the river, but now all was silent as death. We were as still as though turned to stone. In the white heat of the Prussian's sudden race his face turned fairly pale as he strode deliberately around the fire to the spot where Tuloul stood to receive him. No one offered to interfere, for it was not considered in good taste at Laredo to meddle in the personal controversies of gentlemen. The men near Tuloul moved back a little to make room for the muss. Quick as lightning the ex-convict threw his brawny arms about the miner and bit a good-sized steak out of his ear. He then backed deliberately to his former position, chewing the delicious morsel. One hoarse, terrible curse came from Tuloul's lips, as the blood poured down his hairy neck and over his soiled flannel shirt. Then, in the midst of a silence broken only by the crackling of the fire and the sighing of the night wind in the grass, the Kanuck in turn stepped toward the Prussian. The two wrestled for a moment in close embrace, and when they separated Dederick's nose was missing and Touloul's bearded mouth and chin were red. Both men drew their weapons when old Nine-Fingered Jim, who had the voice of a Texas bull, rushed between them and cried: 'Hold on, boys! If you are so fond of fresh meat, have enough. We'll chain you together an' lower you to the bottom of San Esteban canyon. Thar's light enough down thar ter fight by. Fight till one of you passes in his chips an' then t'other must live for five days and nights on the dish you both seem so fond of.'

"Maddened and writhing with pain, the two men consented and the whole party hurried to the canyon, which was about five miles from camp. It was a mere crevice in the earth, San Esteban, but so deep and dark that it seemed like the very gate of death. To tie a score of lariats together and lower Tuloul and Dederick into the chasm was the work of but a moment. The combatants were firmly chained together, with no weapons but their knives. Up through the impenetrable darkness came to us the faint clash of steel as we leaned over the edge and strained our eyes vainly for a glimpse of the belligerents.

'"We can't see nothin' to-night, boys,' said Nine-Fingered Jim, in a tone of disappointment. 'Let's go back an' all promise not to come here in five days.' All hands promised, but I think that during those days of suspense more than one man in the camp was tempted to break his word.

"Sunset on the fifth day found us again at the brink of the canyon. I leaned over the edge and, looking down, saw the shadowy, motionless forms of the two men lying on the rocks at the bottom.

"'Alive, Dick!'" I called. No answer. 'They are both dead,' whispered the men. To make sure, however, a burly herdsman was lowered and we saw him examine first one body and then the other. A t last he raised a limp form in his strong arms and gave the signal to be raised. Never shall I forget the awful, sickening feeling that crept over me as we dragged the two men up. The herdsman's broad shoulders concealed the face of his burden, but when both were lifted over the brink of the precipice we recognized the sunken, mutilated features of the Prussian. He was unconscious and we thought for a long time that he was dead, but frequent doses of Laredo whisky,which we forced between his lips, revived him. With his head resting against big Geronimo's knee, he told his story, while the men crowded close around to get within sound of the feeble voice.

"'Soon after we got down,' he said, 'the circus began. Bound together as we were, we could not see each other, and did little damage for a long time. Then I felt faint ind lost my senses. When I came to the sunshine was beating upon my face and Tuloul was lying at my side. He was cold and still. His jaw had fallen, and his eyes, like glass balls, stared at the little belt of sky. I tried to rise, but could get no further than a sitting position. Upon taking in inventory of myself I missed large slices from my thighs and breast. I saw them on a rock at the Kanuck's feet. Reaching for my knife, I chopped off his left hand, thereby freeing myself from him. Then I passed two days of horror and starvation. Gnawing hunger finally overcame all else and I ate'--here his voice sank so low that that only those of us who were very close to the speaker caught the words--'my own flesh. May God forgive me.'"

# ? May 29, 2016 04:07

bean_shadow: Sep 27, 2005; If men had uteruses they'd be called duderuses.

Nckdictator posted:

Here's some older articles on rather macabre subjects.

http://www.thomas-morris.uk/human-piggy-bank/

http://www.thomas-morris.uk/inexpressibly-loathsome-sickening/

http://strangeco.blogspot.com/2016/05/newspaper-clipping-of-day.html

This is from the Glore Psychiatric Museum in St. Joseph, Missouri (which I highly recommend). It's a bunch of stuff taken from a woman's stomach. I think she died during surgery.

# ? May 29, 2016 13:46

RNG: Jul 9, 2009

bean_shadow posted:

This is from the Glore Psychiatric Museum in St. Joseph, Missouri (which I highly recommend). It's a bunch of stuff taken from a woman's stomach. I think she died during surgery.

There's a few hundred nails and only 20 Spaghetti-O's, so I think we know what did her in.

# ? May 29, 2016 15:05

cash crab: Apr 5, 2015; all the time i am eating from the trashcan. the name of this trashcan is ideology

Aesop Poprock posted:

Reading about iron lungs lead me to reading about some of the history of medical treatment for breathing/lung problems which lead me to this uh, charming image

He is praying for air inside the punishment cube

# ? May 29, 2016 15:49

Beige: Sep 13, 2004

Nckdictator posted:

Here's some older articles on rather macabre subjects.

http://www.thomas-morris.uk/human-piggy-bank/

http://www.thomas-morris.uk/inexpressibly-loathsome-sickening/

http://strangeco.blogspot.com/2016/05/newspaper-clipping-of-day.html

These are great. The third one quoted ended confusingly. Did the Prussian kill the Canadian? It's not mentioned explicitly.

# ? May 29, 2016 17:40

HUNDU THE BEAST GOD: Sep 14, 2007; everything is yours

Crash_N_Burn posted:

I wonder if there is some kind of psych torture manual these people develop their methods from.

The CIA published two such documents for instruction at the School Of The Americas:

Handling Sources:
http://www.soaw.org/about-the-soawhinsec/soa-manuals/handling-of-sources

"KUBARK" Interrogation:
http://nsarchive.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB122/CIA%20Kubark%201-60.pdf

# ? May 29, 2016 20:03

That Damn Satyr: Nov 4, 2008; A connoisseur of fine junk

We have several versions of the "child rehabilitation camps" here in western NC. One is less than 5 miles from my house, way back up in a mountain valley. While not quite as extreme as The Seed, they are still loving atrocious.

My mom used to do child transport/escort for them - basically when the kid is pulled from the home in the middle of the night, they've got a guard with them until they reach the camp - that was her job.

She only did it for a few years and when I found out about it, I educated her about what kind of things went on in those camps (specifically, this one touts that it can ~un-gay childuns~).

She got a new job pretty fast after that. :unsmith:

:unsmith:

# ? May 29, 2016 21:51

Crash_N_Burn: Apr 19, 2014

That drat Satyr posted:

We have several versions of the "child rehabilitation camps" here in western NC. One is less than 5 miles from my house, way back up in a mountain valley. While not quite as extreme as The Seed, they are still loving atrocious.

My mom used to do child transport/escort for them - basically when the kid is pulled from the home in the middle of the night, they've got a guard with them until they reach the camp - that was her job.

She only did it for a few years and when I found out about it, I educated her about what kind of things went on in those camps (specifically, this one touts that it can ~un-gay childuns~).

She got a new job pretty fast after that.

That particular aspect of the job is terrible and since it relies on people not immediately affiliated with those programs I imagine what they do must weigh very heavily on their consciences.

It's one thing to be a kid chained to a couch in an unfamiliar City waiting on a flight to an unfamiliar country where people are going to beat your rear end.

It cannot be easy for the adults that accept money to do that to people.

# ? May 29, 2016 22:31

Chichevache: Feb 17, 2010; One of the funniest posters in GIP.

Just not intentionally.

Crash_N_Burn posted:

That particular aspect of the job is terrible and since it relies on people not immediately affiliated with those programs I imagine what they do must weigh very heavily on their consciences.

It's one thing to be a kid chained to a couch in an unfamiliar City waiting on a flight to an unfamiliar country where people are going to beat your rear end.

It cannot be easy for the adults that accept money to do that to people.

I work in a hospital as the guy who restrains people (today is my last day, yay!). Even with psychiatric patients it can be mentally taxing. You're aware that this is for their own good, and the safety of everyone else on the unit, but that doesn't change the fact that the person screaming thinks you're torturing them and planning to murder them. :smith:

:smith:

We've had children as young as 5 in the Psych Emergency Unit. :smithicide:

:smithicide:

# ? May 29, 2016 23:32

wyntyr: Mar 27, 2006

Chichevache posted:

I work in a hospital as the guy who restrains people (today is my last day, yay!). Even with psychiatric patients it can be mentally taxing. You're aware that this is for their own good, and the safety of everyone else on the unit, but that doesn't change the fact that the person screaming thinks you're torturing them and planning to murder them.

We've had children as young as 5 in the Psych Emergency Unit.

Hey, you've done good. And I mean that - good, as in affecting a positive change in the world. Working on the edges of society is hard and I salute you for it.

# ? May 29, 2016 23:38

BattleMaster: Aug 14, 2000

Crash_N_Burn posted:

That particular aspect of the job is terrible and since it relies on people not immediately affiliated with those programs I imagine what they do must weigh very heavily on their consciences.

It's one thing to be a kid chained to a couch in an unfamiliar City waiting on a flight to an unfamiliar country where people are going to beat your rear end.

It cannot be easy for the adults that accept money to do that to people.

Are you serious? If it hurt them so much they could just not do it.

# ? May 29, 2016 23:45

Terrible Opinions: Oct 18, 2013

BattleMaster posted:

Are you serious? If it hurt them so much they could just not do it.

I think he means if they were initially unaware of the true nature of the places.

# ? May 30, 2016 01:11

Crash_N_Burn: Apr 19, 2014

Terrible Opinions posted:

I think he means if they were initially unaware of the true nature of the places.

I suspect very few of the people contracted for that work are aware of the actual behind the scenes stuff. For example, I was told that I could expect to be out in a month and that I should look at it as more of a "vacation".

Of course, it could have been a way to keep their charges docile, but he seemed to genuinely believe it. And since the parents themselves were kept relatively out of the loop or outright lied to, I choose to believe most people simply did not know.

# ? May 30, 2016 04:09

Cumslut1895: Feb 18, 2015; by FactsAreUseless

Terrible Opinions posted:

I think he means if they were initially unaware of the true nature of the places.

they're kidnapping children out of their homes. half of them are probably pedophiles

# ? May 30, 2016 04:23

Chichevache: Feb 17, 2010; One of the funniest posters in GIP.

Just not intentionally.

Cumslut1895 posted:

they're kidnapping children out of their homes. half of them are probably pedophiles

It isn't kidnapping if their guardians approve! :eng101:

:eng101:

:sigh:

# ? May 30, 2016 04:39

Nckdictator: Sep 8, 2006; Just..someone

Beige posted:

These are great. The third one quoted ended confusingly. Did the Prussian kill the Canadian? It's not mentioned explicitly.

I think the Prussian killed the Canadian then ate part of his own body.

# ? May 30, 2016 04:41

BENGHAZI 2: Oct 13, 2007; by Cyrano4747

Cumslut1895 posted:

they're kidnapping children out of their homes. half of them are probably pedophiles

somehow i think you're an idiot, it's weird

# ? May 30, 2016 04:46

Cumslut1895: Feb 18, 2015; by FactsAreUseless

Literally The Worst posted:

somehow i think you're an idiot, it's weird

you're right, there's no way a pedophile would be interested in working somewhere they take children out into the middle of nowhere and deliberately cut off their contact to the outside world in a context that automatically devalues anything the kids say while favoring the adult, with no screening or professional licensing or oversight

# ? May 30, 2016 04:52

Karma Monkey: Sep 6, 2005; I MAKE BAD POSTING DECISIONS

Cumslut1895 posted:

you're right, there's no way a pedophile would be interested in working somewhere they take children out into the middle of nowhere and deliberately cut off their contact to the outside world in a context that automatically devalues anything the kids say while favoring the adult, with no screening or professional licensing or oversight

No, I think he was saying "half of them are probably pedophiles" is way too low, it's probably more like 80%.

# ? May 30, 2016 05:08

Cumslut1895: Feb 18, 2015; by FactsAreUseless

Karma Monkey posted:

No, I think he was saying "half of them are probably pedophiles" is way too low, it's probably more like 80%.

well yeah probably

# ? May 30, 2016 05:13

BENGHAZI 2: Oct 13, 2007; by Cyrano4747

Karma Monkey posted:

No, I think he was saying "half of them are probably pedophiles" is way too low, it's probably more like 80%.

that is the opposite of what i'm saying

i'm saying, there's horrible poo poo going on that we have proof of, do we really have to jump to I BET THEY'RE FUCKIN DIDDLERS TOO like that's the only reason people would do this poo poo

# ? May 30, 2016 05:28

That Damn Satyr: Nov 4, 2008; A connoisseur of fine junk

Well, I don't know how the "rehabilitation camps" elsewhere works, but this is what I know about the local one.

Basically, the parents will call the camp and say they have a kid that's painting their nails black / listening to too much emo music / a little gay / WHATEVER it is that makes parents think this is a good idea, and a date is arranged without the kid's foreknowledge. On that day, usually late evening / early night, the escort shows up and the parents + escort go into the kids room and say, "Hey little Johnny you need to pack a weeks worth of clothing you're going to camp SURPRISE!!!" and usually a huge fight ensues. Sometimes a therapist is also involved with this as well, depending on the situation. The escort is almost always some manner of police officer - when my mom did this she was sheriff reserve.

Then, the escort drives / flies with the kid to the camp (usually driving distance, I think my mom only had to fly once when she was doing it). She told me that once they were on the road the kids usually kind of accepted their fate, and would basically tell them that as long as they cooperated that she didn't give a gently caress. Honestly, she would break the rules a little and let them have whatever food they wanted or smoke if they did, until they got close to the camp because I think she probably felt too much like she was dealing with her super duper problem child (me) the whole time.

Anyway, then they get there and it's out of the escort's hands. The camp here has a very structured day - it's basically just like going inpatient at a mental health program, only in a camp setting. There are counselors and therapists and I'm 99% sure they have the faculties to prescribe and mess with medications etc, and the kids have to do group therapy daily and if they're cooperative they work their way up through being allowed to go on hikes and other "fun" poo poo.

Honestly though :iiam:

:iiam:

, it sounds pretty miserable, but it definitely doesn't seem as bad as the poo poo in that The Seed video. Then again, as I mentioned earlier, I know this place also deals with un-gaying kids and I have literally no idea what that entails and I'm sure it's a loving nightmare for any kid to go through. :|

edit: Ok, well maybe the place here doesn't actually do the gay-away thing anymore. This is them:
http://www.suwscarolinas.com/

That Damn Satyr has a new favorite as of 05:46 on May 30, 2016

# ? May 30, 2016 05:41

Telemaze: Apr 22, 2008; What you expected hasn't happened.; Fun Shoe

Literally The Worst posted:

that is the opposite of what i'm saying

i'm saying, there's horrible poo poo going on that we have proof of, do we really have to jump to I BET THEY'RE FUCKIN DIDDLERS TOO like that's the only reason people would do this poo poo

But there is proof of sexual abuse too. There have been plenty of sexual abuse cases at these places. Even a cursory google of the subject will get you tons of info about it.

# ? May 30, 2016 05:47

the future is WOW: Sep 9, 2005; I QUIT!

That drat Satyr posted:

Then again, as I mentioned earlier, I know this place also deals with un-gaying kids and I have literally no idea what that entails and I'm sure it's a loving nightmare for any kid to go through. :|

edit: Ok, well maybe the place here doesn't actually do the gay-away thing anymore. This is them:
http://www.suwscarolinas.com/

It usually involves some type of programming (religious or otherwise) along with a healthy dose of psychological torture so yeah, it's a nightmare for any kid subjected to that poo poo. That's why some states are (slowly) looking into outlawing gay conversion therapy. It's definitely a good thing if they no longer engage in those practices.

E: Here's a pretty good Village Voice article about a lawsuit against an orthodox Jewish gay conversion group in Jersey City (which I believe was one of he cases that led to New Jersey outlawing the practice).

# ? May 30, 2016 06:20

RNG: Jul 9, 2009

Literally The Worst posted:

that is the opposite of what i'm saying

i'm saying, there's horrible poo poo going on that we have proof of, do we really have to jump to I BET THEY'RE FUCKIN DIDDLERS TOO like that's the only reason people would do this poo poo

Look at the history of Canadian residential schools/reform schools anywhere in the world and you can pretty much fill in the blanks.

# ? May 30, 2016 18:50

Grassy Knowles: Apr 4, 2003; "The original Terminator was a gritty fucking AMAZING piece of sci-fi. Gritty fucking rock-hard MURDER!"

Literally The Worst posted:

that is the opposite of what i'm saying

i'm saying, there's horrible poo poo going on that we have proof of, do we really have to jump to I BET THEY'RE FUCKIN DIDDLERS TOO like that's the only reason people would do this poo poo

The fact that they so easily offer an avenue to diddlers is worrisome whether or not any actual diddlers have discovered the hole yet. Also

Telemaze posted:

But there is proof of sexual abuse too. There have been plenty of sexual abuse cases at these places. Even a cursory google of the subject will get you tons of info about it.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kingsclear-reform-school-sexual-abuse-1.3482445
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandview_Training_School_for_Girls
http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2016/03/08/sex-abuse-cases-spur-reform-guard-academy/81111076/
https://www.aclu.org/search/Violence%20and%20Sexual%20Abuse%20Juvenile%20Justice

# ? May 30, 2016 19:50

Karma Monkey: Sep 6, 2005; I MAKE BAD POSTING DECISIONS

Kaizoku posted:

The fact that they so easily offer an avenue to diddlers is worrisome whether or not any actual diddlers have discovered the hole yet.

# ? May 30, 2016 20:02

I AM GRANDO: Aug 20, 2006

The Mentalizer posted:

It usually involves some type of programming (religious or otherwise) along with a healthy dose of psychological torture so yeah, it's a nightmare for any kid subjected to that poo poo. That's why some states are (slowly) looking into outlawing gay conversion therapy. It's definitely a good thing if they no longer engage in those practices.

E: Here's a pretty good Village Voice article about a lawsuit against an orthodox Jewish gay conversion group in Jersey City (which I believe was one of he cases that led to New Jersey outlawing the practice).

The Mormons had a secret jail under a lecture hall at Brigham Young University where they would hook dudes dicks up to electric generators and shock them if they got hard looking at gay porn. But it was at least covered by tuition.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/mormon-gay-cures-reparative-therapies-shock-today/story?id=13240700

I AM GRANDO has a new favorite as of 21:07 on May 30, 2016

# ? May 30, 2016 21:05

Pigsfeet on Rye: Oct 22, 2008; I'm meat on the hoof

Jack Gladney posted:

The Mormons had a secret jail under a lecture hall at Brigham Young University where they would hook dudes dicks up to electric generators and shock them if they got hard looking at gay porn. But it was at least covered by tuition.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/mormon-gay-cures-reparative-therapies-shock-today/story?id=13240700

Excellent post / avatar combo. Aversion therapy seems really hosed up.

# ? May 30, 2016 22:44

JibbaJabberwocky: Aug 14, 2010

I made an effort post about reform schools a while back so I'm going to see if I can hunt it up. Even if you don't go back and read the whole post, look through the witness accounts, they're all great.

edit:

JibbaJabberwocky posted:

There are a lot of great longform articles to read on this topic from many different sources:
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/08/when-wilderness-boot-camps-take-tough-love-too-far/375582/
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2000/11/camp-fear
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2011/08/new-bethany-ifb-teen-homes-abuse
http://projects.huffingtonpost.com/prisoners-of-profit

And some sites with good news article links or personal accounts:
http://www.nospank.net/boot.htm
http://wwaspdiaries.com/
http://www.helpsavetroubledteens.com/our-stories.html (highly recommend this one, an archive of WWASP personal acounts)

JibbaJabberwocky has a new favorite as of 03:06 on May 31, 2016

# ? May 31, 2016 03:02

Rondette: Nov 4, 2009; Your friendly neighbourhood Postie.; Grimey Drawer

Just read about this charming ~~man~~ rear end in a top hat who got arrested for wearing a T-shirt mocking (and not even well let's be honest) those who were crushed to death in the UK's worst ever Football disaster. How can anyone think 'yerp, that's a funny t-shirt all right'....at least with dumb teenagers wearing 2edgy4u Cradle of Filth t-shirts they have an excuse. This guy is 50.

http://www.101greatgoals.com/news/social/liverpool-fans-get-revenge-paul-grange-sick-hillsborough-t-shirt-gets-arrested/

He's also been getting a lot of cans of Vimto and Lilt delivered to his house, thanks to the internet.

# ? May 31, 2016 05:04

Adbot: ADBOT LOVES YOU

# ? Jun 13, 2024 04:05

Drunk Nerds: Jan 25, 2011; Just close your eyes; Fun Shoe

Could someone translate the above post from Engljsh to American, for me? Tia

# ? May 31, 2016 05:12

1
2
3
4
5

The Something Awful Forums > Main > Post Your Favorite: Carefully Curated > PYF unnerving article or story: Why is everything always so fucking weird

Powered by: vBulletin Version 2.2.9 (SABB-v2.24.06)
Copyright ©2000, 2001, Jelsoft Enterprises Limited.
Copyright ©2024, Jeffrey of YOSPOS