Some people might want to be warned, is the word "triggering"?

[conuly]

First part of the story

Second part of the story

Frankly, the whole story is disgusting me, and I don't have any brainwashing in my past.

Comments

*sighs*

[marveen.livejournal.com]

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

I did some unbalanced things when I was a teenager myself, and I found the same answers being handed out as the anorexic girl. ('No one else is thinking about you, why do you think anyone notices you?') I never did drugs, but I self-mutilated and did the suicide-attempt thing.

The true irony is that both my teachers in high school and the peers of the anorexic girl are so close to the truth that it's painful to think about. The real freedom from the agonizing self-consciousness that leads to paranoia is to realize that yes, someone might be looking at you and disliking what they see, but so what? What does it matter what they think or say or do?

I learned to sheathe my soul in ice.

Yes, there is some damned heavy-handed brainwashing going on there. And it's incredible to me that any American court anywhere would support this kind of thing.

But on the other side of the coin, there is the wealthy Lindsay Cohen. She's almost nineteen, and thus as a legal adult could leave if she really wanted to. But that would mean giving up her moneyed lifestyle. (She states this in so many words. She's not afraid of losing her parents' love, only their financial support.)

As someone who moved out of my parents' house as soon as I had a job that would pay rent, I have very little sympathy for Ms. Cohen. She is literally giving up her liberty for security.

Re: *sighs*

[conuly]

But on the other side of the coin, there is the wealthy Lindsay Cohen. She's almost nineteen, and thus as a legal adult could leave if she really wanted to. But that would mean giving up her moneyed lifestyle. (She states this in so many words. She's not afraid of losing her parents' love, only their financial support.)

Maybe she can't afford to live on her own. You were lucky, you had a job. She doesn't, and if ALL she has is her parent's money, she's right to fear living on the streets. It's not an easy life, and after a few years in that place I might distrust my ability to support myself as well - it's a classic abusive pattern. You wear somebody down to the point that they're more scared of being alone than being with you.

Re: *sighs*

[marveen.livejournal.com]

Mind you, we don't have the whole story, but what she actually said sounded like her parents were just withdrawing their financing of her college education, not kicking her out from under their roof.

Re: *sighs*

[conuly]

That's not what I read. I'm pretty sure it said her parents would pay for her education if she graduated, but wouldn't take her back home if she didn't.

Re: *sighs*

[marveen.livejournal.com]

She picks the words of her explanation carefully. 'OK. I'm used to a high-profile lifestyle. I really don't own anything too inexpensive. What I'm accustomed to isn't anything of the sort you can buy for $50. And my parents promised to support me through law school if I stayed. So really, walking isn't worth it. Sometimes,' she murmurs, 'I still think I didn't need to come here...' but stops herself and offers, vaguely, 'But I guess in life things happen.'

It all comes down to your reading of the word "support" in the passage.

(In the three sentences previous to that one, she talks about money, money and money. I interpreted the fourth sentence as being about money as well, since she never mentions any worry about losing her parents or not seeing them again or anything like that.)

Re: *sighs*

[conuly]

She talks about having only $50 - which really is a valid concern.