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"Telling" and the emergence of the ARM

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Pierceforhimself

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Sep 9, 2000, 2:18:43 PM9/9/00
to
>Subject: Re: Brooks wins Emmy for promoting safe haven program
>From: Toff Philipppo cphi...@NYCAP.rr.com
>Date: 09/03/2000 6:30 PM Pacific Daylight Time
>Message-id:

>I posed this question in one of my other posts. I was curiosu to know more
>about
>what common ground we might have. Do you at least believe that adoptees have
>the
>right to know that they were adopted?

My personal opinion is that adoptive parents, except for rare exceptions that
they make for reasons that have to do with the best interests of the adopted
person -- and I do not mean the word "rare" to be understood as a loophole --
should tell the adopted person that she or he is adopted and should do so in a
developmentally sensitive and appropriate manner. There are, of course, at
least four different theories that I know of about the matter of "telling."

To the issue of whether there was searching in pre WWII days, I agree that
there was. My point is that it was not common, not organized and was not a
consideration that people in adoption gave any thought to. Paton, for all of
her efforts, was not an organizer. Florence of ALMA was and so were the people
with CUB. That was when the ARM really got its start, IMO.

Pierceforhimself

Toff Philipppo

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Sep 9, 2000, 3:34:41 PM9/9/00
to

Pierceforhimself wrote:

> My personal opinion is that adoptive parents, except for rare exceptions that
> they make for reasons that have to do with the best interests of the adopted
> person -- and I do not mean the word "rare" to be understood as a loophole --
> should tell the adopted person that she or he is adopted and should do so in a
> developmentally sensitive and appropriate manner. There are, of course, at
> least four different theories that I know of about the matter of "telling."

Thanks for responding. I guess I can conceive of certain rare circumstances too,
perhaps if the adopted person were mentally retarded in such a way that they
wouldn't really understand what being adopted means.

> To the issue of whether there was searching in pre WWII days, I agree that
> there was. My point is that it was not common, not organized and was not a
> consideration that people in adoption gave any thought to. Paton, for all of
> her efforts, was not an organizer. Florence of ALMA was and so were the people
> with CUB. That was when the ARM really got its start, IMO.

I don't know that it wasn't common. As the quote I posted from the Erie County
Clerk stated, adoptees "usually" returned to the court for identifying
information. Even if we were to judge that to be hyperbole, it would seem to
indicate at least that searching was not rare, at least in that county. See also
below.

As to it not being organized (by which I think you mean there were not search and
support group for adoptees {or birthparents}), I suspect and am almost certain
that you're right.

As to it not being a consideration that people in adoption gave any thought to,
there, again, I don't agree. I think there is at least some evidence that it was
considered. I have, for example, a 1930s memorandum of the New York Foundling
Hospital (!) stating that the right of a person born out of wedlock “to know the
actual facts of his birth” is an “inalienable right.” See also the 1930s
memorandum from Catholic Charities (!)
http://www.bastards.org/activism/local/ny/hollymemo.htm where they write of the
"distress and heartache" that "the mere fact of being unable to trace family"
would cause (highlighting mine). I also have a 1944 study done by the New York
Department of Social Welfare, done, in part, in response to "adopted children
themselves, now grown, come for information about their natural background."

See also the numerous quotes in CARP regarding "people in adoption" recognizing
the existence of searching adoptees and acknowledging their right to do so. For
example, from 1919 "‘curious tendency on the part of young persons to dwell upon
their parentage. [...] persons have spent large sums of meny and much time in the
vain endeavor to learn of their parents.’" CARP, at 49.

Toff

Pierceforhimself

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Sep 9, 2000, 4:07:16 PM9/9/00
to
>Subject: Re: "Telling" and the emergence of the ARM
>From: Toff Philipppo cphi...@NYCAP.rr.com
>Date: 09/09/2000 12:34 PM Pac

> I have, for example, a 1930s memorandum of the New York Foundling
>Hospital (!) stating that the right of a person born out of wedlock “to know
>the
>actual facts of his birth” is an “inalienable right.” See also the
1930s
>memorandum from Catholic Charities (!)
>http://www.bastards.org/activism/local/ny/hollymemo.htm where they write of
>the
>"distress and heartache" that "the mere fact of being unable to trace family"
>would cause (highlighting mine). I also have a 1944 study done by the New
>York
>Department of Social Welfare, done, in part, in response to "adopted children
>themselves, now grown, come for information about their natural background."
>
>See also the numerous quotes in CARP regarding "people in adoption"
>recognizing
>the existence of searching adoptees and acknowledging their right to do so.
>For
>example, from 1919 "‘curious tendency on the part of young persons to dwell
>upon

>their parentage. [...] persons have spent large sums of meny and much time in
>the
>vain endeavor to learn of their parents.’" CARP, at 49.
>
>Toff

I am aware, largely from Carp, of the fact that the social workers were not all
that keen on offering privacy and that the reason they started doing so was
because they wanted to compete with the lawyers, who were offering privacy and
who were getting most of the clients.

Nor do I doubt the distress that some felt at being denied the opportunity to
learn identifying information.

Pierceforhimself

Lainie Petersen

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Sep 9, 2000, 4:16:38 PM9/9/00
to

Pierceforhimself wrote:

> I am aware, largely from Carp, of the fact that the social workers were not all
> that keen on offering privacy and that the reason they started doing so was
> because they wanted to compete with the lawyers, who were offering privacy and
> who were getting most of the clients.

I haven't read Carp's book, but would put forth the assertion that the reason that
many women have gone through attorneys (rather than agencies) is because they did
not want to be "social worked".

Lainie

SusanDyne

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Sep 9, 2000, 4:23:10 PM9/9/00
to
>Subject: Re: "Telling" and the emergence of the ARM
>From: piercefo...@aol.com (Pierceforhimself)
>Date: 9/9/00 4:07 PM Eastern Daylight Time
>Message-id: <20000909160716...@ng-df1.aol.com>
>

>
>Nor do I doubt the distress that some felt at being denied the opportunity to
>learn identifying information.
>
>Pierceforhimself
>

Isn't that a bit simplistic? I think it is more than a little distressing NOT
knowing your genetic/medical/social history -- all in the name of privacy for
the bmom.

The bmom relinquished her rights to this child after birth. With that
relinquishment went the child's civil rights. But that child grows into
adulthood where their right to know should automatically be reinstated.

Personally, I never understood why adoptive parents didn't insist upon knowing
more.
>
>
>
>

Susan

Fanaticism consists of redoubling your efforts when you have
forgotten your aim.
-- George Santayana

Pierceforhimself

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Sep 10, 2000, 7:55:50 AM9/10/00
to
>Subject: Re: "Telling" and the emergence of the ARM
>From: Lainie Petersen lpet...@clapper.com
>Date: 09/09/2000 1:16 PM Pacific Daylight Time

>I haven't read Carp's book, but would put forth the assertion that the reason
>that
>many women have gone through attorneys (rather than agencies) is because they
>did
>not want to be "social worked".
>
>Lainie

You are right. I have talked to many, many women who have told me that.
Perhaps most adult women (those in their 20s for sure) resent the sort of
socialworking they are subjected to if they consult some agencies. Carp is very
good on this because he points out that social work has a long history of
telling women that they should not choose adoption as part of their own spin on
family preservation.

On the other hand, although being "socialworked" is something none of us would
want to be subjected to if we could avoid it, there certainly is a role, IMO,
for sound social work. The problem is that there is so little of it taught in
today's schools of social work. The child welfare content, let alone the
adoption content, in the core curriculum of most schools of social work is
absent or miniscule.

"Socialworked" needs to be changed from a dis-spiriting experience to something
beneficial. But that will take a whole new approach and one that I, for one,
do not see emerging from the current curricula.

But then, one of my mentors was Joseph H. Reid, the late Executive Director of
the Child Welfare League of America, and Joe had little fondness for NASW and
the social work profession as he experienced it. Joe didn't even belong to
NASW. My sense is that at least 20% of those who do belong do so because they
have no alternative, given licensing and other requirements.

As my concluding piece in Adoption Factbook III clearly indicates, reform of
social work is one of the things I think should be on the agenda for the 21st
century.

Pierceforhimself

Pierceforhimself

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Sep 10, 2000, 8:04:25 AM9/10/00
to
>Subject: Re: "Telling" and the emergence of the ARM
>From: susa...@aol.com (SusanDyne)
>Date: 09/09/2000 1:23 PM Pacific Daylight Time

>Isn't that a bit simplistic? I think it is more than a little distressing NOT
>knowing your genetic/medical/social history -- all in the name of privacy for
>the bmom.

I strongly support having non-identifying information collected and shared.
The conflict lies in the needs of the woman for privacy as against sharing
information. And since the woman has the life and death decision in her hands,
she is the one who, whether one likes it or not, decides what level of
disclosure she is comfortable with. IMO, and I have said this on many
occasions, that's why one must come down to the point where one either grants
the woman anonymity or she will terminate the pregnancy. And I prefer a live
baby to the alternative.

>Personally, I never understood why adoptive parents didn't insist upon
>knowing
>more.

Again, some parents do insist on knowing more and these are the people who
either spend their efforts with assisted reproduction, or who go the surrogate
parenting route, or insist on a fully-disclosed adoption where they can (they
hope) get full information. But some other adoptive parents, looking at the
options and alternatives, say that they will adopt a child with lots of
challenges and with no reliable background information of any kind, such as a
foundling from China or India or the Republic of Korea.

In adoption, as in all other things, there is a great amount of diversity.

Pierceforhimself

SusanDyne

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Sep 10, 2000, 10:22:05 AM9/10/00
to
>Subject: Re: "Telling" and the emergence of the ARM
>From: piercefo...@aol.com (Pierceforhimself)
>Date: 9/10/00 8:04 AM Eastern Daylight Time
>Message-id: <20000910080425...@ng-cv1.aol.com>
>

>And since the woman has the life and death decision in her hands,
>she is the one who, whether one likes it or not, decides what level of
>disclosure she is comfortable with. IMO, and I have said this on many
>occasions, that's why one must come down to the point where one either grants
>the woman anonymity or she will terminate the pregnancy. And I prefer a live
>baby to the alternative.

In the present day, I do not think it is a matter of life and death in the
majority of cases. I think if a woman choose to terminate an unplanned pg. it
has virtually nothing to do with what will happen 18 years from now. Nobody in
crisis looks that far ahead. I doubt you will find a pbmom who will say, I'd
rather abort than place a child for adoption and have them find me. They abort
for different reasons, mostly based in the here and now. JMO

That Damn Boo Kid

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Sep 10, 2000, 11:40:50 AM9/10/00
to
Bill wrote in response to Toff:

<snip>


>To the issue of whether there was searching in pre WWII days, I agree that
there was. My point is that it was not common, not organized and was not a
consideration that people in adoption gave any thought to.>

Well, there wasn't any need for an organized search movement in the era before
sealed records, was there? As to how common it was or was not, I couldn't say
but I'd like to know why you feel it was *not* common nor a consideration for
triadians.

>Paton, for all of her efforts, was not an organizer. Florence of ALMA was and
so were the people with CUB. That was when the ARM really got its start, IMO>

Yes, but ALMA in particular was formed directly as a result of sealing records
and the general paradigm shift towards secrecy in adoption.


Knifchick

Con te patiro
su navi per mari
che io lo so
no, no, non esistono piu
con te io li vivro

Jackie C

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Sep 10, 2000, 1:52:48 PM9/10/00
to
On 10 Sep 2000 12:04:25 GMT, piercefo...@aol.com
(Pierceforhimself) wrote:

>I strongly support having non-identifying information collected and shared.
>The conflict lies in the needs of the woman for privacy as against sharing
>information. And since the woman has the life and death decision in her hands,
>she is the one who, whether one likes it or not, decides what level of
>disclosure she is comfortable with. IMO, and I have said this on many
>occasions, that's why one must come down to the point where one either grants
>the woman anonymity or she will terminate the pregnancy. And I prefer a live
>baby to the alternative.

When I decided to *not* terminate my pregnancy in 1965, I did not, for
one second, think of my anonymity.. from my bson..

One does not follow the other.. Not in my thinking..

My flesh and blood.. My son.. Who I did not want to abort.. is a
person I loved from the very beginning..
To say.. I do not want him to know about me.. is just not on..

If I was running from my past.. okay.. But that must be sorted..

Jackie

Lainie Petersen

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Sep 10, 2000, 3:24:14 PM9/10/00
to

Pierceforhimself wrote:

>
> You are right. I have talked to many, many women who have told me that.
> Perhaps most adult women (those in their 20s for sure) resent the sort of
> socialworking they are subjected to if they consult some agencies. Carp is very
> good on this because he points out that social work has a long history of
> telling women that they should not choose adoption as part of their own spin on
> family preservation.

I don't think this is true at most *adoption agencies* (women who use other social
services may have different experiences). What I think *is* true is that a lot of
women and girls who consider adoption are in a state of denial about their
pregnancy. Oh, they know they are pregnant, but they would like to believe is that
this will "all go away", and that adoption will facilitate this. If they actually
have to sit through counseling, they may have to come to terms with their
situation, which they don't want to do.

Obviously, I think this sort of behavior is a bad idea. While I don't accept the
notion that relinquishment routinely ruins the lives of birthmothers, I do believe
that it is a difficult, painful, and (in many ways) soul killing experience. I
also think that it can be in the best interest of both mother and child, but that
doesn't take away the gravity of the choice. I also believe that lawyers are not
particularly qualified to handle adoptions, and that the decision making proces
merits some professional assistance.

Lainie


Lainie Petersen

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Sep 10, 2000, 3:26:39 PM9/10/00
to

Pierceforhimself wrote:

> I strongly support having non-identifying information collected and shared.
> The conflict lies in the needs of the woman for privacy as against sharing
> information. And since the woman has the life and death decision in her hands,
> she is the one who, whether one likes it or not, decides what level of
> disclosure she is comfortable with. IMO, and I have said this on many
> occasions, that's why one must come down to the point where one either grants
> the woman anonymity or she will terminate the pregnancy. And I prefer a live
> baby to the alternative.

See, I don' t that women are this fragile. If a woman chooses to not have an
abortion out of a moral concern for the life of her child, I see no reason why she
wouldn't be able to understand that treating adoptees like second-class citizens
is also reprehensible. I have no problem with a woman or girl expressing a
*preference* regarding future contact, but I believe they ought to be made to
understand that the best interest of their child may *include* the need for future
contact or additional information.

Lainie


GR

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Sep 10, 2000, 5:27:27 PM9/10/00
to
On 09 Sep 2000 20:23:10 GMT, susa...@aol.com (SusanDyne) wrote:

>>Nor do I doubt the distress that some felt at being denied the opportunity to
>>learn identifying information.
>>
>>Pierceforhimself
>>
>Isn't that a bit simplistic?

Simplistic? Yep. How about disingenuous, marginalizing, dismissive
and just plain torturing the language? Works for me. It's a very
*interesting* sentence, though, didn't you think? It says so much
while trying, desperately, to say so little.

>I think it is more than a little distressing NOT
>knowing your genetic/medical/social history -- all in the name of privacy for
>the bmom.

As far as I can tell, privacy for the nmom wasn't the main point it
was a side-issue, if even that. It's not as if nmoms somehow became
valued and protected all of a sudden. On what planet did this happen?
I mean, protected from what, from whom? Their parents - nope, still
there, still pushing. The agencies - nope there and fucking with
nmoms big-time. The church - nope big players in the adoption game
and more like designated shamers. Those who didn't want people to
know still had to be sent away, protection from community disapproval
isn't the answer either.

Follow the money - that's the way of things.



>The bmom relinquished her rights to this child after birth. With that
>relinquishment went the child's civil rights. But that child grows into
>adulthood where their right to know should automatically be reinstated.

Yep. Logical, reasonable, respectful.. naah, they'll never go for it.

>Personally, I never understood why adoptive parents didn't insist upon knowing
>more.

Yep. I wondered the same and I asked my mom about it once. She said
that they were just grateful to get a child so they took what they
were given for information and kept their mouths shut. Beyond that,
there was, and sometimes still is, a stigma connected to infertility
and being relinquished. It's not as if my parents were going to go
making waves with anybody. It was all supposed to be confidential and
very quiet for the adoptive parents and adoptees, according to my mom.
I think that had a lot more to do with closing records than any claim
to "protection" for natural parents.

If they were all about protecting natural parents, they would have
done so in other ways as well and they sure didn't.

GR

rkbose

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Sep 9, 2000, 10:30:44 PM9/9/00
to

GR wrote:
>
> On 09 Sep 2000 20:23:10 GMT, susa...@aol.com (SusanDyne) wrote:
>
> >Personally, I never understood why adoptive parents didn't insist upon knowing
> >more.
>
> Yep. I wondered the same and I asked my mom about it once. She said
> that they were just grateful to get a child so they took what they
> were given for information and kept their mouths shut. Beyond that,
> there was, and sometimes still is, a stigma connected to infertility
> and being relinquished.

There's also the realistic issue of how much you *can* demand.

I wrote down a whole list of questions I wanted answered about medical
history of the birthparents and birth grandparents. Did I get it? No.
They were under no obligation to provide it, and they didn't. They just
said no one wanted to fill in replies.
And this was in India, where babies are many, adoptive parents few, and
very little money is involved.

What could I have done? Say, Sorry, not having the kid unless it comes
with a properly filled in questionaire?

Rupa

SusanDyne

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Sep 10, 2000, 11:56:55 PM9/10/00
to
>Subject: Re: "Telling" and the emergence of the ARM
>From: rkbose rkb...@pacific.net.sg
>Date: 9/9/00 10:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time
>Message-id: <39BAF254...@pacific.net.sg>
If adoption is in the best interest of the child, why wouldn't the bparents
give the info. It is considered non-id info. I NEEDED to know and have an
ongoing open dialogue with both bparents. I NEED to know if things crop up
medically now that everyone in the bfamilies are getting older. It's their
health. I'm not asking a zillion questions for the fun of it.

K Workman

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Sep 11, 2000, 6:32:20 AM9/11/00
to
On 11 Sep 2000 03:56:55 GMT, susa...@aol.com (SusanDyne) wrote:


>If adoption is in the best interest of the child, why wouldn't the bparents
>give the info. It is considered non-id info. I NEEDED to know and have an
>ongoing open dialogue with both bparents. I NEED to know if things crop up
>medically now that everyone in the bfamilies are getting older. It's their
>health. I'm not asking a zillion questions for the fun of it.

That's the HUGE benefit of an open adoption. Both of my adaughter's maternal
grandparents were deaf. Her bmom is not. Her bsiblings are not. She is deaf
in one ear. Don't know yet if it's progressive, but we've been testing her
hearing very carefully for years, just in case - and caught it as soon as it
showed up. Maybe we would have anyway, but who knows?


Kate Workman
If you're going to email me: KHWor...@aol.com

Jackie C

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Sep 11, 2000, 8:35:31 AM9/11/00
to
On 10 Sep 2000 14:22:05 GMT, susa...@aol.com (SusanDyne) wrote:

>In the present day, I do not think it is a matter of life and death in the
>majority of cases. I think if a woman choose to terminate an unplanned pg. it
>has virtually nothing to do with what will happen 18 years from now. Nobody in
>crisis looks that far ahead.

Yes.. Exactly.. the train of thought on this does not jell..

It takes to many turns.. When I said no to the abortion solution my
mind never went to hiding from my bson..

>I doubt you will find a pbmom who will say, I'd
>rather abort than place a child for adoption and have them find me. They abort
>for different reasons, mostly based in the here and now. JMO

Well said.

Jackie

SusanDyne

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Sep 11, 2000, 9:47:23 AM9/11/00
to
>Subject: Re: "Telling" and the emergence of the ARM
>From: rwor...@adelphia.net (K Workman)
>Date: 9/11/00 6:32 AM Eastern Daylight Time
>Message-id: <39bcb5e6...@news1.news.adelphia.net>
I also know that ovarian cancer runs in my daughter's family, so I know to
monitor this early. It might save her life.

damse...@my-deja.com

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Sep 12, 2000, 6:16:43 PM9/12/00
to
In article <39BBE06E...@clapper.com>, Pierceforhimself wrote:
>
> > I strongly support having non-identifying information collected and
shared.
> > The conflict lies in the needs of the woman for privacy as against
sharing
> > information. And since the woman has the life and death decision
in her hands,
> > she is the one who, whether one likes it or not, decides what level
of
> > disclosure she is comfortable with. IMO, and I have said this on
many
> > occasions, that's why one must come down to the point where one
either grants
> > the woman anonymity or she will terminate the pregnancy.


Why kill the child? Are you really equating birthmothers with baby-
killers? That's incredibly unfair. Since time immemorial child
abandoners have been leaving children in baskets in various places
where they thought the child would be safe. True, I think it's a less
loving, less responsible manner of dealing with an unwanted pregnancy,
than adoption, but I certainly consider it preferable to infanticide.

Making a comparison between birthmothers and baby-killers is
inappropriate in the extreme imo and doesn't belong in the arena of
civil discourse about adoption. If a birthmother wants to give birth
anonymously <shudder>, she should do so in a hospital bathroom imo.
To suggest that this is even a singificant proportion of potential
birthmothers is also way off base.


> See, I don' t that women are this fragile. If a woman chooses to not
have an
> abortion out of a moral concern for the life of her child, I see no
reason why she
> wouldn't be able to understand that treating adoptees like second-
class citizens
> is also reprehensible. I have no problem with a woman or girl
expressing a
> *preference* regarding future contact, but I believe they ought to be
made to
> understand that the best interest of their child may *include* the
need for future
> contact or additional information.


You said it, Lainie.


Damsel
http://www.plumsite.com/damsel.htm


Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

Kathy

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Sep 12, 2000, 6:45:44 PM9/12/00
to
>Subject: Re: "Telling" and the emergence of the ARM
>From: damse...@my-deja.com
>Date: 9/12/00 3:16 PM Pacific Daylight Time
>Message-id: <8pm9vm$kl4$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>

>
>In article <39BBE06E...@clapper.com>, Pierceforhimself wrote:
>>
>> > I strongly support having non-identifying information collected and
>shared.
>> > The conflict lies in the needs of the woman for privacy as against
>sharing
>> > information. And since the woman has the life and death decision
>in her hands,
>> > she is the one who, whether one likes it or not, decides what level
>of
>> > disclosure she is comfortable with. IMO, and I have said this on
>many
>> > occasions, that's why one must come down to the point where one
>either grants
>> > the woman anonymity or she will terminate the pregnancy.
>
>
>Why kill the child? Are you really equating birthmothers with baby-
>killers?

Sure he is, read between the lines.

<snip>

> That's incredibly unfair.

NO respect, we get NO respect at all...go ask Rodney.....;)

<snip>

>
>Damsel
>http://www.plumsite.com/damsel.htm
>


Kathy,~~ Reunited and it Feels Sooo Good!


Pierceforhimself

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Sep 12, 2000, 11:07:13 PM9/12/00
to
>Subject: Re: "Telling" and the emergence of the ARM
>From: damse...@my-deja.com
>Date: 09/12/2000 3:16 PM Pacific Day

>Why kill the child? Are you really equating birthmothers with baby-
>killers?

I believe that abortion kills a child. I am not equating birthmothers with
baby-killers nor am I saying that women who choose to have an abortion are
baby-killers. Please don't put words in my mouth, or my posts.

I am sure that I say quite enough on my own to get me flamed without anyone
doing anything to draw unnecessary wrath.

Pierceforhimself

Pierceforhimself

unread,
Sep 12, 2000, 11:09:06 PM9/12/00
to
>Subject: Re: "Telling" and the emergence of the ARM
>From: kum...@aol.comNoWonky (Kathy)
>Date: 09/12/2000 3:45 PM Pacific Daylight Time

>>Why kill the child? Are you really equating birthmothers with baby-
>>killers?
>
>Sure he is, read between the lines.
>
><snip>
>
>> That's incredibly unfair.
>
>NO respect, we get NO respect at all...go ask Rodney.....;)
>
><snip>
>
>>
>>Damsel
>>http://www.plumsite.com/damsel.htm
>>
>
>
>Kathy,~~ Reunited and it Feels Sooo Good!
>

What I said to Damsel goes for you, too, Kathy. Kindly do not put words into
my mouth or assert that you can somehow read between the lines and insert your
own take on things.

Pierceforhimself

fiend

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Sep 13, 2000, 12:23:20 AM9/13/00
to
In article <20000909141843...@ng-df1.aol.com>,
piercefo...@aol.com (Pierceforhimself) wrote:

>To the issue of whether there was searching in pre WWII days, I agree that
>there was. My point is that it was not common, not organized and was not
>a consideration that people in adoption gave any thought to.

So why did you say that records were closed in response to the organized search
movement?

whoever
-------------------
It is by caffeine alone that I set my mind in motion.
It is by the beans of java that thoughts acquire speed,
The hands develop shaking,
The shaking becomes a warning;
It is by caffeine alone that I set my mind in motion.

fiend

unread,
Sep 13, 2000, 12:50:17 AM9/13/00
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In article <20000910080425...@ng-cv1.aol.com>,
piercefo...@aol.com (Pierceforhimself) wrote:

>And since the woman has the life and death decision in her hands,
>she is the one who, whether one likes it or not, decides what level of
>disclosure she is comfortable with. IMO, and I have said this on many
>occasions, that's why one must come down to the point where one either
>grants the woman anonymity or she will terminate the pregnancy.

That's ridiculous. I'm sure there are a great many things that pregnant women
want. Lucky for us they don't know they need only threaten to abort their
pregnancies for all their wishes to be granted. All hell would break loose.

Your attempt to link open records with abortion has been tried here before with
no success. The numbers don't support it.

fiend

unread,
Sep 13, 2000, 2:10:32 AM9/13/00
to
In article <20000912230906...@ng-cv1.aol.com>,
piercefo...@aol.com (Pierceforhimself) wrote:

>What I said to Damsel goes for you, too, Kathy. Kindly do not put words
>into my mouth or assert that you can somehow read between the lines
>and insert your own take on things.

So, let's not say that you equate birthmothers with baby-killers. Let us
instead say that you equate birthmothers with women who'd abort a pregnancy
(because you claimed that some birthmothers, if denied permanent secrecy in
adoption, would choose abortion)... and then let's say that you equate abortion
and "killing a child" (because you said so, in your post to Damsel Plum)... so
if A equals B and B equals C... you equate birthmothers with child-killers.
Your words, not mine.

This connection you keep trying to draw between open records and abortion can't
be supported either with reason or with facts. I suggest you hang it up.

Jackie C

unread,
Sep 13, 2000, 3:00:00 AM9/13/00
to
On 13 Sep 2000 06:10:32 GMT, rev...@aol.compromise (fiend) wrote:

>In article <20000912230906...@ng-cv1.aol.com>,
>piercefo...@aol.com (Pierceforhimself) wrote:
>
>>What I said to Damsel goes for you, too, Kathy. Kindly do not put words
>>into my mouth or assert that you can somehow read between the lines
>>and insert your own take on things.
>
>So, let's not say that you equate birthmothers with baby-killers. Let us
>instead say that you equate birthmothers with women who'd abort a pregnancy
>(because you claimed that some birthmothers, if denied permanent secrecy in
>adoption, would choose abortion)...

Why was this baby dumping thing conceived?

My take is that they assume that if a woman can not/is not able to,
relinquish a child properly, she will let it die..

Isn't that what this is all about.. Saving babies from these baby
killers.. These women that do not want to make responsible choices for
the baby. Do not want to get medical care.. Do not want to contact a
reputable agency..


Jackie

SusanDyne

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Sep 13, 2000, 9:04:17 AM9/13/00
to
>Subject: Re: "Telling" and the emergence of the ARM
>From: piercefo...@aol.com (Pierceforhimself)
>Date: 9/12/00 11:07 PM Eastern Daylight Time
>Message-id: <20000912230713...@ng-cv1.aol.com>
Not to go off-topic, or onto hot topic, but abortion terminates a pregnancy. A
fetus -- which btw is not a baby. Details, details.

Kat

unread,
Sep 13, 2000, 10:13:39 AM9/13/00
to

Pierceforhimself <piercefo...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20000912230713...@ng-cv1.aol.com...


> >Subject: Re: "Telling" and the emergence of the ARM
> >From: damse...@my-deja.com
> >Date: 09/12/2000 3:16 PM Pacific Day
>
> >Why kill the child? Are you really equating birthmothers with baby-
> >killers?
>
> I believe that abortion kills a child.

So if abortion kills a child, a woman who has an abortion is killing a
child, hence she is a babykiller, iyo.

nor am I saying that women who choose to have an abortion are
> baby-killers.

You most certainly *are* unless in *your* world 2+2=5

Kathy


Pierceforhimself

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Sep 17, 2000, 9:19:44 PM9/17/00
to
>Subject: Re: "Telling" and the emergence of the ARM
>From: jda...@newsguy.com (Jackie C)
>Date: 09/13/2000 9:20 AM Pacific

>Why was this baby dumping thing conceived?

The move to create new laws to address the problem of babies dying in dumpsters
is discussed in substantial detail at the web site for The Baby Moses Project,
which is www.babymoses.org.

Pierceforhimself

Marley Greiner

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Sep 17, 2000, 11:32:43 PM9/17/00
to

Pierceforhimself <piercefo...@aol.com> wrote in message

news:20000917211944...@ng-cs1.aol.com...

Sorry, Bill. I can't resist. Bastard Nation's position paper on these
laws and other baby abandonment material can be found at:
http://www.bastards.org./aactivism/legalized-abandonment.htm

Marley


Lainie Petersen

unread,
Sep 20, 2000, 3:00:00 AM9/20/00
to

Pierceforhimself wrote:

>
> OK, both of us have posted the web sites that we think give the arguments we
> agree with, Marley.
>
> I have spoken to those who believe that the new laws simply provide an avenue
> for nonbureaucratic placement. What if you were pregnant and the fellow had
> taken off, and you didn't choose to terminate the pregnancy, and you ended up
> with a baby being delivered that you didn't feel ready or willing to parent?
> What would be so wrong with avoiding the not-so-tender embraces of the
> therapeutic state?
>

Nothing, providing that you decided to place your child for adoption in a moral,
legal, and ethical manner.

The newspapers are rife with ads by would-be adoptive parents who are working
with non-theraputic lawyers. Why can't the woman give them a call? What is so
difficult about telling an agency social worker that you don't want counseling
and that you just want to sign the damn papers?


These options exist. But a very tiny minority of women just choose not to use
them. While I am pro-adoption, I am not
pro-adoption-without-any-accountablity-sound-policy-ethics-morals-or-consideration-for-the-best-interest-of-the-child.

Lainie

Ron

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Sep 20, 2000, 3:00:00 AM9/20/00
to

Pierceforhimself <piercefo...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20000920221127...@ng-df1.aol.com...

> >Subject: Re: "Telling" and the emergence of the ARM
> >From: "Marley Greiner" maddog...@worldnet.att.net
> >Date: 09/17/2000 8:32 PM Pacific Daylight Time

> I have spoken to those who believe that the new laws simply provide an
avenue
> for nonbureaucratic placement. What if you were pregnant and the fellow
had
> taken off, and you didn't choose to terminate the pregnancy, and you ended
up
> with a baby being delivered that you didn't feel ready or willing to
parent?
> What would be so wrong with avoiding the not-so-tender embraces of the
> therapeutic state?
>

Adoption completely devoid of accountibility and transparency? I suppose
that's the natural evolutionary step in secret adoptions. Third party
anonymous abandonment, counseled abandonments, "non-bureaucratic
placement... Oh brave new world that has such creatures in it. Or, more
apropos perhaps, the sleep of reason breeds monsters...

Ron


> Yours in harmony,
>
> Pierceforhimself

Pierceforhimself

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Sep 21, 2000, 3:00:00 AM9/21/00
to
>Subject: Re: "Telling" and the emergence of the ARM
>From: "Marley Greiner" maddog...@worldnet.att.net
>Date: 09/17/2000 8:32 PM Pacific Daylight Time

>> >Why was this baby dumping thing conceived?


>>
>> The move to create new laws to address the problem of babies dying in
>dumpsters
>> is discussed in substantial detail at the web site for The Baby Moses
>Project,
>> which is www.babymoses.org.
>>
>> Pierceforhimself
>
>Sorry, Bill. I can't resist. Bastard Nation's position paper on these
>laws and other baby abandonment material can be found at:
>http://www.bastards.org./aactivism/legalized-abandonment.htm
>
>Marley
>

OK, both of us have posted the web sites that we think give the arguments we
agree with, Marley.

I have spoken to those who believe that the new laws simply provide an avenue


for nonbureaucratic placement. What if you were pregnant and the fellow had
taken off, and you didn't choose to terminate the pregnancy, and you ended up
with a baby being delivered that you didn't feel ready or willing to parent?
What would be so wrong with avoiding the not-so-tender embraces of the
therapeutic state?

Yours in harmony,

Pierceforhimself

Marley Greiner

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Sep 21, 2000, 3:00:00 AM9/21/00
to

Pierceforhimself <piercefo...@aol.com> wrote in message

news:20000920221127...@ng-df1.aol.com...


> >Subject: Re: "Telling" and the emergence of the ARM

> >From: "Marley Greiner" maddog...@worldnet.att.net
> >Date: 09/17/2000 8:32 PM Pacific Daylight Time
>

> >> >Why was this baby dumping thing conceived?
> >>
> >> The move to create new laws to address the problem of babies dying in
> >dumpsters
> >> is discussed in substantial detail at the web site for The Baby Moses
> >Project,
> >> which is www.babymoses.org.
> >>
> >> Pierceforhimself
> >
> >Sorry, Bill. I can't resist. Bastard Nation's position paper on these
> >laws and other baby abandonment material can be found at:
> >http://www.bastards.org./aactivism/legalized-abandonment.htm
> >
> >Marley
> >

> OK, both of us have posted the web sites that we think give the arguments
we
> agree with, Marley.
>
> I have spoken to those who believe that the new laws simply provide an
avenue
> for nonbureaucratic placement. What if you were pregnant and the fellow
had
> taken off, and you didn't choose to terminate the pregnancy, and you ended
up
> with a baby being delivered that you didn't feel ready or willing to
parent?
> What would be so wrong with avoiding the not-so-tender embraces of the
> therapeutic state?
>
> Yours in harmony,
>
> Pierceforhimself

Well, Bill, as you probably know, I wouldn't be in that situation, but just
in case I was, I'd choose the lesser of two evils: relinquish it the legal
way, and get it out of the hands of the state ASAP, rather than leave it in
the clutches of the diddling theraputocracy of social workers, doctors,
and hangers who would put it in foster care and drag it to hearings.
How's that for Piercian run-on sentence? Start it out right as a
non-bureaucratocian.

Glad to see you back!

Marley

Toff Philipppo

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Sep 21, 2000, 3:00:00 AM9/21/00
to

Pierceforhimself wrote:

> I have spoken to those who believe that the new laws simply provide an avenue
> for nonbureaucratic placement. What if you were pregnant and the fellow had
> taken off, and you didn't choose to terminate the pregnancy, and you ended up
> with a baby being delivered that you didn't feel ready or willing to parent?
> What would be so wrong with avoiding the not-so-tender embraces of the
> therapeutic state?

I think the vast majority of women would have made their minds up regarding what
they were going to do with a child they'd already decided to deliver. Such a
woman could either keep the child, or surrender it for adoption. The reason why
a woman would abandon a child is, you appear to suggest, that she finds the
"therapeutic state" to be "not-so-tender" (I don't believe this is the actual
reason). Were that really the case, then the solution would be to make the
therapeutic state tender, rather than encourage child abandonment. That, and to
work to prevent unwanted pregnancies from occurring in the first place.

Toff


Mary Hunt

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Sep 21, 2000, 3:00:00 AM9/21/00
to

Pierceforhimself <piercefo...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20000920221127...@ng-df1.aol.com...

>
> I have spoken to those who believe that the new laws simply provide an
avenue
> for nonbureaucratic placement. What if you were pregnant and the fellow
had
> taken off, and you didn't choose to terminate the pregnancy, and you ended
up
> with a baby being delivered that you didn't feel ready or willing to
parent?
> What would be so wrong with avoiding the not-so-tender embraces of the
> therapeutic state?
>
Ending up pregnant is a responsibility. Bringing a life into this world is
a responsibility. The vast majority of women giving birth recognize that
and act appropriately. There are so many avenues of choice for a woman who
does not want to parent that removing all forms of procedure and all avenues
of information for her offspring makes no sense. There are agency
adoptions. There are private adoptions. There are black market adoptions.

Creating an environment where babies can be dumped willy-nilly and
anonymously is just plain wrong. The worst thing about it is that I
strongly suspect the babies that will be abandoned into this system are not
babies who were ever in the slightest danger of being "dumped" anyway. The
difference between a woman who would kill her child or dump it in a
dangerous place and a woman who would abandon anonymously is vast. The
former are not likely to even admit they are pregnant in the first place -
the baby is not a "baby," it is evidence to be destroyed. This is easily
evidenced by the number of infants abandoned to death in Texas, outside of
the "Safe Havens," since the enaction of that legislation. The latter have
been leaving babies on hospital doorsteps and in public places where they
might easily be found for centuries. The new laws make no difference to
these kinds of women.

Mary

Jackie C

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Sep 21, 2000, 3:00:00 AM9/21/00
to
On 21 Sep 2000 02:11:27 GMT, piercefo...@aol.com
(Pierceforhimself) wrote:

>I have spoken to those who believe that the new laws simply provide an avenue
>for nonbureaucratic placement. What if you were pregnant and the fellow had
>taken off, and you didn't choose to terminate the pregnancy, and you ended up
>with a baby being delivered that you didn't feel ready or willing to parent?
>What would be so wrong with avoiding the not-so-tender embraces of the
>therapeutic state?


Because it makes a person sick..

No man is an island.. and relinquishing a child is a major issue to
deal with..
Process..

I spent years just talking with myself on this very important part of
my life.. It got toxic.. I ended up hiding in my house.. house bound..
wearing black all the time..
not speaking..

I went for therapy. and I did not tell the woman I was a birth mother.
I could not sort why I was house bound..
In the third session I said.. "By the way I am a birth mother"..
She said "you have not grieved the loss of your child."
This was well over twenty years after I relinquished..

When you grieve you talk about it.

Important thing to do..

Jackie

Pierceforhimself

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Sep 21, 2000, 9:41:09 PM9/21/00
to
>Subject: Re: Nonbureaucratic placement (Was Re: "Telling" and the emergence

>of the ARM
>From: "Marley Greiner" maddog...@worldnet.att.net
>Date: 09/20/2000 7:48 PM Pacific Daylight Time

>How's that for Piercian run-on sentence?

I sure hope I don't do that much, but it was pretty impressive to me in its
near-unintelligibility.

>Glad to see you back!

The comments, sometimes, just can't be ignored. Wish I could.

>Marley
Pierceforhimself

Pierceforhimself

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Sep 21, 2000, 9:45:49 PM9/21/00
to
>Subject: Re: Nonbureaucratic placement (Was Re: "Telling" and the emergence
>of the ARM
>From: Jackie C jda...@newsguy.com
>Date: 09/21/2000 8:23 AM Pacific Daylight Time

>
>When you grieve you talk about it.
>
>Important thing to do..
>
>Jackie
>

I agree. As part of grieving it is important to talk about it, as you did, to
a counselor who would keep your confidences. Where we may disagree is that I
believe that a good bit of the post-adoption counseling is not helpful to women
who have planned adoption for their babies and need sound, professional help in
getting through the greiving.

Pierceforhimself

JudithR2

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Sep 21, 2000, 10:43:39 PM9/21/00
to
In Message-ID: <20000921214549...@ng-cv1.aol.com>,
piercefo...@aol.com wrote:

>I agree. As part of grieving it is important to talk about it, as you did,
>to
>a counselor who would keep your confidences.

Yes, but a big part of that therapy, IMO is working through the shame, facing
it head on and then discarding it -- not continuing to hide it. I maintain
that hiding shame and guilt is toxic not only to the birthparent; and that that
toxicity can and very likely will spill over into her relationships.

>Where we may disagree is that I
>believe that a good bit of the post-adoption counseling is not helpful to
>women
>who have planned adoption for their babies and need sound, professional help
>in
>getting through the greiving.

Are you speaking of post-adoption counseling available through the agencies?
It's not something I was afforded, so I'm not all that familiar. Why do you
believe that it's not helpful?

Judy

It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.

Marley Greiner

unread,
Sep 22, 2000, 12:21:11 AM9/22/00
to
I'm practicing for getting a job at the Statehouse writing legislation.

What I meant to say was that "nonbureaucratic placement" sounds like "the
lazy woman's guide to adoption."

Marley

Jackie C

unread,
Sep 22, 2000, 3:00:00 AM9/22/00
to
On 22 Sep 2000 01:45:49 GMT, piercefo...@aol.com
(Pierceforhimself) wrote:

>>Subject: Re: Nonbureaucratic placement (Was Re: "Telling" and the emergence
>>of the ARM
>>From: Jackie C jda...@newsguy.com
>>Date: 09/21/2000 8:23 AM Pacific Daylight Time
>
>>
>>When you grieve you talk about it.
>>
>>Important thing to do..
>>
>>Jackie
>>
>I agree. As part of grieving it is important to talk about it, as you did, to
>a counselor who would keep your confidences.

Agree


> Where we may disagree is that I
>believe that a good bit of the post-adoption counseling is not helpful to women
>who have planned adoption for their babies and need sound, professional help in
>getting through the greiving.

I think we all deal with what is in front of us.. if we get a bad
counselor we must look for another one..


The counselor/therapist I had helped me a great deal.. She had me
write a letter to my bson.. Expressing my pain..
I did that.. thinking that it was private.. I have not read that
letter since.. btw..

The next visit she asked me to read it to her..
I declined..

I knew in my heart of hearts that if I was to get better I had better
read that letter.. I read it to her.. and when I looked up.. she was
crying.. Finally someone saw my pain..
Finally it was out in the open..

That is why I disagree with the birth mothers from my time wanting
privacy from the son or daughter they gave up..
We need to face our dragons..

Jackie

GR

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Sep 22, 2000, 8:47:24 PM9/22/00
to
On 21 Sep 2000 02:11:27 GMT, piercefo...@aol.com
(Pierceforhimself) wrote:

>>Subject: Re: "Telling" and the emergence of the ARM

>>From: "Marley Greiner" maddog...@worldnet.att.net
>>Date: 09/17/2000 8:32 PM Pacific Daylight Time
>

>>> >Why was this baby dumping thing conceived?
>>>
>>> The move to create new laws to address the problem of babies dying in
>>dumpsters
>>> is discussed in substantial detail at the web site for The Baby Moses
>>Project,
>>> which is www.babymoses.org.
>>>
>>> Pierceforhimself
>>
>>Sorry, Bill. I can't resist. Bastard Nation's position paper on these
>>laws and other baby abandonment material can be found at:
>>http://www.bastards.org./aactivism/legalized-abandonment.htm
>>
>>Marley
>>

>OK, both of us have posted the web sites that we think give the arguments we
>agree with, Marley.
>

>I have spoken to those who believe that the new laws simply provide an avenue
>for nonbureaucratic placement. What if you were pregnant and the fellow had
>taken off, and you didn't choose to terminate the pregnancy, and you ended up
>with a baby being delivered that you didn't feel ready or willing to parent?
>What would be so wrong with avoiding the not-so-tender embraces of the
>therapeutic state?

Uh, as we've explained to you several times, Billy, it's a lack of
responsibility, a lack of awareness about the nature of adoption, the
lives of adoptees and, for that matter, the lives of nparents. See -
anonymous abandonment sucks. Most of the nparents here were in just
the position you describe above. They made adoption plans, like
decent, caring people. We're not laying grade A eggs here, people -
these are human beings and they have a right to knowledge about their
families of origin.

Being an adoptee was tough, sometimes. Being an nparent is often
tougher but I can't imagine dealing with either reality within the
context of either having been anonymously left somewhere or having
anonymously left my child somewhere. They both suck, the answer is
no, no, a thousand times no and your determined lack of insight won't
make it yes.

How can you possibly have been involved in adoption issues for all
these years and not have the slightest clue about this basic shit? Do
you drink to excess or something? It's rather shocking, you know.

>Yours in harmony,

Save it for the barber-shop quartet, sweetie.

>Pierceforhimself


Fucking G Fucking R

GR

unread,
Sep 22, 2000, 8:49:11 PM9/22/00
to
On Wed, 20 Sep 2000 21:35:34 -0500, Lainie Petersen
<lpet...@clapper.com> wrote:

>
>
>Pierceforhimself wrote:
>
>>
>> OK, both of us have posted the web sites that we think give the arguments we
>> agree with, Marley.
>>
>> I have spoken to those who believe that the new laws simply provide an avenue
>> for nonbureaucratic placement. What if you were pregnant and the fellow had
>> taken off, and you didn't choose to terminate the pregnancy, and you ended up
>> with a baby being delivered that you didn't feel ready or willing to parent?
>> What would be so wrong with avoiding the not-so-tender embraces of the
>> therapeutic state?
>>
>

>Nothing, providing that you decided to place your child for adoption in a moral,
>legal, and ethical manner.
>
>The newspapers are rife with ads by would-be adoptive parents who are working
>with non-theraputic lawyers. Why can't the woman give them a call? What is so
>difficult about telling an agency social worker that you don't want counseling
>and that you just want to sign the damn papers?
>
>
>These options exist. But a very tiny minority of women just choose not to use
>them. While I am pro-adoption, I am not
>pro-adoption-without-any-accountablity-sound-policy-ethics-morals-or-consideration-for-the-best-interest-of-the-child.

Oh sure, nit-pick! <g>


Fucking G Fucking R

Pierceforhimself

unread,
Sep 22, 2000, 11:54:14 PM9/22/00
to
>Subject: Re: Nonbureaucratic placement (Was Re: "Telling" and the emergence
>of the ARM
>From: din...@pacbell.net (GR)
>Date: 09/22/2000 5:47 PM Pacific Daylight Time

>Do
>you drink to excess or something?

F***ing G F***ing R

It's "or something," o person with the very creative sig.

Pierceforhimself

GR

unread,
Sep 24, 2000, 3:00:00 AM9/24/00
to
On 23 Sep 2000 03:54:14 GMT, piercefo...@aol.com
(Pierceforhimself) wrote:

Well what is it?

GR


Pierceforhimself

unread,
Sep 26, 2000, 10:06:20 PM9/26/00
to
>Subject: Re: Nonbureaucratic placement (Was Re: "Telling" and the emergence
>of the ARM
>From: judi...@aol.complicated (JudithR2)
>Date: 09/21/2000 7:43 PM Pacific Daylight Time

>Are you speaking of post-adoption counseling available through the agencies?

Yes.

>It's not something I was afforded, so I'm not all that familiar. Why do you
>believe that it's not helpful?

Because post-adoption counseling, like every other professional service, varies
in quality for many reasons, not the least of which is the training the
professional receives (and many are young, have limited life experience and
rely on the pseudoscience they learned in their particular school of social
work). There is, in addition, plain old incompetence ... and laziness ... and
bias. All of these can come into play as well. Take a look at some of the
curricula out there aimed at those who provide this service and you will see an
underlying approach which neatly fits Carp's "pseudoscientific psychoanalytic"
description.
>
>Judy
>
Pierceforhimself

Pierceforhimself

unread,
Sep 26, 2000, 10:08:42 PM9/26/00
to
>Subject: Re: Nonbureaucratic placement (Was Re: "Telling" and the emergence
>of the ARM
>From: Jackie C jda...@newsguy.com
>Date: 09/22/2000 9:06 AM Pacific Daylight Time

>We need to face our dragons..
>
>Jackie
>

From your post, it would appear that facing your dragons helped you. I found
your post very moving. Unfortunately, facing your dragons is not the
prescription for every birth mother. There are no panaceas in this complex
area, IMO, of course.

Pierceforhimself