I joined MindFreedom earlier this year, just after the Virginia Tech shootings, after hearing David Oakes (?) on the radio. I have been abused by the psychiatric industry, and their rhetoric sounded tailor made to my experience. Upon sending in the $35 membership, I was sent a packet of materials, including an announcement regarding a conference in July to learn alternatives to current abuses in psychiatry. I sent in the required fees and registration form, only to be informed via e-mail that there were no more sleeping rooms available at the conference center. I was advised to reserve rooms for myself at a specific motel, but it was not until yesterday that I was finally sent back my check for $370. I was told by the office manager to replace it with one for $236, which I did this morning. In the interim, I received another e-mail from the office manager saying that my check had been placed in the mail ""late last week,"" and that he would be returning my call placed last week to David Oakes. I advised the office manager that such a call would be unneccessary, and that I was tired of how disorganized the process during the past month had been. A half hour after responding to the office manager's e-mail I got a call from David Oakes, saying that he understood from his office manager that I had ""some questions."" I refused at this point to take the bait, creating an opportunity for David Oakes to declare that I had been rude/offensive in my e-mails, and that I would be barred from participating in the conference unless I submitted a note of apology to the office manager. I responded that such a thing would not be forthcoming, and then inquired as to whether I would receive my $236 and my membership fee returned. He responded in the negative to the latter.
Pros: Rhetoric
Cons: Hypocrisy and incompetence
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