I am sure pufferfish will join in some way; he is a scout victim and was once an admin here. There is also an admin that retired some time ago that is scout abuse victim may join at some point. Manipulated has been on this board for 4 years and I didn't even realize another scout victim had joined tell this spring; there may be more.
I always thought there were 3,000 pedophile BSA scouters; but it turns out that there are 5,000 known pedophile BSA scouters, and that doesn't include the unknown number of records that BSA destroyed in the early 90's when they figured they wouldn't be able to keep the records secrete anymore. How many got settlements but can't talk about their case due to gag agreements too? Seeing as some of these pedophiles had hundreds of victims it really shouldn't be hard to get something going. The only hard part will be getting it started once that happens the "warren buffet snowball effect" will occur.
So there are 4 main things we need to do.
1. Create a web site. I will talk to my brother he is a web developer about this. He may even host it for free, so we could have site for about 10$, not sure he will support it though. The site would have a registration process that links users to cases, if cases are unknown it would allow cases to be submitted and added. The site should be a resource and a gathering place as well as
2. Create social media presence. Pretty basic create accounts on FaceBook, twitter etc. then get people to like or add them...
3. Raise money. Basically create a kick-starter and sell our movie. People would recieve a copy of the movie as the reward. - The movie would have scene's from baden powels life. Both with him subjecting his ensine "boy friend" who worked under him in the army, nicknamed the "boy" for his boyish looks the relationship was well exposed, he kept a picture on his desk. And throwing a fit when they started requiring bathing suits at the local swimming pool... learning of the first abuse case involving a doctor he knew and having no emotioanl responce to it... etc.. All in old black and white with film grain to make it look like an old movie.
- A newer chapter how common abuse was in scouting. in black and white with static effects showing and looking like black and white tv
- my story starting with 2 kids getting struck by lightning at the camp where I staffed while my younger brother worked there. And me having flash backs to when I worked there and parents trying to get it shut down due to lightning stafty but scouting refusing. And ending after all complaints them calling the kid who came forward a lier. This would be filmed in low quality Color, with VHS tracking errors and effects in it.
- A newer story, in high quaity HD film.
--- Each would have the same elements, the hiding of the abuse, the discreditation, the cover ups, and of course the retaliation we each faced from coming forward. By doing multiple stories we could then each be shilded from the force of those who go truely public. I don't konw if you ahve seen it, but basicly the responce is not just the basic "your liars"
--- Each would remain exactly true to the facts. Instead of saying this "based on a true story" to shield yourself from lawsuits from BSA would use "this is a true store, created to facts as true as possible" And literally invite BSA us, as this would allow us to sue them for slander as it is they who are slandering us when the call us liers, and in some cases, them filing as suit may even renew our statute of limitations to sue them for the abuse. In-fact if BSA sues us they would add publicity, and it;s not like we are going to stop selling our movie just because the kick-starter ends.
4- we need to start contacting attorneys. This would begin with calling attorneys who already have, or have had legal battles with the BSA asking them for support, but only after first selling them on the BENIFITS of sharing legal strategies and evidence with out of state attorneys. These legal battles are basically the same and by belonging they would not just get referrals to cases that require less work because the are already working on similar, but devide the case load and get many different strategies; access to experts to testify and such.
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AS you may be able to tell I have been dreaming about doing this for literally years. I think the timing is right now, and wasn't when I started dreaming about this 5 years ago. I don't know that I am ready for this, but the timing is right, this would have the most impact NOW. The old saying goes that the pen is mightier than the sword, but the new pen is the keyboard, so the ""keyboard is mightier than the sword"" is probably more up to date.
We also need to think about a name, the "MeToo" is loosing momentum but use of this name would be great to get and have some "feet in", or users and visibility to get started. However we do not have control or really even any established creds with MeToo, and without their support we would be dead in the water if we use this name.
