Meet the Mods
As leaders of a vulnerable community, we feel that it is important to share some background about ourselves. We are sharing this information in the interest of transparency and building a community that feels trustworthy and safe for all TTI survivors. In addition to this post, we will be adding a page to the wiki so that it is easy to find in the future.
u/ItalianDragon is our current head moderator. He is not a TTI survivor, but joined our subreddit over a decade ago after learning about the industry at his university library. Once he realized that there were ways he could help our cause, he became a dedicated member and later moderator.
u/Time-Stomach-5576 is a survivor of four different TTI programs (Wediko, Gateway, Second Nature Duchesne, and Logan River Academy). He's been posting in this sub for over a decade and has considerable advocacy experience. He is dedicated to maintaining a safe space for survivors to speak freely and hopes to prevent the next generation from going through the same nightmare we did. He has volunteered to be a primary contact if you feel the need to talk to someone one-on-one, so feel free to message him privately.
u/positivepeercult_ is a survivor of Falcon Ridge Ranch, Outback Wilderness, Rancho Valmora, and Wellspring Academy of the Sierras. They can be found on TikTok/Instagram under the same username, and have a TTI survivor discord for others interested in activism. They stay up to date on bill proposals and current legislation regarding the TTI & can help connect survivors with efforts in their state, as well as opportunities to provide testimony as part of the legislative process against the TTI.
u/salymander was sent to Victory Christian Academy back in the 1980s. This was long before there was much organized resistance to the TTI. It was several decades before she learned of this sub, and of the various organizations that are pushing back on the TTI. Salymander is now the parent of a young adult, and works to make sure no more kids are sent away to be tormented by strangers. Salymander often deals with parents who come looking for advice.
u/Signal-Strain9810 is a survivor of Second Nature Wilderness Program and Spring Ridge Academy. She is a passionate advocate for survivors whose experiences are often left out of conversations about the TTI, including foster youth, children involved in the juvenile justice system, and international adoptees. She is also the mother of a 15 year-old and has firsthand experience parenting through challenging behavior.
Call for Mod Applications
As previously mentioned, we are looking for new moderators to help fill gaps in coverage and lighten the workload for the current team. We will review all applications and contact you if you seem like a good fit.
Criteria:
- Must be a consistent and thoughtful contributor to the subreddit
- Must be available most days for at least a few minutes to participate in urgent discussions
- Must have strong emotional supports and coping skills. You will need to interact with triggering content frequently
- Must be patient and able to stay calm, even in challenging or frustrating situations
- Must have a strong understanding of the unique ways that survivors may interact due to their time in the TTI
- Must be willing to join our encrypted group chat on Signal
To apply, please contact us via modmail (https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=r/troubledteens) and let us know why you would like to join the team.
We frequently have thin or no coverage during overnight hours (for North America). If you are a night owl or an international member who can help us out, you are especially encouraged to apply.
If you are selected as a moderator, you will receive training materials to help you get started.
Thank you in advance for bearing with us during this time of transition!