hmmmmm

[imaginarycircus]

I had a very interesting chat with one of the regulars about the differences between stereotypes and tropes WRT the novel. I told her about the author who ripped me a new one and said Allie was "violent and unlikable" because she pushed her mugger down the escalator. Sarah agreed with me, and with most of you, that if a white girl pushed a POC down

Comments

[strange_selkie]

....They don't. That's why there's no info. I can check our supermax books, if you like.

[imaginarycircus]

I've read a ton of internet posts today about how I survived/went slightly crazy in AdSeg. So I am not sure that will help me since I'm writing about a Navy SEAL who cracked a bit in six months of solitary. I think I'm comfortable in thinking that his training kept him from becoming outright psychotic, but extenuating circumstances were responsible for making him crack at all.

[strange_selkie]

*nod* That's the nice part about writing fiction!

[imaginarycircus]

Indeed! :D

[casness]

I can check to see if there is any info about that in my college's database. We have several grants from the dod, maybe something came up.

[imaginarycircus]

I'd love anything about PDAHS training--specifically how to stay sane while being detained in solitary confinement. I suspect the info I want is classified and therefor I'm not going to find it. It's OK since the story is from Danny's POV and he won't/can't know what the experience was like for Steve.

[casness]

Checked through my databases. So far, the only information about solitary confinement is primarily from the supermax prison system. There are a few articles, which unfortunately I don't really have access to that talk about POW experiences and psychological effects and coping behaviors used there. The only training that psychologists searched out of the two that you looked at is SERE and that has information about coping and psychological effects along with books that were published.

It seems like PDAHS training is classified or at least they haven't let psychologists study it yet. Majority of the research on military personnel these days is the PTSD effects from the war.

Sorry I couldn't be more help. Let me know if want/need anything else.

[imaginarycircus]

Thank you so much for looking! At least when Steve says "It's classified." I won't be making that up. :D

[strange_selkie]

I'm not sure it would be helpful in any real sense, but I know the USN Brig Miramar has a media contact.

[imaginarycircus]

Yeah, I'm just as happy making stuff up. Thankfully I don't have to be in the character's head--just watching the effects from the outside.

[emmapoe]

Sounds like a great convo!

[imaginarycircus]

It was so helpful! :D

[fitfool]

I don't know anything about solitary confinement training (I generally hear that people go a little nuts in solitary though).

But I did hear about The Quietest Room recently. It's in Minneapolis and holds the world record for being the quietest room in the world. All these noise dampeners and stuff. It's measured as being -9 decibels! My friend visited it recently and said it's eerie how quiet it is. So quiet that people find it unsettling. Apparently the guy who built it has a bet that he'll reward anyone who can stay inside that room alone for longer than some suprisingly short time (like 45 minutes?). I forget how long but I think most people want out after just 10 minutes.

I didn't read this article but here's the place I'm talking about:
http://www.tcbmag.com/industriestrends/technology/104458p1.aspx

Oh and this article mentions his challenge to stay in the room:Reply