George Morris on the SS list

[Mosey_2003]

@hut-ho78

I thought it just destroyed DNA evidence until DNA testing improved so much. I thought chemical castration through drugs was not effective. Thanks for the links.

Perhaps if the pedophile is allowed to administer the drugs himself, and stops?

[Juliette]

@IdahoRider

They most often DON’T start with coercion and shame. That doesn’t come until much later. These pedophiles start grooming their victims by making them feel special. It is a fact that many (perhaps even most?) survivors of long term sexual abuse had families that were dysfunctional to varying degrees. That dysfunction opened the child up to responding to being made to feel special in a very particular way. The pedophile can smell the “right” conditions a mile away.

That is part of the grooming process. Pedophiles always have feelers out, probing and testing, evaluating. When a child’s circumstances tick the boxes, the process becomes more targeted to that particular child. Is the family sufficiently distracted with divorce, illness, substance abuse, whatever? Is the child open to being singled out from their peers? Does the child fit the physical profile the pedophile wants?

Believe me, if a pedophile’s MO was to drag a child into a dark room and molest them the first time they met? The outcomes would be different. The vast majority don’t operate that way. They pick their victims carefully. They carefully construct and guide the situation until eventually they are able to frame the sexual contact as an extension of how important that child is, how loved and protected they are by the abuser.

The coercion and shaming doesn’t start until the abuser starts to feel control of the situation slipping a little. And most often the “go to” method is shaming the victim. Nobody will believe you. You wanted me to touch you. You will get in trouble. Everyone will know you’re a slut, know that you’re a fag. You won’t be special anymore. Pick your poison. And then they move on. The child has aged out of the pedophile’s desired demographic. They get caught just enough for people to know that something “happened”, but nobody wants to know what and they just want to bury it and walk away. Whatever. Things shift and another child is targeted and the grooming starts all over again.

Keep in mind that the pedophile has hidden in plain sight. Larry Nassar, “I am doing a medical procedure. Only I can fix your child”. George Morris, “Your child has talent and I can make it happen for them”. My step-father, “God has called me to help this broken family and the daughter needs extra support and caring”.

These people, for the most part, aren’t hiding their victims in the basement, behind a secret door. They marry our drug addled mothers. They dangle health and continued competition in front of children and parents. They insinuate that with extra “access” and training the Olympics is within reach.

These monsters are right here, living in plain sight. They aren’t driving up in an unfamiliar car and asking us if we want to help them find their lost puppy. They are the team doctor. They are the t-ball coach. They teach Sunday school. They are a best friend’s parent. They are a legend in the sport we love. They eat dinner at our own kitchen table and wait until everyone is asleep. They are a fixture in our lives. They don’t have to lure us. They are already in our lives.

They minimize. They minimize. Every. Single. Day. They say their medical treatment is misunderstood. They say they were only trying to build on a talented rider. They say they were only checking to make sure a child was covered on a cold night.

They groom us. They twist the world to make it look a certain way. Up is down and down is up. And they scare the shit out of us for the rest of our lives.

And even though we are scared, and ashamed, we step forward and speak our truth. Some of us can say it and never waver again from those words being heard out loud. Some of us need to speak it and then take it back because the fear in our own minds is so overwhelming it might be another thirty years before we can speak the truth again. Some of us never say anything. Some of us use drugs and drink. Some of us become so anxiety ridden that we push ourselves to never, ever make a mistake about anything. Some of us turn around and abuse others. None of that changes the fact that we were hurt in an irreparable way when we were young and vulnerable.

“F” George Morris. At this point the allegations have been investigated. He doesn’t deserve to automatically be given the benefit of even more doubt. I am going to stand with the people who were strong enough to insist that they be heard. At last. Those are my people. They are my tribe.
Sheilah

Thank you for sharing, and hugs. This was powerful.

[Tigre_Horse]

@IdahoRider

“F” George Morris. At this point the allegations have been investigated. He doesn’t deserve to automatically be given the benefit of even more doubt. I am going to stand with the people who were strong enough to insist that they be heard. At last. Those are my people. They are my tribe.
Sheilah

This. I’ve always thought he was such an arrogant SOB. So above it all. He knows what he did and never in a million years did he ever think he’d have to pay the piper. Welcome to hell GM. Victims no more - survivors united who will be heard.

[hut-ho78]

@Mosey_2003

Perhaps if the pedophile is allowed to administer the drugs himself, and stops?

I edited that post a little. There were Castrati singers in the 1800s and poems were written about their love making abilities. They were said to still be able to perform and there was no fear of pregnancy.

[Jealoushe]

Also some more info on pedophiles, not to get too sidetracked, but child protection is something I am very passionate about, and with my love of True Crime they go together well, I have read a lot about this stuff. Pedophiles number 2 goal is to not get caught. Number 1 is to get close enough to abuse the child. Pedophiles have their own symbols, there is one for child lover, one for girl lover, and one for boy lover. They display these logos in places so they can be identified by other child predators and can stick together. There are actually websites and forums on the dark web dedicated to child abuse, and helping each other. Topics include how to get close to the family, how to identify potential victims and what types of victims are the best to go after. How to not get caught, how to convince children to be afraid or trust you, how to get the powerful people in your town on your side, etc etc etc. It’s really quite sick, but that is their MO.

Hiding in plain sight. Always be aware, a predator can be your closest friend.

[hut-ho78]

@Jealoushe

Also some more info on pedophiles, not to get too sidetracked, but child protection is something I am very passionate about, and with my love of True Crime they go together well, I have read a lot about this stuff. Pedophiles number 2 goal is to not get caught. Number 1 is to get close enough to abuse the child. Pedophiles have their own symbols, there is one for child lover, one for girl lover, and one for boy lover. They display these logos in places so they can be identified by other child predators and can stick together. There are actually websites and forums on the dark web dedicated to child abuse, and helping each other. Topics include how to get close to the family, how to identify potential victims and what types of victims are the best to go after. How to not get caught, how to convince children to be afraid or trust you, how to get the powerful people in your town on your side, etc etc etc. It’s really quite sick, but that is their MO.

Hiding in plain sight. Always be aware, a predator can be your closest friend.

Family members…

[MHM]

@jhg140

I believe that the Indianapolis Star investigation that broke the whole thing open was spurred by Nassar’s victims responding to a 2016 Star article about cover up of sexual abuse by coaches at USA Gymnastics. Nassar victims then responded to the tip line included with that article, saying they had information about people besides coaches. So yes, there were issues before Nassar.

EDIT - found the article
https://www.indystar.com/story/news/…ches/85829732/

Ick. Gross. Again. :dead::dead:

Thanks.

It’s really remarkable how many of those excuses in that article are being repeated almost word for word right now, here and elsewhere.

[ClerkofCourts]

@dannyboy

@ clerkofcourts I’m re-reading George’s book right now (I bought and read it when it first came out). The first time through, I was unaware of the timing, that there was an investigation in the works even then.

What strikes me this time around about it is that it’s intended as a warning. He recites name after name of rich and powerful clients, all of whom loved George and were “good friends”. I think it’s “a touch me if you dare, but look at who’s behind me” kind of statement.

My thoughts EXACTLY. I was having his discussion with someone and it was my impression (from memory , I’d started to read the book when it came out it and even had the Geezer sign it and couldn’t get through it) that he was like “hey all! I got your number, try me!” Which falls right in line with that Facebook post where he was quoted as saying he would take everyone down with him. Another person mentioned it maybe being a pre-emptive, “hey look I aired my dirty laundry already so I must be innocent.” I think it’s probably a bit of both.
I keep thinking I should go back and crack the book open again but just can’t seem to force myself to.

Especiallly is you consider that Soresi first came forward in 2012 and backed off. Otherwise does GM seem like the type that would need to “write” a tell all?
My head also keeps going back to just how poorly wrttien it is. So! Many! Exclamation marks! Knowing what a perfectionist he is you’d think it would have been better edited, even if his own education level is lacking.

[hut-ho78]

He still has an appeal process to go through with SafeSport. Waiting on that. I am reading his book now. Not far into it. Horses are my happy place. The barn is where I feel closest to God. This is upsetting, stomach churning, sad, heartbreaking. Cornered in barns and trail rides. Having to be on alert where so and so is. Just can’t…

[lonewolf]

Supportive GM post on the FB page from Kathy Kusner (via someone else’s profile). I’ve always loved Kathy, so seeing it makes me a bit sad.

[Peggy]

If you wanted an understanding of how a sexual predator works and avoids getting into trouble, I highly recommend the podcast Believed about Larry Nassar.
https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510326/believed

It was recommended upthread, or maybe on the RG thread, and I’ve listened to four episodes. One of his victims was six when it started and I think that was roughly twenty years ago.

But it I don’t think I’ll ever think about PowerPoint quite the same way ever again.

[Alterforme]

There is now a new petition on change.org
“Safe sport reform petition advocacy for George Morris and all usef members “.
I saw it on fb

[chisamba]

@Jonathan Hart

I am Michael Hart’s brother and have been expecting this day to come since I first read MidgeToo’s post on May 16, 2009 over on The Manure Pile. It was a post of a PM sent to MidgeToo by someone going by the name ‘abcdefghi’ that mentioned Michael as one of GM’s victims. It was long post I won’t share unless people want to read what I am referring to. In 2013 I made an angry reply as I just wanted my brother left out of the conversation. As everyone knows, he passed away in 1995 so I saw no reason to bring him into this 34 years after his time at Hunterdon and 14 years after his passing.

This is is what bothers me most. Everyone knew about GM back then yet no one said or did anything about it. Now an 81 year old man is having his life’s work and legacy eradicated in some “Me Too” moment and, in the case of my family, getting calls from the New York Times and others asking us questions about our dead brother and his relationship with an accused pedophile.

SafeSport exists to prevent future abuse and misconduct, which I fully support, but I don’t know the case against GM furthers their mission. From my chair I see it ruining reputations, opening old wounds of families and victims, dividing the community, and harming the sport.

There is much more I could add but I’ve said enough. For the readers who knew my brother, you know

I cannot begin to know how difficult this is for you. Clearly the reason safe sport attempts to hide names of those a abused.

But… suspending a predator does several things. It says, children aren’t safe around this person. It says even powerful people need to leave juniors alone, and it says no longer can we tolerate this.

What it does not say is we are sorry this went on for so long that children were harmed. I am sorry for that

[smirk]

Does the (unsubstantiated as far as I can tell) quote of “I’m bringing everyone down with me” mean he’ll put all the other pedophiles he knows on blast? My god, I hope so.

[anon6923113]

@fordtraktor

I love that people are really thinking it through answers coming up with some cool ideas. The concept with tying is that a firm with monopoly or at least a high degree of market power conditions the purchase of the item it monopolizes on the customer also purchasing a second item or service (the tied product), over which it does not have the same degree of market power. This, in effect, enables the monopolist to use its monopoly power to enlarge its market share in the tied product market.

it is an interesting concept, but I am not aware of any cases that act in the negative (a ban being unlawfully extended to ban more things, instead of a purchase. I have a migraine today, though, so am not thinking the clearest and am maybe missing how to make this work.

i do think that if SadeSport runs afoul of the Sherman Act, this aiding and abetting aspect is what is going to do it. It makes it possible to argue a broader affect on competition, as opposed to only an effect on a single competitor. That is key.

Sorry about your migraine! That stinks.

You did an excellent job verbalizing what tying is. I was trying to apply it like you are saying… sort of as a negative, and in essence Safe Spirt was trying to expand their power by extending the ban on one person to include possible sanctions on members doing business with the banned person. I think that is tricky. And that a case could be made that it was an anti-competitive overreach on the part of the NGO. Because where does it end? If s non USEF members holds a show at s private farm, and a banned person participates, but other USEF members do as well… what then? It could essentially turn into USEF getting into a backdoor method of penalizing members who participate in unrecognized shows. I don’t think that’s the intent at all… it an argument might be made.

So let’s just say that portion of Safe Sport was successfully challenged on this one aspect, and it was ruled impermissible to punish USEF members who clinics with banned people, or attended unrecognized shows with banned people. People like GHM could still run businesses and make a living. His name would still be out there on the Safe Sport list. No more Olympic Team associations for him. But lower level people, like me, and parents, could watch who precisely chooses to support and attend his clinics… and who doesn’t.

Bluntly, as s parent, any coach or pro who decided to clinic with someone who has now been banned by Safe Sport? I would not choose to do business with that person. Nor have my child get lessons from
them.

[anon6923113]

Wow… the Kathy Kusner post. That’s really sad to hear.

Any comments at all from any of the Chapot family?

[Bogie]

@ClerkofCourts

My thoughts EXACTLY. I was having his discussion with someone and it was my impression (from memory , I’d started to read the book when it came out it and even had the Geezer sign it and couldn’t get through it) that he was like “hey all! I got your number, try me!” Which falls right in line with that Facebook post where he was quoted as saying he would take everyone down with him. Another person mentioned it maybe being a pre-emptive, “hey look I aired my dirty laundry already so I must be innocent.” I think it’s probably a bit of both.
I keep thinking I should go back and crack the book open again but just can’t seem to force myself to.

Especiallly is you consider that Soresi first came forward in 2012 and backed off. Otherwise does GM seem like the type that would need to “write” a tell all?
My head also keeps going back to just how poorly wrttien it is. So! Many! Exclamation marks! Knowing what a perfectionist he is you’d think it would have been better edited, even if his own education level is lacking.

I am reading it now. The writing is atrocious. I’m appalled that he hired a ghost writer. He should have listened to her. There is a lot in there that I find disturbing, not just the subtext, which I find unsettling. I notice that whenever he does something illegal, he immediately calls out someone else that does it. For example, when he talks about poling his horse at a show with a tack-studded rail, he immediately says that Rodney Jenkins did it too. There’s also a fair amount about drugs used to calm horses. So far, the book has made me doubt his horsemanship, thank the saints that I never rode with him (too abusive), and wonder what else he’s going to reveal that’s unsavory. His “escapades” make me want to take a shower.

[anon6923113]

@MHM

A search of members on the USEF website shows no members with the last name Eckhart, and five people named Kim or Kimberly Murphy, one in Virginia, all listed as inactive.

I was actually sort of curious as to what was up with this, and went back and looked at the website again, and realized I had misspelled a name. It’s Rick Eckhardt. He was a USET team member and has been a Pint Club examiner for the B and A levels, and also has a license to judge recognized shows apparently and was up until a few years ago.

Does anyone know if he is still affiliated with River Chase or an active USEF member? It seems odd that he would be tied to Navarro. I’m dubious of Navarro’s claims to have coached horses and riders up to the Grand Prix level And if a lowly ammy like me can spot some likely b.s. and resume inflation such as that, I would think a former USET team member could too.

Maybe Eckhardt distanced himself from Navarro a while ago and the website is out of date on that score as well.

[HoolieB]

Frequent lurker, infrequent poster.

I admit that early on I thought due process was completely disregarded by SS and that suspensions and permanent ineligibility were assigned upon accusations being made. I questioned SS and its flagrant abuse of power. When GM was affected, I thought it went too far. So I got myself to the forum here and looked forward to reading like-minded posts. Heh.

At first I was confused and put off by the more, er, passionate posts defending SS and the process. I mean, GM was the Grand Poobah of all things hunter/jumper. (For reference, I do fancy-prancing. Badly.) How could H/J folks not be up in arms about this injustice, this ancient and spurious charge of hedonistic behavior? So I kept reading here. And a funny thing happened: I got educated on SS and the process. I was reminded that abuse of power in the form of sexual abuse and the damage inflicted on victims has no expiration date. No longer can I put my head in the sand and think SS sanctions are a result of so-called witch hunts. In short, I am deeply embarrassed at my first reaction to the GM sanctions.

Thank you to everyone here who took the time to present facts. It made a difference.

[ladyj79]

I mean, George Morris is a former USET member and chef. I don’t know that that is necessarily proof of great character or judgement.