The Tragic Story of Genevieve "Gennie" Pilarski

[Barbarella]

As a person with some psych issues, this story is heartbreaking & infuriating.

http://sometimes-interesting.com/2013/04/24/the-story-of-gennie-pilarski/

In a nutshell...Genevieve was an intelligent, bright 25 year old college student in the 1940's with possibly some emotional issues who had a disagreement with her family because she wanted to move out & live on her own. Her parents decided to commit her to Mateno State Hospital where she became basically a guinea pig for oodles of medical experiments until she was rendered basically a "vegetable". This is so heartbreaking! I am utterly furious at her parents. They just shoved her in the asylum and forgot about her. They didn't give a damn! They never visited her like good parents should. I know it was a much earlier time and folks didn't know better but what her parents did was inexcusable!
Nobody in any of these articles never really says anything about the point I'm going to make but, I think her parents were simply misogynistic fuddy duddies who didn't like raising an independent, intelligent, strong willed college student who happened to be female! It was common practice for folks to be committed to asylums because they were "outspoken willful women", LGBTs or expressed unpopular political ideas. It's the same sort of B.S. that plagued movie actress Frances Farmer. Frances & Gennie may have had some personality issues but they were perfectly sane, intelligent, self-sufficient women. One was a Hollywood movie actress & the other majoring in Chemistry at the University of Illinois. Their crime seems to be "Outspoken While Female".


To assure you this isn't an urban legend.....
http://mantenostatehospital.wordpress.com/2009/05/29/gennie/

I wish there was articles about her parents but I found none. I know they were bastards because if they were simply trying to help her of simply good parents at their wits end, they would have visited her regularly. Instead, they just stuck their kid there & never looked back. I hope the purgatorial after-death tortures of Naraka will teach them a lesson!

[nickiknack]

The treatment of psych patients was really fucked up back in the day. I've watched many shows about the subject, and it sends chills up my spine every time, especially when they get to parts about lobotomies.

[Dynamic Dragon]

What horrible people!  I'm sure they're burning in hell for what they did.   

[Reality Warper]

...This is horrific.  That's why we shouldn't hide behind the mantra of "it can't happen here".

[rageaholic]

Why would the parents object to her moving out, at 25? 

[Dynamic Dragon]

Why would the parents object to her moving out, at 25?

Probably because they thought she'd bring shame to the family, or something.

[rageaholic]

Why would the parents object to her moving out, at 25?

Probably because they thought she'd bring shame to the family, or something.

Ah, that old "family honor" bullshit.  Makes sense now. 

[Barbarella]

Her family would probably make good recruitment candidates for the "Quiverfull" bunch (as far as gender roles are concerned). Remember also, this was way back in the 1940's. This stupidity probably happened a lot in America, back then....

DEAR MR. JOE Q. AMERICAN;
Is your....
Daughter or wife being too "willful" & "uppity"?
Kid too rebellious?
Know any dirty Commies in your family?
Is your kid one of them evil sodomites?...
WELL....SEND THEM TO THE OL' FUNNY FARM & FORGET EM!

In some ways, this country has changed for the better. Unfortunately, the Tealiban would be more than happy to return to that.

WELL...YOU GUYS KNOW WHAT TO DO IN 2014!

[RavynousHunter]

Why would the parents object to her moving out, at 25? 

In the 40s, women living on their own was considered wildly inappropriate and very socially unacceptable.  If she was out of her parents' house, its because she was in her husband's house, that's how shit was, then.

Now, others may understand why I sigh and shake my head whenever someone says "THE PAST WAS BETTAR!"  No.  No, it wasn't.  The present ain't exactly a bed of fuckin roses, but its a damn sight better than what it used to be.  Economically, maybe, but in pretty much every other aspect, fuck no.  The past sucked; the 50s sucked, the 40s sucked, the 20s sucked, the Renaissance sucked, et cetera.  The past was crap, learn from it, so the future doesn't turn to shit.

[Art Vandelay]

Now, others may understand why I sigh and shake my head whenever someone says "THE PAST WAS BETTAR!"  No.  No, it wasn't.  The present ain't exactly a bed of fuckin roses, but its a damn sight better than what it used to be.  Economically, maybe, but in pretty much every other aspect, fuck no.  The past sucked; the 50s sucked, the 40s sucked, the 20s sucked, the Renaissance sucked, et cetera.  The past was crap, learn from it, so the future doesn't turn to shit.

I can sum up in two words why the current times shit all over any point in the past. Wireless Broadband.

[RavynousHunter]

Now, others may understand why I sigh and shake my head whenever someone says "THE PAST WAS BETTAR!"  No.  No, it wasn't.  The present ain't exactly a bed of fuckin roses, but its a damn sight better than what it used to be.  Economically, maybe, but in pretty much every other aspect, fuck no.  The past sucked; the 50s sucked, the 40s sucked, the 20s sucked, the Renaissance sucked, et cetera.  The past was crap, learn from it, so the future doesn't turn to shit.

I can sum up in two words why the current times shit all over any point in the past. Wireless Broadband.

I have two better ones: FREE PORN.

[Art Vandelay]

Now, others may understand why I sigh and shake my head whenever someone says "THE PAST WAS BETTAR!"  No.  No, it wasn't.  The present ain't exactly a bed of fuckin roses, but its a damn sight better than what it used to be.  Economically, maybe, but in pretty much every other aspect, fuck no.  The past sucked; the 50s sucked, the 40s sucked, the 20s sucked, the Renaissance sucked, et cetera.  The past was crap, learn from it, so the future doesn't turn to shit.

I can sum up in two words why the current times shit all over any point in the past. Wireless Broadband.

I have two better ones: FREE PORN.

Not necessarily. There was free internet porn in the 90's, but it still sucked, what with dial up internet and all.

[Barbarella]

Here is her entry on Find A Grave.com website.

Her entry is rather neglected. I would be nice if you sent a virtual flower (or other thingy) and a note. You'll have to sign up, though but it's very easy. The entry has a photo of her from back in the day.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=102183128

I "sent" a "virtual bouquet" and a note to her entry. It's not much but it's all I can do.

[Erebus Overkill]

http://j.mp/VintageInsanity

[mellenORL]

Best edgy necro award goes to newbie Erebus Overkill. Welcome to FQA.