The Wind-Up Staff | SJHS
October 25th, 2002

Random Rants:
Particulars of Fairplain
establishment still a mystery

By Colleen O'Shea

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I am puzzled, baffled, even confounded. And I don't think that's the effect the place is supposed to have, anyway.

"The place" is a rather vague, unspecific term, isn't it? Well, that's how I feel about my knowledge of it. You see, I have driven by this building on Napier, between the bridge and Colfax, often, always wondering what it is. "Consequential Minds, Inc. Drop-In Center" proclaimed the sign. There was always someone sitting outside of the building, leaving me curious as to what went on inside.

So I finally made a visit, not sure what to expect. Thoughts of the place being an underground gentleman's club or a philosophy discussion headquarters ran through my head.

But Consequential Minds is neither of those. In fact, even though I entered and strolled around, reading everything on the walls, I still wouldn't know what the place was except for an ever-useful phone book laying on a table. Consequential Minds, Inc., it was discovered, is listed under the "Mental Health" portion of the phone book.

I looked around after discovering this, incredulous. This place is supposed to foster mental health? Maybe I was missing something, but there were only three other people there, all looking dazed. Two just sat on couches, smoking cigarettes and staring off into the distance. The other was reading a book out loud while a TNT movie sounded from the television.

Popcorn lay scattered on one of the many tables and posters of puppies and Frankenstein decorated the walls. Thousands of coffee can ashtrays littered the floor. Free coffee seemed to be available, but "no taking from fridge without permission." The question of the evening was, from whom do you get permission?

Upon reading a paper tacked to a bulletin board, a reference to a "Director" was made. Aha, there is someone in charge! There is an actual human who made the rules posted on a wall, including, "individuals are expected to clean up after themselves" and "no bumming for cigarettes or money."

It seemed a trifle odd that two teenage kids could just walk into this place, look around, and take a seat without receiving any type of greeting or questioning glances. But maybe that's where the philosophy behind Consequential Minds lies: don't ask why "individuals" are there. Indeed, what is the purpose of Consequential Minds, Inc.? The name seems misleading, but maybe the place is intended as a refuge for people's minds, thus helping their mental health.

Promptly at 8 o'clock on a Saturday night, everyone cleared out, no questions asked other than to sign your name on a sheet. So, the mystery of the place is still dancing in my mind, definitely not helping my mental health. I'll be returning there, for sure.