{"id":148,"date":"2022-08-30T19:29:20","date_gmt":"2022-08-30T19:29:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/joebaker.me.uk\/joebaker\/?page_id=148"},"modified":"2026-03-13T19:43:07","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T19:43:07","slug":"about-joe-baker-confronting-abuse","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/joebaker.me.uk\/joebaker\/about-joe-baker-confronting-abuse\/","title":{"rendered":"About Joe Baker &#8211; Bio and Pledge to Confront Abuse"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"148\" class=\"elementor elementor-148\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"wpr-jarallax elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-03caa68 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-items-top elementor-section-content-top elementor-section-stretched wpr-jarallax-yes elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no wpr-equal-height-no\" speed-data=\"1.6\" bg-image=\"https:\/\/joebaker.me.uk\/joebaker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Venus-silhouette-6.png\" bg-image-mobile=\"\" scroll-effect=\"scroll\" data-id=\"03caa68\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-89b4d03\" data-id=\"89b4d03\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-24ad4c0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"24ad4c0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-92cf661 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"92cf661\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-xxl\">Hi, I'm Joe Baker<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aed3a22 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"aed3a22\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><strong>Freeing the Coils:<\/strong><\/h2><h2><em>One survivor&#8217;s journey from abuse to healing and empowerment.<\/em><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-a298df3 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no wpr-equal-height-no\" data-id=\"a298df3\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-312ad17\" data-id=\"312ad17\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c330525 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c330525\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"wp-image-1943 size-medium alignleft\" style=\"text-align: center;\" title=\"Snake is an unkind epithet. I use it because in cyberspace cold actors are like snakes.\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joebaker.me.uk\/joebaker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Book-Covers.jpg?resize=300%2C265&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"St Augustine's Sin - Why child abuse bedevils Christianity\" width=\"300\" height=\"265\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joebaker.me.uk\/joebaker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Book-Covers.jpg?w=2261&amp;ssl=1 2261w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joebaker.me.uk\/joebaker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Book-Covers.jpg?resize=300%2C265&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joebaker.me.uk\/joebaker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Book-Covers.jpg?resize=1024%2C903&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joebaker.me.uk\/joebaker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Book-Covers.jpg?resize=768%2C677&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joebaker.me.uk\/joebaker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Book-Covers.jpg?resize=1536%2C1355&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joebaker.me.uk\/joebaker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Book-Covers.jpg?resize=2048%2C1806&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joebaker.me.uk\/joebaker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Book-Covers.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/h4><h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">About the Author<\/span><\/h4><p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Joe Baker was raised a Roman Catholic by a devout Irish mother.\u00a0 He served as altar boy and chorister while attending faith schools in Ireland and England, where he encountered psychological and physical abuse.\u00a0 Later in life he was influenced by his atheist father, who had been alienated by the church when Joe was six years old.<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> For several years he worked as a technical author, compiling instruction guides and manuals.\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In the course of his career he had many articles published and in 2021 he released his first book.<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">With the Vatican decrying critics of the church as \u201cFriends of the Devil\u201d, he thought back to his schooldays.\u00a0 In his book he recalls the grovelling prayers of self-censure and remorse prescribed by St Augustine, a penitential ritual still practised in some British schools.\u00a0 Faith school i<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">nfants, below the age of criminal responsibility, are <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">marked sinful and spend lesson time chastising themselves for wrongdoings.<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Weighing his own religious background, t<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">he author <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">researches the negative influence of these dark mantras and makes a surprising discovery.\u00a0 He explores the possibility that <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">infant <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">stigmatism <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">and Christian<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">teaching on sinfulness <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">might play a role in child abuse and adult mental well-being.<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Contributor Lorna Graham, a schoolteacher for 26 years, brings the classroom to life, depicting her struggle to deliver a critically conscious, dialogic education to her pupils.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-65de194 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"65de194\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d51a11d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d51a11d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><img decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"alignright wp-image-289 size-medium\" title=\"Joe Baker endured 16 years of emotional abuse.\u00a0 He created this website to help others avoid pain.\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joebaker.me.uk\/joebaker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Joe-bust-e1686776721474-300x289.png?resize=300%2C289&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Writer, Joe Baker, created this website in 2022, to help others avoid his pain and suffering.\" width=\"300\" height=\"289\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joebaker.me.uk\/joebaker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Joe-bust-e1686776721474.png?resize=300%2C289&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joebaker.me.uk\/joebaker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Joe-bust-e1686776721474.png?w=642&amp;ssl=1 642w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p><h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Joe Baker in Private<\/span><\/h4><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Joe Baker&#8217;s life has been an intriguing journey.\u00a0 He graduated from Borough Polytechnic, now known as London South Bank University, with a BSc in mechanical engineering.\u00a0 While pursuing a career in freelance design, Joe pursued post-graduate studies in psychology, sociology, and counselling.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In 1979, he took a bold step and founded a business specialising in designing and building access security systems.\u00a0 The company flourished, earning several world patents in the process.<\/span><\/p><h5><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Life Change<\/span><\/h5><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tragedy struck in 2002 when Joe&#8217;s beloved wife, his teenage sweetheart, passed away suddenly.\u00a0 To add to his changing circumstances, his two lovely daughters married and ventured off to start their own families.\u00a0 Joe decided to sell his company and retire, to embrace a new chapter of life.\u00a0 (Ironically, the business thrived after his departure, much to his bemusement.)<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Retirement offered Joe the opportunity to indulge his passions, and he found new success in writing.\u00a0 He revels in our lovely countryside, enjoys sailing, dancing, choral singing, playing music, and honing his culinary skills.\u00a0 Notably, his cooking has garnered no complaints\u2014thankfully, not because no one survived his toothy adventures!<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-713bb75 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"713bb75\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><img decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-171\" style=\"text-align: center;\" title=\"Snake is an unkind epithet. I use it because in cyberspace cold actors are like snakes.\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joebaker.me.uk\/joebaker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Venus-silhouette-new-e1661891971337-159x300.png?resize=199%2C376&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Snake is an unkind epithet. I use it because in cyberspace cold actors are like snakes.\" width=\"199\" height=\"376\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joebaker.me.uk\/joebaker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Venus-silhouette-new-e1661891971337.png?resize=159%2C300&amp;ssl=1 159w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joebaker.me.uk\/joebaker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Venus-silhouette-new-e1661891971337.png?resize=544%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 544w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joebaker.me.uk\/joebaker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Venus-silhouette-new-e1661891971337.png?resize=816%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 816w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joebaker.me.uk\/joebaker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Venus-silhouette-new-e1661891971337.png?resize=1088%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 1088w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joebaker.me.uk\/joebaker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Venus-silhouette-new-e1661891971337.png?zoom=2&amp;resize=199%2C376&amp;ssl=1 398w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joebaker.me.uk\/joebaker\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Venus-silhouette-new-e1661891971337.png?zoom=3&amp;resize=199%2C376&amp;ssl=1 597w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 199px) 100vw, 199px\" \/><\/p><h4>\u00a0<\/h4><h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"text-align: center;\">E<\/span><span style=\"text-align: center;\">veryone is entitled to be treated with courtesy and respect by others, regardless of their situation.\u00a0 Civility is intrinsic to a civilised society.<\/span><\/span><\/h4><p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); text-align: center;\">From childhood we are taught to be &#8216;agreeable&#8217;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight );\">\u00a0and many of us are conditioned to feel culpable<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.\u00a0 This mind-set makes one potentially open to abuse.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight );\">Soft-hearted people seem particularly vulnerable<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); text-align: center;\">.\u00a0 Perhaps because they expect to see similar<\/span><\/span><span style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> warmth in everyone else; but that&#8217;s na\u00efve<\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); text-align: center;\">.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-66e312d elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"66e312d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-34fa929 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"34fa929\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Copyright \u00a9 2022.\u00a0 All Rights Reserved.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/joebaker.me.uk\/joebaker\/privacy-policy-2\/\"> <strong><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Privacy<\/span><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"> &amp; Ethics Policies<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f8c7fcf elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no wpr-equal-height-no\" data-id=\"f8c7fcf\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-54ae996\" data-id=\"54ae996\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-cc21901 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no wpr-equal-height-no\" data-id=\"cc21901\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-3104002\" data-id=\"3104002\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ccdd483 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ccdd483\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\"><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a style=\"color: #ccffff; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/joebaker.me.uk\/joebaker\/11449-2\/#:~:text=are%20marked%20*-,Comment,-Name%20*\">Contact the author here<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/span>, or share with your friends:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-078a07a\" data-id=\"078a07a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-91d1e4f elementor-grid-0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-wpr-sharing-buttons\" data-id=\"91d1e4f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"wpr-sharing-buttons.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wpr-sharing-buttons elementor-grid wpr-sharing-official wpr-sharing-label-off wpr-sharing-label-tr\"><div class=\"elementor-grid-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/joebaker.me.uk\/joebaker\/about-joe-baker-confronting-abuse\/\" class=\"wpr-sharing-icon wpr-sharing-facebook-f\" title=\"\" target=\"_blank\"><i class=\"fab fa-facebook-f\"><\/i><\/a><\/div><div class=\"elementor-grid-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https:\/\/joebaker.me.uk\/joebaker\/about-joe-baker-confronting-abuse\/\" class=\"wpr-sharing-icon wpr-sharing-twitter\" title=\"\" target=\"_blank\"><i class=\"fab fa-twitter\"><\/i><\/a><\/div><div class=\"elementor-grid-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https:\/\/joebaker.me.uk\/joebaker\/about-joe-baker-confronting-abuse\/&title=About Joe Baker &#8211; Bio and Pledge to Confront Abuse&summary=Hi, I&#8217;m Joe Baker Freeing the Coils: One survivor&#8217;s journey from abuse to healing and empowerment. About the Author Joe Baker was raised a Roman Catholic by a devout Irish mother.\u00a0 He served as altar boy and chorister while attending faith schools in Ireland and England, where he encountered psychological and physical abuse.\u00a0 Later in life he was influenced by his atheist father, who had been alienated by the church when Joe was six years old. For several years he worked as a technical author, compiling instruction guides and manuals.\u00a0 In the course of his career he had many articles published and in 2021 he released his first book. With the Vatican decrying critics of the church as \u201cFriends of the Devil\u201d, he thought back to his schooldays.\u00a0 In his book he recalls the grovelling prayers of self-censure and remorse prescribed by St Augustine, a penitential ritual still practised in some British schools.\u00a0 Faith school infants, below the age of criminal responsibility, are marked sinful and spend lesson time chastising themselves for wrongdoings. Weighing his own religious background, the author researches the negative influence of these dark mantras and makes a surprising discovery.\u00a0 He explores the possibility that infant stigmatism and Christian\u00a0teaching on sinfulness might play a role in child abuse and adult mental well-being. Contributor Lorna Graham, a schoolteacher for 26 years, brings the classroom to life, depicting her struggle to deliver a critically conscious, dialogic education to her pupils. Joe Baker in Private Joe Baker&#8217;s life has been an intriguing journey.\u00a0 He graduated from Borough Polytechnic, now known as London South Bank University, with a BSc in mechanical engineering.\u00a0 While pursuing a career in freelance design, Joe pursued post-graduate studies in psychology, sociology, and counselling. In 1979, he took a bold step and founded a business specialising in designing and building access security systems.\u00a0 The company flourished, earning several world patents in the process. Life Change Tragedy struck in 2002 when Joe&#8217;s beloved wife, his teenage sweetheart, passed away suddenly.\u00a0 To add to his changing circumstances, his two lovely daughters married and ventured off to start their own families.\u00a0 Joe decided to sell his company and retire, to embrace a new chapter of life.\u00a0 (Ironically, the business thrived after his departure, much to his bemusement.) Retirement offered Joe the opportunity to indulge his passions, and he found new success in writing.\u00a0 He revels in our lovely countryside, enjoys sailing, dancing, choral singing, playing music, and honing his culinary skills.\u00a0 Notably, his cooking has garnered no complaints\u2014thankfully, not because no one survived his toothy adventures! \u00a0 Everyone is entitled to be treated with courtesy and respect by others, regardless of their situation.\u00a0 Civility is intrinsic to a civilised society. From childhood we are taught to be &#8216;agreeable&#8217;\u00a0and many of us are conditioned to feel culpable.\u00a0 This mind-set makes one potentially open to abuse.\u00a0 Soft-hearted people seem particularly vulnerable.\u00a0 Perhaps because they expect to see similar warmth in everyone else; but that&#8217;s na\u00efve.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 Copyright \u00a9 2022.\u00a0 All Rights Reserved.\u00a0 Privacy &amp; Ethics Policies Contact the author here, or share with your friends:\u00a0\u00a0 Caution Personal accounts are transcribed verbatim from the author&#8217;s case history of real-life interactions.\u00a0 The behaviours described are individual and distinctive and may not be transferrable to other settings. Edit Template&source=https:\/\/joebaker.me.uk\/joebaker\/about-joe-baker-confronting-abuse\/\" class=\"wpr-sharing-icon wpr-sharing-linkedin-in\" title=\"\" target=\"_blank\"><i class=\"fab fa-linkedin-in\"><\/i><\/a><\/div><div class=\"elementor-grid-item\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=About Joe Baker &#8211; Bio and Pledge to Confront Abuse&body=https:\/\/joebaker.me.uk\/joebaker\/about-joe-baker-confronting-abuse\/\" class=\"wpr-sharing-icon wpr-sharing-envelope\" title=\"\" target=\"_blank\"><i class=\"fas fa-envelope\"><\/i><\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f076bb4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no 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.elementor-heading-title{font-size:var( --e-global-typography-primary-font-size );}.elementor-6754 .elementor-element.elementor-element-2d7e2cb5 .elementor-heading-title{font-size:35px;}.elementor-6754 .elementor-element.elementor-element-65be12bd > .elementor-element-populated{padding:25px 0px 0px 0px;}}<\/style>\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"section\" data-elementor-id=\"6754\" class=\"elementor elementor-6754\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-621431e2 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no wpr-equal-height-no\" data-id=\"621431e2\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-57937b6\" data-id=\"57937b6\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2d7e2cb5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2d7e2cb5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-small\">Caution<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7f9e0502 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"7f9e0502\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-65be12bd\" data-id=\"65be12bd\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-19c8ad94 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"19c8ad94\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Personal accounts are transcribed verbatim from the author&#8217;s case history of real-life interactions.\u00a0 The behaviours described are individual and distinctive and may not be transferrable to other settings.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<span class=\"wpr-template-edit-btn\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/joebaker.me.uk\/joebaker\/?elementor_library=footnote\">Edit Template<\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hi, I&#8217;m Joe Baker Freeing the Coils: One survivor&#8217;s journey from abuse to healing and empowerment. About the Author Joe Baker was raised a Roman Catholic by a devout Irish mother.\u00a0 He served as altar boy and chorister while attending faith schools in Ireland and England, where he encountered psychological and physical abuse.\u00a0 Later in life he was influenced by his atheist father, who had been alienated by the church when Joe was six years old. For several years he worked as a technical author, compiling instruction guides and manuals.\u00a0 In the course of his career he had many articles published and in 2021 he released his first book. With the Vatican decrying critics of the church as \u201cFriends of the Devil\u201d, he thought back to his schooldays.\u00a0 In his book he recalls the grovelling prayers of self-censure and remorse prescribed by St Augustine, a penitential ritual still practised in some British schools.\u00a0 Faith school infants, below the age of criminal responsibility, are marked sinful and spend lesson time chastising themselves for wrongdoings. Weighing his own religious background, the author researches the negative influence of these dark mantras and makes a surprising discovery.\u00a0 He explores the possibility that infant stigmatism and Christian\u00a0teaching on sinfulness might play a role in child abuse and adult mental well-being. Contributor Lorna Graham, a schoolteacher for 26 years, brings the classroom to life, depicting her struggle to deliver a critically conscious, dialogic education to her pupils. Joe Baker in Private Joe Baker&#8217;s life has been an intriguing journey.\u00a0 He graduated from Borough Polytechnic, now known as London South Bank University, with a BSc in mechanical engineering.\u00a0 While pursuing a career in freelance design, Joe pursued post-graduate studies in psychology, sociology, and counselling. In 1979, he took a bold step and founded a business specialising in designing and building access security systems.\u00a0 The company flourished, earning several world patents in the process. Life Change Tragedy struck in 2002 when Joe&#8217;s beloved wife, his teenage sweetheart, passed away suddenly.\u00a0 To add to his changing circumstances, his two lovely daughters married and ventured off to start their own families.\u00a0 Joe decided to sell his company and retire, to embrace a new chapter of life.\u00a0 (Ironically, the business thrived after his departure, much to his bemusement.) Retirement offered Joe the opportunity to indulge his passions, and he found new success in writing.\u00a0 He revels in our lovely countryside, enjoys sailing, dancing, choral singing, playing music, and honing his culinary skills.\u00a0 Notably, his cooking has garnered no complaints\u2014thankfully, not because no one survived his toothy adventures! \u00a0 Everyone is entitled to be treated with courtesy and respect by others, regardless of their situation.\u00a0 Civility is intrinsic to a civilised society. From childhood we are taught to be &#8216;agreeable&#8217;\u00a0and many of us are conditioned to feel culpable.\u00a0 This mind-set makes one potentially open to abuse.\u00a0 Soft-hearted people seem particularly vulnerable.\u00a0 Perhaps because they expect to see similar warmth in everyone else; but that&#8217;s na\u00efve.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 Copyright \u00a9 2022.\u00a0 All Rights Reserved.\u00a0 Privacy &amp; Ethics Policies Contact the author here, or share with your friends:\u00a0\u00a0 Caution Personal accounts are transcribed verbatim from the author&#8217;s case history of real-life interactions.\u00a0 The behaviours described are individual and distinctive and may not be transferrable to other settings. Edit Template<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-148","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/joebaker.me.uk\/joebaker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/148","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/joebaker.me.uk\/joebaker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/joebaker.me.uk\/joebaker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joebaker.me.uk\/joebaker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joebaker.me.uk\/joebaker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=148"}],"version-history":[{"count":768,"href":"https:\/\/joebaker.me.uk\/joebaker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/148\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12747,"href":"https:\/\/joebaker.me.uk\/joebaker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/148\/revisions\/12747"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/joebaker.me.uk\/joebaker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=148"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}