First let me start off by saying the following: There are no perfect people, just perfect intentions. What do i mean by that? I have talked to people I know who watched Dr. Phil's show, 'From Heroes to Monsters'. Dr. Phil's intentions were pure. He wanted to show that guys who were seen as monsters were human. I get that. I respect that. The goal of his show was to help destigmatize PTSD. I wish more people would get on TV and do that.
It's not the content of the show that I have an issue with. It's the way that it was advertised on TV in the run-up to the show airing. Once again, the media whores who only care about ratings sensationalized the content of the show, thinking it would increase viewership - and I'm sure it did. Here's what they failed to consider and what Dr. Phil should have:
Those are the major points. I could go on a typing rant, but I think the message would get lost. Here it is in a nut shell: YOU SCREWED UP, DR. PHIL. You forgot one of the cardinal rules of being a doctor. As a highly trained psychologist, he should have been aware of the sensitivity and volatility of discussing this issue. With that in mind, you should have done more to protect those who are stigmatized by this stereotype. Your advertising 'specialists' should be fired. The advertisement doesn't accurately depict the content or intent of the show. What I find most disappointing is that I can't imagine this hit the air without you knowing about it, Dr. Phil. If you didn't know about it, you should have. OK, I'm getting down off my soapbox now. I remind people again - there are no perfect people, just perfect intentions. While I detest how this turned out, I do recognize that his intentions were good. He has done so much to help people over the years that I am willing to forgive this - I just won't forget.
9 Comments
Cindy
4/21/2012 01:11:54 am
I did not see this show, but plan on looking it up online when I get a chance. I'm not sure if Phil chooses what is shown in advertisements?
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4/21/2012 01:27:18 am
Cindy,
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David
4/21/2012 02:31:28 am
The name on the show says "Dr. Phil!" that makes him responsible for the content, and promotion. Not the ad people, or the producers...Phil. Any negative effect from reinforcing the stigma via a marketing department is on Phil. I find eliminating people from my life that are dumb, shortsighted people who make judgements about something like PTSD from a commercial is actually good. So really, Dr Phil is giving you the opportunity to listen to a nutjob, in himself and his peanut brained followers, as means of accelerating the removal of assholes from your life....step 1 in PTSD recovery;)
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4/21/2012 03:39:29 am
David,
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Neil Swartz
4/21/2012 04:03:23 am
Dr. Phil does not have a license to practice mental health counseling in any state. He did have one in Illinois, but it was either taken from him or he did not renew one. He did have a license at one point.
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4/21/2012 04:12:04 am
Neil,
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Cindy
4/21/2012 02:44:42 pm
Yes, that is the link I needed! Thank you, Max! :)
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4/21/2012 03:40:18 pm
Great blog post. Did you look deeper into the book that his "expert PTSD panelist" was pimping out on the show? It was advice straight out of the Twilight Zone, including things like healing PTSD with mouthwash and chewing gum. I go into great detail here on my blog:
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Max HarrisAs I continue my life with PTSD, I will share my challenges and discoveries on this blog. Archives
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