Dr Phil

Dr Phil is on TV again, using big words like “maturity” and “responsibility”, and talking about relationships. I like Dr Phil; he’s charismatic, compassionate and assertive with the people who come on his show. He doesn’t take crap from them, and calls them on their blind spots when they try to spin some story on him. But I can’t help wondering about the people who agree to go on the program. There is something voyeuristic about watching another person’s personal problems being aired before a mass audience, and surely something exhibitionist about wanting to go on the program.

Some of the people are clearly at their wit’s end and don’t know what else to do; perhaps they think that going on Dr Phil and exposing the lies and the secrecy that keeps them bound will release them from whatever is keeping them trapped. And maybe it does; but not everyone … Continue reading…