# Dr Phil, SHUT UP!
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-phil-shut-up/139472
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [November 29, 2002, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-phil-shut-up/139472 "2002-11-29T07:35:38Z")
**Posts on this page:** 11
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2002, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-phil-shut-up/139472/41 "2002-12-02T02:23:13Z")
Since you don’t watch, it makes sense that your opinion bears no relationship to the reality.
If you really paid any attention, you’d quickly learn that he most emphatically does not offer psychobabble, and speaks witheringly of it. His folksy sayings are amusing, they are not a subsitute for substance, which he offers alongside them.
If you really feel that you’ve got him all figured out, I’d be very interested to hear an example from you of a someone who has come on his show and received advice from him who would have been a good example of how wrong he is. Or do you not really know or believe he’s full of shit, you just find that his personality rubs you the wrong way? (Which is perfectly valid, I just dislike seeing misinformation spread.)
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### Author:  [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2002, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-phil-shut-up/139472/42 "2002-12-02T02:57:53Z")
When he started on Oprah, I did watch. Several times. Mostly because all these people were saying how wonderful he is. I didn’t see it. In one show, he was basically arguing with a man and I didn’t feel that he let the man adequately explain himself. Then, he went on “treating” the couple’s problem, applauded wildly by the audience, and I kept seeing a look of total frustration on the man’s face. I think he just gave up in front of the powerful Oprah, Phil, Oprah’s audience juggernaut. Sure, that’s what _I_ read into it. And sorry, I don’t have a cite to point you to, just my own recollection of one Oprah show among many.
I think I stated my biggest gripe in the non swearing part of my OP:
> [@](#):
>
> How can anyone think that they’re able to come to the crux of a problem after a five minute interview?
>
> If you have a problem that bad, get real help. Not a five minute fix.
That’s an opinion, sure. But this _is_ the Pit.
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### Author:  [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2002, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-phil-shut-up/139472/43 "2002-12-02T03:56:17Z")
Actually, it’s interesting you should return to exactly that, since I was going to address that.
What we see on TV is five minutes. In fact, they do hours and hours of interviews with these people, their families and friends. For each guest, they have a 60 to 80 page workbook of material that goes into great depth. In cases of serious problems like eating disorders and parental abuse (verbal), they are providing, free of charge, follow up care from professional psychotherapists. They are remarkably responsible in the way they handle their guests and their problems.
Which is miles more than one could say about Dr. Laura, for instance.
Phil McGraw can certainly be legitimately accused of being a bit abrasive. And his style is aboslutely a matter of personal taste. But when it comes to self-help-as-entertainment and whether there is value, he is without peer. The man knows his stuff backwards and forwards, and his point of view is terrific.
Personally, I’m thrilled he’s having such success, and I just hope he’s getting through to people, because what he has to say can do most people nothing but good.
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### Author:  [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2002, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-phil-shut-up/139472/44 "2002-12-02T04:57:52Z")
> [@](#):
>
> _originally posted by stoid_
>
> What we see on TV is five minutes. In fact, they do hours and hours of interviews with these people, their families and friends. For each guest, they have a 60 to 80 page workbook of material that goes into great depth. In cases of serious problems like eating disorders and parental abuse (verbal), they are providing, free of charge, follow up care from professional psychotherapists. They are remarkably responsible in the way they handle their guests and their problems.
I will concede that this may be true. (But I wonder just how you know…) If so, then “Bully for them!” (Free of charge? really? huh! How about that.) That does paint somewhat of a different picture.
As for his particular style, I find it grating. And treating problems in front of an audience seems like it would lose some of its effectiveness, since they are (perhaps) “putting on a show.” Does it?
As for Dr. Laura, well, see my OP. She’s not as annoying, style wise. But, I don’t see that that entire genre of shows is actually helpful. Whether on TV or radio. Color me a skeptic, that’s my take.
Other’s people’s problems as entertainment is not entertainment to me.
You make some good points, **stoid** , but
> [@](#):
>
> You don’t need the Big Bang Theory to make out with somebody’s platypus.
;j
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### Author:  [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2002, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-phil-shut-up/139472/45 "2002-12-02T05:06:55Z")
Well, glad to see you have an open mind about it.
And I know because I am a huge fan of his, in case that wasn’t obvious. I watch the show almost every day, I watched him regularly on Oprah, and I’ve read a couple of his books. (Tried the last, didn’t care for it. The first one was absolutely fantastic, however. Oughta be required reading for everybody.)
My fandom is not a result of my feeling he has offered me some great new information I never had before. Being a longtime student of “self-help” and having had many years of therapy, that’s not likely to happen. I’m a fan because I find him very entertaining and because I love seeing what I believe to be the truth put out there to a large audience.
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### Author:  [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2002, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-phil-shut-up/139472/46 "2002-12-02T05:19:38Z")
Yeah, a case of a **YMMV** debate if ever I was involved in one.
But, who am I gonna bash now?!?
Stick around, I’m highly exiteable. 😃
Later, **Stoid**. Thanks for the site cite, **BeagleDave**.
I’m off to sleep. Maybe I’ll have Kafka dreams…
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### Author:  [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2002, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-phil-shut-up/139472/47 "2002-12-02T06:02:51Z")
You don’t need broken fingers to staple your lips together.
I think those are words to live by: violent, disturbing, machine-generated, and completely random.
Don’t like your boss? Remember that him not breaking your fingers isn’t stopping you from performing bizarre, pointless acts of self-mutilation.
Got a fifty-dollar-a-day gopher porn habit? Never forget that even if Vinnie “The Squid” Dagoomba breaks both your kneecaps, you can still silence your screams forever, massive digital damage or no.
Besides, chickenwalking suits you. It goes with your neck.
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### Author:  [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2002, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-phil-shut-up/139472/48 "2002-12-02T06:06:00Z")
The _very next quote_: You don’t need lead poisoning to shock the monkey.
Yes, even non-tards can fry themselves up a heapin’ helpin’ of fried simian. All ya need is a car battery and a chainlink net.
If I’m a freak, the SDMB is an enabler.
Fly, my pretties! Find me another bizarre, disturbing side of human culture!
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### Author:  [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2002, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-phil-shut-up/139472/49 "2002-12-02T06:09:51Z")
My last one. I promise.
“You don’t need a bad credit rating to live in a van down by the river.”
… but it sure does help!
“My name is **Derleth** , and I …
[list=A]
[li]live in a van down by the river.”[/li][li]am an SDMB Freak."[/li][/list]Take your pick.
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### Author:  [@CRorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CRorex)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2002, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-phil-shut-up/139472/50 "2002-12-02T15:33:52Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by CzechMaster401k \*
> \*\*It’s “Usul.”
>
> For that mistake we will take your water as a gift to the tribe from Shai-Hulud. \*\*
Arrg no more Frank Herbert! (I reread the dune series AGAIN this weekend)
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### Author:  [@syncrolecyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/syncrolecyne)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2002, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-phil-shut-up/139472/51 "2002-12-02T20:35:57Z")
Well Dr. Phil must be doing something right. I see that black lady he had on his former show now is hosting her own.
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