# OH THE HORROR! Is this some sick joke? What have you done to these poor children? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 30, 2007, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-the-horror-is-this-some-sick-joke-what-have-you-done-to-these-poor-children/413711 "2007-07-30T17:32:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![LVgeogeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b19c9b/32.png) [@LVgeogeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LVgeogeek)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2007, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-the-horror-is-this-some-sick-joke-what-have-you-done-to-these-poor-children/413711/181 "2007-08-07T22:00:16Z")
These photos are creepy and horrifying. I can’t imagine actually paying someone to mangle photos of my child… that is if I had a child, but still. ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2007, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-the-horror-is-this-some-sick-joke-what-have-you-done-to-these-poor-children/413711/182 "2007-08-13T18:46:41Z")
I’ve been fascinated/horrified by these pictures since **Arnold** posted the first links. I do a good amount of retouching in Photoshop myself and I can’t even imagine how to use the program to create these monstrosities. What is “facial powder added” anyway? I know of no “facial powder” filter in PS. And those eyes! They’re straight out of a horror movie. Even if they weren’t dead-doll eyes, the “artiste” has no skill whatsoever at even whitening them in a natural-looking manner. Nobody has snow-bright-white corneas. And it’s so easy to do a few simple things that will really enhance a photograph without making the subject look sickeningly plasticized; how can any of these parents look at these and think their child is at all attractive? They all look like something that’s going to come to life at night and stab you to death. Has anyone written to this woman and told her her “art” sucks? ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2007, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-the-horror-is-this-some-sick-joke-what-have-you-done-to-these-poor-children/413711/183 "2007-08-13T18:54:46Z")
OH my god. Just clicked through a few links from a post above and came across this: [http://www.thephotoenhancer.com/example3.htm](http://www.thephotoenhancer.com/example3.htm) What have they done to that first girl? This ought to be illegal. And from the bottom of the page: “The photo examples above were seen on the November 22nd and March 11th of 2006 episodes of Dr. Phil.” If this woman is announcing they were featured on his show, it had to be a complimentary segment on them, right? And this man is a doctor? A _psychiatrist_, no less? What a fawning repulsive sell-out. I bet he’ll do another show, or has already, about the psychological impact on a young girl of being made to dress like a two dollar whore and pimp herself out on the child beauty-pageant circuit. Ick. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2007, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-the-horror-is-this-some-sick-joke-what-have-you-done-to-these-poor-children/413711/184 "2007-08-13T21:38:42Z")
[QUOTE=missbunny] And from the bottom of the page: “The photo examples above were seen on the November 22nd and March 11th of 2006 episodes of Dr. Phil.” If this woman is announcing they were featured on his show, it had to be a complimentary segment on them, right? And this man is a doctor? A _psychiatrist_, no less? What a fawning repulsive sell-out. I bet he’ll do another show, or has already, about the psychological impact on a young girl of being made to dress like a two dollar whore and pimp herself out on the child beauty-pageant circuit. Ick. [/QUOTE] Based on what I can find on the Dr. Phil website for both [March](http://www.drphil.com/shows/archive/?date=2006-03) (wherein the 11th was on a Saturday, btw) and [November](http://www.drphil.com/shows/archive/?date=2006-11), neither those dates, nor any other date in either of those months seems to have featured those photos, so I’d say the website seems to be lying. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2007, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-the-horror-is-this-some-sick-joke-what-have-you-done-to-these-poor-children/413711/185 "2007-08-13T21:51:31Z")
[QUOTE=Shayna] Based on what I can find on the Dr. Phil website for both [March](http://www.drphil.com/shows/archive/?date=2006-03) (wherein the 11th was on a Saturday, btw) and [November](http://www.drphil.com/shows/archive/?date=2006-11), neither those dates, nor any other date in either of those months seems to have featured those photos, so I’d say the website seems to be lying. [/QUOTE] There’s some stuff here: > **[Videos | Official Website | Dr. Phil](https://www.drphil.com/videos)** > > Dive into a library of Dr. Phil's videos featuring psychological advice, intriguing guests, and captivating stories. Engage with the mind of an expert And here: > **[Videos | Official Website | Dr. Phil](https://www.drphil.com/videos)** > > Dive into a library of Dr. Phil's videos featuring psychological advice, intriguing guests, and captivating stories. Engage with the mind of an expert I’m not sure I’d want to advertise that if I were her. It’s pretty funny that one of the little girls is named Regan, though. How appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-the-horror-is-this-some-sick-joke-what-have-you-done-to-these-poor-children/413711/186 "2007-08-14T00:37:09Z")
Thanks for the links; it seems I have unfairly maligned Dr. Phil. From the transcripts he seemed as horrified at those pictures as anyone here. The word he used several times was “creepy.” ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-the-horror-is-this-some-sick-joke-what-have-you-done-to-these-poor-children/413711/187 "2007-08-14T00:41:34Z")
[QUOTE=missbunny] Thanks for the links; it seems I have unfairly maligned Dr. Phil. From the transcripts he seemed as horrified at those pictures as anyone here. The word he used several times was “creepy.” [/QUOTE] Could you link the transcripts here, or point to them please? ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-the-horror-is-this-some-sick-joke-what-have-you-done-to-these-poor-children/413711/188 "2007-08-14T02:27:54Z")
They are in cher3’s link: for instance, click on [Videos | Official Website | Dr. Phil](http://drphil.com/shows/show/432) - then click on the “Is all that glitters really gold?” in the first story, and you’ll get a pop-up with a transcript (probably not a full exact transcript) of that segment. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-the-horror-is-this-some-sick-joke-what-have-you-done-to-these-poor-children/413711/189 "2007-08-14T08:07:56Z")
Holy shit! Sorry, excuse me. I’ll be back later. Gotta puke. ---
**Author:** ![Bootis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e8c25b/32.png) [@Bootis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootis)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-the-horror-is-this-some-sick-joke-what-have-you-done-to-these-poor-children/413711/190 "2007-08-14T12:26:09Z")
[QUOTE=missbunny] I’ve been fascinated/horrified by these pictures since **Arnold** posted the first links. I do a good amount of retouching in Photoshop myself and I can’t even imagine how to use the program to create these monstrosities. [/QUOTE] Me too. I decided to try making my own. It’s actually not difficult at all! Here is my [Wedding Photo Retouched](http://s200.photobucket.com/albums/aa39/bootis123/?action=view¤t=WeddingRetouched.jpg) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-the-horror-is-this-some-sick-joke-what-have-you-done-to-these-poor-children/413711/191 "2007-08-14T12:39:07Z")
[QUOTE=LVgeogeek] These photos are creepy and horrifying. I can’t imagine actually paying someone to mangle photos of my child… that is if I had a child, but still. [/QUOTE] Somewhere there’s a [Chucky Doll](http://www.grudge-match.com/Images/chucky.jpg) thats masturbating like a motherfuck… ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-the-horror-is-this-some-sick-joke-what-have-you-done-to-these-poor-children/413711/192 "2007-08-14T14:03:54Z")
[QUOTE=Bootis] Me too. I decided to try making my own. It’s actually not difficult at all! Here is my [Wedding Photo Retouched](http://s200.photobucket.com/albums/aa39/bootis123/?action=view¤t=WeddingRetouched.jpg)/QUOTE] Funny! Now your wedding is an episode of Robot Chicken. So many of the retouched photos creep me out because of the implicit sexualizing of the imagery. It’s like the retoucher just turned up the Skank setting to 11. Now my darling little daughter looks like an inflate-a-date! “Mindy? Would you show the jury with this doll where he retouched you?” ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-the-horror-is-this-some-sick-joke-what-have-you-done-to-these-poor-children/413711/193 "2007-08-14T14:34:34Z")
[QUOTE=Cervaise] I don’t know, has anybody actually _seen_ these kids since the photo session? [/QUOTE] Sure. Allatime. On milk cartons. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-the-horror-is-this-some-sick-joke-what-have-you-done-to-these-poor-children/413711/194 "2007-08-14T14:44:05Z")
[QUOTE=Bootis] Here is my [Wedding Photo Retouched](http://s200.photobucket.com/albums/aa39/bootis123/?action=view¤t=WeddingRetouched.jpg) [/QUOTE] I love “dog improved.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-the-horror-is-this-some-sick-joke-what-have-you-done-to-these-poor-children/413711/195 "2007-08-14T14:46:10Z")
I’ve never watched the “Chucky” movies; my first association was something else entirely [with apologies to the filmmakers]: “Sometimes that retouched-photo girl she looks right into ya. Right into your eyes. And, you know, the thing about a retouched glamour girl… she’s got lifeless eyes. Unnaturally blue eyes. Like a doll’s eyes. When she comes at ya, doesn’t seem to be living… until she bites ya, and those blue eyes roll over white and then… ah then you hear that terrible high-pitched screamin’…” That, and a porned-up, Southern-fried-kitsch version of “Children of the Damned”. Ick and double ick. ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-the-horror-is-this-some-sick-joke-what-have-you-done-to-these-poor-children/413711/196 "2007-08-14T18:11:47Z")
[QUOTE=Hypno-Toad] “Mindy? Would you show the jury with this doll where he retouched you?” [/QUOTE] 😃 > [@The Scrivener](#): > > “Sometimes that retouched-photo girl she looks right into ya. Right into your eyes. And, you know, the thing about a retouched glamour girl… she’s got lifeless eyes. Unnaturally blue eyes. Like a doll’s eyes. When she comes at ya, doesn’t seem to be living… until she bites ya, and those blue eyes roll over white and then… ah then you hear that terrible high-pitched screamin’…” Brilliant! You’ve inspired me. [Da-DUH . . . Da-DUH](http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y285/ChristineLynne/ocean1_f.jpg?t=1187115045) ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-the-horror-is-this-some-sick-joke-what-have-you-done-to-these-poor-children/413711/197 "2007-08-14T18:21:57Z")
Same here, **Scrivener** – every time I read “added doll’s eyes” in one of the descriptions, it’s [Quint’s monologue](http://www.whysanity.net/monos/jaws.html) that comes to mind. ---
**Author:** ![LVgeogeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b19c9b/32.png) [@LVgeogeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LVgeogeek)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-the-horror-is-this-some-sick-joke-what-have-you-done-to-these-poor-children/413711/198 "2007-08-14T21:06:46Z")
[QUOTE=Unauthorized Cinnamon] 😃 Brilliant! You’ve inspired me. [Da-DUH . . . Da-DUH](http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y285/ChristineLynne/ocean1_f.jpg?t=1187115045) [/QUOTE] Sort of reminds me of Clash of the Titans 😃 ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2007, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-the-horror-is-this-some-sick-joke-what-have-you-done-to-these-poor-children/413711/199 "2007-08-16T01:26:01Z")
**Bootis** -that’s brilliant! And I love the kitty whore (my fav part is the hat-the bird feathers are a nice feral touch…meow!) This is just sick. These are beautiful, healthy children–they need no photo enhancement (not that unhealthy kids do, either). Bridal photos I can understand–to remove red eye or whatever, but this is nasty shit. Who buys this crap? Not even my MIL (who is the queen of unfun, uncool tacky shite) has these type of pics. At what level of vulgarity does one have to be to consider these as tasteful or desirable? They all look like Furga dolls to me. [here](http://fabfurgadolls.tripod.com/fabulousefurgadolls/id19.html) My sister used to collect Furga dolls. Talk about life imitating art (in a sick way). ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2007, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-the-horror-is-this-some-sick-joke-what-have-you-done-to-these-poor-children/413711/200 "2007-08-16T01:31:38Z")
[QUOTE=Push You Down] …it reminds me of the New Twilight Zone episode where a woman feels compelled to go to the mall late at night to buy a doll… only to discover tht she herself is actually a mannequin and that each mannequin gets one year of real life before having to retun to the mall… I’m just saying that for some reason this remind me of that episode. [/QUOTE] Sorry for the double post, but I had no memory of that episode until now–THAT is the show that gave me nightmares for years! And now I’ll have those dreams again–but in full technicolor and mutant Furga children chasing me… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-the-horror-is-this-some-sick-joke-what-have-you-done-to-these-poor-children/413711.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-the-horror-is-this-some-sick-joke-what-have-you-done-to-these-poor-children/413711.md?page=11)