Dr. Phil Launches Vicious Verbal Assault on TV'S "Nannies".

[A-Schwarzenegger]

Dr. Phil McGraw, renowned guru on all matters human, yesterday
launched an extraordinary tongue-lashing against his rivals in the
televised domestic expert business, the "nannies" and "supernannies"
of two other networks.

McGraw was in the middle of an interview with a troubled couple
whose eleven children had literally taken over their household,
refusing to obey any parental commands and commencing a sit-in
protest with other neighborhood children until their demands
were met, including as much candy and TV as they wanted. This
brought a chuckle from the audience but the parents appeared
to be serious. MSNBC researchers were working to determine if
their blog sources for the unnamed city in question could confirm
this story of the protesting children.

In any case, McGraw was clearly beside himself listening to
the parents' pitiable tale, even looking at himself several
times, but he had managed to hold his tongue until the mother
said that she had tried the "naughty corner" with her children
but that they wouldn't all fit in the corner on the "naughty rug."

"Didn't work, huh?" said McGraw. "The 'naughty corner' didn't work.
Where'd you hear about this 'naughty corner.'"

"On the TV," the father said. "The Nanny show."

"Oh, the Nanny show," said McGraw. "Well, then it must be a good
idea if you heard it on the Nanny show on TV. Well, let me tell
you, not only didn't it work, it is a technique that can scar a
child for life. Labeling a child as 'naughty' can lead to a
ruined sense of self-worth and self-esteem and result in an
adult individual who spends his time and energy pursuing tawdry
goals at best and criminal ones at worst. This is the kind of
travesty that can happen when you let a bunch of amateurs run
rampant on TV giving poor parents like you advice that you have
no idea how bad it is or what disasters can result. 'Naughty
corner, indeed.'"

The parents' jaws hung open in disbelief and the audience fell
silent in the face of McGraw's attack on the British nannies, who
had previously been seen as sweet and good-hearted helpers in
the households of America and the world, where their advice and
hope for beleaguered parents is translated into 34 languages and
dialects in 124 countries.

After the show, McGraw was questioned in the parking lot as he
tried to sign autographs and unlock the sticky door of his car.
"I tell it like it is," he said. "If the nannies don't like it,
they can sue me. They're a bunch of amateur English know-nothings
that are just devastating the self-esteem of millions of children
around the world with their atrocious labeling activities. Frankly,
they're a bunch of windbags and buttinskis who should stay in their
own damn country. And if they don't like iut, they know where to find me."

NBC, the network which carries the Dr. Phil show, had no comment.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8056360/

[davidinalameda]

1. looks like someone needs to go the naughty corner himself

what a git

[AspenRose]

76. LOL! Good one

AND FOR LONGER THAN one minute for each year of his age!

:rofl:

[ComerPerro]

2. From a doctor who goes by his first name

LMAO.

Well, then it must be a good
idea if you heard it on the Nanny show on TV.

Funny. I agree. But then again, that's also what I say about Dr. Phil.

[Spazito]

10. Exactly!

"Dr. Phil" is just ticked because he has competition, must be hurting his ratings.

[elehhhhna]

46. He later told Mom & Dad he's send someone to their house to

"help establish a schedule", etc.

EXACTLY what the nannies do!

[ComerPerro]

47. LMAO

[XanaDUer]

3. Dr. P. foists his 20-something year-old-son off

as some kind of expert on teenagers, so what is his beef with the nannies?

[NC Beach Girl]

92. Exactly!

He had his kid all over his show last year, travelling to schools and giving out advice. Oh...and of course, writing a book!! What were his qualifications to help teens? His father is Dr. Phil?

[Justitia]

4. Oh that's rich. "Dr. Phil" cracking on "amateur" TV nannies - LOL! -eom

[Vincardog]

111. What is rich is Dr. Butinski btchn bout windbags and buttinskis

LMAO

[quiet.american]

5. I don't know -- on the other hand....

You have tongue-tied parents whose four-and-five-year-olds seem to be raising them.

The average parent I see on the street today imposes no sense of discipline on the child, provides no guidelines as to appropriate behavior, i.e., swinging from monkey bars on the playground is fine, swinging from the overhead handrail on a moving bus is not, and allows the child to rudely address them to their heart's content.

Maybe "Nannie's" isn't the best option, but not too sure about Dr. Phil, either.

[GoldenOldie]

14. Dr. Phil lost me when he did the serial episodes of

the family with pregnant teenage daughter, with a younger teenage sister who resented all the attention given to the wayward sister. A mother who was in conflict of standing beside her pregnant daughter, resentful younger daughter, and the cheating husband.

Dr. Phil played this family ad-naseum, through the decisions of whether to keep the baby, keep the husband, keep the promiscuous daughter. Family therapy worked, it didn't work, it did work, it didn't work......Dr. Phil worked this family until this families problems could be milked no longer.

Give me the Nannies any day over Dr Phil & Family Therapy Corporation.

[LostinVA]

58. Jo Frost's book and show handles all of this

She believes in setting a schedule and boundaries for kids, giving them praise and quality play/together time, having them exercise and eat healthy, show respect for EVERYONE, etc. She's A-Ok in my book.

[lady lib]

6. He's an idiot. Period.

Let's see the real world results of his approach vs. the nannies'.

[Tracer]

7. I've never watched the simpering, sanctimonius Dr. Phil, but ...

... I HAVE caught Supernanny several times.

The nanny (Jo) has a marvelous, loving yet strict, way with children and in short order, has taught the clueless PARENTS how to interact with the kids.

It's quite educating to see that 99.9% of the childrens' behavior problems are due to the parents' ignorance, anger, stubbornness, and marital discord.

[BillZBubb]

11. The Nannies understand honest communication.

They get the parents to talk to the children at their eye level and to remain calm, but firm. No shouting, no violence. They instill mutual respect. There is no better advice.

Dr. Phil is a jealous twit. And clueless as always.

[KurtNYC]

86. I agree and Dr. Phil got it wrong

The child isn't labeled naughty -- the "bee-hay-yor" is! How many times do they say on one of those Nanny shows:

That behavior is unacceptable.

Seems like Dr. Phil's ability to retain information is lacking. How could anyone who has seen one of those shows forget that sentence?

And of course this is the same guy who has sold millions of weight loss books. Mark Twain parodied this kind of person when he quipped "Nothing so needs reformin' as other people's habits"

[Lars39]

8. Being anywhere near Dr Phil can scar you for life.

The man is a fecking idiotic bully.

[AlCzervik]

9. I think Dr. Phil is just pissed because someones cutting into his business

I really can't stand him and eagerly await the skeleton in his closet to go public and get a book deal. Same thing with Hannity, it'll happen it's just a matter of when.

[alphafemale]

12. Wait a minute.... he labled a kid as having "Serial Killer" warning signs

on national TV and he thinks calling poor behavior "Naughty" is damaging?

:silly:
Silly Philly!

[smoogatz]

18. Saw that. Good call.

And this guy calling ANYbody else a windbag has got to be the definitive case of the pot/kettle/black thing. Sheesh.

[Enraged_Ape]

26. Ooh. Touché.

That's gotta hurt.

I've accidentally caught the guy on TV several times and I've never heard him give one bit of constructive advice to anyone. Basically, his entire shtick is to describe, in detail, the problem that the person has already come to him with. He adds nothing to it.

He's one of the biggest, most useless blowhards on TV.

[LostinVA]

60. He is also horribly, horribly sexist, verging on misogynistic n/t

[Taverner]

100. But he did not say that to the kids face

There is a difference

Jeez...I can't beleive I'm defending Dr Phil!

[Just Me]

13. *giggle*,..."windbags and buttinskis",... funny.

[grace0418]

102. Hello Mr. Kettle? I have Mr. Pot on line one...

He says "You're black."

[Canadiana]

15. I loath Dr. Phil.

He and his bobble-head wife are just so annoying. I love nanny Jo! She has a really wonderful repore with the children and families she works with.

My favourite Dr. Phil moment, that my friend and I always make fun of, is when he was talking about drinking. (We are college students and enjoy our partying...while still being very studious lol). Phil said "My son doesn't drink...and he is just Jo-Cool if yah ask me"
looorrrrrrddddd

[smoogatz]

16. "Labeling" and "self-esteem"

I read a study not long ago which concluded that kids with high self esteem do no better than kids with low self esteem in school--but of course the high esteem kids feel better about their mediocrity. I see the effects of all this wonderful self esteem in my classroom here at the U--more and more smug, snarky, entitled, intellectually lazy students who want to negotiate every assignment. Give me a kid with a bit of self-doubt any day.

[Enraged_Ape]

28. My mother is a teacher and she's said the exact same thing

High self-esteem with no grounds for it is worse (and more dangerous) than a low self-esteem with plenty of accomplishment and performance behind it. GWB is a perfect example of this.

I think we need to encourage children to be the best people they can be, not just think they are.

[Dora]

17. Oh, for cripes sake!

Get the goddamn TV out of the house!

somebody shoot me. Our culture is dead.

[smoogatz]

22. Corporate, mass-produced culture, you mean.

There's plenty of real culture out there, for those who care to do a little bit of legwork.

[Texas_Kat]

107. Thanks for that!

I can't believe anybody takes any of this idiot shows seriously.

[aintitfunny]

19. Phil Should really get a grip.

What a dunder-head. Before he came along I held Oprah in fairly
high esteem. But she was the one who "found" Dr. Phil, thereby launching him on the world. Major screw up.

[gratuitous]

20. "The Nation" had a story about the nanny shows

And the reviewer had many of the same critiques that Dr. Phil has. There were some obvious points of agreement: Most of the parents on the shows have no idea whatsoever about how to raise kids, and practically any system is better than no system. I've never watched any of those shows, but the article said the nannies are disciplinarians who teach the parents how to run their children without regard to helping the children learn how to express their feelings appropriately, interact appropriately, etc. The end result is solely Skinnerian behavior modification without any work on the child's self actualization.

Our society does a very poor job of helping each other until something is completely wrecked. Then we might get a social agency intervention, but more likely, we just lock up bad actors in prison, cluck our tongues about the horrible tragedy, and blithely continue on our way until the next inevitable breakdown.

[UdoKier]

25. The Nanny Shows are EXCELLENT.

I like "Supernanny" in particular. They have helped DOZENS of families to break the patterns of screaming at unruly kids and kids not really understanding what's expected of them. They have helped formulate customized daily routines which are a huge help in keeping kids focused and feeling secure. They most certainly do help make the kids understand what ways of self-expression are appropriate and inappropriate.

And to expect harried, overworked parents to "work on the child's self actualization" is a tall order indeed. I would wager that many thousands off families who have tried the strategies on these shows have had great success and broken patterns of verbal abuse by using them.

The technique of getting to the child's eye level and speaking to them in a calm tone just on it's own was a revelation to me. That alone has made a huge difference with our kids.

There are a lot of good books out there too, but sometimes seeing different techniques actually put into use is a much bigger help.

"Our society does a very poor job of helping each other until something is completely wrecked."

So why rag on these shows for trying to help people out with what is a very tough job?

I was shocked to find that there was actually a CONSTRUCTIVE show on TV, as opposed to all the "reality" crap that's on today...

[UdoKier]

27. delete

nt

[Arugula Latte]

31. I like the Nannies as well.

They don't seem to label the children as naughty, they label certain behavior as such. They are also loving and encourge that in the parents and children. They also help foster communication so the kids talk things out with the parents instead of everything just deteriorating into a screaming match.

[AspenRose]

81. Clearly Dr. Phil, for all his "sage wisdom," can't tell the difference

between assigning a place for "naughty" behavior and labelling a child. I'm with you.

In the technique the parent is supposed to ask the child if they know why they are being reprimanded....the emphasis is on the child's behavior, not on labelling them. Love the child, but discipline for the wrong behavior. DUH!

Phil is running scared because Jo Frost is popular and makes sense. And calling the nannies names makes him look oh-so-mature, I tell ya.

:sarcasm:

[Enraged_Ape]

109. Bingo. Bad behavior is bad behavior...period.

But I have never heard the nannies call a child "naughty". It's only the behavior that's "naughty", and the nannies make it clear that "naughty" behavior has unpleasant consequences, up to and including a momentary time-out in the (GASP) "naughty corner". Remember when they used to HIT kids for things?

I think the nannies work extremely well with the children and the parents. The kids are better behaved and truly seem to miss the nannies terribly when it's time for them to leave. It's all about setting up structure for the kids, defining and setting up boundaries for their behavior, and talking to them on their level. Big freaking deal.

If Dr. Phil doesn't get it, he's an idiot. And he is.

[shrike]

33. "The Nannies" sound a lot like my stepdaughter

who has wonderful, smart, well-behaved kids. Her boys are also rambunctious and full of life; they just know how and when to tone it down. (I've never seen the TV shows, BTW.)

She says, "If you want to raise a kid, you have to be smarter than the kid." You have to "out-think" them, she said. OTOH, she spends a lot of time explaining to the kids why she makes them do things a certain way, and why it's important to behave well in social situations.

She also thinks that parents scream and yell because they're frustrated, not because the kids acting up; they want to make them behave but don't know how.

[Fleshdancer]

39. I agree. Plus, when it comes to the "naughty corner"...

Super nanny always tells the parents to first explain to the child calmly that if they continue to do whatever negative behavior they're in the middle of doing, then they will go to the naughty corner. The child is also told why their actions or words are wrong during the warning. If they continue their behavior, then they go to the corner and the parent calmly tells them why they are there.

Dr. Phil made it out like parents were suddenly calling their child naughty without any warning or excuse. Sure, randomly calling your kid names isn't good for their self esteem, but that's not the situation on the Nanny shows. Teaching kids that their actions have consequences is an important part of the whole parenting job and to make this couple feel as if they were hurting their kids is ridiculous.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

40. I think they could call it the "Good Children Corner,"

and then tell the child that they are turning good by sitting
there, and that only a very evil child wouldn't want to turn good
by sitting in the "Good Children Corner."

[elehhhhna]

49. uh, that's called "Church".

[A-Schwarzenegger]

53. LOFL!

[Fleshdancer]

55. how about "free pass straight to heaven chair"

we can tell kids that this is the only way to get to heaven and if they don't do what they're told, they'll burn in the flaming depths of hell. That should be good for their self-esteem right?? lol

[mongo]

59. back in the 80's we called it a time out

a proven technique for bringing your kids back into control.

[elehhhhna]

48. The Nannies also encourage the kids to "Use your words"

and talk about their anger, frustration, whatever.

Dr. Fool's a moran.

[LostinVA]

66. And afterward, they get "cuddles and kisses" from their parents

I like how she stresses play and together time FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY, whether it's going to the park, playing games, coloring, etc.

And, when that yob-in-the-making kid in England threw a huge cinder block at her, she stood her ground and didn't even blink while it sailed past her head.

I think I love her.

[AngryAmish]

96. Great post!

I love the nanny shows, too. I am very suprised by the bad behavior of many kids nowadays. The show does seem helpful.

[LostinVA]

63. This is so not true! At least on "Supernanny"!

She encourages children to tell "Mummy & Daddy" what they feel, and how things that are said and done make them feel. She pushes mutual respect between ALL parties. On one show, she had an older boy about 11 who felt left out, because his parents were so busy with the younger kids. So, Nanny Jo had him write feelings/questions, etc. down, then have a daily tete-a-tete with his parents after the little kids had went to bed. They discussed his day, and his thoughts and feelings about things concerning the family, school, etc. I thought it was great.

Plus, Jo Frost is kinda cute!

[IrateCitizen]

87. That Nation story on the nannies was a complete crock of s**t...

The author of it voiced objection that one of the things that the Nannies advocated was introducing order and structure into your kids' lives. He said it like he thought order and structure were a BAD thing. :wtf:

Order and structure in children's lives does not come at the expense of creativity and free thinking. In fact, in most instances, I would say that it helps facilitate creativity and free thinking, because it helps establish boundaries for the child to work in.

That Nation article was one of the worst articles they've put in their pages in some time, IMHO. And I'm a regular subscriber who looks forward to every issue.

[elehhhhna]

125. Even Michaelangelo had specs, requirements, and, yes, limitations.

which were defined by the Sistine Chapel's size, shape, etc., plus any other things the Pope threw in. Creativity NEVER happens in a vacuum.

[Malikshah]

98. Then the Nation got it WRONG

The nannies on these shows spend a lot of time on getting the children to express their feelings. If anything the disciplinarian tactics are used more on the parents than the children.

The writer from the Nation better get a clue as for Dr. Phil-- he's a lost cause

[Pacifist Patriot]

101. Have you read any Joseph Chilton Pearce?

[gratuitous]

103. Wow, sorry to ruffle so many feathers

The nannies are apparently saints in earthly garb, not authoritarian at all, and never, ever merely Skinnerian behaviorists, being at all times and in all circumstances paragons of pedagogic advice.

See how impossible it is to argue with capital letters, obscenities and insults? No wonder the corrupt Bush administration's defenders prefer that to substantive rebuttal. Guess I was just being absurd.

[IrateCitizen]

110. No, you weren't being absurd -- but the author of the Nation article was.

Actually, I really like Nanny Deb on Nanny 911, but I'd hardly take the show as a panacea for everything that might ail a family. Rather, it should be viewed for what it is -- an hour-long show that can help parents find better behavior-modification strategies.

And yes, I said behavior modification strategies, and meant it. After all, a child who goes into a tantrum, kicking and screaming, every time they're told they can't do something, is not exhibiting acceptable behavior -- and it needs to be modified.

The real error here was on the author of the article in the Nation. He was trying to portray something as absolutist where it did not exist in order to justify his extremely flawed and absolutist premise. And you're done the same in this reply, but speaking only in sarcastic overtones without any real substance in your reply.

[lectrobyte]

21. Think I've heard of "Dr. Phil", but like a lot of TV, never seen it.

and not trying to be condescending, seriously, but why start a topic on it here?

[A-Schwarzenegger]

32. Why respond to it?

Of course you're not reading this, so I won't go on,
except to suggest that you sit in the "Self-Righteous Corner"
for a while until you stop talking yourself so seriously.

[lectrobyte]

41. Good point. I don't take myself so seriously, but I am sitting in

the corner anyway to remind myself not to respond to these kinds of threads.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

57. Well, it's a good thing you're not responding to

"these kinds of threads."

[lectrobyte]

62. Sorry. I will try to do better. Resisted the Katie Couric one so far...

[Dr.Phool]

23. They should use the Dr. Phool method

Taser the little bastards! Use lots of duct tape. And vicious german shepherds seemed to produce results in Iraq.:evilgrin:

[LostinVA]

68. The Phil McGraw Method is blaming the mom, no matter what

Seriously, this guy is crazy-sexist.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

24. UPDATE: "'SUPERNANNY CORNERS DR. PHIL on Talkshow."

Jo Frost, the star of ABC's hit advice show "Supernanny,"
called in to a Pittsburgh talkshow today while Dr.
Phil McGraw of the "Dr. Phil" show on NBC was touting
his latest book "Family First."

Frost was calling to counter McGraw's stunning verbal
lashing of the "nanny" shows in general yesterday during
a segment on his show. McGraw seemed to be caught offguard
by the call from the diminutive but globally beloved
"supernanny," whose show on parenting advice is translated
into 56 languages in 157 countries.

"I guess you didn't expect to hear from me, huh, Dr. Phil?"
said Frost.

"I didn't think about it one way or the other," McGraw said,
his voice quaking slightly.

"Well, I think somebody needs to go on the naughty rug," said
Frost. "I think somebody is a little jealous of the success of
our show and the success of our loving and tender parenting
methods, and I think the mean little petty tyrant Dr. Phil doesn't
like having the spotlight taken away from him and his little
bullying tactics. Come on, onto the naughty rug with you!"

"Whoa!" said the talkshow host, Ralph Glackers. "Care to respond,
Dr. Phil?"

"I certainly do," said McGraw. "Don't you have any little brats
over there in England that you can give this crap to? All I said
was that your so-called 'naughty corner' does not work! And even
if it did, which it doesn't, because we have no follow-up data
to see how long these silly scarring methods last--I lost my point,
what was my point? Oh--it's labeling! Have you heard of that
concept? That's when you call the little pieces of clay we call
children names and it sinks in just like if you drove your thumb
into a raw piece of clay. You're raising nothing but an entire
generation of convicts, addicts and ne'er-do-wells with your cruel and
scarring so-called 'naughty rug'! Please stop it, woman, before
I have to go out there and hunt you down on behalf of all
American parents. I don't really care if you screw up British
children because, thank God, there's an ocean between us, or these
other so-called countries where your so-called show airs, but leave
my American children alone, damn you!"

"Onto the naughty rug, Dr. Phil," Frost gently intoned. "How
old are you, sixty or so? That's a whole hour on the naughty rug!"

At that McGraw tried to speak but could only spew gobs of bilious
spittle, according to eyewitnesses. He tore off his headphones and
stormed out of the studio, leaving the host and "Supernanny" Frost
to calmly discuss some of the memorable moments on her show.

NBC, the host network of the Dr. Phil show, had no comment.

[Just Me]

30. Whoah. She's really pushing his button!

She sounds like a manipulative bitch to me.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

34. I think it's time for a "Death Cage Match Corner Rug."

[shrike]

37. Hey, he asked for it

He slammed her on national TV, she returned the favor. I don't call that being a bitch.

[GiovanniC]

43. Oh Please

After what a total jackass he was/is to her, THAT'S what you come away with?

[mtnester]

73. Or a smart cookie, depending on your outlook on life.

because she called him on it makes her a manipulative bitch? Why not smart as a whip, or savvy, or slick...

because she is a woman she becomes a manipulative bitch?

My last nerve just got struck.

[Arugula Latte]

36. What a stupid "hate-the-furiners" jackass.

God that guy is jerk. Go back to Texas and shut the f*&% up, Dr. Phil.

[LizW]

121. Seriously! What is up with his animosity toward the Brits?

[alphafemale]

38. LMAO And this isn't even a Sweeps Month!

:rofl:

[elehhhhna]

50. satire, right?

[Mad_Dem_X]

65. "MY American children" - WTF???

"Pieces of clay"? LOL

Go Nanny, go Nanny! :bounce:

[LostinVA]

69. Do you have a link for this, or is it a joke? n/t

[AspenRose]

82. Ha ha ha ha, you GO, Jo-Jo!

Anyone here (who watches Supernanny) remember the show where the husband (I think he was a cop) was resistant to using her techniques because he thought it was crap, didn't want to go along, and basically yelled at her about being disrespectful in his home? Clearly he was threatened by her and she didn't back down.

Dr. Phil is threatened by a strong woman who knows what she's talking about. Doesn't help that she's cutting into his revenues, either. He's an embarrassment.

Stand your ground, Jo! :yourock:

PS if that was satire, it was good! Sounds like the way Dr Phil would really behave....

[Hatalles]

116. Dr. Phil is an asshole. Just listen to this...

http://media.ebaumsworld.com/drphil2.mp3

[BiggJawn]

29. Pot, allow me to introduce you to the Kettle...

"This is the kind of
travesty that can happen when you let a bunch of amateurs run
rampant on TV..."

Like you and Oprah, Phil, ol' boy?

"Dr. Phil McGraw, renowned guru on all matters human"
Reminds me of:
"Renowned Lifestyle Expert Martha Stewart"

And these folks are better than Paris Hilton WHY?

Phil is 6'4" and weighs around 250. Would YOU take diet advice from an obese man? You would? Then PM me your CC number, I got LOTS of advice for you, considering that I outweigh Phil by 35 pounds.

[elehhhhna]

94. It's like Pa Kettle calling Ma Kettle "black"

[BiggJawn]

112. Huh?

What's Ma and Pa Kettle got to do with the pot calling the kettle black?

I don't get it. And I've watched plenty of Ma and Pa Kettle flicks.

[elehhhhna]

126. That's the point. Makes no sense.

[SmokingJacket]

35. Somebody's jealous!!! Teeheee. nt

[GiovanniC]

42. This is Bigger Than a TV Ratings Thing -- Doctor Phil Is a Total Asshole

Look at what he's saying:

"They're a bunch of amateur English know-nothings"

"They're a bunch of windbags and buttinskis who should stay in their own damn country"

"Don't you have any little brats over there in England that you can give this crap to?"

"Stop it, woman, before I have to go out there and hunt you down on behalf of all American parents."

"I don't really care if you screw up British children"

"these other so-called countries where your so-called show airs"

"leave my American children alone, damn you"



Please tell me this is just satire, because otherwise Dr. Phil has an even more extreme problem than I had originally given him credit for.

[Pacifist Patriot]

44. Oh joy! I get to say it again.

Dr. Phil is a moron not fit to raise a cat.

[JustJoe]

45. Did anybody click on the link to this alleged story?

And the "UPDATE" doesn't even have a link. I wouldn't trust this guy as far as I could throw a truckload of mixed animals.

[elehhhhna]

52. I SAW the show yesterday. It's true. The update was satire, I hope.

[JustJoe]

75. I saw it too, and there is some serious embroidering of the truth

going on. First, the link goes to some note on a book
about Alexander Hamilton. Was Hamilton an advocate of "naughty rugs"?

Do you remember these parts?:

"McGraw was in the middle of an interview with a troubled couple
whose eleven children had literally taken over their household,
refusing to obey any parental commands and COMMENCING A SIT-IN
PROTEST WITH OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD CHILDREN UNTIL THEIR DEMANDS
WERE MET, INCLUDING AS MUCH CANDY AND TV AS THEY WANTED."

"In any case, McGraw was clearly beside himself listening to
the parents' pitiable tale, EVEN LOOKING AT HIMSELF SEVERAL
TIMES (?), but he had managed to hold his tongue until the mother
said that she had tried the "naughty corner" with her children
but that THEY WOULDN'T ALL FIT IN THE CORNER ON THE 'NAUGHTY RUG.'"

"Labeling a child as 'naughty' can lead to a
ruined sense of self-worth and self-esteem and RESULT IN AN
ADULT INDIVIDUAL WHO SPENDS HIS TIME AND ENERGY PURSUING TAWDRY
GOALS AT BEST AND CRIMINAL ONES AT WORST. This is the kind of
TRAVESTY that can happen when you let a BUNCH OF AMATEURS RUN
RAMPANT on TV giving poor parents like you advice that you have
no idea how bad it is or what DISASTERS CAN RESULT."

"The parents' jaws hung open in disbelief and the audience fell
silent in the face of McGraw's attack on the British nannies, who
had previously been seen as sweet and good-hearted helpers in
the households of America and the world, where their advice and
hope for beleaguered parents is TRANSLATED INTO 34 LANGUAGES
AND DIALECTS IN 124 COUNTRIES."

How many countries are there in the whole world?
And I can bet their advice goes over good in all cultures.

And the riff in the parking lot rings too true to be true.
Like I say, this OP is to be taken with a boatload of salt,
and if you don't think so, he's got 30 baby mixed animals
you might want to buy.

"After the show, McGraw was questioned in the parking lot as he
tried to sign autographs and unlock the sticky door of his car.
"I tell it like it is," he said. "If the nannies don't like it,
they can sue me. They're a bunch of amateur English know-nothings
that are just devastating the self-esteem of millions of children
around the world with their atrocious labeling activities. Frankly,
they're a bunch of windbags and buttinskis who should stay in their
own damn country. And if they don't like it, they know where to find me."

Too true to be true.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

83. This is an outrage that deserves no comment

except to say that bringing in innocent baby mixed animals
into this attack on the mendacity of my posts is beyond
the valley of ultra-outrage.

[elehhhhna]

90. lol you're killing me

[elehhhhna]

51. Naughty rug. That's what Phil called his ill-fitting hairpiece, I'll bet.

"Splains why he's sooooo sensetive.

[AspenRose]

84. Oh NO, you didn't just GO THERE, did you?

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Protagoras]

54. This thread is a sign of

successful infotainment.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

88. You said it.

[elehhhhna]

91. or Armageddon at hand.

[LostinVA]

56. Jo Frost is an acknowledged expert of child rearing

"Supernanny" for those who don't watch her. She isn't some "amateur." She has a college degree, was trained as a nanny, and has years experience "in the trenches." She is also known as a "troubleshooter."
Her techniques DO work if done right, because I have several friends who have used Frost's techniques on their over-indulged "brats." They are now happy, "normal" kids. Not angels, but not Bad Seeds, either.

My sister's best friend is a child psychologist, and she thinks Frost's techniques are great -- they give kids boundaries, are not harsh, and involve lots of "cuddles and kisses."

Yeah, like what child development credentials does that arrogant misogynist have anyway?

Damn Oprah for unleashing that smug SOB on America.

[phylny]

117. She's absolutely right in her approach. Not only did I use the same

approach with my own children, but I use it with the children I see professionally, including children with developmental delays, speech delays, autism, mental retardation, you name it.

Simply said, structure, a loving but firm manner, realistic expectations, and consequences explained to the child and appropriate to their age or developmental level all work like a charm.

[LostinVA]

124. My mom did that, and we were good kids and are good adults

My sister raised her kids the same way, and they are teenagers -- normal kids, so they can be punks, but they are good kids. I, on the other hand, terribly spoiled mine and never set any boundaries. So, when they run all over the counters or use their claws to steal some of my porkchop, I have no one to blame but myself. Is there such a thing as a Naughty Cat Condo?

[Tsiyu]

61. We call him "Dr, FillYourHeadWith Shit"

around here. What a pompous ass.

I watch him sometimes just to do the opposite of what he advocates. A Yuppie scum with an ego the size of Brazil - who can't accept any advice but his own - should NOT be giving advice to anyone. He needs serious therapy to get over himself, in my opinion as a rank amateur....

[DistressedAmerican]

67. The Awful Combination Of Pig AND Douchebag!!!

[LostinVA]

70. WE call him "Dr. Shill," 'cause he's always selling one of

His many, many books!

[Tsiyu]

95. Beautiful!

A bit easier to say than the moniker we've bestowed on him (courtesy of our friend Lauren who came up with it...)

[LostinVA]

122. I sometimes watch Shill because his arrogant smugness

Fascinates me in a bizarre way.... I feel so sorry for some of his guests. They honestly want help. At least Oprah will listen and offer sympathy and no judgment. Plus, Oprah had Jo Frost on her show!

[noise626]

64. Naughty Rug?

My mom would have just thrown something at me....:)

pax
ant

[stanwyck]

71. Did you see the way his eyes lit up

when he was discussing spanking with George and Laura? Dr. Phil just wouldn't let up on the spanking question. He was quite, uh, excited. Very creepy. Did you spank the twins? Did you? Huh? Did you spank Genna and Barbara?
Anyone who takes advice from this yahoo or "Dr." Laura needs to sit in the naughty corner.
Or get spanked.

[truebrit71]

72. What is he a "Doctor" of anyway???

Hey Phil, STFU....K?

[Susang]

74. How come your link doesn't work?

And how come I can't find this story anywhere on MSNBC? :shrug:

[bumblebee1]

77. There's a school in England for nannies.

I'm not sure how long the school is. English nannies must graduate from this school before they can be employed.

[LostinVA]

123. Jo Frost also has a university degree

Not that that makes you better than anyone, but she is educated in CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND REARING. Not like Phil, who cheated on his first wife, stole his ideas from a business partner, and was investigated for boinking a patient.

[JohnyCanuck]

78. I'd take Mary Poppin's advice over Dr. Phil's any day. n/t

[hfojvt]

79. very telling quote there, Doc

"They're a bunch of amateur English know-nothings
that are just devastating the self-esteem of millions of children
around the world with their atrocious labeling activities. Frankly,
they're a bunch of windbags and buttinskis who should stay in their
own damn country."

Start by calling them 1) amateurs, 2) English, and 3) know-nothings, all of which sound like "labels". What makes the nannies so bad? According to Phil, their "labeling activities". So calling someone a windbag and a buttinski is not "labeling"? Is that really objectively describing their behaviour, or going straight to the judgement? Also nice of the Doc to tap into the giant river of American jingoism. It would have worked better, though, if the nannies were French, but I am sure Iraqis would agree that the English should "stay in their own damn country".

[bullwinkle428]

80. Phil McGraw is king of the douche-bags!!

None of these kids on ABC's "Supernanny" were ever labeled as "naughty". One of her lines that she uses in nearly every episode is "That behavior is unacceptable!", as she explains to the child why he or she is being placed in the "naughty spot". She actually does a great job overall in getting through to clueless parents who have no idea in how to set boundaries with their children. It's certainly easier for a child to handle than having to deal with a screaming, spanking tyrant of parent - proof that the parent has lost control of a situation...

[Democrat 4 Ever]

85. Dr. Phil has a few more troubles than just the nannies.

Anybody see the show during last month's ratings "bonanza" where he had the identical twins on?

One wanted to get rich being a performing duo porn/hooker with her sister, the other was a timid teacher (I think) that just didn't want to do it but her twin was real-l-l-ly pressuring her. You can well imagine Phil's advice.

Update - the twins are already porn stars in several movies from a couple of years ago. The whole appearance was nothing but a scam and Phil got punked!

I'll look for the link where where I got the info and post it later.

[NuttyFluffers]

89. may they maul each other's ratings...

i want to be free of 'psychoanalyst soapbox' tv and reality tv crap. i want good quality stories back on my tv. anything that encourages the cannibalization of this tv fad is good, because i'm just so over it already.

ps: if i had to choose, i'd choose the nanny. "dr." phil gets on my last nerve, pretentious self-righteous prick. but i'd prefer better tv programming over both.

[elehhhhna]

93. 3rd Nom. for Greatest Page. Schwarty, you rock!

What a super excellent thread.

[Bluebear]

97. "STAY IN THEIR OWN DAMN COUNTRY!"

Dr. Freeper speaks!

[Taverner]

99. I agree with Dr Phil

Who here has the degree in psychology?

And he's absolutely right - calling a kid "naughty", "evil" or "bad" will screw up a child.

I also agree with Dr. Phil's no spanking rule.

What most people don't *get* about Dr Phil is that despite his shilling and DIY Self Help empire, he dispenses Progressive Democrat-like Advice with the intonation and sound of a Republican. We Dems don't like the sound of it, but all the progressive messages are there: Talk to your kids about the war, let them form their opinions rather than knee jerk, don't spank, working parents are positive role models. This stuff is gold as it sends *our* message into freeperland incognito.

[Pacifist Patriot]

105. I don't agree with applying negative labels to children.

And I absolutely do not agree with physical punishment.

But Dr. Phil is a hack as a clinical psychologist. I don't care if he has a B.S, M.A. and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from North Texas State University with a dual area of emphasis in clinical and behavioral medicine and has been a board-certified and licensed clinical psychologist since 1978. He's a moron.

[Enraged_Ape]

114. Dr. Phil doesn't know his a$$ from a can of Mad Dog 20/20

Jo Frost has never, to my knowledge, called a child "naughty". It's the child's BEHAVIOR that is called naughty". And you know what? IT IS! When a five year old screams bloody murder at his or her parent at 1:00 a.m. because they refuse, for the hundredth time, to go to sleep, it's...I'm sorry...NAUGHTY. There's no better word for it.

I've never seen the nannies approach any family problem other than from a position of love and respect for the children. What they do is point out to the families and the children what is acceptable behavior and what is not. And there is NOTHING wrong with that.

[grace0418]

104. I'm not a big fan of those nanny shows BUT

I'm even LESS of a fan of Dr. Phil. I cannot believe he has the audacity to label anyone else "windbags." This ubiquitous ass-clown has had his fifteen minutes, he has GOT TO GO.

[dogday]

106. All those Nannies should gang up on Dr. Phil and make him

sit in the naughty chair for a day.... They might even rethink their position on corporal punishment for the day. Oh Dr. Phil might just like that... Oh me....

[pinto]

108. Link goes to an ad for a book. Is there a current link?

[Bouncy Ball]

113. First of all, that doesn't even sound like him.

I mean, has anyone ever heard the kind of stuff he says? And he says labeling some behavior naughty will scar kids? They aren't calling the KIDS naughty, they are calling the behavior naughty, and it IS.

Secondly, the irony is RICH and DELICIOUS in this quote of his:

"This is the kind of travesty that can happen when you let a bunch of amateurs run rampant on TV giving poor parents like you advice that you have no idea how bad it is or what disasters can result."

:rofl:

[LibertyorDeath]

115. "Dr. Phil McGraw, renowned guru on all matters human" LOL

He's a snake oil salesman using paint by numbers psychology
on people to ignorant to know when they're being conned.

[iverglas]

118. When all else fails ... bring on the ethnic slurs.

From that article:

They're a bunch of amateur English know-nothings ... who should stay in their own damn country.

From the article elsewhere here about the nanny-show nanny who called Phil's phone-in show:

"I certainly do," said McGraw. "Don't you have any little brats over there in England that you can give this crap to? ... Please stop it, woman, before I have to go out there and hunt you down on behalf of all American parents. I don't really care if you screw up British children because, thank God, there's an ocean between us, or these other so-called countries where your so-called show airs, ...

That's xenophobia and ethnocentricity and outright irrational hatred based on national and ethnic origin worthy of the Free R., that is. 'Course, I gather it probably also springs from irrational hatred based on sex ...

A person who can't offer rebuttals to someone's ideas without demeaning them based on their origin, and telling them they are unwanted in his country, but are free to do damage to anybody in any other country they want, is scum. Bigots who are pissed with somebody just hit the jackpot when the target of their unrelated anger happens not to be one of their group.

And "so-called countries"?? What the hell are they?

Something dredged up from the roiling depths of the ugly psyche of a jingoistic bigot, I'd say.


(missing word fixed on edit ... and extraneous word removed on second edit ...)

[Deja Q]

119. That link is a bit wonky...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8056360/

goes to:


Truth & Beauty: A Friendship - Patchett, Ann
Truth & Beauty: A Friendship - Patchett, Ann
What happens when the person who is your family is someone you aren't bound to by blood? What happens when the person you promise to love and to honor for the rest of your life is not your lover, but your best friend? In "Truth & Beauty, her frank and...
Overstock.com $23.95 Sale $15.64
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[SlipperySlope]

120. Wow

That is so bizarre. If I hadn't read it here I wouldn't have believed it.

[Moderator]

127. Locking.

If there's a source for the info in this post, and the quotes cited, please feel free to repost with those links.

Thanks for your consideration,
DU Mod