Using one's popularity to take advantage of others

I quit watching Dr. Phil a long time ago. I couldn't justify using my time to watch other people hash out their problems in front of a live audience on national television. I was also bothered by his complete disregard for confidentiality back when Brittney Spears was getting herself into trouble. Not that I am a fan there, either. But I didn't think that she deserved to have her personal struggle splashed all over t.v. and tabloid media. Then there was the question of his licensure. It seemed to me that there was no way a real, licensed psychologist would let people who were struggling so deeply suffer so on television. The way things were going on the show, it seemed to me that some people were leaving more hurt than before.

Well, my venture beyond mommy blogging has confirmed in my mind, that I have made the right decision. Oddly, it was through a hate site against a blogger whom I really enjoy reading that I came to begin reading WON's blog. WON is a single mom with a very hurtful past when it comes to the fathers of her two children. To add insult to injury, her older child had cancer and went to be with Jesus when she was only 11.

During her daughter's battle with cancer, her son began to struggle behaviorally and after the death of his sister, it became apparent to WON that the boy needed more help than she could give him. Enter "Dr." Phil. Here is an excerpt from WON and her son's time on his show:
"In the end, after so many conversations and such with all those people living the Hollywood existence all they chose to air last week was the infamous "slap seen 'round the world" and a complete untruth. Well, likely an untruth. How could they have said I reported to them that my son had not gotten a behavior write up at school all year? I only temper my certainty that they said that to fit their own agenda with the possibility they may have taken that information from a conversation I had with them during the first week of September 2008. That is possible.
Otherwise, no one would ever proclaim such things about my son. Come a long way? Hell yes! There? Hell no! Only suspended once this year so far. Progress.
Anyhow, it pissed me off that they would initiate so many conversations with me, ask me to send them detailed emails that took a long time to write, overnight me a video camera with an almost desperate sounding plea to tape a piece for them (even calling the very next morning to make sure I taped and sent the piece) and so on....only when it was all said and done, to air untruths and that slap heard 'round the world. "

You can go to WON's blog to read more about the experience. Send her some love if you do. ANd I highly recomment reading all four posts about the experience in chronological order. That means you have to start with the bottom post and work your way up.

I just do not understand how someone can use a struggling family to further their own agenda and make a buck. Especially someone who claims he is there to help people heal. I remember when watching he would often say, "I'll do anything necessary to help so-and-so." Sadly, this help seems to come at a cost. I do not feel good about being right in this circumstance:-(

And WON, if you read this, I want you to know that I have begun to include you and N in my prayers daily as my husband, son, and I come together in the evenings for prayer time.