"Brenda Ann Dyer" wrote in message
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"Honus" wrote in message
news:bTkcd.1549$7d7.958@trnddc04...

"clifto" wrote in message
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Pilotbutteradio wrote:
Very hard to pick a most despised! I agree with Dr. Laura in some
instances,
but her attitude is terrible, and I find her very abusive.

Think about this: she has about three minutes with each caller.
Callers
often are in emotional distress as well as several layers of mindf*ck.
I've heard lots of callers who I believe wouldn't have heard a word
DrL said without some brash, unvarnished harsh truth spoken in no
uncertain terms. The fact that she's willing to take the blame for
being the bad guy tells me she's dedicated to helping the people who
call, unlike so many shows before hers that were nothing more than a
showcase for weirdos where the host said soothing nothings to placate
the callers and keep 'em coming.

Listen again, but this time, when you hear her sounding harsh, take a
second and listen to the caller and see if you could *really help* the
caller by being nice instead of honest. You might see what I'm talking
about.

Just how much good would a -real- professional with a real interest in
their
patients expect to do in -three- minutes regardless of the approach they
take? And harsh can be flat out damaging, requiring a judgement call
that
she's in no position to make in these anonymous cases. I admittedly
don't
listen to her, but I sure wonder just how altruistic she really is.

She's there for the 'entertainment value', like anyone else on the radio
or
TV. She's downright rude to many of her callers, and the way she treats
some of the more despondant ones, I wouldn't doubt that some have commited
suicide after calling her looking for help.

Exactly my point. I don't believe there's any altruism involved. Therefore,
I think the entire premise of her show is disingenuous at best, and
blatantly harmful at worst. I don't think she's helping as much as she's
probably hurting. I understand the point that time limitations affect her
ability to be "nice"; I just don't agree that justifies being "honest". And
she ought to know better. But then, she's the professional...so maybe she
does. But I kind of don't think so.