Documentary Film Makers Will Fuck You Up

I saw these documentaries many years ago and the details in this blog are based on my own fallible memories, but I can assure you that the gist of each story is extremely accurate.

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I saw an Australian documentary featuring an uncontrollable child. The mother complained that boy (about ten years old) was continually throwing tantrums and sometimes got violent. She was at her wit's end and hoped this documentary would highlight her plight and convince the government to investigate the situation and hopefully provide a solution.

At one point the boy had gone into the lavatory so the camera crew moved into position and focused on the door while the mother opened it to reveal her son sitting on the toilet with his pants around his ankles having a shit! The kid screamed and yelled and shouted at them to go away while the mother turned to the camera and said, "See. That's what he's like. That's what I have to put up with." [And that's where I turned the TV off.]

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In an American documentary they were discussing the life of a problem gambler who had overcome his addiction and hadn't had a bet for five years. At the prompting of the interviewer, the gambler was explaining that he could never have another bet; the next bet would probably get him started gambling again and all the work of the last five years would be undone.

The interviewer expressed admiration for the gambler's effort to turn his life around and suggested that maybe the gambler had finally beaten his addiction. The gambler agreed that he had done very well to keep away from the casinos for the last five years and was almost tempted to think that maybe he had, indeed, beaten his addiction.

"Well then," said the interviewer to the gambler, "Maybe it's time to put yourself to the test. Maybe it's time we took you to the casino and you can demonstrate your ability to withstand the urge to make that dangerous first bet." The next scene showed the gambler and the interviewer in a car with the camera crew in the back. The car was just pulling up in front of a brightly lit casino! [And that's where I turned the TV off.]

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In another Australian documentary the reporter was interviewing a female rape victim who was expressing relief that her rapist was locked up in prison and could no longer get at her. The reporter seemed extremely sympathetic and praised the victim for her courage but wondered what the situation might be like when the rapist was finally released. The victim said she was very nervous about what might happen, but took consolation in knowing that while the criminal was in jail she was completely safe.

"Oh," said the reporter, "Didn't you know? The rapist was released on parole at 10 am this morning." A look of horror and fear spread across the stunned rape victim's face. [And that's where I turned the TV off.]