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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by partlycloudy on May 24, 2004, at 19:50:37
This show is very disturbing to me. Like a plastic surgeon and a physical trainer can correct an unhappy existence - one contestant had "dealt with" her depression. What the heck does THAT mean? What do youse guys think?
Posted by gardenergirl on May 24, 2004, at 22:58:46
In reply to Anyone watching Swan?, posted by partlycloudy on May 24, 2004, at 19:50:37
I think it's a terrible show and I never liked the way the women came out, anyway. They look so fake!
Ugh.
gg
Posted by jay on May 24, 2004, at 23:58:57
In reply to Anyone watching Swan?, posted by partlycloudy on May 24, 2004, at 19:50:37
> This show is very disturbing to me. Like a >plastic surgeon and a physical trainer can >correct an unhappy existence - one contestant >had "dealt with" her depression. What the heck >does THAT mean? What do youse guys think?
Yeah...I find it sad, and the thing is...we all grow old, wrinkled, even if we aren't overweight. In some ways, there is a bit of what Dr. Peter Kramer called "cosmetic psychiatry" in our pills and such, but most of us are just hanging on.These people's faces will eventually start to fall apart, things will get bent out of shape...that is just Mother Nature's fate we *all* will suffer. I can understand the concern with weight, especially as we get older and are more prone to disease. I am really working hard, like many of us, trying to lose weight (as I am somewhat overweight), but the plastic surgery for such miniscule things turns my stomach.
To learn a good moral from this story..I'd suggest people watch the movie Shrek 2.
Yeah!
Jay
Posted by shadows721 on May 25, 2004, at 1:18:51
In reply to Anyone watching Swan?, posted by partlycloudy on May 24, 2004, at 19:50:37
I saw the end of the program and what bothers me is that I don't think these women are that unattractive. They show the women with no makeup on with their hair slicked back and no expression to their faces with an awful colored outfit. Let's see what they look like with that same makeup, hair fixed, and the nice clothing.
I use to work for a plastic surgeon and I hated it. I got a way from that job and hoped being in that superficial world ended there, but now it's on tv. It's like that sickness for perfection that can't be achieved without plastic surgery is now really getting in the main stream.
I do wonder. Are these shows just promoting the business of plastic surgery? Most Americans can not pay for a lot of plastic surgery. So, what is the point of these shows really? The point that I felt that I was getting from it was in the negative.
Posted by partlycloudy on May 25, 2004, at 8:00:42
In reply to Re: Anyone watching Swan?, posted by shadows721 on May 25, 2004, at 1:18:51
I agree. I think that plastic surgeons, unless they are correcting birth defects or damage, are enabling the country in denying the inevitability of aging and death.
I often wonder what these people will look like when they are 80 and held together with safety pins and bandaids!
Posted by Emme on May 25, 2004, at 11:20:44
In reply to Anyone watching Swan?, posted by partlycloudy on May 24, 2004, at 19:50:37
I watched it once, and wouldn't watch it again. Good grief! I think some of the women's faces look better before than after. I mean I'm not categorically opposed to all plastic surgery. If someone hates their nose with a passion, then what the hey. But they did't leave a single thing alone on these women!
Posted by Wildflower on May 25, 2004, at 12:14:00
In reply to Anyone watching Swan?, posted by partlycloudy on May 24, 2004, at 19:50:37
I have to admit that I really hated the concept of the show at first. BUT, it occured to me that these women are now so full of self confidence that it floods over to so many portions of their life. They're more positive people overall and they're able to now share the positive outlook to those who didn't go through the extreme surgery. It's like they were given a second chance. Don't we all wish we had that? Now, I don't think that they all needed to go the extreme route of surgery but the end result was probably very well worth it to them. Besides, I think many of us would go through a similar transformation if money were no option. We all have insecurities that we'd like to fix, don't we?
Posted by tabitha on May 25, 2004, at 12:29:47
In reply to Anyone watching Swan?, posted by partlycloudy on May 24, 2004, at 19:50:37
No, but I'm watching the most awful reality show ever, 'Superstar USA' where they pretend it's like American Idol but secretly they pick the worst singers and are making fun of them. And I don't slow down to look at car crashes, honest.
Can't stand the plastic surgery shows. Can't even tolerate reading the alternative weekly paper in my town, since practically every page has a plastic surgery ad with before/after shots. It's chock full of unwanted male breast tissue, flabby pancake breasts, and lumpy cellulite deposits. Very unpleasant.
Posted by husschick on May 25, 2004, at 12:38:49
In reply to Re: Anyone watching Swan?, posted by tabitha on May 25, 2004, at 12:29:47
I think the show was somewhat entertaning, but I read last week in a magazine that the therapist who was working with these girls got her liscence from a uncredited school. At least they could have gotten someone that has a real degree.
Posted by spoc on May 25, 2004, at 18:22:02
In reply to Re: Anyone watching Swan? » partlycloudy, posted by Wildflower on May 25, 2004, at 12:14:00
Hi Wildflower!
>... They're more positive people overall and they're able to now share the positive outlook to those who didn't go through the extreme surgery.
<<<< I would agree to the extent that the people in their lives can only benefit from an increase in general positivity from that person, but not that they would now have some kind of "authentic" or earned wisdom to share...
> ...It's like they were given a second chance. Don't we all wish we had that? ...Besides, I think many of us would go through a similar transformation if money were no option. We all have insecurities that we'd like to fix, don't we?
<<<<< Agreed again, but therein lies the rub, and what I find unfortunate about the trend towards these types of shows: a dubious bar is being raised, one that may soon look like just another torturous standard for people (and probably predominantly women, again) to live up to. But one that they cannot afford; may forego necessities or reason to procure; or may feel inferior without.
At this rate, "alterations" will be almost the norm someday, and while maybe prices would come down in relation, plastic surgery will always be something many can't afford and a medical/cosmetic risk they might not wish to be "pressured" by society to take... Free will of course remains, but the human tendency to feel insecure about one's appearance does too, and exerts a strong enough force already...
These transformations can definitely be entertaining to watch, but I don't really see this type of programming leading to anything healthy or good, or even innocuous. I don't think people can as easily put this kind of impossible dream behind them or into perspective when the show is over, like they may be able to after watching Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous or something. Look at existing sure-fire profit industries, like cosmetics/anti-aging cremes and weight loss products. There will always be too many unhappy moths to those flames. Soon some may need more therapy just to be able to metabolize TV without further psychic damage!
Or at least that may be true for enough people to make this programming trend unfortunate. Expectations of being on the *receiving* end of "new and improved" will also rise for some, as in "...hey, ever think about tweaking this or that hon? That would look great on you.."
And geez, with The Swan, they even add another questionable dimension... A final judging between the subjects. The advice that the vulnerable/insecure forego such shows would help, but regardless, I wouldn't be surprised to see a societal shift in the drive for and/or expectation of plastic surgery. But sorry, don't mean to hamper any innocent fun either, carry on! ;- )
This is the end of the thread.
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