Internet Therapy, the Fall of Dr. Marvin, and You

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It just occurred to me that people use Myspace, YouTube and other forms of online social media for therapy. Sadly the target audience is probably the least likely to help you because they either don’t care to help or are unqualified to help. I'm sure there are plenty of self-help gurus on YouTube and Myspace. They're probably inundated with daily help requests to a point where they are unable to help. Diagnosing problems is a fragile business and a great deal more problematic over a digital medium like the Internet. Waves of people seeking online help can cause psychiatrists to go crazy.

The leads me to a movie called What About Bob. Bob was basically about such an individual; a free-spirited-ADD-OCD-chronic-phobic. He was extremely needy to the point where he would not only latch himself onto his doctors but their families. Clearly what the man needed was a support structure that he apparently lacked outside the world of his apartment and pet fish Gil. In an effort to free himself from Bob’s vice-grip Dr. Leo Marvin tried a diplomatic approach. When that didn’t work he tried the passive-aggressive approach.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pKymngWgJw&hl[/youtube]

Not succeeding he resorted to primal tactics until he finally snapped and devises a plan to outright kill Bob; A plan he chuckled with great glee as he peruses a local hardware store he broke into in search of weapons. Meanwhile Bob, in his euphoric state having spent time sailing and eating hand-chucked buttery corn with Dr Marvin’s family at their vacation home in Lake Winnipesaukee, still figured his unscheduled visits with Dr. Marvin were complex therapy sessions.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrbY4hsNh64[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBjfLE5uX0A&hl[/youtube]

In an attempt to unravel Dr. Marvin’s brilliance Bob tries to identify the forms of therapy thrust upon him: isolation therapy, sleep therapy, a vacation-from-your-problems therapy. However it wasn’t until Dr Marvin tied a rope and strapped two 20 pound bombs his neck that prompted Bob to asked, “What are we doing?” Dr. Marvin replied, “Death Therapy, Bob. It's a guaranteed cure!” Convinced the bombs were psychological metaphors Bob determines the bombs represent his internal, conflicted self while the rope represent his agitated state and that if he didn’t untie himself he would eventually blow up!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_bxkVFK3Wc[/youtube]

I think what I’m trying to say is

1.) I think What About Bob is an excellent movie and
2.) The Internet is probably not the best place to seek therapy. Psychiatrists might go crazy like Dr Leo Marvin and try to perform “death therapy” on you!