Louis Theroux - BBC Now
Discussion
Halb said:
In the ep with the Nazis as I recall he refused to state if he was, but off camera stated he wasn't. He felt it wasn't right to answer the question regardless of the answer.
http://www.celebatheists.com/index.php?title=Louis_TherouxSeems he is not. Eitherway like I said above, it was a clever move to imply to the neonazis that he might have been, certainly made for an interesting interview!
Edited by Marf on Monday 10th August 16:20
It's made me reassess my views on the legalisation of drugs in one way but reinforced them in another.
On one hand it seems that crystal meth is the "Devil's drug" as some of the users put it, rapidly and strongly addictive and clearly harmful to the users' health (teeth etc). That makes me question what would happen if it were legalised.
On the other hand, pretty much all of the users on the programme, and per the worker at the rehab clinic, a significant majority of the users in rehab had serious issues before taking crystal meth. That makes me think they may well have had one addiction or another even if crystal meth didn't exist, so legalising it wouldn't make much of a difference.
On one hand it seems that crystal meth is the "Devil's drug" as some of the users put it, rapidly and strongly addictive and clearly harmful to the users' health (teeth etc). That makes me question what would happen if it were legalised.
On the other hand, pretty much all of the users on the programme, and per the worker at the rehab clinic, a significant majority of the users in rehab had serious issues before taking crystal meth. That makes me think they may well have had one addiction or another even if crystal meth didn't exist, so legalising it wouldn't make much of a difference.
Good documentary - Theroux doesn't shirk from asking some searching questions.
That meth is obviously highly addictive stuff.
What shocked me though was the sight of car parks with people living in tents apparently...US has always has it slums but incipient shanty towns? Things must be getting bad
That meth is obviously highly addictive stuff.
What shocked me though was the sight of car parks with people living in tents apparently...US has always has it slums but incipient shanty towns? Things must be getting bad
Like with the other comments about showing what the US is really like, you can't really apply this generalisation to what is pretty much a continent of 300 million people.
Sure, there is a larger disparity between the haves and the have nots in the US than there is in this country, but if you think everywhere in the US is anything like the holes that tend to attract these type of documentaries, then you are very much mistaken. It would be like judging the entire UK on the back of a documentary focused on Moss Side in Manchester (or perhaps Hulme or Longsight, as I understand the location of the real holes has changed since I lived in the area).
Sure, there is a larger disparity between the haves and the have nots in the US than there is in this country, but if you think everywhere in the US is anything like the holes that tend to attract these type of documentaries, then you are very much mistaken. It would be like judging the entire UK on the back of a documentary focused on Moss Side in Manchester (or perhaps Hulme or Longsight, as I understand the location of the real holes has changed since I lived in the area).
GM182 said:
What shocked me though was the sight of car parks with people living in tents apparently...US has always has it slums but incipient shanty towns? Things must be getting bad
The US has always had one of the highest rates of poverty in the western world, particularly child poverty.Spent some time a couple of years ago with an Ex US cop who is now a lecturer in criminology. He says Meth has the potential to completely change a community in a most evil and destructive way. It was only when watching Theroux that his observations took on a reality for me that sent a tingle down my spine. Ralph (the ex cop) said economic depression, lack of hope and no positive vision for the future were the breeding grounds for the drug that you could make in the kitchen. Scary.
Edited by oldmanbm on Monday 10th August 16:50
youngsyr said:
Like with the other comments about showing what the US is really like, you can't really apply this generalisation to what is pretty much a continent of 300 million people.
Sure, there is a larger disparity between the haves and the have nots in the US than there is in this country, but if you think everywhere in the US is anything like the holes that tend to attract these type of documentaries, then you are very much mistaken. It would be like judging the entire UK on the back of a documentary focused on Moss Side in Manchester (or perhaps Hulme or Longsight, as I understand the location of the real holes has changed since I lived in the area).
Absolutely spot on. Just spent two weeks with my in laws in a small town in Georgia. Amazing friendly and prosperous place. Not a hint of serious crime (relation is a Captain in the local Police dept). I'd live there in a heartbeat.Sure, there is a larger disparity between the haves and the have nots in the US than there is in this country, but if you think everywhere in the US is anything like the holes that tend to attract these type of documentaries, then you are very much mistaken. It would be like judging the entire UK on the back of a documentary focused on Moss Side in Manchester (or perhaps Hulme or Longsight, as I understand the location of the real holes has changed since I lived in the area).
As for Meths, it's the one's that make it in their houses you have to watch out for. The go nuts on the fumes, as well as having a tendency to blow themselves up due to the chemicals they use.
Edited by Battenburg Bob on Monday 10th August 17:31
Battenburg Bob said:
youngsyr said:
Like with the other comments about showing what the US is really like, you can't really apply this generalisation to what is pretty much a continent of 300 million people.
Sure, there is a larger disparity between the haves and the have nots in the US than there is in this country, but if you think everywhere in the US is anything like the holes that tend to attract these type of documentaries, then you are very much mistaken. It would be like judging the entire UK on the back of a documentary focused on Moss Side in Manchester (or perhaps Hulme or Longsight, as I understand the location of the real holes has changed since I lived in the area).
Absolutely spot on. Just spent two weeks with my in laws in a small town in Georgia. Amazing friendly and prosperous place. Not a hint of serious crime (relation is a Captain in the local Police dept). I'd live there in a heartbeat.Sure, there is a larger disparity between the haves and the have nots in the US than there is in this country, but if you think everywhere in the US is anything like the holes that tend to attract these type of documentaries, then you are very much mistaken. It would be like judging the entire UK on the back of a documentary focused on Moss Side in Manchester (or perhaps Hulme or Longsight, as I understand the location of the real holes has changed since I lived in the area).
As for Meths, it's the one's that make it in their houses you have to watch out for. The go nuts on the fumes, as well as having a tendency to blow themselves up due to the chemicals they use.
Edited by Battenburg Bob on Monday 10th August 17:31
t-scared when I've inadvertently strayed into a bad area though! 
As for the meths, it's a troubling one. How can you combat a drug that offers the user a euphoria, energy level and sense of happiness that nothing in sober life can even come close to matching?
It's depressing to see parents choose the drug over their kids, but it seems for them it's a rational decision. They quite simply are happier on the drug than they would be with the children.
Steamer said:
Indeed! Top guy with a very unique and obviously successful style...
I've not seen him do anything in the UK though.
It would only work with celebrities (Hamiltons and so on) or maybe cultures such as dieting, child models etc etc that dont provoke such controversy.I've not seen him do anything in the UK though.
If he tried to infiltrate more controversial cultures, for example Nazi's in the UK or the BNP, IMO it simply wouldn't work. Hardly anybody would be as open to the camera as they were in the US, they would not act genuine because of fear of reprisals and anything considered 'wrong' would be splashed across the media, making it harder to do the next program as these 'groups' will know it will bring nothing but bad publicity and maybe the police being forced to crack down on them under pressure from the media and public. Plus his main tactic of being 'different' and 'British sensibility' would obviously not work.
Marf said:
One thing I found interesting that I hadn't known before was that meth is made from an over the counter cough syrup. It was only mentioned in passing on the programme which I found odd, made me wonder why whichever precursor is found in the syrup isnt banned?
I assume they didn't mention it as it would be pretty easy to go a tiny bit too far and tell everyone watching how to simply make a very profitable drug.You can also make it from Windscreen Washer fluid, I bet 95% of peoples garages have the equipment to make it very quickly.
I recall at one time the method of production was very easily available to find on the internet but it's now become much more difficult. I'm sure if one was so inclined with a bit of searching it can be found. Only thing is one mistake in production and the results can be very dangerous.
Going back to something more on topic: I did feel the episode felt a bit too long. I just wish louis did more of these and was on more often.
Going back to something more on topic: I did feel the episode felt a bit too long. I just wish louis did more of these and was on more often.
Marf said:
Seems he is not. Eitherway like I said above, it was a clever move to imply to the neonazis that he might have been, certainly made for an interesting interview!
I do not think he wished to imply anything. That is not his style. He was uncomfortable with the fact that his being able to attend the dinner relied on his religion, hence his refusal to answer either way.Edited by Marf on Monday 10th August 16:20
I only time I can remember him breaking his true observer status was in the gambling one.
Edited by Halb on Tuesday 11th August 10:54
Gassing Station | TV, Film, Video Streaming & Radio | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff