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Saturday, July 02, 2005 · posted at 12:31 AM

diatribe to Tom, part 1

It's a shame that Tom Cruise doesn't believe in psychiatry, he sure would benefit from a healthy dose of it.

For a moment, let's put aside his erratic behavior as of late. Forget about jumping on Oprah's couch.... and jumping on Letterman's couch... and jumping, well, pretty much in every interview. Forget about the awkward "Michael Jackson/Lisa Marie Presley" stage kisses. Forget about the rumors of brainwashing and hypnosis.

And Tom Cruise is still out of his mind.

In an interview with Matt Lauer that aired on last Friday's Today Show, fanatical Scientologist Tom Cruise lambasted the practice of psychiatry and denied the existence of chemical imbalances (full transcript available here). Wild-eyed, disrespectful and patronizing, inarticulate and with the occasional finger wag, Tom Cruise was simply a publicist's worst nightmare.

Good thing his publicist is a blood relative (Tom recently fired his longtime publicist in lieu of his Scientologist sister; Katie followed suit and abandoned her longtime publicist).

Among his ill-supported claims and false statements:

Cruise: I've never agreed with psychiatry, ever. Before I was a Scientologist I never agreed with psychiatry. And when I started studying the history of psychiatry, I understood more and more why I didn't believe in psychology.

Actually, Tom, psychology and psychiatry are different fields. Psychiatry is the medical science of mental and emotional disorders. Psychology is the study of the mind and behavioral processes.

Cruise: Matt, you have to understand this. Here we are today, where I talk out against drugs and psychiatric abuses of electric shocking people, okay, against their will, of drugging children with them not knowing the effects of these drugs. Do you know what Adderall is? Do you know Ritalin? Do you know now that Ritalin is a street drug? Do you understand that?

I imagine all psychiatrists and physicians too are against the abuse of drugs as well as street drugs. As for electric shocking people, you would be more likely to find a Wonka golden ticket than a physician who practices electroconvulsive therapy ala One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

The question is, Tom, do you know Ritalin and Adderall? Did you know that Ritalin and Adderall creates a "high" only when crushed and snorted, not through its indicated oral use? That Concerta can't even be crushed or chewed due to an osmotic pump inside each pill? That, when taken as directed, are effective and non-addictive? That unfortunately, the real problem is - here we are today, where anything can be turned into a street drug or elicit a high... markers, paint, a plastic bag, even cough syrup.

Lauer: I understand there's abuse of all of these things.
Cruise: No, you see. Here's the problem. You don't know the history of psychiatry. I do.
...and I know that psychiatry is a pseudo science.
...The thing that I'm saying about Brooke is that there's misinformation, okay. And she doesn't understand the history of psychiatry. She doesn't understand in the same way that you don't understand it, Matt.
...Matt. Matt, Matt, you don't even — you're glib. [throughout interview]

Tom, Tom, Tom you are being completely ineffective at getting your point across and making a sound argument that's not based on the tenet of "I'm right because I'm right." If you're so passionate about people living life the "right" way as you deem it, it would probably behoove you not to call your audience (or in this case, interviewer) ignorant. One, that's rude. Two, that doesn't make your point. What, Tom? What don't we know that you do?

Lauer: It's very impressive to listen to you. Because clearly, you've done the homework. And you know the subject.
Cruise: And you should. And you should do that also. Because just knowing people who are on Ritalin isn't enough. You should be a little bit more responsible in knowing really —

Can you go a minute without chastising the host please? Especially when he's trying especially hard to be gracious and defuse the hostile situation you created. I'm sure Matt Lauer is thinking in his head, "this poor fuck has gone nuts."

Lauer: But a little bit of what you're saying Tom is, you say you want people to do well. But you want them do to well by taking the road that you approve of, as opposed to a road that may work for them.
Cruise: No, no, I'm not.
Lauer: Well, if antidepressants work for Brooke Shields, why isn't that okay?
Cruise: I disagree with it.

Wow. I don't even need to rebut that.



	Saturday, July 02, 2005 · posted at 12:31 AM diatribe to Tom, part 1 It's a shame that Tom Cruise doesn't believe in psychiatry, he sure would benefit from a healthy dose of it. For a moment, let's put aside his erratic behavior as of late. Forget about jumping on Oprah's couch.... and jumping on Letterman's couch... and jumping, well, pretty much in every interview. Forget about the awkward "Michael Jackson/Lisa Marie Presley" stage kisses. Forget about the rumors of brainwashing and hypnosis. And Tom Cruise is still out of his mind. In an interview with Matt Lauer that aired on last Friday's Today Show, fanatical Scientologist Tom Cruise lambasted the practice of psychiatry and denied the existence of chemical imbalances (full transcript available here). Wild-eyed, disrespectful and patronizing, inarticulate and with the occasional finger wag, Tom Cruise was simply a publicist's worst nightmare. Good thing his publicist is a blood relative (Tom recently fired his longtime publicist in lieu of his Scientologist sister; Katie followed suit and abandoned her longtime publicist). Among his ill-supported claims and false statements: Cruise: I've never agreed with psychiatry, ever. Before I was a Scientologist I never agreed with psychiatry. And when I started studying the history of psychiatry, I understood more and more why I didn't believe in psychology. Actually, Tom, psychology and psychiatry are different fields. Psychiatry is the medical science of mental and emotional disorders. Psychology is the study of the mind and behavioral processes. Cruise: Matt, you have to understand this. Here we are today, where I talk out against drugs and psychiatric abuses of electric shocking people, okay, against their will, of drugging children with them not knowing the effects of these drugs. Do you know what Adderall is? Do you know Ritalin? Do you know now that Ritalin is a street drug? Do you understand that? I imagine all psychiatrists and physicians too are against the abuse of drugs as well as street drugs. As for electric shocking people, you would be more likely to find a Wonka golden ticket than a physician who practices electroconvulsive therapy ala One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. The question is, Tom, do you know Ritalin and Adderall? Did you know that Ritalin and Adderall creates a "high" only when crushed and snorted, not through its indicated oral use? That Concerta can't even be crushed or chewed due to an osmotic pump inside each pill? That, when taken as directed, are effective and non-addictive? That unfortunately, the real problem is - here we are today, where anything can be turned into a street drug or elicit a high... markers, paint, a plastic bag, even cough syrup. Lauer: I understand there's abuse of all of these things. Cruise: No, you see. Here's the problem. You don't know the history of psychiatry. I do. ...and I know that psychiatry is a pseudo science. ...The thing that I'm saying about Brooke is that there's misinformation, okay. And she doesn't understand the history of psychiatry. She doesn't understand in the same way that you don't understand it, Matt. ...Matt. Matt, Matt, you don't even — you're glib. [throughout interview] Tom, Tom, Tom you are being completely ineffective at getting your point across and making a sound argument that's not based on the tenet of "I'm right because I'm right." If you're so passionate about people living life the "right" way as you deem it, it would probably behoove you not to call your audience (or in this case, interviewer) ignorant. One, that's rude. Two, that doesn't make your point. What, Tom? What don't we know that you do? Lauer: It's very impressive to listen to you. Because clearly, you've done the homework. And you know the subject. Cruise: And you should. And you should do that also. Because just knowing people who are on Ritalin isn't enough. You should be a little bit more responsible in knowing really — Can you go a minute without chastising the host please? Especially when he's trying especially hard to be gracious and defuse the hostile situation you created. I'm sure Matt Lauer is thinking in his head, "this poor fuck has gone nuts." Lauer: But a little bit of what you're saying Tom is, you say you want people to do well. But you want them do to well by taking the road that you approve of, as opposed to a road that may work for them. Cruise: No, no, I'm not. Lauer: Well, if antidepressants work for Brooke Shields, why isn't that okay? Cruise: I disagree with it. Wow. I don't even need to rebut that.	Recent Posts diatribe, part 2Cruise: There is no such thing as ... diatribe, part 3Cruise: You just communicate about... "If you've seen a spoon, you know how to spoon." ... Quotes from American Psycho:Jean: What's that? Pat... 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