Have to disagree with you there Ben. I think Miranda Devine has rather missed the point (although I admit I saw only the first part of the documentary).
The reason I found the documentary so powerful is that it presented more sophisticated view of drug use rather than Devine's "holier-than-thou" scorn (which I think doesn't help anyone).
I was also totally puzzled by her comment that Cousins' career has been a lie! What is she talking about????
Thanks for the comment. I'm opposite to you- I missed the first episode, but watched the second.
I have to say, I don't really know what the point of the doco was, so I must have missed it too. Had the guy shown some kind of remorse, and taken on the damage he'd caused to the people around him, maybe I could appreciate it as some kind of 'triumph'.
But I had no interest in it. All I saw was a self-centred over-grown teenager, who never really has had to suffer any consequences for his actions .
All this heroic talk like 'battling demons' and 'searching for inner peace'.. please. It's just total self-centredness, that's all.
And while I sort of get your point about scorn, I think it's fair enough to form an oppinion of someone if they are shoved in front of you as some kind of hero.
I don't think the "hard on drugs" line has proven to be an effective way to deal with drug users over the years.
Interestingly, the doco has sparked quite a large jump in drug help line calls (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/08/31/2998427.htm)
FWIW, here is what I took away from the documentary:
(a) Ben Cousins took a lot of drugs (b) He had a very good time taking them (c) At the same time, he was winning the Brownlow, premierships etc. He thought he had it all - he was a "high-performing drug user". (d) But along the way, we see cracks forming - he is hanging out with the wrong people, he loses the captaincy, he is suspended by the club. (e) Eventually it all comes apart, he is arrested, banned by the AFL and winds up in hospital. (f) He spends a year in the wilderness and comes out having recognised that he is better off without the drugs (g) He is reborn as a Richmond Tiger :-).
It's almost Shakespearian.
Also, I agree with you that Ben Cousins isn't a very nice person. He's not a person I would generally look up to and I fully expect him to relapse into drug use again (if he isn't using again already).
But it's a great story and I have to admire anyone who can say "no" to something they obviously enjoy so much.
One thing I'd say though, yeah, maybe I could admire him saying no to something he enjoys if it seemed like he was doing it for his family who were going through hell.
But no, it just seemed to all be about him. HE was suffering, so he stopped. I see little to admire in that.
5 comments:
Have to disagree with you there Ben. I think Miranda Devine has rather missed the point (although I admit I saw only the first part of the documentary).
The reason I found the documentary so powerful is that it presented more sophisticated view of drug use rather than Devine's "holier-than-thou" scorn (which I think doesn't help anyone).
I was also totally puzzled by her comment that Cousins' career has been a lie! What is she talking about????
Hey Tom,
Thanks for the comment. I'm opposite to you- I missed the first episode, but watched the second.
I have to say, I don't really know what the point of the doco was, so I must have missed it too.
Had the guy shown some kind of remorse, and taken on the damage he'd caused to the people around him, maybe I could appreciate it as some kind of 'triumph'.
But I had no interest in it. All I saw was a self-centred over-grown teenager, who never really has had to suffer any consequences for his actions .
All this heroic talk like 'battling demons' and 'searching for inner peace'.. please. It's just total self-centredness, that's all.
And while I sort of get your point about scorn, I think it's fair enough to form an oppinion of someone if they are shoved in front of you as some kind of hero.
Maybe a bit more scorn is what these 'lads' need.
Ben,
I don't think the "hard on drugs" line has proven to be an effective way to deal with drug users over the years.
Interestingly, the doco has sparked quite a large jump in drug help line calls (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/08/31/2998427.htm)
FWIW, here is what I took away from the documentary:
(a) Ben Cousins took a lot of drugs
(b) He had a very good time taking them
(c) At the same time, he was winning the Brownlow, premierships etc. He thought he had it all - he was a "high-performing drug user".
(d) But along the way, we see cracks forming - he is hanging out with the wrong people, he loses the captaincy, he is suspended by the club.
(e) Eventually it all comes apart, he is arrested, banned by the AFL and winds up in hospital.
(f) He spends a year in the wilderness and comes out having recognised that he is better off without the drugs
(g) He is reborn as a Richmond Tiger :-).
It's almost Shakespearian.
Also, I agree with you that Ben Cousins isn't a very nice person. He's not a person I would generally look up to and I fully expect him to relapse into drug use again (if he isn't using again already).
But it's a great story and I have to admire anyone who can say "no" to something they obviously enjoy so much.
Well Tom, maybe we just won't see eye to eye on this one, but that's ok!
One thing I'd say though, yeah, maybe I could admire him saying no to something he enjoys if it seemed like he was doing it for his family who were going through hell.
But no, it just seemed to all be about him. HE was suffering, so he stopped. I see little to admire in that.
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