Louis Theroux vs Westboro Baptists

[Guineveretoo]

I've never seen Theroux so close to cracking, even with the skinheads/KKK... It was clear these people were getting to him. He recognised that the younger women had a lot of potential in them, especially the 21 year old who was sometimes frustratingly on the verge of revealing her humanity... I think the kids really got to him as well - with lamb and lynx (the white nationalist girls) it almost seemed like a passing phase that he knew they might start to see around when they were older, but he could see the strength of the Phelps indoctrination here and the hypocrisy of the whole thing.

I think this issue was too much for him, and that's no criticism - I doubt anyone could handle it as well as he did. He seemed to communicate well with the younger members of the family and there was a genuine liking for some of them. It seemed to really get to him when he realised that he couldn't get to them, although they were still nice to him. Again, I think the 21 year old really affected him - when she was was talking about the guy who'd asked her out and later in the show she seemed on the brink of tears and I think Louis recognises severe repression when he sees it.

This was the bit that struck me, too. I really thought Louis was close to getting through to that 21 year old. When he asked if she had ever rebelled against the church, and she said that, if she had, she wouldn't tell him, but then went on to say that she regretted some of the things she had previously said and done, I got a sense that Louis realised he was too late.

I thought Louis was brilliant, although I also thought he was surprisingly nervous when actually interviewing Phelps.

 

[Termite Man]

One thing I did notice was that every single girl he talked to was not bothered about marriage/kids . Hopefully thats how things will stay and these bastards don't breed any more generations of hatemongers

 

[Idaho]

What they need is a christian minister who claims to completely agree with them, to read something else from the bible. The bible probably has about 5 comments in the whole book about homosexuality - of which a couple are at best nebulous.

It seems weird that they have fixated on this particular element.

"They worship the rectum"

It struck me that none of them really knew much in the bible at all but just listened to the preacher.

 

[waterloowelshy]

One thing I did notice was that every single girl he talked to was not bothered about marriage/kids . Hopefully thats how things will stay and these bastards don't breed any more generations of hatemongers

as a kind of aside to that - why did louis not question how the mother had raised 12 children when she was vehemently against any of her children having sex? – I mean she must have been a right goer at one point! – something that louis didn’t really pick up on – id have loved to seen the mothers response to him asking why she was so against her children having any relationships when she must have been a right sl*t at some point?!

 

[Chairman Meow]

I thought the problem with the young girls not wanting to marry was because there didn't appear to be any suitable young men for them to marry? Hopefully they'll go the way of the Shakers though.

 

[Orang Utan]

Has anyone here heard of The Plymouth Brethren?

I am an atheist.

Yeah, we had a couple at my middle school - they didn't go to assembly and they wore head scarves - no-one talked to them - are they a creepy cult? I just thought they were non-conformists

 

[Belushi]

Has anyone here heard of The Plymouth Brethren?

My Great Uncle Tom was one, they used to meet in a little tin chapel in our village.

I dont know much about them except he used to come to my Mams to watch the telly sometimes as they werent allowed to have one at home.

 

[STFC]

Crazy, crazy people. Very surprised that the only action against them by the public was a plastic drink cup being thrown from a moving car. Poor young lad whose head it bounced off wouldn't have had any idea why it happened.

I suspect that the police that kept them away from the funerals were there for their protection more than anything else. If they carry on abusing America's war dead then I'm sure some retribution will come their way.

 

[Balbi]

I was thinking, if they decided to take a jaunt to the U.K they'd probably receive a very traditional British head kicking - from police, public and others. I was wondering at which point 'gramps' decided to let his daughter front the pickets.

Much less chance of getting hurt then, eh Fred?

From wiki..

Two days after the September 11th attacks, a lone 19-year old named Jared stood on the street corner facing the church holding up a cardboard sign that said "Not today Fred." In two days, about 90 people joined him, waving American flags and anti-hate signs. Since then, "Not today Fred" has become a commonly used motto for counter protests against Phelps.

Now that's a fantastic way of dealing with them imo. 'Not Today Fred' relegates their self importance to the attitude you'd apply to a temper tantruming three year old 'Not today kid'.

 

[Roadkill]

Google 'phelps, mattock' and you come up with some insights into Phelps's character ...

 

[LDR]

The Rev. Fred Phelps reminds of that guy from Poltergeist.

 

[laptop]

The Rev. Fred Phelps reminds of that guy from Poltergeist.

Who's a straight lift of the old preacher in Wise Blood. Can't find a bloody picture

 

[Radar]

Balls, the tivo missed it. Any talk of a repeat ??

 

[waterloowelshy]

I thought the problem with the young girls not wanting to marry was because there didn't appear to be any suitable young men for them to marry? Hopefully they'll go the way of the Shakers though.

i took it as the mother not wanting her daughters to marry anyone or have any sexual contact with anyone ever. which was a bit perverse really coming from somebody that had given birth to 11 children?!

 

[Roadkill]

Balls, the tivo missed it. Any talk of a repeat ??

Wednesday at 1120pm, according to my TV guide.

 

[Balbi]

The men could marry, but the women couldn't

Lot of women in the church.

Methinks old Fred's been [comment removed in case of legal repercussions]

 

[Structaural]

Google 'phelps, mattock' and you come up with some insights into Phelps's character ...

Fuck, what an even nastier piece of work than I first thought.. beating his kids until they pass out from shock...

'missing' kids story

 

[Radar]

Wednesday at 1120pm, according to my TV guide.

W00tage... Thanks roadkill

 

[Structaural]

Mentions that he's been or going to be on Jerry Springer...

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

Theroux's ability to mix with utter cunts and keep a straight face can only be admired.

Top prog!

Yeah I aggree. He did begin to lose his cool a bit as he pointed out Jesus was a jew and it was the Romans that put him to death. I think he could have played it calmer and put more points to that chap.

Mind you there was no convicing them was there? and I would have lost my rag days before.

 

[STFC]

i took it as the mother not wanting her daughters to marry anyone or have any sexual contact with anyone ever. which was a bit perverse really coming from somebody that had given birth to 11 children?!

But it's God's Will. No comebacks allowed.

 

[stavros]

The three main subjects of the film were Phelps, the mother and the 21 year old, but I'm not sure any account was made of the the whereabouts of the father. Did I miss this somehow?

To try and insert some much missed humour into a thoroughly dark subject, two things struck me; firstly hell's going to be bloody crowded, and secondly there was a slight irony sitting next to my flatmate watching "God hates fags" whilst smoking a cigarette.

 

[wishface]

That whole lifestyle, the church, the too-many-kids, the firebrand preacher was so much that I actually thought it was going to rain fire and brimstone at one point.

 

[LilMissHissyFit]

Fuck, what an even nastier piece of work than I first thought.. beating his kids until they pass out from shock...

'missing' kids story

I feel cold...

 

[Poot]

There was a scene that made me laugh, which was the one where the three girls were giggling and being completely normal and affable and you just see them happily walking out of shot still carrying placards that say: "Death To Fags!" and "God Hates Dykes!".

I think the grandfather may have been suffering from some form of mental illness and has been able to domitate the family absolutely, and I don't think the 21 year old, or in fact any of the older girls are 100% convinced. I heard what was coming out of their mouths and it didn't match their body language.

And I don't care what anyone says, the "it's God's will" argument is brilliant. I use it to get out of loading the dishwasher. I suggest we all use it to avoid tasks we don't want to do. Always. Or for staying in the pub too late.

 

[Kid_Eternity]

as a kind of aside to that - why did louis not question how the mother had raised 12 children when she was vehemently against any of her children having sex? – I mean she must have been a right goer at one point! – something that louis didn’t really pick up on – id have loved to seen the mothers response to him asking why she was so against her children having any relationships when she must have been a right sl*t at some point?!

Don't know about 'right slut' but it was something I kept hoping he'd ask. It was a glaring hypocrisy that she was allowed to enjoy her self within her relationship but denied her children the same...

 

[Kid_Eternity]

The Rev. Fred Phelps reminds of that guy from Poltergeist.

Haha thought that too!

 

[Gerry1time]

Did anyone else wonder where they got their money when that woman said they spent around $200k per year on flights alone?

 

[Kid_Eternity]

Did anyone else wonder where they got their money when that woman said they spent around $200k per year on flights alone?

Yep! I think they said something about donations. Someone said they give 10% of their wages and that there's a lot of well paid lawyers that are members etc. But still didn't get a sense of the number of people in that 'church' and how it all added it...probably dodgy financial dealings or something?

 

[mitochondria]

never heard of the westboro - there are so many freaks in america. it is sad to see another madman brainwashing and controlling naive people but they are rather harmless (except self harm). i think they wouldnt let theroux in elohim city or similar places. could be interesting, too.