Forget rituximab! The DWP can cure you at the Job Centre!

[SilverbladeTE]

omg! I was not aware of that! I was trying to see a positive side to it, but skip that! this is indeed a nasty scheme... No wonder these people were being so positive in the video!

I now remember reading about this on PR a couple of weeks ago. I had no idea this was part of that same psychology strategy. It's pretty gruesome when you think about it. Brings back memories of Spanish Inquisition type episodes in history, but instead of physical torture it's psychological torture...

what I've been saying for ages
hence UNUMProvident being involved , and the various schemes so "entrepreneurs" can make more money off us.
More money for the fat cats an their ilk

once you devalue people like that, you cut the basic underpinnings away, and you bet your sweet arse much worse people will take advantage of it, hence the way our countries are tipping into an abyss

 

[halcyon]

I do fear you may be right! If so, that also calls journalistic integrity into question. Aren't they supposed to do basic checks?

I don't blame them but it's very unfortunate. I've sent ITV an email regarding it. viewerservices@itv.com appears to be the best place to send them a comment about this if anyone else is interested in doing so.

 

[halcyon]

I really need to know where it was originally posted though.

https://www.facebook.com/StartSmilingAgain scroll down a bit to February.

 

[alex3619]

https://www.facebook.com/StartSmilingAgain scroll down a bit to February.

Yes, I found it and sent it on. Thanks.

 

[Bob]

It's definitely the same 'Beverly' in both videos. (Watch at 2 mins in the second video.)
In what looks like the most recent video (the second video) she says her life was turned around in eight weeks.
I suppose it is possible that a customer has felt that the 'therapy' has helped her significantly, and has even been transformative, on multiple occasions after eight weeks of therapy on each occasion.

 

[AaroninOregon]

Wow so it cures epilepsy too? Amazing.

7 years of epilepsy gone in 8 weeks. SIGN. ME. UP.

 

[Snow Leopard]

From the article, an example of the wit and wisdom of Start Smiling Again's glorious leader:
Bloody hell.

Sexism as well as ableism. It figures!

 

[Sean]

Time for the 'F' word. No, I am going to do it, you can't stop me. Here it comes, ready or not, publish and be damned...

FRAUD

[EDIT: For the record, I am not accusing Beverly of fraud. I am accusing the authorities for promoting such obvious anti-science guff. They have no excuses whatsoever, and it is immoral in the extreme.]

 

[moosie]

I notice that the Start Smiling Again web site is down for maintenance . . . glad it is recorded here.

 

[Scarecrow]

I've sent ITV an email regarding it. viewerservices@itv.com appears to be the best place to send them a comment about this if anyone else is interested in doing so.

Here's another report, this time from the BBC.

Beverley is one row from the back at 2:32.

 

[worldbackwards]

Beverley is one row from the back at 2:32.

She gets about, doesn't she. Good to know someone's helping her, she does seem to have a hell of a time.

 

[Bob]

It's a new forum game: Where's Beverly. (A female version of Where's Wally.) (But I think I'm being a bit rude and unfair if Beverly is a genuine client.)

 

[TiredSam]

lol, It's a new forum game: Where's Beverly. (A female version of Where's Wally.) (But I think I'm being a bit rude and unfair if Beverly is a genuine patient.)

Oh go on then, I'll play. If you've got twitter she's @Bevdavies79

To be fair it looks like her rape story might be genuine considering a couple of things that she's retweeted, so we'd better be cautious in our condemnation of her, she could be a geniune customer of his who goes back regularly and is happy to help him out with another video because she thinks he's great.

 

[Scarecrow]

lol, It's a new forum game: Spot Beverly. (A female version of Spot Wally) (I think I'm being a bit rude and unfair if Beverly is a genuine patient.)

I'm very uncomfortable about this. There is NO reason that I have seen so far to for us to conclude that Beverley is not a genuine patient and we should tread carefully there. I'm going to be charitable (until I know otherwise) and take her testimonies as a truthful account and assume she is very enthusiastic about her endorsement for a programme she has found helpful. I'd far rather look stupid at the end of the day than jump to conclusions.

Doesn't mean questions shouldn't be asked.

 

[Bob]

I'm very uncomfortable about this. There is NO reason that I have seen so far to for us to conclude that Beverley is not a genuine patient and we should tread carefully there. I'm going to be charitable (until I know otherwise) and take her testimonies as a truthful account and assume she is very enthusiastic about her endorsement for a programme she has found helpful. I'd far rather look stupid at the end of the day than jump to conclusions.

Doesn't mean questions shouldn't be asked.

Yes, I agree, we should assume that Beverly is a genuine client unless we have evidence to the contrary, and we should have compassion and empathy. I think my previous post was unfair and inappropriate.

Our focus should be elsewhere: On the unsubstantiated promotional material re claims of a successful treatment.

 

[worldbackwards]

I'm very uncomfortable about this. There is NO reason that I have seen so far to for us to conclude that Beverley is not a genuine patient and we should tread carefully there. I'm going to be charitable (until I know otherwise) and take her testimonies as a truthful account and assume she is very enthusiastic about her endorsement for a programme she has found helpful. I'd far rather look stupid at the end of the day than jump to conclusions.

Yeah, fair enough. But it is interesting that virtually everything about this (pals with the DWP in a programme of very dodgy repute, the nasty internet misogyny and books about 'how to attract women') scream "conman and psychopath" very loud and very clear.

 

[TiredSam]

Either he's a conman, or he's deluded and believes his own babble. Either way, the DWP have no business sending anyone to him, that's the main issue.

 

[Scarecrow]

I think my previous post was unfair and inappropriate.

Sorry, Bob, I didn't mean my previous post as a wrist slap. I appreciated the humour in [yours: edit].

I think it's concerning that the BBC and ITV, not forgetting David Rahman, think it's necessary to film what seem to be sham sessions in an effort to get the news story across. Where are the genuine classes?

 

[Scarecrow]

Yeah, fair enough. But it is interesting that virtually everything about this (pals with the DWP in a programme of very dodgy repute, the nasty internet misogyny and books about 'how to attract women') scream "conman and psychopath" very loud and very clear.

Well, the "Life is a bitch" gag didn't personally offend me, which is not to say that I don't understand why others might find it offensive - I just don't interpret it that way.

I don't find it sinister that somebody should write a 'how to attract women' self help book. It starts off absolutely lovely:

Impeccable manners are a must if you are to succeed with the opposite sex.

All women love good manners and we live in a society where manners are in short supply. I can't emphasize enough that good manners will distinguish you from the hordes of other men who simply do not care.

Amen

I'm not going to fork out £5.22 to read the rest of it but I don't see anything of concern.

Use the evidence that is damning by all means, not something that is clearly benign.

 

[Bob]

Sorry, Bob, I didn't mean my previous post as a wrist slap. I appreciated the humour in.

Thanks scarecrow. It's OK, I didn't read it as that. I'm wrist slapping myself!