So there's a movie out called "Assisted Living." (I have not seen it.) It's about a guy who takes care of old people at a nursing home. He smokes lots of pot and plays tricks on the residents. The tricks all appear funny and endearing, but a controversy has arisen over the film. See, it was filmed with real residents in real nursing homes, and many of the characters are made to look like fools. They DID sign consent forms, which were vetted by younger people at the facilities. But still, many caregivers don't think the old people were qualified to give informed consent. Here's the thing: the protesters are basically saying: The movie makes these people look senile. Why? Because they signed the forms. Why? Because they are senile. Pop quiz: Is this irony, paradox, circular reasoning, or none of the above?
Leave a Reply