Robin Williams, star of Jumanji, dead in apparent suicide - by nobodyinparticular
icemann on 14/8/2014 at 03:16
Quote Posted by ZylonBane
Robin Williams' best film role was also one of his first--
The World According to Garp.
Completely agree. Loved that film.
demagogue on 14/8/2014 at 05:05
Responding to Tony's last post, I'd say a lot of what you're talking about is cultural differences that don't add up to full-on clinical depression, which I think is much deeper than culture and affects people in similar ways everywhere, every period ... I mean speaking of the pathological level illness, where the brain is clearly not operating properly, whether by genes or some breakdown in cognitive development, and it's way beyond just a cultural trope or personality quirk.
PTSD is another thing, where the pathology is induced, but as I understand it, it's been affecting humans in the same kind of way since antiquity, so you can predict it and its consequences pretty well. There were probably as many PTSD patients (as a %) in WWII as in Iraq as in the Peloponnesian War ... Well, modern warfare seems to exacerbate it I think, going by the literature on the US Civil War, Crimea War, and of course WWI "shell shocked" victims. The difference is social recognition. PTSD wasn't fully accepted as a real problem in the 1940s as it was in the 2000s, so most cases were unreported.
Nedan on 14/8/2014 at 07:51
:(
One of the few comics that I could never get mad at or think of anything bad about. So far... my favorite comments about him were from (
http://thedailybanter.com/2014/08/norm-macdonald-may-just-written-best-tribute-robin-williams-yet/) Norm Macdonald.
Favorite performance... sorry... but I grew up on it... Mork & Mindy. Even though a lot of his movies were absolutely amazing (our teacher actually had us watch Awakenings & do a report on it in class the next day), I still find myself drawn back & watching reruns of the old show more than anything else of his.
DDL on 14/8/2014 at 09:10
Quote Posted by demagogue
The difference is social recognition.
This.
Incidence of PTSD in response to traumatic situations has likely not changed, it's just we have a name for it now (much like how cases of autism appear to have increased, not because autism is become more common, but simply because we actually now have the ability to diagnose it).
Partly as a consequence of this, and as a consequence of less stigma toward mental illness in general, people are more willing to reveal their PTSD.
Back in the great war (some of this is hinted at in war poetry, and in private journals that are coming to light now that all the survivors are dead) there was a lot of "I am dead inside. I act like a normal person, smile at the appropriate times, but what returned from the trenches is a ruined shell of a man hiding a core of darkest despair. Still, mustn't grumble. What ho, chaps: how about a spot of cricket, eh?"
nickie on 14/8/2014 at 10:35
We're fighting back, apparently. But it's only the women so that doesn't really count.
In my experience, I've only noticed a difference in attitude to depression and other mental health issues in the last 25-30 years - a more general acceptance that it's illness rather than lack of moral fibre.
(Wilfred Owen is one of my most favourite poets)
faetal on 14/8/2014 at 11:33
For most of my working life, I've experienced people talking behind the backs of colleagues signed off work with depression. I've never been signed off myself, as I've always found that keeping myself busy makes it easier to get through an episode (depression that is, anxiety is a whole other story), but late '90s / early '00s it was definitely normal for people to casually refer to those signed off with depression as faking it, or to mock them by saying "they're off work because they're feeling sad" or words to that effect. What this isn't helped by is a general idea that a doctor will sign someone off with depression or prescribe anti-depressants at the drop of a hat. Sadly, there's a bit of truth in that. Fuck, I remember in 2006 when in the space of a week, I broke up with my fianceé at the time and my grandad died. I was desolate and went to the doctor to ask to be signed off of work for a week to attend the funeral and collect myself, so he signed me off with depression and asked if I wanted to be prescribed SSRIs. Fuck's sake - I'm supposed to be a wreck when it's in context!
[EDIT] That said, I think it depends on the workplace. I noticed this was very bad when I worked in a supermarket, moderately bad when in an office and not that bad to nearly non-existent in academia.
Muzman on 14/8/2014 at 12:27
Well his daughter has retreated from the internet thanks to the legions of organised grief trolls.
On the bright side this might be a case high profile and bad taste enough to get twitter et al to do something about these assholes. Internet feminists and rape victims etc give a sigh of relief.
(seriously few people make me want to punch them quite so much as those folks. But they probably got punched enough back in school)
demagogue on 14/8/2014 at 12:38
That was for the best anyway. Internet is not where you want to be taking sincere grief. She needs to be around people that she knows & that care for her.
nickie on 14/8/2014 at 12:50
Quote Posted by faetal
[EDIT] That said, I think it depends on the workplace. I noticed this was very bad when I worked in a supermarket, moderately bad when in an office and not that bad to nearly non-existent in academia.
That doesn't surprise me at all. And I was probably generous in my 25-30 estimate. Edit. Or perhaps it's the meaning of depression that's changed.
'Interesting' article about the '(
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-28753326) link between comedy and depression'.
Tony_Tarantula on 14/8/2014 at 13:56
Quote Posted by demagogue
Responding to Tony's last post, I'd say a lot of what you're talking about is cultural differences that don't add up to full-on clinical depression, which I think is much deeper than culture and affects people in similar ways everywhere, every period ... I mean speaking of the pathological level illness, where the brain is clearly not operating properly, whether by genes or some breakdown in cognitive development, and it's way beyond just a cultural trope or personality quirk.
PTSD is another thing, where the pathology is induced, but as I understand it, it's been affecting humans in the same kind of way since antiquity, so you can predict it and its consequences pretty well. There were probably as many PTSD patients (as a %) in WWII as in Iraq as in the Peloponnesian War ... Well, modern warfare seems to exacerbate it I think, going by the literature on the US Civil War, Crimea War, and of course WWI "shell shocked" victims. The difference is social recognition. PTSD wasn't fully accepted as a real problem in the 1940s as it was in the 2000s, so most cases were unreported.
Not entirely. If it's just a result of "genes" we should have seen similar levels of erratic behavior before now. Keep in mind that as with alcoholism, just because someone is pre-disposed towards a condition does not necessarily mean they will exhibit that behavior themselves. The brain is remarkably good at adapting and re-wiring itself according to external stimulus. Perhaps there is something about U.S. culture(it's dehumanizing nature) that helps trigger mental illness in those predisposed to it.
If it's a breakdown in cognitive development, the massively higher rates of mental illness in the US vs other 1st world countries suggests that it is something about either U.S. society, our environment, or what U.S. children experience that is causing a failure in cognitive development. One of the guys in my speaking club ( a guy old enough to remember Nazi Germany) has stated a similar opinion: he thinks Americans are crazy because most have never learned how to cope with any significant trauma or hardships...while he attributes his success in the military to his experiences seeing the aftermath of World War 2 as a child.
From: (
http://markmanson.net/america/)
Quote:
I've noticed that the way we Americans communicate is usually designed to create a lot of attention and hype. Again, I think this is a product of our consumer culture: the belief that something isn't worthwhile or important unless it's perceived to be the best (BEST EVER!!!) or unless it gets a lot of attention (see: every reality-television show ever made).
This is why Americans have a peculiar habit of thinking everything is “totally awesome,” and even the most mundane activities were “the best thing ever!” It's the unconscious drive we share for importance and significance, this unmentioned belief, socially beaten into us since birth that if we're not the best at something, then we don't matter.
We're status-obsessed. Our culture is built around achievement, production and being exceptional. Therefore comparing ourselves and attempting to out-do one another has infiltrated our social relationships as well. Who can slam the most beers first? Who can get reservations at the best restaurant? Who knows the promoter to the club? Who dated a girl on the cheerleading squad?
Socializing becomes objectified and turned into a competition. And if you're not winning, the implication is that you are not important and no one will like you.And
Quote:
Depression and anxiety disorders are soaring within the US. Our inability to confront anything unpleasant around us has not only created a national sense of entitlement, but
it's disconnected us from what actually drives happiness: relationships, unique experiences, feeling self-validated, achieving personal goals. It's easier to watch a NASCAR race on television and tweet about it than to actually get out and try something new with a friend.
