My brain does stupid things sometimes. · 1:33am Aug 14th, 2014
So, I've been thinking about Robin Williams, like a lot of people have, and the broader issue of why people who make us laugh are more likely to suffer from depression. I haven't really been able to put all my thoughts into a cogent blog post, since they've ended up being incredibly disjointed. Thus, I've decided to just list them all out.
1. One of my first reactions to hearing people discuss funny people and suicide was denial based on personal anecdote. The first time anyone described me as "funny" was about ten years ago, and by that point it had been a solid five years since I'd seriously contemplated suicide. I then realized that this initial purely-emotional defensiveness actually supported the idea that funny people are more prone to suicide and other self-destructive behavior. I then realized that with a little work, this could be fashioned into a rather funny joke if I ever find a more appropriate context.
2. Incidentally, more rigorous studies than mere anecdote also support the idea that funny people are more likely to suffer from depression.
3. Incidents like this are the reason I always assume that jackasses who tell other people to "kill themselves" on the internet are absolutely serious. I always assume that it is said in the hopes that the object of their ire is secretly depressed and that their comment will be the statement that pushes them over the edge. A few months ago, my preferred social media service was alight with repeated declarations that Justin Bieber's tendency to act like a teenager who has too much money and fame for his own good meant that the world would be better off if he killed himself. Helpfully, these folks clarified these insinuations with further statements along the lines of: "I am not joking. If Justin Bieber had any decency, he would kill himself." Predictably, these same folks are now in anguish over Robin Williams, presumably because they enjoyed Mr. Williams' output, so his death actually has a direct effect on them, as opposed to preteen girls who have poor taste in pop culture. I guarantee you that they will not remember their sorrow the next time an entertainer they dislike does something boorish, or the next time a politician they disagree with states his or her opinion. It'll be right back to "Kill yourself."
4. If you have ever actually claimed that someone should kill themselves, please get some help. You may not need the same kind of help as the sort of person who would take you seriously and follow through with your "advice," but you need help. It's not healthy to go through life filled with so much anger at people you've never met.
5. Sorry for being so heavy. In case you're wondering, most of my self-destructive tendencies are under control, thanks to a series of talented therapists and some medication.
sky did a pretty good vid about it.
Because people ARE serious. It's so much easier to kill when you have no emotional connection to whatever onscreen commenter or whatever else that annoys them then killing someone in person. Not that it would change their want for that person to die or suffer in some horrible fashion, but they'd be a little less likely to speak their mind on that person.
From tumblr drama that doesn't get much attention for whatever reason like Pinkiepony and her crew trying to drive a simple animator who made that joke of a short with Button mash harassing him even long after he took his video down sending him death threats, learning of his depression and sending more comments trying to encourage the suicide, all this and more are the ones that make me see why someone like Robin would not want to be in such an increasingly disgusting world where no matter what you do no one truly cares.
I don't know what I wanted to say anymore. Only that this blog is full of much truth. Just because they have people agreeing with them, doesn't put them in the right. Just means there are a lot more sick people than many would like to admit seem to outnumber the trolls.
2368206 That guy knows exactly whats up!
Amazing video.
Yeah... The thing that pisses me off so much about this tragedy is how it's become a theatre of the bizarre where strangers debate back and forth whether or not Williams was selfish or not in his choice to take his own life. The truth is, whether or not you consider it selfish, it happened. And using someone's death, no matter how famous and influential they are, as a platform for your cookie-cutter ideals on suicide and depression in general comes across as despicable to me.
Not sure if I'm actually being intelligent and at all helpful or just reactionary. But my brain does stupid things as well.
There was a rather good article on Cracked about Comedians and mental/emotional health issues.
http://www.cracked.com/quick-fixes/robin-williams-why-funny-people-kill-themselves/
2368233 - Interestingly, something came up in my tumblr dashboard feed that addresses something similar.
Short version: OP says Rush Limbaugh is a horrible asshole for whatever his comments were about Robin Williams. Reblogger says that as a suicidal depressive, he appreciates that Limbaugh is trying to discourage people from romanticizing suicide, because resisting it is difficult enough without people waxing poetic about how Robin Williams is finally free of this cruel world of overwhelming pain.
2368237 - That's actually what prompted me to think about all this in the first place. I suppose I forgot to mention that in the blog post.
I've always wondered what qualifies as serious contemplation for suicide. Is it the point where you have the gun in your mouth ready to go, or the point where it passes from not a bad idea to maybe I should really do it?
There's no intended sarcasm or derision in that question. I honestly don't know how far down the rabbit hole I am. I've never tried, but every time I have an episode it starts looking like less and less of a bad idea.
There was a stretch of a few days several months ago where I was thinking really hard about the gun in my closet. No particularly damaging thoughts, just intently aware of the fact that it was there. It scared me.
Per item number five: Talking about heavy topics is good sometimes. It's nice to know I'm not alone.
2368337 I think both the romanticization and the shaming of suicide are harmful, overall. Sometimes I think that maybe if we didn't put so much weight on how self-serving and clearly shameful suicide is, more people would be willing to talk about it, share techniques and resources to find the mental fortitude to keep on keeping on, and maybe people considering suicide wouldn't have the same trouble with finding help when they desperately need it.
At the same time, the idea that suicide is the best way to deal with a world that seems to be against you and finally be at peace is also dangerous and needs to be stopped from spreading as it does. Suicide as a noble sacrifice, as a romantic gesture, as a means of escape are all pretty little lies wrapped up in a dangerous ribbon. And I agree that it shouldn't be happening. But we still need to talk about suicide, on a more level-headed and informative way.
Part of why this is such a huge deal to me personally is because I talk about suicide all the time with a friend of mine, who has survived three different suicide attempts in. For reasons that I can understand but don't agree with, he refuses both medical and therapeutic help, and sometimes it feels like I'm the only thing in the world keeping him from another try. I know that's not the case, since he has a support network of several friends, teachers, and his mother, but it's still not a nice place to be. I never tell him that it was a selfish move to try, or that his attempts were justified, though. He gets enough of that from other people, and in his head, from his point of view, it's his life to end or not, and it's his choice to end it or not. All I can do is offer my support and remind him that I would miss him if he died, and so would many other people in his life. That, and put him on Campus suicide watch discreetly. But if we don't find a way to have educated and productive discussions about mental illness as a whole and specifically suicide prevention and support, it's not gonna get better. And it really, really needs to.
Stallion goes to doctor. Says he's depressed. Says life seems harsh and cruel. Says he feels all alone in threatening world where what lies ahead is vague and uncertain. Doctor says, "Treatment is simple. Great clown Ponyacci is in town tonight. Go and see him. That should pick you up." Stallion sighs. Says "I'm afraid not even Ponyacci could get me to laugh."
tedanderson.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Pinkie-panels.jpg
It's no reason to tell someone to kill themselves... but Bieber is a teenager who has too much money and fame for his own good. (Well, technically he stopped being a teenager last March.)
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I would say, the line is that point where it stops being " should I do it" and becomes "here's how I would do it," and then finally hits ,"I could do this. What's really stopping me?"
What scares me is what will happen when I can't answer that last question."
Cracked.com did an article like this. Should tots read it.
http://www.cracked.com/quick-fixes/robin-williams-why-funny-people-kill-themselves/
2369955 - Oh, the relationship between the two isn't necessarily causal. Rather, there's a strong correlation between depression and suicidal tendencies, and the former can make the latter worse.
2368956
Alright I'm a bit away from the line still. Whew.
2369955 2370935
It doesn't help that a lot of the medications for depression can result in suicidal tendencies.