Ultrathread I: Thread of the Year - 2014

[Dragon2010]

Even after being here less than two weeks, you can see the differences in American politics and governance compared to Australia.

I will say one thing, they're a very patriotic breed. At least where I am. When that ISIS leader came out and said his quote about America not using drone and mentioned the White House, the reactions interesting.

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I will mention a point, see if we can get discussion going. Mental health - depression, anxiety and such. No doubt a major issue. But is society also to blame, given todays stigma?

I'll give an example. A male is suffering depression, but he won't seek help as he think it will make him look weak/damage his pride as he to appeal to the whole "strong male" stererotype of society, or his friends will call him weak/tell him to man-up.

I, for one, think it is an issue. People need to conform to a certain image, girls need to be "girls", guys need to "guys". I even remember hearing it growing up, "toughen up, you're a guy, not a girl - don't be so emotional/weak".

It makes it hard to seek help - men don't talk about issues as openly as females do.

 

[sensesmaybenumbed]

Yet plenty of men who post here are pretty honest about their feelings, and the support network on offer is without peer.

Misanthrope has Miss Anne Thrope, et. al....

Where's she been btw?

 

[umina panther]

Pretty sure she moved to China to be with Mis and now he left

 

[Dani]

Hardest thing for me about telling people I was suffering, was that more than half my "friends" have turned their backs on me. Too hard basket I guess.

Says a lot more about them than it does me, but I guess it still comes down to that stigma.

 

[Twizzle]

true Dani

 

[Misanthrope]

While it does say a lot about these 'friends' of yours, I don't begrudge those who find it too hard to deal with.

There's only so much relentless negativity and self loathing you can handle before it starts to have a detrimental effect on you as well.

Case in point: since I'm vocally open about my ongoing issues with depression, I get people - friends and strangers alike- reaching out to be for advice or support.

I'm honoured and happy to try to help, but there comes a point where the weight of their need starts to drag me back down towards a dark place I can't go. It's particularly hard when I try to give advice I know can work from personal experience, but they're too deep in their own head to be helped. If a person isn't ready to be helped, trying to push them is only going to strain the friendship and make you both miserable.

Not a commentary on Dani's post specifically, but I can't say I can blame people from not wanting to deal with us when we're at our worst.

 

[Eelementary]

Even after being here less than two weeks, you can see the differences in American politics and governance compared to Australia.

I will say one thing, they're a very patriotic breed. At least where I am. When that ISIS leader came out and said his quote about America not using drone and mentioned the White House, the reactions interesting.

--------------

I will mention a point, see if we can get discussion going. Mental health - depression, anxiety and such. No doubt a major issue. But is society also to blame, given todays stigma?

I'll give an example. A male is suffering depression, but he won't seek help as he think it will make him look weak/damage his pride as he to appeal to the whole "strong male" stererotype of society, or his friends will call him weak/tell him to man-up.

I, for one, think it is an issue. People need to conform to a certain image, girls need to be "girls", guys need to "guys". I even remember hearing it growing up, "toughen up, you're a guy, not a girl - don't be so emotional/weak".

It makes it hard to seek help - men don't talk about issues as openly as females do.

As someone who struggles with depression, the biggest issue IMO is the ability to get help - it's a big step to take to ask for help, but it's not as simple as walking into a therapist's/psychiatrist's office and asking for help.

There are all these hoops and requisites before you can get the help, and honestly, I know plenty of people (already in a bad state of mind) who have just decided it's too hard and stressful.

It took me a long time to get a referral to see a specialist, because my idiot doctor thought, "You'll be right - thanks to WebMD, so many people self-diagnose, blah blah blah," while completely ignoring what I was telling him.

 

[Misanthrope]

I've just never found one I liked. It's all been new age crap or, worse, an insistence on using CBT despite me telling them again and again that it has not worked for me on multiple occasions in the past.

 

[MKEB...]

I am getting sick of those Westboro Baptist Loonies. Forcing their social and moral conventions is one thing; but forcing them onto others at a funeral is quite another.

It shows a complete disregard for taste, and the sanctity of death and mourning.

The picketing of Robin Williams death simply over a character he portrayed in a movie highlights ignorance on a grand scale. Whether or not you disagree with homosexuality; this is not the right place to air your opinion.

As for the camp planning to picket in counter, this is just as perplexing.

It begs a question to me of, is it written that idealots zealots and fanatics must be confrontational?

 

[Twizzle]

I saw a TV special on those clowns, what a pack if idiots

 

[sensesmaybenumbed]

WE all need a laugh MKEB. And laugh is what I do at extremists like that.

They actually had the gall to challenge me here in the US after I laughed at them while walking past a few weeks ago on the way to an O's game.

I stopped, turned, walked back and told him that yes, he had the right to free speech. It didn't mean what he was saying deserved respect just because he thought that was the case. He said that I should agree with him and so should everyone else. I pointedly told him that what he proposed was not freedom but a dictatorship and he seemed a bit confused.

I think he was just kind of surprised that anyone would actually respond to him at all, let alone in a calm, pointed and rational manner.

 

[Twizzle]

For some one who is supposed to preach forgiveness and love, they sure do preach a lot of hate.

 

[Drew-Sta]

Please don't think that Westboro are an indication of what Christianity actually is.

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

Sorry Drew, too late...


:sarcasm:

 

[Eelementary]

Please don't think that Westboro are an indication of what Christianity actually is.

Too late - I have my pitchfork coming back from Sharpie's Pitchfork & Engraving service (anecdotally, it has an engraving of a bird flipping over a church...:sarcasm and I'm warming up my vocal chords with the sweet, sweet sounds of pianee and banjo.

 

[sensesmaybenumbed]

Please don't think that Westboro are an indication of what Christianity actually is.

What? There's more to it than the whacky billboards?!

 

[Apey]

A gay guy I know says he tweets explicit gay sex pictures to Westboro twitter every now and then. Can't work out if he's serious or not, it is something he would do.

 

[Joker's Wild]

Pretty sure Twitter would banhammer you very quickly for doing that

 

[Dragon2010]

Pretty sure Twitter would banhammer you very quickly for doing that

Twitter is much more relaxed than Facebook with nude/sexual content though.

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

Doubt Twitter would be in a rush to appease WBC either.