Sunday, March 02, 2008

Personal testimony

In extraordinary acts of selflessness, two women worthy of great respect have gotten out front with some mental health issues. I really believe they will be the mechanism that influences some people running on the ragged edge to go and seek help.

Crystal, who writes a very worthwhile and amusing blog not only had some issues and the good sense to find help. She also blogs and tells us about it, first here
and then here.

Unfortunately, Crystal was subjected to some stupid and insensitive comments. It is great to see the outpouring of support for, though. MattG stepped up on his own blog and eloquently put the matter into perspective.


Hard on the heels of Matt's remarks, my own Beloved Bride wrote another excellent piece in support of Crystal. Hers was not in the abstract or academic sense. She has some first hand experience with the topic.

Now, I'll note that it takes a lot of concern and dedication for Crystal and H. to put their personal accounts out in public. It is wonderful how the readers have made sympathetic and supportive comments. Well, ALMOST all have been supportive.

In the spirit of conciliation and brotherhood, I'd like to extend my personal greetings to the main insensitive critic of Crystal's blog. I have my personal feelings and you have your own. {cue violins} There's room in this world for differences of opinion. I realize how easy it must be to hide behind the anonymity of the internet, using some cute name. And why SHOULD you expose yourself to the vitriol of those who blindly support our friends and others who've never done US any harm? No, I'd like to give you the opportunity to engage in sport with me the first time you're in North Texas. I'd be quite happy to take you out to a private shooting range and we can have our own head to head contest. You may bring your own pistols or I'd be happy to loan you mine.

And by way of benediction, Anonymous: Take with you our richly deserved accolades, and then go ye therefore hence and have intercourse with thineownself, not forgetting to share this activity with the noble steed upon which you arrived.

12 comments:

Murphy said...

"Take with you our richly deserved accolades, and then go ye therefore hence and have intercourse with thineownself, not forgetting to share this activity with the noble steed upon which you arrived."

Ha!


You are a poet, sir.

Phillip said...

Somehow, though, I think you used words that will be too long and difficult for said person to follow. I've no doubt that interpretation shall be required.

Christina RN LMT said...

You, Sir, are a true gentleman.

Crystal said...

Bravo, sir. Bravo.

Assrot said...

I don't know what kind of person would be so insensitive and critical of someone that has had a problem (mental or otherwise) and is willing to share their experience in the hopes of helping others as well as theirself.

I could say what I think about such a person but I have previously promised you not to speak in such a manner on your blog.

I will say that I think you handled the situation quite nicely and I hope the person is stupid enough to take you up on your offer.

I commend you on your way with words sir. I wish that I could be so eloquent and so effective without the use of certain language. Alas, it is not to be. I have a Ph.D. and a 145 IQ but my greatest weakness is communication with others, especially those that anger me.

Again, well said JPG.

Anonymous said...

This one person is why I keep my mental illness a secret. I feel safe enough here and at other blogs to talk about it.

Thanks for standing up for Crystal. In doing so you stood up for me and others, who need our champions when slimy dirtballs try to hurt us by being judgmental of something I doubt they know anything about.

Anonymous said...

As for those who think it their place in life to discourage the clinically depressed:

They are the ones who physically stand idly by, and then jeer the efforts of a young woman trying to rescue children from a burning car, or a building.

They lend new meaning to the term "varmit rifle."

An asshole on occasion has a useful function, such a varmit is at best a hemorrhoid.

And I'd like to remind folks that eye witnesses, depending on their perspective, give different descriptions. Where JPG saw a "Noble Steed," I saw that varmit's mother!

phlegmfatale said...

Elegantly stated, Sir.

FarmGirl said...

Very well put, JPG, but I gotta ask you to leave the poor steed out of it. It's not the ride's fault that the driver has a severe case of cranial-rectal inversion!

Anonymous said...

Well said sir. For the life of me, I will never understand people like that air-wasting idiot.

FHB said...

Loved that. Gutless trolls who won't ID themselves should all piss off. And it's great to hear your friend is doing better.

Kevin said...

I've spent my whole life living with, loving and learning from my older brother. He has Down's Syndrome - and I kicked a lot of ass as a youth sticking up for him and straightening out prejudices of the ignorant.
One thing I have learned is the fear that exists in the minds of the foolish. Fear that that can "catch crazy" from the mentally ill. That fear is hard to slap out of them but a good brow beating usually does the trick, if not, then a severe asskicking mended their ways.

In adults, or the internet version thereof, all I can surmise is that they strive to convince themselves that they are immune to frailties of the mind - as they publicly prove the opposite.

The insecure seek to show that they are better than others by belittling any flaw they can find - Much like a pack of jackals who only attack a weak or defenseless prey, as soon as the rest of the herd turns and takes a stand, the jackals slink off into the night.

Knowing that you have an illness and seeking treatment carries no shame - showing your fear by trying to ridicule or humiliate someone with an illness just proves a lack of humanity that borders somewhere between the reactions of the uncivilized savages and the beasts of the forests.