I wonder…is it really the path outlined in the article – self-hate followed by the discovery that you can make people laugh followed by the impenetrable wall?
Or can it be:
1) Discovery that you can make people laugh
2) Success leading to high and fast living…..
3) combined with no time to learn about ones self and life in general
4) leading to drugs, booze, the crash, endless struggle, giving up….
No Gregg. That’s one of the best articles I’ve ever read and it will not make a dent.
Read it again, slowly, Gregg. Think about what he’s saying especially the parts where he changes tempo.
The irony is those that distance their real selves from others need to be close to others. They need it more than life. Otherwise, death become the better option.
My take… I think the article pretty much nails it in most cases. But, like anything else having to do with humans, one size does not fit all.
“Rorschach: I heard a joke once: Man goes to doctor. Says he’s depressed. Says life is harsh and cruel. Says he feels all alone in a threatening world. Doctor says, “Treatment is simple. The great clown Pagliacci is in town tonight. Go see him. That should pick you up.” Man bursts into tears. Says, “But doctor… I am Pagliacci.” Good joke. Everybody laugh. Roll on snare drum. Curtains.”
While “Funny People” (or more accurately, famous people) may appear to have self-loathing and suicide at a higher rate than ‘normal’ people, the medical condition known as depression is a physical issue that affects the general population at the same rate. People with these issues may gravitate to humor to deal with it, but mainly they use drugs and alcohol to ‘self-medicate’. These abuses cover the underlying issue of depression, which if left untreated, quite often leads to suicide.
Given the title and content you can all be forgiven for thinking this is an article about comedians. It is not.
It’s about suicidal depression. It’s about how to save lives which requires two things. Giving a shit and giving a shit before they die.
Billions of people live on this planet. Just one of them could save a life. Just one of us could make the difference.
… couldn’t even pay someone to hold his hand when he died…
…a guy talked me out of [suicide], though to this day I doubt he realizes it.
This is not funny. As for drugs and excess I don’t have much sympathy, but that’s a side issue.
I wonder…is it really the path outlined in the article – self-hate followed by the discovery that you can make people laugh followed by the impenetrable wall?
Or can it be:
1) Discovery that you can make people laugh
2) Success leading to high and fast living…..
3) combined with no time to learn about ones self and life in general
4) leading to drugs, booze, the crash, endless struggle, giving up….
No Gregg. That’s one of the best articles I’ve ever read and it will not make a dent.
Read it again, slowly, Gregg. Think about what he’s saying especially the parts where he changes tempo.
The irony is those that distance their real selves from others need to be close to others. They need it more than life. Otherwise, death become the better option.
My take… I think the article pretty much nails it in most cases. But, like anything else having to do with humans, one size does not fit all.
Go read the Wikipedia article on Richard Jeni:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Jeni
“Rorschach: I heard a joke once: Man goes to doctor. Says he’s depressed. Says life is harsh and cruel. Says he feels all alone in a threatening world. Doctor says, “Treatment is simple. The great clown Pagliacci is in town tonight. Go see him. That should pick you up.” Man bursts into tears. Says, “But doctor… I am Pagliacci.” Good joke. Everybody laugh. Roll on snare drum. Curtains.”
I’m reminded of Jack Point in The Yeoman of the Guard.
While “Funny People” (or more accurately, famous people) may appear to have self-loathing and suicide at a higher rate than ‘normal’ people, the medical condition known as depression is a physical issue that affects the general population at the same rate. People with these issues may gravitate to humor to deal with it, but mainly they use drugs and alcohol to ‘self-medicate’. These abuses cover the underlying issue of depression, which if left untreated, quite often leads to suicide.
Given the title and content you can all be forgiven for thinking this is an article about comedians. It is not.
It’s about suicidal depression. It’s about how to save lives which requires two things. Giving a shit and giving a shit before they die.
Billions of people live on this planet. Just one of them could save a life. Just one of us could make the difference.
… couldn’t even pay someone to hold his hand when he died…
…a guy talked me out of [suicide], though to this day I doubt he realizes it.
This is not funny. As for drugs and excess I don’t have much sympathy, but that’s a side issue.