Robin Williams.

[Guest]

I just watched this... I made myself watch it to the end, but it was hard work. All those annoying noises (?) they make between each frickin joke

http://youtu.be/vd-UrxZ1Q0E

[The Nal]

nah... I pretty much can't stand him

no sense of humility, not particularly funny, and too much up himself.

I don't know one 'chat-show' host who is close to bearable. UK or US.

I like Fallon, Letterman, Wossy and Norton. Well, can tolerate them.

The US guys are doing it every night. His top 10 lists stopped being funny after the first week.

I just watched this... I made myself watch it to the end, but it was hard work. All those annoying noises (?) they make between each frickin joke

Standard stuff really. Most of the "jokes" are fairly pedestrian. American light entertainment. Letterman has the same banter with Paul Shaffer.

As for Fallon, anyone who takes of Neiler this well is ok with me.

http://youtu.be/cyFSYA-u2dY

Edited August 21, 2014 by The Nal

[Guest]

American light entertainment. Letterman has the same banter with Paul Shaffer.

it's the only bit I don't like.. not that I get to see it much

Wossy and Norton? they can shove it... they always turn every interview into something either hopelessly trivial and/or about themselves. And so much fawning...

[zero000]

Well Henry Rollns is a dick:

http://pitchfork.com/news/56421-henry-rollins-criticizes-robin-williams-in-fuck-suicide-essay/

[kaosmark2]

Well Henry Rollns is a dick:

http://pitchfork.com/news/56421-henry-rollins-criticizes-robin-williams-in-fuck-suicide-essay/

I thought we knew that anyway.

[Guest]

I thought we knew that anyway.

Did 'we'? I didn't, and he isn't, usually.

His isn't an unusual opinion. It is however very flawed. I spent most of my life with my mum telling us how she wanted to die, with regular failed attempts at suicide. There were times (and this might seem harsh) when her failure to end her life felt like a selfish act. We wanted the relief from her pain

[mrpman]

Watched Good Will Hunting the other night. In bits at all of RW's scenes really from start to finish, brilliant performance.

Will be a while before I watch Dead Poets Society in polite company I think.

[feral chile]

Its not really that simple though, is it?

No it's not. I have a few friends who suffer from depression, and when they socially withdraw I never know whether to give them space or to keep inviting them out, not sure whether they perceive it as being left out or getting hassled.

And before anyone says just ask them, it's not that simple either, same thing applies.

[kaosmark2]

No it's not. I have a few friends who suffer from depression, and when they socially withdraw I never know whether to give them space or to keep inviting them out, not sure whether they perceive it as being left out or getting hassled.

And before anyone says just ask them, it's not that simple either, same thing applies.

It's like with all human interactions, everyone is different. You have to use your knowledge of that person to make an educated guess about what to do.

Depressed people are still people, they can still be persuaded, still forgive irritations, still enjoy company, still act petty, etc. etc. How the depression manifests itself is different for everyone, but from my experiences both as a long-term sufferer myself and as someone with a number of friends who struggle - treating someone massively different from before you knew unless they ask as such is just about the worst thing possible. Depression makes you feel dehumanised already, isolated, weak, different. If you tell someone and they start treading excessively lightly around you it just emphasises a feeling that you're not a person but a victim.

Space can be useful, even essential, but to suddenly stop getting any invites at all is utterly horrible. You start to wonder whether you've become a burden, a demanding pit of endless whine that noone wants to be around. You believe you're unbearable, intolerable company, just a waste, a failure.

The line between enthusiasm and harassment is much harder to tread, but don't ever STOP inviting someone out regardless, just be accepting if they reject the invitation, and try and find the balance.

[lost]

Suddenly alot of people on US TV are talking about Cocaine use causing parkinsons.

Something I'd never heard of but google brought up this article in the guardian from 05..

http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/dec/14/health.drugsandalcohol

Edited August 22, 2014 by lost

[metallimuse]

I'm currently trying to help a friend with depression who tried to end it last month.I've been told its best not to confront it but when he mentions bits to just talk to him normally but not bring it up directly.

When I talk to him it's fine but he keeps sending snapshats about ending it which is very tough to see and deal with.

[feral chile]

I'm currently trying to help a friend with depression who tried to end it last month.I've been told its best not to confront it but when he mentions bits to just talk to him normally but not bring it up directly.

When I talk to him it's fine but he keeps sending snapshats about ending it which is very tough to see and deal with.

It's an extremely difficult thing to help with.

http://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/suicide-supporting-someone-else/how-can-i-help/

[Guest]

I'm currently trying to help a friend with depression who tried to end it last month.I've been told its best not to confront it but when he mentions bits to just talk to him normally but not bring it up directly.

When I talk to him it's fine but he keeps sending snapshats about ending it which is very tough to see and deal with.

Very tough. I think in a situation like yours, you need to be prepared for the possibility that he might succeed, and if he does, reassure yourself that you did what you could. Which is to be there.

There might be times when he might open up more than others. You can't be there all the time though. It's hard.

You also might need to talk about it too.

[feral chile]

It's like with all human interactions, everyone is different. You have to use your knowledge of that person to make an educated guess about what to do.

Depressed people are still people, they can still be persuaded, still forgive irritations, still enjoy company, still act petty, etc. etc. How the depression manifests itself is different for everyone, but from my experiences both as a long-term sufferer myself and as someone with a number of friends who struggle - treating someone massively different from before you knew unless they ask as such is just about the worst thing possible. Depression makes you feel dehumanised already, isolated, weak, different. If you tell someone and they start treading excessively lightly around you it just emphasises a feeling that you're not a person but a victim.

Space can be useful, even essential, but to suddenly stop getting any invites at all is utterly horrible. You start to wonder whether you've become a burden, a demanding pit of endless whine that noone wants to be around. You believe you're unbearable, intolerable company, just a waste, a failure.

The line between enthusiasm and harassment is much harder to tread, but don't ever STOP inviting someone out regardless, just be accepting if they reject the invitation, and try and find the balance.

Thanks for this, I do feel guilty, I feel like I should know what they want. As you say, everyone is different, some can talk about it and let you know if you're getting it wrong, others are more private and just retreat into themselves more.

[metallimuse]

Very tough. I think in a situation like yours, you need to be prepared for the possibility that he might succeed, and if he does, reassure yourself that you did what you could. Which is to be there.

There might be times when he might open up more than others. You can't be there all the time though. It's hard.

You also might need to talk about it too.

He's moving back to Leeds in October to be closer to his family so I'm hoping everything works out but it's been a trying couple of months.I just hope he keeps going.

[kaosmark2]

Thanks for this, I do feel guilty, I feel like I should know what they want. As you say, everyone is different, some can talk about it and let you know if you're getting it wrong, others are more private and just retreat into themselves more.

I've got attempts at helping others wrong and it made me feel like a failure as a human being, like I'm lacking proper empathy and understanding, but it's actually incredibly hard to judge and manage. I understand your sense of guilt, but there's no shame in not having a perfect understanding of how to help someone else.

[metallimuse]

I think my friend has tried to end it again.His father has phoned me and told me he took a bad turn again at the weekend and has been admitted to a hospital locally.He's given me a number to get through to him directly as he's listed me as a person who can be put through without question...I'm too scared to phone.

[Spindles]

Sorry to hear that. I can understand how hard it is to make that call.

[jump]

I think my friend has tried to end it again.His father has phoned me and told me he took a bad turn again at the weekend and has been admitted to a hospital locally.He's given me a number to get through to him directly as he's listed me as a person who can be put through without question...I'm too scared to phone.

If he has listed you as ok to talk to then he probably wants to talk to you, I'm not try to guilt you and I know from personal experience this is a shitty thing but you should call him.

[metallimuse]

I will call,I just couldn't bring myself to last night.

[Katster]

You can do it. No matter how nervous/anxious/shitty you might feel about calling - your pal will be feeling worse. It's nice they have listed you as such a contact.

[zero000]

I will call,I just couldn't bring myself to last night.

It's hard to know what to say but just give it a go. Just knowing that you're thinking about them will be a great comfort even if you just talk about the weather.

[metallimuse]

I phoned and spoke to him,Gunna go see him tomoz.

He didn't say much about what had happened and I still don't know.We just spoke about normal stuff.

I think the thing that frustrates me is I know he has issues and I know he has tried to kill himself but that's through other people.Me and him seem to skirt past the issue without really dealing/speaking about it.I don't know how to tackle it.

I seem to talk about me to fill the conversation as he doesn't say much and then I feel guilty about talking about me.

This is in no way me trying to make it about me but like others have said,I find it hard to speak to him in a way even though I want nothing more than to be able to talk and try to make things better.

[feral chile]

I phoned and spoke to him,Gunna go see him tomoz.

He didn't say much about what had happened and I still don't know.We just spoke about normal stuff.

I think the thing that frustrates me is I know he has issues and I know he has tried to kill himself but that's through other people.Me and him seem to skirt past the issue without really dealing/speaking about it.I don't know how to tackle it.

I seem to talk about me to fill the conversation as he doesn't say much and then I feel guilty about talking about me.

This is in no way me trying to make it about me but like others have said,I find it hard to speak to him in a way even though I want nothing more than to be able to talk and try to make things better.

That might be what he needs. He knows how you are with him, and has given his consent for you to talk to him.

When my son and his friend were in school, they had the same term teacher for years and they knew he was ill, they used to carry his stuff for him because he had difficulty walking and they were forever clowning around.

After they'd left, the school contacted them both, as he had asked them to visit him in hospital. so they went in, did their lighthearted stuff, and we then heard later that he had died while in hospital.

They were then asked by the school to take part in a memorial service that his family attended - again kept it light hearted and as positive as it's possible to be.

When my stepmum was really ill, she expressly asked me to keep smiling and positive, as it normalised things for her and reduced the fear. And when my father died, I asked my manager to let people know in work, and to ask them to just continue with the banter as normal, as it helped take my mind off things.

So, the point is, if he's turned to you, he'll be expecting you to be as you usually treat him.

Edited August 27, 2014 by feral chile

[metallimuse]

But I feel on the spot and forced.I'm not a natural speaker.Takes me to see someone a few times before I can feel relaxed and just chat.Even though we are good friends I feel like a stranger in a way and find it hard to be at ease.

I feel bad for saying this as it somehow makes me feel like I'm making it about me when I know it's him who's going through the tough times.This is the only place I can talk about it though as none of our joint friends know about his issues and he is on all my social media things.