Czarcasm. A question, if you would.

The BBQ Pit
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[QUOTE=RedRosesForMe]
OK, seeing as I’m the OP of that thread, I though I’d stop by and offer my thoughts.

If you do a search of my last 30 posts or so, you’ll see a lot of them mention my struggle with depression lately, which has gotten to be too much for me to handle on my own. Shit, if you swing my GQ I’ve got a thread where I’m asking about the timing of medication consumption for ultimate effectiveness where I volunteered the same info I did in that other thread.

Truth be told, with my lack of a phone right now, the fact that my best friend is now 3 hours away, my recent breakup, and that I haven’t been getting out much because I’ve been so miserable, the Dope is my one source of support and company. Despite my rather flippant tone in the OP, I sort of hoped that anyone who felt comfortable volunteering that rather personal information would be a source of advice, support, humorous anecdotes, something to help me through this rough spot. And since I’m sick of posting along the lines of “Gah, I’m miserable,” I though I’d poke a bit of fun at myself by asking others to join me in basking in our insanity.

Perhaps I shouldn’t have posed such a question. Maybe it wasn’t the right way to seek support. But it felt a lot better than wallowing in self pity.

I understand others’ points that such information could be used against me (and others) in the future. But honestly, I’ve seen plenty of posters volunteer exactly that information in scores of other threads.

Meh. I’m not too broken up about it. Guess I’ll just have to go post a thread in MPSIMS called “GAH! Look at me! I’m depressed!” :wink:
[/QUOTE]

I’ve been depressed, but that, IMHO wasn’t the right way to seek support. Not only for the reasons Czarcasm mentioned, but because you owe it to yourself to not treat yourself as broken and “crazy” and “insane.” That thread struck me as disrespectful of yourself and others illnesses. i.e. you were trying to be funny - and it isn’t a great topic to be funny about.

My medication history is out on this board for anyone to look up. And I’ll post it again if someone is looking for information on what side effects, what worked, how long - understanding its only pertinent to my own experience. And if someone wants to hold it against me, well, lets say I’ve been through worse.

I will say that I’ve noticed in the past a limited tolerance on this board for self moping and “gah! look at me! I’m depressed!” threads. You’ll find people are very supportive for a while, but if the theme of all your posts is “poor me” and you become a one trick pony over the subject of your own depression, things will not go well - which would be bad. I’d recommend going back to your original thread and posting updates on your status or a plea for extra support when things go bad. And watch the “look at me” part. Support me, sure. But using depression to become an attention whore (or creating the perception that is what you are doing) will backfire.

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[QUOTE=askeptic]
Agreed. But isn’t it possible that Meds are over prescribed? I mean some people are just assholes…when someone says they are in pain or I have cancer, Meds are clearly indicated, but when someone says “I don’t feel like I think everybody else feels” maybe it is just their perception that is wrong.

[/QUOTE]

Certainly the meds are overprescribed by some doctors. In the thread CarnalK linked, which was almost exactly the same type of thread I’d posted (“Who’s ever taken an anti-depressant?” where people listed all the anti-depressants they’d tried, what their experiences were, etc) someone mentioned being prescribed antidepressants while going through a divorce (and dumping them down the toilet, because they decided they didn’t need them). For someone who doesn’t have a history of mental illness, who doesn’t have serious impairment in day-to-day functioning, then no, anti-depressants aren’t called for. Like that poster said, “I’m getting divorced, of course I’m going to feel miserable.”

The problem is, people are different, just like your example of pain meds (cancer being a totally different story). I’ve got a high pain tolerance. I could probably get hit by a car and be out and about in a few days with the help of some Tylenol 3s. Some people, like my sister who’s practically bedridden over a stubbed toe, would need the big guns. I can’t get inside my sister’s body and see if she really is in more pain or if she’s just a pussy. Now, it’s the complete opposite with mental “pain.” I’m practically bedridden for no reason most of the time save my own negative thoughts and horrible mood. But, once again, I can’t get inside anyone else’s head and see if I’m actually in more pain or if I’m just a pussy.

So doctors have to treat it based on its outward signs. Does your depression/anxiety/whatever have a negative impact on your daily life? Does it prevent you from doing the things you need to do?

A good doctor won’t prescribe antidepressants unless it is having a significant impact on your daily life. But of course not all doctors are created equal.

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It can get downright ridiculous. Some people tell me it goes with old age. But right now, having just come down with pleurisy on top of everything else, I am presently taking a total of 7 — seven! — different prescription meds. How does a brain and body cope with all this?

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[QUOTE=Liberal]
It can get downright ridiculous. Some people tell me it goes with old age. But right now, having just come down with pleurisy on top of everything else, I am presently taking a total of 7 — seven! — different prescription meds. How does a brain and body cope with all this?
[/QUOTE]

Maybe this is slightly cross-posting, but it relates here because it involves Czarcasm. It was ugly of him to [post=9233391]equate Scientology to Libertarianism[/post]. I would more complimentarily compare it to how Buddhism is compatible with all forms of religions. Just as an analogy for it’s ability to overlay other philosophies. Libertarianism is, of course, nowhere near as well thought out as Buddhism has been. :wink:

Anyways, with Buddhism being compatible with your religion and all, and in regards to the last sentence I quoted, might I recommend Mindfulness In Plain English.

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[QUOTE=CarnalK]
Maybe this is slightly cross-posting, but it relates here because it involves Czarcasm. It was ugly of him to [post=9233391]equate Scientology to Libertarianism[/post]. I would more complimentarily compare it to how Buddhism is compatible with all forms of religions. Just as an analogy for it’s ability to overlay other philosophies. Libertarianism is, of course, nowhere near as well thought out as Buddhism has been. :wink:

Anyways, with Buddhism being compatible with your religion and all, and in regards to the last sentence I quoted, might I recommend Mindfulness In Plain English.
[/QUOTE]

I’m sorry, but am I being Pitted for my moderating or my posting? As far as I’m concerned, one has absolutely nothing to do with the other, unless you are implying that I am using my position as Moderator to abusing my position as poster.

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I’ve re-opened the thread , with a reminder of The Rules added.

47

[QUOTE=Czarcasm]
I’m sorry, but am I being Pitted for my moderating or my posting? As far as I’m concerned, one has absolutely nothing to do with the other, unless you are implying that I am using my position as Moderator to abusing my position as poster.
[/QUOTE]

Well just make sure you’re not using your position as a moderator to abuse posters in different positions. Coz that would be way more TMI than “What drugs do you take?”

Would the mods have closed a thread titled “Lets all post our home addresses!” ?
Because I can see a similarity.

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[QUOTE=essell]
Well just make sure you’re not using your position as a moderator to abuse posters in different positions. Coz that would be way more TMI than “What drugs do you take?”

Would the mods have closed a thread titled “Lets all post our home addresses!” ?
Because I can see a similarity.
[/QUOTE]
I’m glad you could see the similarity, because there’s a good chance I would close such a thread.

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[QUOTE=CarnalK]
Maybe this is slightly cross-posting, but it relates here because it involves Czarcasm. It was ugly of him to [post=9233391]equate Scientology to Libertarianism[/post]. I would more complimentarily compare it to how Buddhism is compatible with all forms of religions. Just as an analogy for it’s ability to overlay other philosophies. Libertarianism is, of course, nowhere near as well thought out as Buddhism has been. :wink:
[/quote]
For what it may be worth, Ayn Rand agreed with you.

I read the first four chapters

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[QUOTE=Czarcasm]
I’m sorry, but am I being Pitted for my moderating or my posting? As far as I’m concerned, one has absolutely nothing to do with the other, unless you are implying that I am using my position as Moderator to abusing my position as poster.
[/QUOTE]
Go ahead, abuse your position. Do it!

Hah! Didn’t think so.

Wuss.

You know I’m just kidding around, right? :: cowers in fear ::

[QUOTE=Czarcasm]
I’ve re-opened the thread , with a reminder of The Rules added.
[/QUOTE]
Well that seems fair enough.

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Shit timed out. Anyway, as in any such book, there are contradictions, gibberish, insightful notions, and good advice. It was interesting that he explicitly said that his form of Bhuddism is an exercise in religion. But stuff like socializing the quantum uncertainty principle always means buzzers and flashing lights. The appeals to science in an attempt to legitimize the practice were weak and tenuous. But it’s certainly good advice that one should relax when possible, question his beliefs, and open himself to a new awareness.

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[QUOTE=askeptic]
Agreed. But isn’t it possible that Meds are over prescribed?
[/QUOTE]
Yeah, absolutely, and as mentioned, these threads often contain folks mentioning how meds didn’t work for them and they found alternatives (cognitive behavior therapy for anxiety, etc.) or were able to cope without meds. That’s the value of the open communication of options.

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[QUOTE=Czarcasm]
I’ve re-opened the thread , with a reminder of The Rules added.
[/QUOTE]

Nicely done, sir!

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[QUOTE=Czarcasm]
I’m sorry, but am I being Pitted for my moderating or my posting? As far as I’m concerned, one has absolutely nothing to do with the other, unless you are implying that I am using my position as Moderator to abusing my position as poster.
[/QUOTE]

I know you were not talking to me, but neither, as far as I am concerned. I believe that most other mods would have done the same had it been them who stumbled upon that thread. Hence my OP.

Thanks for reopening that thread (not that I plan to read or post in it). People can cover their own arses, if they see need.

55

[QUOTE=Liberal]
Shit timed out. Anyway, as in any such book, there are contradictions, gibberish, insightful notions, and good advice. It was interesting that he explicitly said that his form of Bhuddism is an exercise in religion. But stuff like socializing the quantum uncertainty principle always means buzzers and flashing lights. The appeals to science in an attempt to legitimize the practice were weak and tenuous. But it’s certainly good advice that one should relax when possible, question his beliefs, and open himself to a new awareness.
[/QUOTE]

You should remember that particular book is not trying to describe a philosophy or legitimize the author’s beliefs (I agree that Tao of Physics stuff is on the flaky side). It’s meant as a “How to” for his version of Buddhist meditation practice. It’s not a book to be weighed against “meaning of life” type books.

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[QUOTE=twickster]
Nicely done, sir!
[/QUOTE]
I also changed the title, per request of the OP.

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I was merely reminded of something I wanted to say because of what Liberal posted. I wasn’t really upset but I did think equating libertarianism to Scientology was a little silly and likely a little insulting to all the libertarians out there not bent on setting up a bullshit religious cult as a money grabbing tax dodge.

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[QUOTE=CarnalK]
I was merely reminded of something I wanted to say because of what Liberal posted. I wasn’t really upset but I did think equating libertarianism to Scientology was a little silly and likely a little insulting to all the libertarians out there not bent on setting up a bullshit religious cult as a money grabbing tax dodge.
[/QUOTE]
Then you misunderstood. I was saying that Libertarianism was compatible with most forms of government the same way Scientology was compatible with most forms of religion-not very. I was not comparing the two to each other.

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Well, if anything I kind of gave you the benefit of the doubt rather than misunderstanding. Libertarian idea(l)s float through most of our liberal social democracies, ISTM. It’s patently ridiculous to compare it to Scientology “ideals”.

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SDMB Political Compasss

Note how many are Social Libertarians. Note how few are Fiscal Scientologists.