# R.I.P. Robin Williams **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** celebrity-death\ **Created:** [August 11, 2014, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-robin-williams/695333 "2014-08-11T23:04:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-robin-williams/695333/81 "2014-08-12T00:21:33Z")
Doubleyoo Tee Eff ?! ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-robin-williams/695333/82 "2014-08-12T00:22:03Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > On a related note, this has reminded me how torn I am over the use of Twitter to express condolences and such. On one hand, I get that it’s a fast and immediate way for a celebrity to make a statement. OTOH, I’m not sure why, but I find it… gauche somehow (perhaps because I think of Twitter on some level as a vehicle for empty, vapid, and irrelevant thoughts). Pretty much the way a lot of people are feeling with NASCAR using the same tweet to express condolences to the Kevin Ward family while at the same time advertising their next upcoming race. Dammit, suicide is such a selfish thing to do. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-robin-williams/695333/83 "2014-08-12T00:24:02Z")
I was just listening to him on Pandora today. His Censored album. His comedy seemed. . . hopeful. So sad. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-robin-williams/695333/84 "2014-08-12T00:24:44Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > That’s not how depression works. You can be sad about something, but when you’re clinically depressed it’s not necessarily connected to life events. It’s an illness. A person can be terribly depressed while everything in the person’s life seems to be wonderful to an outside observer. Exactly. Depression isn’t “sadness”. It’s not even “profound sadness”. It’s more a numbing of EVERYTHING. You can have the most wonderful life in the world and still be depressed to the point of suicide, because it’s not a response to stimuli. If anything, it’s a total non-response to stimuli. To a depressive person, the universe is dead, so why bother living? Why bother waking up in the morning? Why bother going to bed at night? Why bother interacting with people? Why bother leaving the house? Nothing feels good, so why bother trying? That’s depression. Not “boohoo, I’m sad”. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-robin-williams/695333/85 "2014-08-12T00:30:56Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > One thing about Robin is that I never saw him talking seriously about anything. I didn’t see a lot of his interviews or spontaneous TV reporter talks, but every time I did, he felt like he had to be funny. And God, yes he was. But I couldn’t help but wonder who the _ **real** _ Robin Williams was. > R.I.P., Robin. robin williams and christopher reeve were roommates in college. mr. reeve was one of the few that was able to break through the “crazy funny” and get to the real robin. mr. reeve spoke about it in an interview. they had a very deep close friendship because mr. williams could be just robin with him. i’m wondering if the heart problems he had could have played a role in his depression. ---
**Author:** ![Sarabellum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarabellum/32/3492_2.png) [@Sarabellum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarabellum)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-robin-williams/695333/86 "2014-08-12T00:31:13Z")
I wonder if he was particularly depressed over his show getting cancelled. I’d heard that he was good in it, though I hadn’t seen it. Or maybe his show got cancelled because his alcoholism and depression were out of hand? Selling his beautiful house, TV show cancelled, rumors of a Mrs. Doubtfire sequel (!) makes one wonder if he was having financial problems, also. I also read somewhere that he personally supported Christopher Reeve and his family after his accident, when he was getting lots of work but Reeve was losing everything he owned. How could a guy like that wind up killing himself, it just makes no sense. I’m genuinely angry at him right now, like he was someone I know, even though I never saw the guy. How could he do this to everyone! Just get your act together and live, man! Or retire! Do stand up comedy again, or something, anything. Now he’s gone. It’s such a waste. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-robin-williams/695333/87 "2014-08-12T00:33:19Z")
> [@Doug\_Bowe](#): > > I was not joking. He must have been depressed and I was asking what a happy seeming guy…well, you get the idea. I’m just as shocked as most here. > > Sorry if it was misinterpreted. Today Robin Williams committed suicide. That it happened today surprised me. Without insight into what’s happening in his day to day life, there was no way I could ever have guessed which particular day would be THE day. That it was suicide didn’t surprise me. His history of substance abuse points to an emotionally damaged person trying to self-medicate. His public persona is a wildly manic, exuberant and excessive figure, and somehow it seems understandable that his private self was very different. The man inside hid himself well by projecting this outward character of flamboyant energy and hilarity. That must have been an exhausting ruse to keep up. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-robin-williams/695333/88 "2014-08-12T00:37:37Z")
Shazbot!!! ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-robin-williams/695333/89 "2014-08-12T00:42:47Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-robin-williams/695333/90 "2014-08-12T00:43:35Z")
He and George Carlin were my two favorites growing up. Comedy was very important to me. He will be missed. RIP. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-robin-williams/695333/91 "2014-08-12T00:46:32Z")
He was the second comic that caught my attention. The first being Steve Martin. Me and a few friends devoured his first stand up special and album couldn’t get enough of it. Although I later soured on his shotgun blast approach to comedy he will always hold a place in my life as someone who shaped my world when I was young and gave me a lifelong appreciation for standup comedy. He obviously had more talents than just comedy. He deserved to be happier after bringing happiness to others. Damn shame. ---
**Author:** ![expectopatronum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/expectopatronum/32/173_2.png) [@expectopatronum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/expectopatronum)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-robin-williams/695333/92 "2014-08-12T00:46:34Z")
This is one of those celeb deaths that’s very painful for me. Really shocked and upset. It didn’t have to be this way. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-robin-williams/695333/93 "2014-08-12T00:47:54Z")
He did Creepy very well. He was in a Law and Order SVU episode which I thought he portrayed the character very well. I didn’t care for all his comedy but his dramatic acting was very well done. RIP Mork. ---
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-robin-williams/695333/94 "2014-08-12T00:48:31Z")
I saw Robin Williams with his son way back in the 80’s at a wargaming convention in San Jose. He was buying a bunch of 1/285 German armor miniatures from a vendor, all pre-painted. Found out from someone else there that he was a wargamer and played [88](http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/4289/88). I remember thinking it was neat that he was a normal chap who liked gaming as much as I did. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-robin-williams/695333/95 "2014-08-12T00:48:32Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Exactly. Depression isn’t “sadness”. It’s not even “profound sadness”. It’s more a numbing of EVERYTHING. You can have the most wonderful life in the world and still be depressed to the point of suicide, because it’s not a response to stimuli. If anything, it’s a total non-response to stimuli. To a depressive person, the universe is dead, so why bother living? Why bother waking up in the morning? Why bother going to bed at night? Why bother interacting with people? Why bother leaving the house? Nothing feels good, so why bother trying? > > That’s depression. Not “boohoo, I’m sad”. Just happened near here. A beautiful young woman with a loving husband and two children she adored, leaves the house on an errand and goes missing for 12 days before someone stumbles on her hanging from a tree off a lonely road. No warning at all, but a note was found at the scene explaining her sadness at life. My own son is depressive and I worry about him constantly. Great job, lots of support, kids who love him, yet he goes dark without warning. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-robin-williams/695333/96 "2014-08-12T00:50:49Z")
It would be incredibly poor taste to speculate on the handwashing/housekeeping habits of a flu victim, yet somehow we all feel free to pick apart the mind of a suicide. Depression is just the brain’s equivalent of catching the flu. Pay your respects, reminisce over fond memories, and STFU before you put your foot in your mouth. ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-robin-williams/695333/97 "2014-08-12T00:52:33Z")
I loved him in Garp. Rest easy, Mr. Williams. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-robin-williams/695333/98 "2014-08-12T00:58:30Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > One of my favorite movies. Williams’ performance as Perry was just great. > > I also thought he was excellent in _Awakenings_, and in _Good Will Hunting_. And his _Good Morning Vietnam_ performance was awesome. Fisher King was always one of my favorite movies too, and not just because of him. “For YOOOOUUUUU, LYDIA!” Still makes me smile. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-robin-williams/695333/99 "2014-08-12T01:00:37Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Pretty much the way a lot of people are feeling with NASCAR using the same tweet to express condolences to the Kevin Ward family while at the same time advertising their next upcoming race. > > Dammit, suicide is such a selfish thing to do. I think I can speak for everyone when I say that Robin Williams acted in complete disregard for all of our feelings. My deepest condolences for the excruciating inconvenience you must be feeling at this difficult time. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-robin-williams/695333/100 "2014-08-12T01:01:11Z")
incredible talent, gone too soon. ☹ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-robin-williams/695333.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-robin-williams/695333.md?page=6)