Actor Robin Williams.. dead at 63.

[AmandaJR]

What he said is his opinion - and it is a valid view - whether it is insensitive is another matter altogether. Sack him? - really?

On news last night I heard a comment from Mel Gibson about this as he attended a film premier - and his words could easily be interpreted as somewhat insensitive if you so wished to interpret them in that way.

Not looked at Brazil's comments as probably upsetting but agree about Mel Gibson and surprised there hasn't been more said regarding his comments. My immediate reaction was that "he should have stuck around longer" was a critcism...isn't he a bit of a "hardcore" religious type?

 

[Deleted member 18588]

What he said is his opinion - and it is a valid view - whether it is insensitive is another matter altogether. Sack him? - really?

On news last night I heard a comment from Mel Gibson about this as he attended a film premier - and his words could easily be interpreted as somewhat insensitive if you so wished to interpret them in that way.

I did not advocate he should be sacked, merely pointed out that it would be a long wait for those anticipating his enlightenment

Of course he is entitled to his opinion although he should perhaps realise that a responsibility exists, when broadcasting, to engage brain before operating mouth. This is not, after all, his first gaffe.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I did not advocate he should be sacked, merely pointed out that it would be a long wait for those anticipating his enlightenment

Of course he is entitled to his opinion although he should perhaps realise that a responsibility exists, when broadcasting, to engage brain before operating mouth. This is not, after all, his first gaffe.

No but some have advocated sacking. And this isn't really a gaffe though - it's just his valid (if uninformed) opinion. And one that I suspect quite a lot of folk would subscribe to - including Mel Gibson I suspect.

Others might say that as an alcoholic he just made his depression worse and as alcoholism is just lack of willpower then he brought it upon himself.

A lack of understanding of mental health problems (including alcoholism) can lead some folks to have develop and hold pretty unsympathetic views - and not a lot of compassion for those suffering.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I'm guess it's elsewhere that people are demanding Brazil is sacked

As for educating him - well if anyone has ever listened to him he is beyond educating - he is contraversial for a reason - so people notice him. He is a first class clown he looks for the reaction and lives of it

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I'm guess it's elsewhere that people are demanding Brazil is sacked

As for educating him - well if anyone has ever listened to him he is beyond educating - he is contraversial for a reason - so people notice him. He is a first class clown he looks for the reaction and lives of it

Brazil has history for making gaffes but this is a huge one. He can't be educated and is looking for a reaction. I can't see him getting sacked though

 

[wrighty1874]

Frank Maloney is the new favourite to reprise the Mrs Doubtfire role in the upcoming sequel I hear.

 

[palindromicbob]

Whilst there is no real excuse for what he said, I can understand where he is coming from with such a statement (although I don't agree). Instead of comdemning him though, we should educate people with similar views to help them understand what depression is and how it affects people.

I always used to think that people who committed suicide were selfish, but after speaking to my mother-in-law who tried to take her own life it became apparent that when you are in that place you simply don't think of others, you just want the pain to stop. Whilst I still struggle to empathise with such a view point (because I have never been depressed) I can see that although the act itself is selfish, it isn't something they can control.

Instead of calling for Brazil to be sacked, people should be getting him to come out and say, "I know I was wrong, I apologise" and using his medium to better educate and get people to talk about suicide and depression. We are all fallible and make statements that we probably shouldn't. The best answer is this is to get people to see the otherside of the coin.

Education not condemnation etc. etc.

I have discussed suicide with quiet a few people and will probably continue to for the rest of my life. The thought process behind suicide is complex and multifaceted.

Sometimes the thoughts behind suicidal ideation are selfish, such as wanting to to teach others a lesson.

Sometime it's like your mother in law and they simply see no other way and are thinking of nothing but a way to make the pain stop because everything they have tried has failed and this is the last resort.

The most I've heard though is variations on "they'll be better off without me" which in my eyes is the opposite of selfish.

Suicide is a often a permanent solution to a temporary problem. You can find help in a multitude of places if you talk about it. Friends, family, your G.P. Anyone who plans to take their life then please consider talking to someone first. If you are at this point you've got little to lose by talking to someone and could gain a hell of a lot.

http://www.samaritans.org/ 08457 90 90 90

 

[SocketRocket]

I have experienced an extended family member committing suicide and one of my own children suffering from depression such that they have made threats and attempts to end their life. The stress living with this is beyond comprehension and the frustration of not being able to do something that stops the cycle can drag you into depression.

My experience is that all you can do is let people know that you love them and will always be there in their darkest moments. I thought Robin was a very special person and he could get his message over through his special medium of acting. It's so sad that he thought ending his life was the only way out of his current circumstances.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I have experienced an extended family member committing suicide and one of my own children suffering from depression such that they have made threats and attempts to end their life. The stress living with this is beyond comprehension and the frustration of not being able to do something that stops the cycle can drag you into depression.

My experience is that all you can do is let people know that you love them and will always be there in their darkest moments. I thought Robin was a very special person and he could get his message over through his special medium of acting. It's so sad that he thought ending his life was the only way out of his current circumstances.

...and as he relapsed after 20yrs sober his drinking is likely to have been serious. I have heard that the alcoholic mind almost attempts to play 'catch-up' after a period of sobriety - and as likely happened for Amy Winehouse and Peaches Geldof (albeit with drugs as well) the body and mind cannot cope perhaps as it once could - and as he was suffering depression the combination here seems to have been fatal.

 

[Cherry13]

Wife has released a statement today stating he had been sober for a while, but he was suffering from early parkinsons.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-28796277

 

[Wayman]

Such sad news rip

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Frank Maloney is the new favourite to reprise the Mrs Doubtfire role in the upcoming sequel I hear.

In a picture in all the papers of Kellie Maloney she bore a remarkable resemblance to one of our lady members

Anyway Robin Williams - seems he had been sober (thank goodness) - but wife reports he had been diagnosed as having Parkinson's Disease. Would have been devastating for him.