[misc.handicap] Reasons for living

Greg.See-Kee@f631.n712.z3.fidonet.org (Greg See-Kee) (07/21/90)

Index Number: 9354

I've often mentioned that the process of early-disability means
SELF-OBSESSION.   Elizabeth Kubler-Ross noted these behaviours
too, as people get closer & closer to death.

>>sooooooo much about myself.  It has been quite painful at times and 
>>there were times I wanted to kill myself so I would not feel the pain 
>>anymore - but I hung on. I had people around me who cared and who told 
>>me how sad they would be if I did end my life - I didn't believe them 
>>but a part of me held on to it because the look in their eyes told me 
>>they meant it and no matter how much I tried to push them away, they 
>>never left - they understood - they had been there too.  

 FW> Yes, it's a funny thing how having friends in your life can
                                 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 FW> change how your perspective on life is.

There is a very strong avoidance of any sensible, rational
discussion about isolation, loneliness and suicide-fantasies in
this conference.  In the five years before my own disability, I
speciallized in both general counselling & crisis counselling.

And I am very sure that there are very many people besides myself
who are reading this - who are capable of discussing our "work"
in a sensible, rational way.   Perhaps we could structure the
discussion in several ways -- pick whichever way you like:

 1) Viewpoint of the supposedly impartial & univolved
 professional do-gooder

 2) As a close & deeply involved spouse/ parent/ relative

 3) As THE dependent patient/ client/ consumer

 4) As the mouthpiece of one of the gods/ cures/ remedy-suppliers

 5) As the Administrator of all of the Above.

I would like to discuss the topic from the last "Administrator"
position.  Finally I've noticed that at least one other person
besides myself has reached the level of "Member of the Board of
Directors".

When I've tried to bring these "difficult" (impossible?) topics
up before in this conference, the silence of the response
deafened me.  Are there enough people in this conference who have
reached beyond the level of self-obsession?

... c:\dos\sign.lis

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Fred.Myers@p35.f1.n360.z1.fidonet.org (Fred Myers) (07/24/90)

Index Number: 9451

In a message to Frank Whitney <15 Jul 90  4:20:00> Greg See-Kee wrote:

GS> 1) Viewpoint of the supposedly impartial & univolved
 GS> professional do-gooder
		  ^^^^^^^^^
Once again, I must ask you to define this term from *your*
perspective.  As you have repeatedly and bluntly pointed out, this
is an *international* conference.  As such, it is particularly
important that terminology be as precise and exact as possible, to
minimize the chance of misinterpretation on the part of the
reader.

*Again*, quoting from Webster's New International Dictionary, 2nd Edition:
                                ^^^^^^^^^^^^^

do-gooder  An earnest, usually impractical-minded humanitarian bent
on promoting welfare work or reform;--commonly with a derogatory
implication of naivete or blundering ineffectualness.

Since this is the understanding of many, if not the majority, of
the people on this echo, don't you think that a clarification is in
order?

I can not conceive of you (or anyone else for that matter) boasting
of being naive, impractical, blundering and ineffectual -- and yet
that is *exactly* what you seem to be telling us!  That does not do
much for your credibility!

               Fred Myers

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