Comments: I'm Done...Maybe
Sometimes it's just time to move on..
I do hope , even if you stop posting that maybe you could leave the blog up? Its a great resource of information..
In Ireland we have been paying fro plastic bag for years..
Thinks its about 23 cent every time ..
Its a rip off, and Ireland Is a rip off in general, but I don't think its any different anywhere in the western world anymore..
Its all globalized but quality of life and value is important..
that said, I would love to live in Barcelona, I think I'll move there some day ..
Good luck with whatever choices you have to make Phil..
Either way..
your voice has been and always will be valuable to many whatever happens..
:)
Posted by truthman30 at July 25, 2008 02:08 PM
Philip, I really wish you the best of luck and hope you don't change your e-mail for awhile even if you stop blogging. I totally understand where you're coming from. I can't tell you how much you'll be missed but I also sense that maybe it is time for you to move on. And yes, you have helped so many people ask better questions and think differently about where they're at but it's time to do something for yourself and I hope you find that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, I really do. Truly sending you heartfelt good wishes. You're a great guy!
Posted by Sara at July 25, 2008 02:49 PM
That's the same bullshit that's happening here in Portland, OR. Trying to tax me for not packing a fucking rucksack to the grocery store. And now there's some douche-bag senator trying to pass a bicycle helmet law.
If you continue to blog, I say do it for yourself and the people like me who get valuable information and insight from your writing.
Turn off the comments and write when and how you want to.
Posted by Roma at July 25, 2008 02:50 PM
Good luck Philip. Since I've discovered this blog, I've gotten on my feet financially, or at least I'm getting there. And I have some semblance of a career. Your blog helped me as I'm sure it did a lot of people. And it's good journalism, but I have to admit, now that I'm past the worse of my nightmare and have had some success in living past my label, it's good to put the whole miserable thing down every now and then.
So I hope you make the decision that's right for you. Your blog will be missed if you decide to let it go awhile or forever, but we'll be okay.
Nonetheless, if you stay around we'll all be thrilled. The psych world is so filled with controversy and misconception and rancor and plain old fear. I'm not going to stop speaking out, but I'm not going to let speaking out dominate my life either.
Good luck!
Posted by Sally at July 25, 2008 02:58 PM
I don't know what to say...I'm crushed. But I don't blame you either. You've been at it a lot longer than I have and I have fantasies of quitting all the time too...
You will be sorely missed if you choose to go. You are the glue that holds my personal blogosphere together...
It would be a radically different landscape without you..I don't really want to imagine it.
I wish you the best in whatever decision you make.
Peace.
Posted by Gianna at July 25, 2008 03:07 PM
Philip,
I've only known of you for a few months, but it sounds like you need a break. Some new surroundings for a few days or a week or so.
Someone you know must have a cottage in the country or somewhere outside Seattle, surely.
Especially if you're rethinking the direction of your life.
You know, you could teach. You're an amazing journalist and writer. If ever you wanted some inspiration, teaching young people at a community college would really buoy your spirits and what tales you could share.
In January 2007, I walked away from a full-time daily newspaper job after 30 years. I gave up a very healthy paycheque with full benefits thinking I could freelance. What faulty thinking that was. It isn't feasible.
Within two months, I was hired by the Community College I attended, before I went to university. Now, I love teaching more than writing.
A change might be right for you, but don't you think you should give such a major decision more than a weekend. Wouldn't a change of scenery energize and oxygenate the rethinking process. And some friends to talk things over with?
Whatever way you go, give yourself time. This may be a temporary slump provoked by the events of the last few days, including your one-year anniversary of being drug-free.
I wish you well this weekend, Philip. Do what you really want to do. You can write wherever you live about whatever you want. Or spin your skills on another subject or in another direction or in another profession. Writing is so versatile.
I hope you give yourself a lot of time to make your decision. You have a huge following who will miss you, but I doubt your voice will be silenced for very long, if ever. I sincerely hope not!
Take good care.
Posted by Sandy Naiman at July 25, 2008 03:15 PM
It's not an easy thing to have to wonder if a career change is necessary to make a living. The natural talent and gift you have as an investigative journalist, is something to be proud of and if this blog needs comments turned off while you pound out some kick ass articles, then do it.
I HOPE every reader here has taken the time to read "No Exit", "Good Cop, Sad Cop" and the others listed on the side bar. Those are amazing articles that were published and it was the "No Exit" article I found on the internet that chilled me to the bone, ever imagining anyone I know be in a state institution.
Then it happened, and it happened to my daughter. Somehow that article prepared me for the horror I was soon to learn from the inside walls of Western State Hospital in Washington.
Philip is much too modest to tout all of the awards he has received over the years; he is kind and generous with his time helping others off-line; and I personally owe him a life time of gratitude for helping me through some dark periods of my daughter's days in hospitals and residential care.
I hope that people can step back and take a look at the blog's worth, and consider how it is an attempt to make a living by a journalist in a world where print is becoming shut down.
This blog is not funded by advertising of any sort--no pharma ads run here--no advertising income for a news site is a sure way to not make money--so it's readership generated funding only.
Just hosting the Zyprexa documents alone should give readers pause to send in monthly donations on a regular basis.
I feel compelled to make this statement here, today, because this site was and is, a lifeline to me and so has Philip for over 2 years.
Thank you Philip, for the hard work and dedication to mental health awareness, and whatever you choose to do I wish the best. (and hope you find the charming enjoyable life you deserve).
Stephany -soulful sepulcher blog: who was inspired to author a mental health blog because of Furious Seasons.
Posted by Stephany at July 25, 2008 03:54 PM
I've been reading this blog for months, though never being an active participant. I came across this when I was told I was bipolar, even thought it seemed like the wrong diagnosis... Is anyone who is hypomanic at any point bipolar, no matter what? My Psychiatrist says yet, but what does he know, he has never been in my situation.
Society does not value criticism. It upsets the very delicate balance of our capitalistic society.
There is great value in your blog. Maybe not traditional monetary value where you will make thousands off advertising, but some other way. Not sure on the answer, but it's out there.
Society keeps knocking down people who act outside of the accepted norm. Somehow, using Web 2.0 ideas, there should be a way to find monetary success.
I'll be sure to let you know if and when I come up with it.
Posted by Thomas P at July 25, 2008 04:37 PM
I can identify with where you are at, as I am about the same age, dealing with a sense of lack of support and respect, and tired of where I live.
But, you are noted in links at other sites, so I think you should do a pro/con sheet and look at the entries on each side qualitatively as much as quantitatively as your leaving would be a gap to me. Patient perspectives are crucial to this debate to what is right and wrong in psychiatry.
I think your asking for donations every 3 to 6 months is fair, just broaden your reader base and I feel there are others who would contribute and at least validate your time as a blogger.
Hope you consider this fully.
Posted by therapyfirst at July 25, 2008 04:40 PM
If google ads had been fair, you would have had an income I believe. Enough to maybe hire someone else to do the work of monitoring the comments. I wish you a good weekend.
Posted by mark p.s. at July 25, 2008 05:14 PM
Philip, I am trying so hard to write and organize my thoughts, while my nose is running and I'm crying over your last piece.
You have meant so much for me. I've been reading since November 06 and you've always been helpful with problems and were the first person to encourage me to write after my spirit had been broken by an extremely abusive relationship. You gave me confidence when you published 3 pieces I wrote expressively for you and FS. You encouraged me to start blogging, and even christened the blog by giving me it's title. You've served as my muse for all these years.
I want to share something with your readers. I feel I know a lot of the regular ones, from reading your blog, and theirs. Maybe they know me by stopping by mine. I don't know. What I do know is earlier this year I had one of those dark nights of the soul, complete with suicidal ideation. I started swallowing Tylenol, and went to Google to figure out how many I actually needed to do the deed.
Ironically in Google's search engine your article "No Exit" came up. I had read it before, but that night I sat down on the couch, allowing every mellifluous word to soak up in my brain and my soul. I put the Tylenol down and went to sleep, glad I was alive and would be alive the next day. You saved my life.
I am sure you have saved the lives of countless people from this website and your articles in the Seattle and other papers.
Your blog takes the title from a book by Ray Carver. Carver, as you probably know spent years doing odd jobs while he studied under Gardner, working in a morgue among other things. And wrote. And wrote. And at the end, while he was dying, he wrote ":Gravy", which seemed to say despite all the shit, and bad times, being able to write, and finding the woman who was his soul mate at the end of his short life, made it all worth while.
What ever you do, Philip, keep writing. We will all support you in what ever your next endevor shall be.
I wish you peace my friend.
Susan
Posted by susan at July 25, 2008 06:02 PM
Keep up the good work, and take the weekend to sleep in, get out and do something and clear your mind.
Posted by Anonymous Reader at July 25, 2008 06:18 PM
Well, Philip, I am sad to admit you are right about one thing:
Your seminal work is taken for granted. I certainly have done so.
Ironically, before I knew that you were undergoing a ... career crisis? dark night of the soul? ... I had belatedly recognized the error of my ways and have been talking you up on Therese Borchard's blog (my "home" blog), the New York Times Well blog, and other places as well.
If you're burned out on Seattle, completely understandable. But you can do this blog from anywhere. That said, it sucks that it's basically a labor of love (and yes, I and others could and should shill out a bit on PayPal or whatever if need be).
But money-maker or not, I genuinely hope you can get your enthusiasm back for what is such a vital service to the entire North American mental health consumer community.
Posted by Larry Parker at July 25, 2008 06:53 PM
It figures that as soon as I find you're awesome blog..it's near closing time. Damn. Well I hope you will leave this stuff up at least. I really, really want to read all this for reasons I put into my last comment on your anniversary thread.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
Posted by Ella at July 25, 2008 08:56 PM
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
Now you know Phil that this ain't never gonna happen don't you?
For one, you will get one hell of an angry Brit travelling to Seattle to track you down, bang down your door and bitch slap you all over your apartment.
This is a marriage, a unity of people who all share a passion. Furious Seasons, in particular Phil Dawdy, has been the head of that marriage, the ballbuster of Pharma, the real voice of Mental Health.
You are the daddy Phil and many of us do what we do because you have showed us the way, set us a fine example of how to write with compassion.
You have a talent for writing, a knack for raising awareness. You are the voice of thousands, if not millions Phil and to throw the towel in now is worthy of a severe slapping from this Brit whom you once described as a 'One man wrecking crew'.
Take some time out, we all need it to recharge the batteries, then come back refreshed and stronger.
Now, do any of your readers have any spare cash lying around so they can book a ticket for me from Birmingham, UK to Seattle? I seriously need to throw this talented journo around the room and beeatccccch slap him a few times to convince him that he is needed and wanted by many.
We all fight with words because we beleive in what we are writing. I beleive in what I am writing at this very moment and judging by the comments left in this thread there are many others whom you have inspired and continue to inspire with your work.
Anyway... enough of the sycophancy
Call it quits and expect a knock on your door and be prepared to be slapped around your room Sir [Bruce Lee style]
With the greatest respect.
Fid
Posted by BOB FIDDAMAN at July 25, 2008 10:59 PM
Philip,
Furiousseasons is the best and I congratulate you once again.
But I believe you deserve to use your talent, expertise, sensitiveness, intelligence on other fields.
If your close friends are saying so, people who really know you, and you feel like changing you must do what you want and need.
It will be lost for many of us but you will always be in our hearts.
I'm reminding Rob Robertson who created SSRIcitizens.com and also moved on.
We all remember him.
Good luck Philip and do what you want.
Posted by Ana at July 26, 2008 01:35 AM
Philip-
You know how I feel on the topic of you possibily moving onto another field of work for the meantime. You are a journalist, first and foremost, we don't need to question that. For those who don't know this, Philip is likely the most respected journalist I have ever seen in the law enforcement circle. His knowledge about the culture, ethics and ability to actually provide knowledge to police departments has proven useful to many.
As for the blog, as much as I worry that the stress of the rants, checking of comments and negativity that comes with this site weighing on your own personal mental health, I can't somewhat help but to think that this site, your work, your postings, investigative journalism, etc. is your destiny. When you told me you were starting a blog, I was impressed but I never expected anything of this caliber. As for Seattle, I would love for you to come live near me in NY. The rent is so reasonable here!!!! LOL!!! But people actually do read print media.....
Posted by Angie at July 26, 2008 03:31 AM
Philip,
Oh boy. This is a sad moment indeed. I've sensed that your frustration has been growing and I can see why: You write many excellent pieces on mental health that turn over rocks that most so-called journalists don't dream of looking under. You ask hard questions of the mental health establishment. You've shown immense courage by hosting the Zyprexa documents; no doubt they've been downloaded by attorneys, researchers, patients, and God knows who else. They are a fantastic resource and we all owe you a debt for posting them.
And for what? You make a few bucks off a fundraiser now and then. Google ads raises your hopes and then dashes them. To me, there is no doubt you should be writing about mental health full-time, earning a comfortable salary, and perhaps even enjoying life a little bit now and then. You've described the harrowing state of journalism and the newspaper biz on many occasions . On one hand, it's hard for me to believe you couldn't get a full-time writing gig because your material is excellent. On the other hand, your willingness to rock the boat, to ask hard questions, and to closely examine evidence rather than reprinting what you receive from a public relations representative -- I imagine many papers cringe at those traits, unfortunately.
Philip, I wish I had the solution for your dilemma. About three months after I started blogging, I ran across your site and I bet I have linked to your site more than any other. There are so few outlets that cover mental health issues with a critical eye on a regular basis. If you decide to move to a different line of work, I encourage you to leave the site up. When you have time, post on occasion -- I have a feeling you'd be back to write at least once in a while. Leave up the Zyprexa docs and other materials you are hosting, as these resources will be useful for quite some time.
Most of all, many, many thanks for your excellent work. I am standing and applauding.
Best wishes,
CP
Posted by CL Psych at July 26, 2008 07:10 AM
It isn't the city, it's the state that is your problem. The state of depression.
Web 2.0 is doing just fine, and your blog is a relatively successful example of it. It sucks for you that you cater to a market of people who are emotionally volatile, intellectually rich and financially broke. They want to come and enjoy the way you lambast phamaceutical goliaths and their partners in crime.
You need comments here to know you're making a difference. No drama, fewer comments. I come here only when someone says there is fire added to fury. You aren't operating a support community. Why are you bothered by flame wars? You are flaming people yourself. For what most here consider to be the right reasons.
Your "I'm done, maybe" is like a suicide threat from someone who isn't going to commit suicide. Blog suicide. I've been in similar situations. You aren't going to do it. I dare you to shut down the site and walk away. I'll pledge $500 if shut down the site for 6 months.
Posted by Sekhar at July 26, 2008 08:13 AM
I have been a "lurker" of this blog for awhile, looking forward each and every day to your posts. Can I just say that I have never read any other blog that is written as eloquently as yours-all the while sharing valuable information and newsworthy topics-and I feel sad to think about the place you are in right now. I deeply respect your desire to possibly move on and try something different, at this point in your life. But please know that you have forever enlightened me and spread hope in my heart. You are my "gravy". Thank you , thank you, thank you.
Posted by Rebecca at July 26, 2008 08:26 AM
You go well Phil--you do what u need 2-I just want 2 thank-you for the wonderfuls u have given me-I love your blog and will miss you if and when you go-take care--Hugs Poodles
Posted by poodles at July 26, 2008 10:10 AM
I hope you stick around. I wonder if the harassment and drama is by someone on behalf of the drug companies that doesn't like you bringing the information to light. But thinking corporations engage in such tactics is paranoia right...
When you ban do you ban by specific ip number/address or slam a range in? Are they using open proxies? The point being is how organized are they and how are the abusing connections. Are they of the spammer mentality. Is it the same person/style of writing?
Too many times the people who don't like what they see act abusive, until the other side decides it isn't worth the shit and leaves. That only encourages them and others to act more like asses. It feeds into their little power trip with a keyboard. Deleting replies without fan fair will piss them off more. If you don't feed the trolls they ether think they changed the place will move on in a crusade to "fix" another or they don't get attention and audience. Without the attention and lulz the move on to greener pastures. If you ever saw the Xkcd comic "I can't come, someone needs correcting on the internet....."
Part of the reason why they vote the bonds and fees up is because they don't think it'll cost them. Or they believe the whole system and services will be discontinued if forced with its current budget. The problem is the more people vote the more stupider the system becomes.massive voter registration is bad. How many renters understand that every time they vote for that bond its get funded with tax money.Its a bond not taxes if I don't vote for the bond then they raise taxes for it type mentality. They think I rent, so I'm sticking it to my landlord , not realizing that when property taxes go up so does the rent. If it costs them 100 bucks more a year for the rental property, they'll raise the rent $25 instead of just 10 bucks a month. No body every stops and thinks
Everyone is hurting and lashing out at each other and blaming it all on the others behavior. That if we force them to conserve then my costs will go down. Its all these other people living too high on the hog. Fanaticism and forcing others to any behavior is dangerous. The one upside is this may eventual force a violent revolution which every country needs every 200 years. Keep the masses/workers in fighting and they'll never stand up to the company/government. Like dogs quarreling over table scraps while the table has more food.
Sadly no ever looks at the amount of money the system is already getting. They only hear about property taxes produce only , not that property taxes, sales tax, registration, gas tax ,building fees, trash fees, city water and sewer fees, court fees and every other fee and fine add up to full amount of revenue source. If anything we need to ask why is this massive amount not enough and where does it all go. How much is funding itself and enforcement.
Posted by c at July 26, 2008 10:29 AM
I agree with Rebecca - I've never come across a blog that explores an issue quite so eloquently and passionately, while still maintaining a level-headed mentality. So thank you very much for all your writing. You have certainly opened my eyes to many new things.
So whatever you do or wherever you go, I wish you the best.
Posted by Daniel at July 26, 2008 10:39 AM
Philip,
Do what you feel is best for you. You deserve it. But I would like to say that I can not tell you how much I appreciate the service your website offers. It's more than a gem. And your dedication and hard work is appreciated more than you'll ever know. That said, do what you need to for yourself. You've already done so much with this website. If you're finished with the website, then know how much you've given already. Don't feel tied to it. Do what you need to. Good luck Philip and thanks.
Posted by JC at July 26, 2008 02:07 PM
Thinking... thinking... ((((Philip)))
CL Psych gave a good overview of the external situation, but I also wonder if Sekhar isn't onto something too?
You know comment threads are nuts in the blogosphere, flamewars are part of it, and they can even be fun/comical/enlightening.
Fuck CBT, let's try a little Gestalt therapy: Your own restraint has been described here as "furious". Yes. Maybe you've been holding back on your own belligerent feelings of anger and disdain out of good manners or whatever, and it's all stuck inside and here we are, it comes to this. Isn't that what happens Philip, in relationships? We either express our true feelings as we have them or resentment simmers til we eventually break contact.
It's never too late to call your commenters total fucking douchebags; and I recommend you try that first. It's one thing to judiciously edit out nasty comments, but where do you put your reaction to that? Where does it go? Inside to simmer and accumulate? That's poisoning. Demoralizing and all this. Tell 'em off, complete the experience and let it out, protecting people from your experience of them always ends like this. There's nothing to protect, and none of us are worth that price.
Posted by flawedplan at July 26, 2008 02:24 PM
I forgot to say, Philip, that you are making a difference.
You must never doubt this.
Posted by Ana at July 26, 2008 05:27 PM
I'm sorry the stupid ones are wearing you down. Sometimes trolls just need to be drowned under their bridge. (evil grin)
I do hope you find the answer you're looking for. I do appreciate the INCREDIBLE wealth of information that you have shared in your blog. I would be incredibly sad if you were to walk away from this blog.
Sending you hugs,
Michelle aka The Beartwinsmom
Posted by Michelle (The Beartwinsmom) at July 26, 2008 05:42 PM
Furious Seasons is a tremendous resource -- as muckraking journalism, as a data base, as critical commentary, as a first person account and as a discussion forum. If that last aspect is making it unsustainable please consider suspending or eliminating the comments before making a decision about moving on.
There should be support and compensation for this work. If the market wasn't so corrupted, there would be. As it is, the fight itself may be the only reward.
Posted by Laura Ziegler at July 27, 2008 06:26 AM
Philip, I stopped posting here a while back because I couldn't take the intolerance and nastiness - so I understand how much it must bother you. But I still pop in now and then; your posts are always so intelligent and informative. I don't want you to quit your efforts either. But if your heart isn't in it anymore, have you considered teaching of some kind? It's also a trying career nowadays, but it can still be a good base for people who want to think, write, and publish about important topics that won't pay the rent in mainstream journalism. Keep your head up. You'll find the right path, whatever it is.
Posted by Garth at July 27, 2008 07:10 AM
Philp,
I agree it will take more than a weekend for this to sugar off. Give yourself the gift of time, take a sabbatical if need be. You know you're a gifted writer by now, I'm sure. So writing probably will be a part of whatever you decided to do. But you'll KNOW when you get there.
Life does go on and things do change. I spent 7 years doing advocacy for incest survivors in my state. After a while I actually started feeling better and just wanted to go home and plant a garden. So that's what I did. It was the right thing. You'll come up with the Right Thing for yourself once you've listened long enough to yourself. I can't help but think the one-year anniversary has deep meaning for you and is a harbinger of change in your life.
You're under no obligation to provide us a support group, complete with moderation--but I do have to say you're awfully good at it. You set a moderate, balanced tone which is very rare. You look under the hood, point out the problems but don't become a raving lunatic about it all. That's great advocacy.
I've found the articles and commentary and ability to comment a lifeline here. But that's no reason for you to continue if it's draining you. I'll take whatever you have to offer and are able to offer. Turn off the comments entirely or make them TOTALLY unmoderated, buyer beware--whatever you need to do. (I've been on a troll-infested site like that and guess what? I learned how to take care of myself in a wild-West atmosphere because the other people were worth the effort.)
Should you decided to continue I certainly will continue to cough up my piddly little fifteen buck quarterly "subscription" fee (that's what I consider it and it's well worth it), raise it if I can. Should you decide you need to move on, I can only hope you'll leave the blog up with an appropriate positioning statement so it can become a gift that keeps on giving. And PUH-LEEZE set up some sort of e-mail or other system so your fans can read whatever you do go on to write. Because it's in your very sinews so I know you'll be writing somewhere, somehow, sometime.
Mental health issues aside, it's really quite normal to wake up in your mid-forties and realize you'd really LIKE to be making more money, have more satisfaction in your work or whatever. I appreciate that TF shared his struggles with that issue here. I have a theory that most people simply aren't made to pursue the same career for much more than twenty years.
As for Seattle, I think what's going on is part of the zeitgeist (which I well may have misspelled). It's a have/have not thing. Our world is polarized in a way that would do the robber barons proud. In my tiny town the Haves keep voting in things the Have Nots cannot afford. There are two villages in our town and theirs is full so not only do they not care a whit about our objections, I'm sure they hope we'll pack up and leave quickly. It suits them to tax us out whilst they feather the communal nest with outrageously expensive (and badly designed by their favourite yuppie architect) libraries, lacross fields and such for use after they build trophies houses on our land. I see this happening in lots of places, exactly what you're describing in Seattle.
My best wishes to you, Philip.
Sherry
Posted by Sherry at July 27, 2008 09:09 AM
Hi Philip,
Just checking in to see how you're faring and feeling. I wanted you to know I've been thinking about you all weekend. You've been sitting on my shoulder, so to speak.
I hope some of the issues, ideas and possibilities your musing about and considering are becoming clearer to you.
You're certainly a beacon of information and inspiration in my universe but that doesn't matter. It's your universe that counts.
I hope, whatever you do, that it's right for you! You. First.
You have lots of options.
I'm anxiously awaiting your next post.
Have a good meantime and take good care.
Be well.
Sandy
Posted by Sandy Naiman at July 27, 2008 09:58 AM
Philip,
I'm sorry to bother you again, but I just came across this and I thought you might find it provocative and perhaps helpful. Even hopeful.
http://www.gapingvoid.com/Moveable_Type/archives/000932.html
Originally posted on August 22, 2004, it's called How To Be Creative, but that title just scratches the surface and the drawings are charming.
Have a gander if you have a chance.
Sandy
Posted by Sandy Naiman at July 27, 2008 11:47 AM
I think it's strange that Sekhar diagnosed Philip as being depressed. I think that goes right along with a theme Philip has posted over the last few months, that "depression" is a watered down dx casually spread around when people are in fact just feeling life and it's events and situations that transpire.
"State of depression" Sekhar called it.
I think it's "life experience". We all have shit go down, life at times sucks. We run into walls with careers, suffer when someone we love dies, etc. it certainly is not "depression".
It's life. That "depressed state" comment is exactlywhat Big Pharma would like everyone to believe when life is difficult, and the anti depressants are the drug company ideals of a remedy, and yet not a solution!
I've been through hell and back the last 7 months and if someone called me depressed for feeling my feelings and living thru life-altering changes--I'd say go to hell.
But that's just me. If I've misunderstood Sekhar's comment, then I apologize, but it's been bugging me ever since I read it.
Posted by Stephany at July 27, 2008 11:51 AM
This may be out of context here, but I thought of you when led to this link by Coturnix [1].
http://journalism.nyu.edu/pubzone/weblogs/pressthink/2008/07/08/big_daddy_left.html
[1] http://scienceblogs.com/clock/2008/07/old_vs_new_media_redux.php
Posted by Matt Hussein Platte at July 27, 2008 12:19 PM
Hi Philip,
I read somewhere that you celebrated a one year anniversary off psychotropic drugs and I believe you’ve indicated you’re functioning reasonably well. You also seem to be repeatedly questioning…
“I have to do some serious thinking about whether it's worth continuing this site and continuing to be a journalist in general. It's clearly a dying profession and I'm nearing my 46th birthday and getting a lot of encouragement from various friends to move on with my life and do something else because the free market has spoken in loud and clear terms that it does not value people like me very highly at all.”
I don’t think it’s a dying profession with all the TV, cable and publications abounding only that you have not be as fortunate to cash in. If it is as you say then it is time to get on with your life and find something where you can socialize more with real live individuals in a setting that pays you more and in a lifestyle that you’d be reasonably comfortable with instead of sitting in front of your computer flaming others in your own style of writing as Sekhar offered up or reviewing and editing comments. I would consider taking up Sekhar on his offer with the $500, being paid up front, and getting on with one’s life. You’re still a young man and there is much in this life you can enjoy with more time away from a keyboard and out in the world.
Psychiatry has enough difficulties diagnosing so I won’t go there but maybe now that you’re feeling better you simply might be scared shitless to venture out anew and leave the familiarity and comfort you’ve come to know these past months or years? Then too it also appears to me that you’re some how looking for directions by way of your posting and the subsequent comments your expecting to receive. Only you can make the decision.
You’ll obviously be missed by those who require the fix you offer and who share your views or those who use your site to flame you or others in their own style.
Whatever you decide, I first wish you wellness followed by success.
Warmly,
Herb
VNSdepression.com
Posted by herb at July 27, 2008 02:41 PM
There's nothing new I can add to all of these comments here. I can understand that blogging about these things can get tired. Especially if you're only raking in $2500 every three months. I can only echo some of the things that have been said:
1. I hope your regular updates don't disappear, but if they do, please keep this blog up as a future resource.
2. Take care of yourself and do what's best for you despite what the rest of us selfish bloggers would like.
3. In the event that you decide to significantly scale back from posting, please don't hesitate to post every now and then to let us know how you are faring.
Posted by Marissa at July 27, 2008 06:25 PM
move to portland!
Posted by Kara at August 27, 2008 08:54 PM