Owen Wilson

[Cail]

Well thank God someone I've never met can characterize my opinions and actions for me.

No one's sneered at Wilson either.

[Mortice Root]

Ok, now, I don't know the specifics of Wilson's case 'casue I usually try to avoid this kind of celebrity "news", but...

There's a lot of posts that have presented logical, well-thought out reasons for why someone in Wilson's position shouldn't be depressed. What's being missed though, is the fact that true clinical depression, depression that causes real suicide attempts, isn't logical. In fact, those who suffer from it frequently recognize the fact that it doesn't make sense, that they don't have any reason to feel that poorly, but are still unable to make a change.

This has to be distinguished from the type of "depression" that is essentially people just feeling sorry for themselves, those that may go on to make suicidal gestures that, while occasionally successful by mistake, are more often a cry for help than a real attempt to end one's life. Just by reading the posts, most people are assuming that Wilson is in this latter group (and again, he may be, I don't know).

Those in the first group usually need siginifcant treatment with medication and intensive therapy session. Those in the second group may respond to some medicines, but typically more so to therapy (or what some of us would probably call a good dose of "quit whining and suck it up"). In either case, they do need help, and I think, are deserving of some sympathy.

[sgt.null]

maybe it is a backlash to all of the articles about how much "pain" these poor rich actors are in? i will switch bank accounts with any of them. money may not buy happiness but sure as hell gives you more chances to be happy.

[Zahir]

"The world would be a happier place without Owen Wilson..."

"I just have a hard time feeling sorry for him and his depression when he's in the position he's in."

"And c'mon man, the guy can't act."

"Celebrity confessionals are such the thing now. "

"I dunno. I mean I don't view acting or anything as real work, so anyone who has that much money just thrown at them, I don't count as real people. "

"i have no sympathy for the rich and famous. they have millions to get a good therapist, the best hospitals, the best drugs. they don't have to worry about losing their job if they take a break. i worked in a psych hospital and can tell you most of those people needed a swift kick in the ass."

The above sure seems like a bunch of sneers to me. Meanwhile, those of you who feel so comfortable judging Owen Wilson can now taste the irony of having someone judge you.

[Cail]

You must have a very different definition of sneering than I do. With the exception of the last two quotes, I see no sneering.

I think he's a lousy actor. As a consumer of his product, I'm allowed to make that judgment, in fact, it's expected given what he does.

And denying that celebrity confessionals are such the thing now is to deny reality. The Oprahfication of addiction and other personal issues is well documented.

[emotional leper]

As someone who suffers from Bipolar Disorder, and is curerntly experiencing a Depressive Episode which I know from experience probably won't end for another 5 months to two years, I think that anyone who has never experienced Clinical Depression should not comment on possible depression in others, lest those of us who have beat them into a bloody pulp for talking about something outside of the expertise and experience.

[Zahir]

Suppose we were talking about John Smith the architect.

"Hey, did you hear? John Smith just tried to kill himself!"

"Well, I never did like his designs anyway."

Context is everything. I haven't once disputed your right to an opinion of Owen Wilson's work. Nor have I even disagreed with it. But what does it say that when you hear someone is sick and in the hospital, your reaction is to start saying how lousy he is at his job?

"Hey, did you hear? John Smith tripped and broke his spine!"

"Well, I never did like his designs anyway."

Of course you have a right to your opinions. No one has ever suggested otherwise. Nor even hinted at such. Not once. In the slightest way. Even a little bit.

"Hey, did you hear? John Smith has cancer!"

"Well, I never did like his designs anyway."

"That's an awful thing to say at a time like this."

"Don't you go taking away my rights!"

[Cail]

What started out as a joke (in outrageously bad taste, but that's me) has been blown into something it was never meant to be.

To clarify-

-I think Owen Wilson is a lousy actor.

-I think Owen Wilson leads a life that most people would love to lead.

-I think there has been a plague of celebrities flaunting their "weaknesses" in the national media to bolster their publicity and/or to attempt to show contrition in order not to lose publicity.

-I understand full well what clinical depression is.

-I understand that people attempt suicide for many reasons and that clinical depression is but one of them.

-If (as I said on page 1) Wilson is suffering from clinical depression, I hope that he is getting the help that he needs.

[Ki]

i tend to believe that owen's depression and subsequent suicide attempt to be genuine and not like the other celebrities whose private woes are broadcasted all over the world. the only reason why i do is b/c he is one of the very few who isn't all over the media. i rarely see him on the cover of magazines or to be the topic of Entertainment Tonight. in fact, the only times i have are now and when he dated kate hudson. and as far as i know, he hasn't used this opportunity to speak out about what happened to him and advance his career.

[Mortice Root]

Emotional Leper-
Obviously my comment offended you, and it wasn't my intention to offend anyone, so I do sincerely apologize. I was trying to make an admittedly oversimplified distinction between DSM-IV Axis I major depression and Axis II depressed mood disorder, and probably didn't do it well. My only real point was that depression need not make logical sense to those outside of it for it to be very real to those who suffer from it.

So again, apologies to you and to anyone else who was offended by my comments.

[sgt.null]

i tend to believe that owen's depression and subsequent suicide attempt to be genuine and not like the other celebrities whose private woes are broadcasted all over the world. the only reason why i do is b/c he is one of the very few who isn't all over the media. i rarely see him on the cover of magazines or to be the topic of Entertainment Tonight. in fact, the only times i have are now and when he dated kate hudson. and as far as i know, he hasn't used this opportunity to speak out about what happened to him and advance his career.

from experience most suicide attempts that fail were designed to fail. if "poor" Owen had wanted to die he could have used a gun or a bridge. pills and cutting are very popular because they are easily fixed. some stitches or a stomach pump.

[balon!]

The above sure seems like a bunch of sneers to me. Meanwhile, those of you who feel so comfortable judging Owen Wilson can now taste the irony of having someone judge you.

I judge Owen Wilson and other actors the same way I judge profesional athelets and other pop-cultures stars; in automatic suspect.

Like Cail said, there are FAR to many cases of celebrities flaunting their "problems" for sympathy points. Like the boy who cried wolf, I stopped believe them a long time ago.

[Ki]

from experience most suicide attempts that fail were designed to fail. if "poor" Owen had wanted to die he could have used a gun or a bridge. pills and cutting are very popular because they are easily fixed. some stitches or a stomach pump.

from experience, some of them are not. i'm sure you are right to a large extent. i just choose to give owen the benefit of the doubt, partly b/c he isn't all over the place as some kind of loser. but hey--i've been fooled before and you might be right.

[Zarathustra]

from experience most suicide attempts that fail were designed to fail. if "poor" Owen had wanted to die he could have used a gun or a bridge. pills and cutting are very popular because they are easily fixed. some stitches or a stomach pump.

Whose experience are you talking about here? Have you tried to commit suicide, Null? Or are you merely using your previous judgments of other people's experiences to back up your current judgment of someone else's experience?

None of us know what this guy is going through. Maybe he's secretly gay, and hates himself for his desires. Surely you all don't think that being rich and famous eliminates problems that can be too much to overcome. Not all problems relate to money or lack of attention. If your sympathy only extends to those with less money than you, then I hope you all become very rich indeed.

[High Lord Tolkien]

His nose nauseates me and yet fascinates me at the same time...
(it had to be said)

Unlike Cail, I love the guy.
His voice alone is unique enough to interest me for some reason.

[Ki]

Unlike Cail, I love the guy.
His voice alone is unique enough to interest me for some reason.

i've always liked him just fine.

[Fist and Faith]

Man, Cail, I don't know how you do it. "I wasn't 'sneering' at him when I said the world would be a happier place without him."? Well, as long as it wasn't sneering! *nudge nudge*

As for "-I understand full well what clinical depression is.":

While anyone who attempts suicide is obviously troubled and deserves treatment for whatever brought them to that point, I have a hard time understanding how someone who's had the dumb luck to fall into a position like Wilson's (because I'd argue that the guy is horrifically untalented) can be so depressed that they'd attempt to take their life (or make the attempt as a cry for help).

says otherwise. How lucky you are; how much money you have; how many women throw themselves at you; how much/many any damned thing... None of them have any bearing on clinical depression. It's the same as saying, "I have a hard time understanding how someone who's had the dumb luck to fall into a position like Wilson's can need glasses." Neither is under the control of the person. Neither can be fixed or prevented by money, fame, power, etc.

from experience most suicide attempts that fail were designed to fail. if "poor" Owen had wanted to die he could have used a gun or a bridge. pills and cutting are very popular because they are easily fixed. some stitches or a stomach pump.

Holy crap. Anyone who attempts to commit suicide with pills and cutting isn't genuine... "Well, I only want attention, I don't want to die. I've heard that only X% of people who do this actually die, so it's worth the risk." And just what is X?

[Cail]

Fist, with all due respect, you're missing my point. Clinical depression is one reason among many that can lead to a person attempting suicide, but certainly not the only one. Poor circumstances is another. I haven't been following this story at all, but I haven't seen any release saying that Wilson is suffering from clinical depression.

Both my mother and my ex suffer from clinical depression; I know exactly what it can do to, and what it can lead people to.

My initial post was meant as a joke and a jab at an actor I can't stand, and it was in admittedly poor taste.

[Fist and Faith]

Fist, with all due respect, you're missing my point. Clinical depression is one reason among many that can lead to a person attempting suicide, but certainly not the only one. Poor circumstances is another. I haven't been following this story at all, but I haven't seen any release saying that Wilson is suffering from clinical depression.

Both my mother and my ex suffer from clinical depression; I know exactly what it can do to, and what it can lead people to.

Ah. Well then, if it's been revealed that he does not suffer from it, your not understanding how someone in his position can be so unclinically depressed makes sense. I haven't heard anything about his situation, so I didn't know. Sorry.

My initial post was meant as a joke and a jab at an actor I can't stand, and it was in admittedly poor taste.

Again, Ah. It was difficult to the point of impossible to tell. Next time, perhaps a follow up along the lines of, "OK, just kidding. I can't stand his acting, but that doesn't mean I wish this kind of thing on him." would save us a couple pages of posts.

[Cail]

Fist, with all due respect, you're missing my point. Clinical depression is one reason among many that can lead to a person attempting suicide, but certainly not the only one. Poor circumstances is another. I haven't been following this story at all, but I haven't seen any release saying that Wilson is suffering from clinical depression.

Both my mother and my ex suffer from clinical depression; I know exactly what it can do to, and what it can lead people to.

Ah. Well then, if it's been revealed that he does not suffer from it, your not understanding how someone in his position can be so unclinically depressed makes sense. I haven't heard anything about his situation, so I didn't know. Sorry.

No need man. I'm cynical whenever a celebrity comes clean about something to excuse bad behavior.

My initial post was meant as a joke and a jab at an actor I can't stand, and it was in admittedly poor taste.

Again, Ah. It was difficult to the point of impossible to tell. Next time, perhaps a follow up along the lines of, "OK, just kidding. I can't stand his acting, but that doesn't mean I wish this kind of thing on him." would save us a couple pages of posts.

My bad, I thought my reputation preceded me, but I should have clarified that.