Robin Williams

It's really so sad.

A terrible loss to the world. What a talent! RIP Robin

Depression is a terrible thing

What a loss , I guess he didn't realize how much enjoyment he brought to all of us. We will miss him.

Sad but selfish if he killed himself.

Selfish is not a term I would use when confronted with someone who is suffering from such an illness.

Especially, as he appeared to have been so unselfish in the way he lived his life, and supported others.

This tragedy is all over the internet and my workplace. It bothers me for personal reasons, but I think James Taylor summed it up quite eloquently.

"I felt two things immediately when I got the news last night:
first that the light had dimmed and, on its heels, a sense that this was inevitable; that Robin had lived for a long time with a darkness at the periphery of his vision.
What must it have been like to be present when he improvised the genie in "Aladdin" or Lovelace in "Happy Feet?" His Texan, his gay stylist, his Soviet comedian, Mrs. Doubtfire…He was a one-man menagerie.
Perhaps, just as we were swept away, so was he.
I remember the small, uncontrollable chuckle that often accompanied his flights of fancy; as if he were as amazed as we were by what was happening to him.
Who can pretend to understand a gift like Robin Williams's? Meteoric, volcanic, fast and furious…Perhaps there is a price for such brilliance.
I'm so sad he's gone and so grateful he left us so much." ~ James Taylor


Another quote that has stuck with me is allegedly from Jack London;

I would rather be ashes than dust!
I would rather that my spark should burn out
in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot.
I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom
of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.
The function of man is to live, not to exist.
I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them.
I shall use my time.

Point taken, Andy, and agreed. I see selfishness in the act of suicide as it devastates others. Suicide is a permanent solution to a (generally) temporary problem.

It's a choice, and very poor one.

I have never been able to understand it. Tomorrow is always another day, and God did not give you your life for nothing.

Let's see how far this goes here. It will get deleted.
I saw where Rush Limbaugh made some disparaging comments about Robin after his death. I could not help but reflect on the world wide sadness, truly universal grief over RW death. I reflected on how much sorrow would be exhibited, or otherwise if the roles of Rush and Robin were reversed. Does anyone think that Williams would have used Limbaugh's death for self promotion...just a thought. What would be the reaction of the populous were it Rush?

Although I disagreed with most of his political positions, he was a kind and generous person. Yet, despite his fame and fortune and good works, he saw no benefit to continue his life. That's the tragedy/illness. He could have done more.

Mule said:

Let's see how far this goes here. It will get deleted.
I saw where Rush Limbaugh made some disparaging comments about Robin after his death. I could not help but reflect on the world wide sadness, truly universal grief over RW death. I reflected on how much sorrow would be exhibited, or otherwise if the roles of Rush and Robin were reversed. Does anyone think that Williams would have used Limbaugh's death for self promotion...just a thought. What would be the reaction of the populous were it Rush?

Click to expand...

Didn't Williams say Limbaugh shouldn't take Viagra because he's tall enough? Williams could be cruel just to get a laugh.

Mule said:

Let's see how far this goes here. It will get deleted.
I saw where Rush Limbaugh made some disparaging comments about Robin after his death. I could not help but reflect on the world wide sadness, truly universal grief over RW death. I reflected on how much sorrow would be exhibited, or otherwise if the roles of Rush and Robin were reversed. Does anyone think that Williams would have used Limbaugh's death for self promotion...just a thought. What would be the reaction of the populous were it Rush?

Click to expand...

You haven't seen reaction of the populous, mostly the narrative from the media that leans left. And you won't see the media praise Limbaugh when he's gone for the hundreds of millions of dollars he's raised for charities because it won't fit their narrative either.

Sorry Williams is gone. He was an incredible talent. Didn't agree with his political, social, and societal views, but seldom find anyone in Hollywood who lives in the real world anyway. I can seperate the two, maybe Limbaugh can't. If you're a public figure and you use your notoriety to promote your personal agenda, political views, etc., you should expect criticism regardless of where you stand.

Ted

markpierce said:

Didn't Williams say Limbaugh shouldn't take Viagra because he's tall enough? Williams could be cruel just to get a laugh.

Click to expand...

No one is dancing in the streets over RW passing. It would be less than realistic to think street dancing would not happen were it RL. I do not think that is even arguable. Obviously they both have their demons, RW's caught up with him....first... Both are(were) subsistence abusers. The difference is world reaction, most would say the passing of RW left the world a lesser place.

It can be hard to be kind to a person who likens you to a penis.

Off Topic is not the place for politics. Start a parallel thread in OTDE if you want to continue political discussion or this thread will be closed.

As a family Dr I see and treat a lot of depression. One of the obvious things about it is that once someone gets down sufficiently deep, there is no way they can 'snap out of it' - or 'just get over it'. Most fortunately do respond to medication for it and it works. They often describe the effect when it kicks in as "like a dark curtain lifting and the sun coming through again".

Sadly, for some reason, some don't seem to benefit from current medications, or counselling. The case here of Robin Williams would be all the more tragic if he did not get that kind of counselling and medical help, but I can't believe that someone in his position, and with his intelligence would not have received this support, and presumably it did not work for him, hence his turning to other drugs. We can therefore only feel very sorry that he felt the world have become so deep and dark that there was no other way out, and therefore must respect he chose to end it, because we have not got to a place where he could get relief any other way. In a way, that is a tragedy all of its own.

Not being American I had no idea who Rush Limbaugh was/is prior to this thread. I can only assume he is some right wing shock jock type from the posts.

I am surprised that such a sad occasion can ignite, in such a short time, the right /left divide which seems to so consume discussion in America.

So sad on two levels.

markpierce said:

Didn't Williams say Limbaugh shouldn't take Viagra because he's tall enough? Williams could be cruel just to get a laugh.

Click to expand...

Cruel? IMO, that's funny no matter what your political persuasion.

Greetings,
Perhaps Mr. Robin's tragic circumstances might cause at least one person to reassess their own personal feelings wrt those "hidden" and not so "hidden" diseases that too many suffer from. Depression and substance abuse go hand in hand many, many times. A bit of empathy towards those who are unable to cope with their personal demons can go a long way towards solving some of today's societies social illness.
EVERY living thing has an innate sense of self of self preservation. The fight or flight response. Alas, some have chosen their "flight" to be an escape through drugs or alcohol or, as in Mr. Robin's case, the ultimate solution. Not a good choice to be sure but again for some the only thing that is readily available to, at least momentarily, banish their demons.

Now I understand OTDE written in small letters under Off Topics....boy those letters are small.
One observation......not off the deep end or political but logical. As far as demons and subsidence abuse, seems in that one area of life they had more in common than not.

Another quote that has stuck with me is allegedly from Jack London;

I would rather be ashes than dust!
I would rather that my spark should burn out
in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot.
I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom
of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.
The function of man is to live, not to exist.
I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them.
I shall use my time.[/QUOTE]

SO well said, thanks

A slight deviation(when one initiates the tread it's called a deviation, for the rest of you it's a hijack)

This is sparked by Wxx3's post above.

We, by that I mean my old uni group of twenty or so, have just had a 40th anniversary weekend bash in an old Aussie country hotel in the bush. Lots, and I mean lots, of wine,songs, laughter & stories(lies).

No one would have called us remotely responsible, especially our wives. Games of tennis at 4.00am with yet more wine, sunglasses at breakfast, more laughter, nothing has really changed since we were 20(well in our minds anyway)

This group is now spread across the world but we were all there.Some are now quite wealthy some not, it mattered not. We argued over politics, philosophy, old girl/boy friends, but above all we just laughed, and opened more wine

In a way I am surprised at my own reaction to Robin Williams death, and reading the lines from that Jack London verse has brought into sharp focus how much that sense of Joie de vivre means to me, and above all the laughter that comes with it.

It might sound a bit trite but life is a fragile thing, once it's gone there is no coming back.

The legacy you leave, what people remember you for, is the legacy you make.

We will all remember Robin Williams for the joy he gave each of us over the years.

This reminds me of a song "Tears of a Clown"
.

Hmmm, I cannot help but wonder what Robin Williams had against penises...notice I took a day to mull this over b4 responding. Point is, well thought out. Excuse me, but I need to cut another check to Flush Rush...1300 sponsors down and X to go.