I was saddened this morning to read a post from James regarding the death of Blake Hounshell who, apparently, took his own life yesterday. A quick check of my older posts revealed that my earliest reference to him was in 2004 almost 20 years ago.
It highlighted to me that the artificial intimacy created by this online medium obscures a lot of invisible demons. You just don’t know what things people are struggling with.
In my own case I’ve been pretty open about it. Blogging keeps me focused and engaged. Without it I think my brain would turn to mush.
But you just can’t know what much more deadly invisible demons others may be struggling with.
I doubt your brain would turn to mush. It might simply focus on different things.
I am trying to lower my focus on political issues. I have completely lost faith in our government, it’s institutions, the general discourse and the citizenry’s willingness to constructively engage in the process. Free beer politics, tribalism, and ignorant apathy, trumps all. My core philosophy (somewhere between classic liberalism and conservatism) has no place in todays debates. A philosophy of smaller, less intrusive, government is mocked as minarchist despite the obvious complete and total failure of government to solve social ills, especially if subjected to cost benefit analysis. Meanwhile, the Uniparty marches on, gaining wealth and power at the expense of the common citizen. It’s a grifters dream. Is there any real difference between Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer? Not in my view.
I’m of an age where I’ve made my pile. I can insulate myself from most of the effects of government. If people want to vote to their detriment, so be it. Time to do other things.
My understanding is that this fellow was a political reporter. That should not surprise.
You’re right, Dave, about the artificial intimacy of the medium. People who knew Blake well knew of his demons but, to the rest of us, he came across as an always-on wit who was quite happy.
Happens a lot also with people you work with in person. A lot fo suicides are impulsive so not really surprising. Plus depression is still a mental illness that doesnt get a lot fo sympathy. Many people still expect the severely depressed to pull themselves up.
” It’s a grifters dream.”
Grifters? Lets not forget grifter in chief Trump.
Steve
Yeah, I agree with all of this.
One of my friends (but not a close friend) in the military – a guy who was always happy and joking – shot himself one night. He struggled with PTSD but seemed to have it under control. But one night, he argued with his wife, and went into their bedroom, got his gun, and killed himself. No elaborate planning and none of the usual suicide signs, it seemed spontaneous.