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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Erik Hanson on January 22, 2000, at 13:18:55
Hey all--sorry I forgot to leave my email address. It's
eha7494854@aol.com
As far as the sort of snide suggestion that I induce a depressive state by taking reserpine and propranolol--I've experienced four years of treatment-resistant depression and suicidal ideation, and so I'm trying to put together this book to help young folks like myself (and hopefully prevent from happening to them what happened to me).
Erik
Posted by Rose on January 25, 2000, at 1:58:59
In reply to Get included in a book (must be under 30), posted by Erik Hanson on January 22, 2000, at 13:18:55
So you've had depression for four years and now you're writing a book about it, damn, four years is nothing. I am the same age as you & have been diagnosed and suffered from major depression for 10 years; however, I don't believe that in any way makes me qualified to write a book, or offer up any words of wisdom to others diagnosed with this illness. And at any rate, I would never insult others who suffered by offering them a lousy 50 bucks for their very personal and private accounts with this disease of depression. That is such an insult! Who do you think you are kidding by thinking that that amount of money is worth giving up any kind of personal information for the sake of another person's gain? Give me just a small break, will you please?
Posted by Erik Hanson on January 25, 2000, at 14:14:58
In reply to Re: Give Me a Break!, posted by Rose on January 25, 2000, at 1:58:59
First of all, I'm not offering words of wisdom. If I wanted to offer my expertise in dealing with depression, I'd include it in a journal article or Ph.D-level paper, like the one I wrote last year. I went to Harvard for undergraduate, until I had to take a medical leave for depression and suicidality. If that isn't good enough for you, you pathetic asshole, how's this--I have a goddamn agent, and you don't. You should be glad to have the chance to have your set of unintelligent gripes and failed attempts at dealing with your own depression included in a real book. You sound like one of those bitter, piece-of-shit people who blames his psychiatrist for not "curing" him. I don't know why I bothered to post the request to this bulletin board in the first place. I mean, it was an idea for a book proposal, and now it's becoming clear that you all are much too disorganized and absent-minded to actually write up a little account of your rather run-of-the-mill depressions. And if you think you deserve more than 50 dollars for such an account, you need a dose of reality. Given that it would take you about an hour tops to write something, and considering that if I were to collect and read through and edit hundreds or even upwards of a thousand similar postings, the amount of time I'd spend, and the probable money I'd get for a book contract, would mean that fifty dollars was more than generous. But since this proposal is probably never gonna get off the ground, you can shove your accounts where the sun don't shine.
Erik
Posted by dj on January 25, 2000, at 15:27:50
In reply to Re: Give Me a Break!, posted by Erik Hanson on January 25, 2000, at 14:14:58
Perhaps, both of you should just take a Valium. Or, better yet take a walk around the block, count to 5000 and then contemplate your equally arrogant diatribes. Chill!
Posted by Adam on January 25, 2000, at 15:51:13
In reply to Re: Give Me a Break!, posted by Erik Hanson on January 25, 2000, at 14:14:58
I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while. I've been super busy with work. I just couldn't let this one pass, though...
Erik: Talk about obnoxious! Even if you are offering something in return for someone's troubles (and I'm sorry, but a measly 50 bucks isn't going to get anyone excited whether they've earned it or not), you really shouldn't hurl insults their way after they fail to take the bait. I mean, congrats on getting into Hahvahd and having an agent and all, but if you're doing business (such as offering people chump money to put their personal thoughts and feelings in print), I would have thought a good community college and Dale Carnegie might have given you more acumen. Hell, I would have offered you something for free if I thought you were a sensitive individual who would put my story to good use; not because I am especially intelligent or organized, but because I'm a human being with experiences others might recognize or be moved by. That should be the point, shouldn't it, rather than lucre? You seem, for the present, incapable of conveying anything post-redaction about depression or its victims that I would find satisfying, and I wouldn't give you permission to use (or, heaven forbid, edit and interpret) my thoughts for all the money in the world. I happen to think the words on this board are priceless, and there are few if any human beings who deserve to be called a piece of shit. Not even you.
Learn some manners, some compassion, and some respect. No one is perfect, but I'm convinced if you strive for that goal you will gain the empathy and insight needed to write a fine book, and the people whose thoughts you wish to share might offer you them for nothing more than the privilege of being heard. It might help if working with you were to feel like a privilege. Harvard and an agent haven't give you that, I'm afraid.
> First of all, I'm not offering words of wisdom. If I wanted to offer my expertise in dealing with depression, I'd include it in a journal article or Ph.D-level paper, like the one I wrote last year. I went to Harvard for undergraduate, until I had to take a medical leave for depression and suicidality. If that isn't good enough for you, you pathetic asshole, how's this--I have a goddamn agent, and you don't. You should be glad to have the chance to have your set of unintelligent gripes and failed attempts at dealing with your own depression included in a real book. You sound like one of those bitter, piece-of-shit people who blames his psychiatrist for not "curing" him. I don't know why I bothered to post the request to this bulletin board in the first place. I mean, it was an idea for a book proposal, and now it's becoming clear that you all are much too disorganized and absent-minded to actually write up a little account of your rather run-of-the-mill depressions. And if you think you deserve more than 50 dollars for such an account, you need a dose of reality. Given that it would take you about an hour tops to write something, and considering that if I were to collect and read through and edit hundreds or even upwards of a thousand similar postings, the amount of time I'd spend, and the probable money I'd get for a book contract, would mean that fifty dollars was more than generous. But since this proposal is probably never gonna get off the ground, you can shove your accounts where the sun don't shine.
>
> Erik
Posted by JohnB on January 26, 2000, at 3:20:30
In reply to Re: Give Me a Break!, posted by Adam on January 25, 2000, at 15:51:13
I resent that remark about our "run-of-the-mill depressions". I'll have you know that MY depression was given an Acadamy Award for Best Depression AND Best Cinematography by a panel of distinguished p-docs!
Posted by Noa on January 26, 2000, at 7:28:23
In reply to Re: Give Me a Break!, posted by JohnB on January 26, 2000, at 3:20:30
LOL, JohnB. Using Siskel and Ebert's criterion of "is it believable?" I would say that my depression deserves an academy award, as well. It feels SO REAL!
Posted by Noa on January 26, 2000, at 7:55:42
In reply to Re: Give Me a Break!, posted by Noa on January 26, 2000, at 7:28:23
On a more serious note, Erik's use of the term "run-of-the-mill depressions" hints at a competitiveness that is pretty useless, in my opinion. The idea that any individual's depression is somehow special, more special than anyone else's is ridiculous. Needing to feel that one's depression is more special probably speaks to one of the personal needs that the person is struggling with and that contributes to the depression in the first place ("I must be special just to be ok"). It certainly isn't a trait (when expressed overtly, anyway) that facilitates good social relationships.
Posted by Tom on January 26, 2000, at 14:16:37
In reply to Get included in a book (must be under 30), posted by Erik Hanson on January 22, 2000, at 13:18:55
Ummmm... Erik? This book seems to have already been written. Go to Amazon.com , put in a search for "Speaking of Sadness" . The book is based on the interviews the author did with 50 (very) depressed individuals. I read the book and thought it was pretty good. Incidentally, I was not insulted by your cash offer, but you probably didn't have to bring out the heavy artillery for the rebuttal to Rose. And for Rose?...I suspect this is the standard fee (even for depressed individuals!) for a minor contribution to a book.
Anyway, I think there's room for another book in this genre. Good luck.
Posted by Scott L. Schofield on January 26, 2000, at 20:51:24
In reply to Get included in a book (must be under 30), posted by Erik Hanson on January 22, 2000, at 13:18:55
> As far as the sort of snide suggestion that I induce a depressive state by taking reserpine and propranolol--I've experienced four years of treatment-resistant depression and suicidal ideation, and so I'm trying to put together this book to help young folks like myself (and hopefully prevent from happening to them what happened to me).I was only trying to help.
- Scott
Posted by ROSE on February 8, 2000, at 2:34:58
In reply to Re: Give Me a Break!, posted by Erik Hanson on January 25, 2000, at 14:14:58
Damn, get a life! I only replied to your post in that way, because I knew that was the exact reaction I would get from you. Man, I love playin' with guys like you who have no life. I find your arrogance to be simply astounding. And what I wanna know is, who the hell cares if you go to Harvard? Here's some grammatical error for you to correct if that's how you get your jollies...THAT DON'T IMPRESS ME WORTH SHIT.
This is the end of the thread.
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