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0 pointsbrazzy14y ago0 comments

I think your loaded rhetorics are entirely divorced from reality in this point; You're painting this picture of an evil conspiracy between an authoritarian establishment and intolerant relatives using draconian brainwashing measures to attack any minor deviation from a questionable norm.

In reality, clinical depression is a condition that causes great suffering to the patient and their loved ones, and massively changes their personality (to a state where they lose all will to live). It is not something easily misdiagnosed or confused with any state anyone would want to be in.

Any effective therapy will not be questioned by anyone because the patient is too happy about getting back their ability to enjoy life, and their relatives about seeing them turn back into the person they were before.

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noduerme14y ago· 2 in thread

Well, that's kind of the point of Brave New World; most people are happy to occupy the place they're given, take the drugs they're given, and only misfits question the validity of drugging the whole population to produce an artificial state of euphoria.

Maybe depression is a natural state that shouldn't be interfered with. It certainly leads to great works of art and literature. For all we know, it may be necessary for the fitness and survival of the species. It may be a prerequisite to civilization. So now, because society grants a license to psychologists to play God with patients' emotions, and just because you, and they, and even the patients say they're only too happy to be "cured" of their depression, that's supposed to provide a valid mandate for a license to play God?

See if you can answer this question directly: By your logic, is there any reason people should not be lobotomized if it produces a happier or calmer patient?

brazzyOP14y ago

It's easy to sprout bullshit (yes, bullshit, unmitigated) about "natural state that shouldn't be interfered with" and "playing God" when it's not yourself or your loved ones that suffer from a debiliating disease.

See if you can answer this question directy: by your logic, is there any reason to cure any disease at all because "for all we know" some may be necessary for the fitness and survival of the species, and some inspire great art?

noduerme14y ago

It's a moot question, because by my logic, 90% of what's diagnosed as "clinical depression" is actually a correct reaction to living in an atomized, alienating society driven by pharmaceuticals marketers and authoritarians who demand that everyone wear a happy face (and who attack anyone who dares to claim that we're not all meant to wear a happy face).

See, this is why I'd never visit a shrink. But there's always some sanctimonious jackass who thinks he's so happy, everyone who isn't as happy as he is should be doped in the interest of the public good. It's hard to express the absolute loathing I have for your assumptions about my experiences with depression, or your drippingly patronizing tone, other than to compare it with my feeling for other kinds of teetotalers and those authoritarians who profess to know what's in everyone else's best interest. Luckily most of them are powerless and cowardly, and can't get their hands on me or my loved ones to lobotomize.

I love my loved ones the way they are, depressed or otherwise. Since you didn't answer my question, this is the end of our conversation. Thanks and goodnight.

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