Posts by Virginia Brooks
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Hard News: Poor Choices, in reply to Kumara Republic,
Isn’t it just a euphemism for Social Darwinism?
Very closely related. But social Darwinism is out and proud, politically aware and waving the flag for eugenics. Whereas 'Just world theory' is more like a meme that lurks insidiously and denies political reality. It thrives on tautology, therefore ' the world is just because the world is just'. It pounces when you least expect it. For example, when someone told me over xmas dinner that poverty in NZ is caused by poor people themselves because they are stupid.
Re being 'very closely related' its possibly a case of incest but social Darwinism will never admit it (Just world theory just smiles coyly).
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Notes & Queries: Little CD in a Prospect…, in reply to Scooter Motoretta,
walk safe Scooter & companion animals are great. Hope your psych appointment goes well.
I don't know where your journey is at exactly, but Pathways provide a variety of effective services: www.pathways.co.nz
Maybe your dc can refer you there while you are waiting for the psych appointment?
Could be worth a try. -
Hard News: Poor Choices, in reply to Morgan Nichol,
Yes. Thanks Morgan. I mean any type of suicide choice really that attracts judgement, whether depression, euthanasia, or other reasons.
I think it takes courage to choose to end your own life and it is not necessarily a sign of weakness or failing. It is a choice which has its own logic in that moment. -
Hard News: Poor Choices, in reply to Russell Brown,
That is one sad column and a horrible high-jacking of someone's (Charlottes) personal life.
Though the threat of a punctuation attack from an honor defending grammarian is funny... -
Hard News: Poor Choices, in reply to thegirlstefan,
What I'm saying is the herald column is a classic piece of 'just world' theorising. Scary.
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Meaning CD did it to herself, literally and figuratively.
And the above sniff is tounge in cheek. I hate the black and white simplicity of just world theory. -
Going full circle now and coming back to DHC:
I like something she wrote in an earlier column - an observation on the 'Just world phenomenon' : the tendency of some people (often right wingers) to believe that the world is just and therefore people get what they deserve.
For a 'just world' theorist, some one who makes (sniff) 'inappropriate life choices' gets what they deserve. -
Hard News: Poor Choices, in reply to thegirlstefan,
Yowzah.
In response to the idea floated in the herald column that being a parent magically protects you from suicidal behaviour or poor life style choices....buzzzzzzzzzz (imagine wheel of fortune type of buzzing sound) WRONG.
Parents do suicide. Anyone can. Suicidal behaviour and depression are egalitarian / equal opportunity. You can be the worlds best parent and love your children deeply but still choose to end your own life. It happens.
What's with the self righteous judgement against people who suicide?
A way to distance oneself from a behaviour that's part of all of us, a way to put the dark 'out there'. -
Notes & Queries: Little CD in a Prospect…, in reply to Jackie Clark,
Thank you Jackie.
Not being able to discuss the topic as a society is like cultural omerta. The zipped lips. The refusal to acknowledge. Or like averting the evil eye, weaving a magical protection 'look away now', 'don't talk about it so it wont happen'. The obligatory silence around suicide has overtones of a modern day superstition that denies the reality of death. -
Notes & Queries: Little CD in a Prospect…, in reply to MaggieB,
Read the intro again Maggie. Its not meant to be taken literally. It highlights the perfectly ironic timing of it all.
Gotta love the universe.