Beloved actor Robin Williams was found dead on Monday, police reported. He was 63. The apparent cause of death was suicide by asphyxiation Read more
So now you know, but should you care?
I did not know Robin Williams and I would venture to guess that many of you didn’t either. Not outside of his movies that is.
I did enjoy his work and he had a major impact on the entertainment industry to be sure but what difference did he make in your life for you to run around crying like you care for any reason other than a few more likes on your Facebook wall?
Of course his family and friends should mourn his loss. And honestly, if you want to light a candle or say a prayer for him and his family then by all means, go ahead. I just think that the attention we spend as a society focusing on issues like this are symptoms of a larger problem that we face as a people.
The questions you should be asking.
When will we start paying attention to what matters?
When will we stop glorifying the people who’s jobs it is to entertain us, while ignoring the major facts that underlie these viral explosions of grief. When have you cared about the fact that tens of thousands of people commit suicide each year or that depression affects more than just celebrities?
When will we stop ignoring the fact that entertainment and most media for that matter is designed to distract us from the bigger picture. That we have allowed pop-culture to fracture our society by enthralling us with stories about one or two individuals that we have never met as opposed to connecting with the people in our lives that really matter.
How many of you are reading this story while sitting next to someone who you call a friend? What if they died tomorrow? How would you feel about having spent this final moment with them on your phone as opposed to getting to know a little more about them?
When was the last time you spilled a tear for the death of a soldier? A teacher or policeman? Aren’t those the political heart strings that are usually pulled in situations where the media is trying to make a point?
How many news organizations are flooding their front pages with this “breaking news” while burying the information about our pending economic collapse somewhere below the fold; in section E 12.
What does it say about us as a people that we are more interested in the death of a comedic celebrity than the death of a US Army General, a Death and Cover up of a US Ambassador, an IRS that is arbitrarily spying on its citizens or any other number of stories that might have you thinking you were reading a political fiction novel.
I do not mean to be insensitive, but give me a freaking break. My heart goes out to people who have had to or are dealing with any death, especially suicide. Having been close to the edge myself I know the thoughts that must be running through most peoples heads right now but please take a step back and think about why you really care.
If you can tell me that it is because you really loved him and it is breaking your heart then by all means, enjoy your grief. This is after all, still (for now) America.
I just think that most people are using this as an opportunity to suck up another moment in social media glory and to drive page views. Heck, that’s the only reason I am writing this article at 3:00 am instead of working on my book or sleeping, which is what I should be doing.
In closing
If I had my way, no one would care whether Rhianna and whoever she is currently sleeping with break up, or whether another comedian dies today or even tomorrow. Not in the grand scheme of things that is.
Maybe that makes me callous and cruel. Maybe that means that I will have a lonely funeral, but I think we should be spending our time and media resources caring about the health of our country because it is also dying.
We should be worried that our entire society is on life support.
We should care that we are completely incapable as an entire country of giving a shit about anything that doesn’t come with sparkles, sex or sporting equipment.
So, I will gladly pour one out for my fellow depression sufferers, but I will not sulk over this celebrities passing in any context other than that. And honestly, neither should you.
A life is life.. if you can care about all the unknown people who die, you should care for Robin Williams as he was a life that was also love. You’re just a horrible person for writing this. I hope for the sake of people who care about your miserable self, that they never come across something online about who gives a crap when you die.
Millions of people love dogs playing poker, Bob Ross, and Cabbage Patch Kids, too.
I agree with you, this author was extremely uninformed, but you shouldn’t wish that disease on anyone. I don’t think Robin would have liked that, as by all accounts he had a heart of gold. And to wish it on the innocent people around this idiot, just because he cares about them, is just shameful. That comfort in the fact that the author is an asshole who couldn’t wait to here the results of Robin’s autopsy before coming to their on conclusions and posting their ignorance as fact. And, the person that wrote this article isn’t much of an author anyway. What kind of author posts an article without bothering to double check their grammar and punctuation. Their craft is poor, as is the author’s intelligent. Though I respect and admire the majority of your comment, you wasted your time. You can try to educate the author, but, unfortunately, you simply can’t fix stupid.
“… as is the author’s intelligent”.
Muphry’s Law – the minute you point out someone’s bad grammar, you are guaranteed to make a mistake of your own…
What an uninformed Idiot this Author is..another young, completely clueless individual using Robins death to promote himself. You cad.!! I Knew Robin Pal. Ok Bozo..Robin Williams had Lewy Body Dementia…Parkinsons meets Alzheimers..border line Schizophrenia. He could not remember one line on the set of the last Night at The Museum. 12 months after he contracted this disorder, which can only be diagnosed after you die and they look at your brain, we lost him. It creates hallucinations..you talk to dead pets and relatives and cannot separate Reality from Dreams. They said they Robin’s case was the worse they had ever seen. They know he was Hallucination and losing touch with reality. A Brain Disease..you jerk! Depression??!! You sir, are an uninformed imbecile who should net be allowed to write for his dog. Robin spoke for an hour and a half to a good friend about positive things the night before….his marriage..his daughters birthday and Mrs Doubtfire 2..somewhere between 12 am and 5 am..he went into a mental state…we lost him…to a Brain Disorder which is not brought on by drugs or Alcohol. How DARE YOU say he was a ‘Depressed loser actor:..Id Like to see you say that to my face. I can only HOPE YOU get this disease..or someone you love does pal. This disease is more common then you realize. I hope you lose touch with reality..you heartless, uneducated loser. My Name is David Born..look me and and I will set your sorry a** straight in person you talent- less fool. Now go put your foot in your mouth somewhere else. Karma is a cold bitch buddy..your gonna get yours.
No, tell me what you REALLY think. Stop pussyfooting around. No but seriously, go fuck yourself. Who died and made you a policeman of morality? You are acting like a lunatic vigilante: “You said something unkind! I hope you get the shits and die!” Kind of like comparing soot and grime, eh? Sanctimonious cocksucker.
Ok David, calm down there. I’m late to the game but if you’re the comedian impersonator, you’re making a buck off of Robin’s likeness – sales must’ve went up after his death. Robin wasn’t the end-all, be-all of mankind or comedy. He constantly let his families down – cheated all the time and was unable to realize that happiness was something he already had (at home). He was never satisfied and that kind of karma became his “cold bitch”, buddy.
uhm Karna doesn’t work like that.
Sorry.
Unless you’re the direct cause of a deed, action, or scenerio-good or bad, it just doesn’t work.
Being a well intending ‘nice’ person yeilds no more Karma than being a bitter critical ‘dick’.
Karma doesn’t work like anything, because it does not exist (in the ‘cosmic’ sense).
My gut reaction to this article is that there is something wrong with the author. When ANYONE dies, and someone is insensitive enough to say “I don’t care and neither should you”, it almost comes across as if they have something personal against the deceased. Why is it a good thing to promote “not caring”, when there is already enough indifference around? If Robin Williams were around, would you want him to see this, and why? So that he feels as if he doesn’t matter? If he doesn’t matter to you, why do you feel the need to ask people to think that he doesn’t matter to them too? Would you want someone to do the same to you, as you just did to someone that, as you said, you don’t even really know?
Anon, that all makes sense in your world I’m sure. But in my world I see things a little differently.
This article was intended to spark thoughts and conversations, much like this one. It was supposed to make you uncomfortable.
Not to mention I am assuming you did not actually read the article, because then you would have realized that I do care, just not more about random celebrities than the people who I surround myself with. And if you can’t see the value in that then you are probably part of the problem.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Robin Williams was one of the greats, he made everyone laugh, told funny jokes, made movies & TV shows-but I guess you’re right-he was a human being who was admired for his talent-More important things going on in this world
Correct Keith. I hate to sound callous, because I empathize dearly with his suffering, but we must stop glorifying one another as gods. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
He didn’t make everyone laugh. Millions thought he was merely an endlessly loud, unfunny, in-your-face attention whore, and never anything but a silly annoyance. Or a horror. The origin of that word is “hairy.” He was kind of the equivalent of dogs playing poker, Bob Ross paintings, and cabbage patch dolls – millions of people love those, too. At least the last three didn’t always speak in a kind of baby talk, trying to gain sympathy.
Very well written and, I could not agree more. Expressed all my thoughts on the subjectly – exactally, keep up the good work!
Thank you sir.
I am glad you wrote this piece. I hope you do a follow up on the overdose discussion circling the death of Prince. The war on drugs is directly related to our health care options and affordability. What happened to real journalistic pieces? You are doing a great job. My how you’ve grown ;) Your site has truly become something of a work of art and I like it.
Keep pushing people to think instead of just following like mindless sheep.
Hello ibloud. Thanks for the kind words. This was a tough piece to write because I do think about the pain that must be present for someone to drive themselves to their own death. But the greater point still remains. In this and the death of any other celebrity. We need to stop glorifying these people as gods and learn how to love each other. Then we might have a chance at moving past all the media hype and really connecting as a community of humanity.
Regards, and much love for the compliments on the website. It has become a passion project indeed and I’m looking forward to seeing where it takes us.
One thing I know for sure, I won’t give a single shit when YOU die.
That seems a little harsh, you obviously missed the whole point of this post. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Hey, I think you are spot on, and I agree 100%. In fact the reason I am here is because yet another celeb is gone. Prince. I watched a news clip and people who had never even met the man were crying as they spoke about him??
All I wish is that people would show the same love for each other as they do for these celebs. Can you imagine what a wonderful world it would be if we all treated each other like we treat the celebs?
People who come on here and say you are cold are brainwashed, simple. The fact is millions of children are dying everyday, and no one knows they even exist, and would they even care?
Would Prince cry if any one of these people who worship him died? No. Why should it be only one way love? What the fuck is going on?
I will cry, and do cry for those whose lives I can touch, and those who actually care about me, and those who I have helped in their time of need, and vice versa. Those are the people who really matter, and in fact without those people the celebs wouldn’t even exist. What a paradox.
Keep up the good work, man.
Rich
I actually thought about changing the title of this article and then sending it back out on social media.
I could have absolutely written it about Prince or any other celeb who has passed recently. And the greater point of the article, as you point out in your comment, is that we need to stop glorifying these individuals as gods and understand that they are just people. That we are all people. And we must go back to valuing that individuality and exploring each of our own abilities to be exceptional in our own way as opposed to living vicariously through the celebrities we admire. Then and only then will we start making the progress we should be making as a species and be able to work together towards true liberty and peace.
Now THATS funny. Mr. Robin Williams would have appreciated that. Thank you.
I think many people will not understand this and majority of them are likely to be those who posted the news of his death through social media. People will do anything for attention and likes these days and need acceptance or to be active on everyones feed with crap. Spread and raise awareness for the reasons people lose their lives vs. the entertainment they provided.
I disagree. I think a lot of people will react the way you said, but I also think a lot of people “get it”.
Just sometimes the people who don’t get it are louder than those who do. Because obviously being louder makes you more likely to be right. Duh. ;)
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Much of your article relies on false logic. For instance, feeling very upset over the death of Robin Williams doesn’t mean I don’t care about the tanking economy, the threat of ISIS, or any other important problem facing our society. Feeling very upset over the death of Robin Williams doesn’t mean I care about which star is marrying/divorcing which other star. Feeling very upset over the death of Robin Williams doesn’t mean I am capitalizing on this tragedy to get Facebook likes. Feeling very upset over the death of Robin Williams doesn’t mean I’m not also upset over the deaths of soldiers, teachers, policemen, or other victims of depression/suicide. You’ve made an awful lot of false assumptions there.
I feel very upset over the death of Robin Williams because he’s been a major influence in my life. He was my first “crush” at age 11. The movies he made always seemed to contain just the message I needed at that point in my life. When I was depressed, he made me laugh. And sometimes the emotion in his acting made me cry. Aside from the entertainment aspect of his life, he was just a really good guy. He was never a phony like so many of these “stars” are. Always genuine, honest, and so, so generous with both his time and his money. So accommodating to everyone, from his friends in the acting industry, to every fan who ever approached him, to a large number of charities, to our troops serving overseas, to the homeless, to children suffering with cancer – EVERYONE. Was he perfect? Far from it. But he never shied away from his imperfections. He even mocked himself and the mistakes he’d made. He was REAL.
In fact, he was so real, both in his acting and in his real life, so good at what he did and who he was, that he made millions of us feel like we knew him. Even more, he made millions of us feel like HE knew US. Not logical, of course, but it is what it is. He lived a life that resulted in people loving him, even people who didn’t know him. If you can’t or won’t understand that, that’s okay. You don’t HAVE to love him. But I really don’t see the need for the condescension towards those of us who do. And I really don’t see how my grief interferes in any way with your life. I should be able to mourn in peace without having to justify it, and without all these judgements and false assumptions made with regard to the nature of my grief. I wouldn’t dare to judge you for NOT caring. It would be nice to have that same respect.
Susan Marie, many thanks for your beautiful reply. I relate to what you’ve written 100%. Take care.
He was a major influence in your life yet because of his movies? I’m sorry but your entire answer is the exact type of person the OP is talking about. You are a person obsessed with celebrities and make deities out of these people. Why don’t you give your mother a call? I’m sure she’d love to hear from you. Stop letting other people you don’t even know be influences in your life and start listening to the people sitting next to you.
thank you so much Susan Marie For putting this so nicely and echoing my feelings exactly.
Dear Susan, Your reply was excellent. Dear Robin showed great love for others throughout his life on this earth. In addition to the great work that he did for others that was publicly known, now after his passing, others now are sharing the great work and love he gave, that was purposefully not publicized by Robin, he worked for it not to be. He is a great loving man who used his clear genius, and even more so his heart in a beautiful way to help others and give true love to all thanks be to God.
Phahaha if he was real then what are the rest of us?
Shouldn´t the planet be for everyone?
Shouldn´t we all say the same? We´re real too? Come on..
That point.. geez.. Isn´t planet Earth REAL?! Shouldn´t we treasure this planet as we
treasure this guy who died? I am writing from here to everyone of you. Shouldn´t we treasure
planet´s life too? It fucking gave us life, it fucking gave Robin Williams life too.
Christianity believes in Joy, which ONLY ONE person gave to them. Who was that guy?
JESUS CHRIST. THis influence is hitting my head, and I´m sick of it.
Get real.. I´m pretty stubborn at this point on ONE comment!
@Susan Marie: Thank you for stating so eloquently what many people felt after RW died. You pretty much nailed my feelings exactly. Except I was a bit older than you when i first saw him playing the cute little alien “Mork” on his breakout show “Mork and Mindy”…idk, maybe you had to live through that era to appreciate how popular that show was! He was also on HBO doing stand up when M&M was becoming a huge hit…Robin Williams was just magical back then….
good for you… well said susan marie.
great job in responding!!
What made Robin Williams really great, in my humble opinion, was his ability to not only make us laugh at ourselves, but to do it in front of a camera or live audience. I pray we will be with him in heaven.
Well then youre an idiot. By your own admission. Youre an idiot. He was a MAJOR part of your life???? He was your first crush? EW! So you have OUT OF CONTROL crushes on strangers? Crushes influence your life? Im certain that you are an UNdiagnosed mental patient as well as a potential stalker. I feel for anyone you have a crush on. SCARY!!!!
I do care. In a world of people famous for being famous, a genuine talent – comic genius and actor, is rare, and the world is worse off without him. No, I don’t care if Kim Kardashian has another plastic surgery, or Paris Hilton makes a real sex tape. Totally different things.
I agree with you completely, Raymmar, and I appreciate that you have the courage to speak up.
And I feel similar about Joan Rivers.
I didn’t like the “entertainment” of either Williams or Rivers very much as they were both too raucous and rude for me, yet I do feel a sadness about their passing, no matter how they went. After all, they were people and they had hearts and I’d venture a guess that both were very giving and caring people who loved and were loved in return by those who actually knew them. I have no doubts of that. And truth is, I’m sure both Wiliams and Rivers were far ‘better’ people than me in many ways.
Although I didn’t like either of them very much, I admit to sometimes laughing at their jokes – but it always felt like when I was thirteen. You know, like laughing at “jokes” about fat people or lame people or midgets or stupid blonds, or jokes peppered with rude language, etc. I’d laugh, but inside myself I felt mean. I don’t like that side of life and I choose to not live there anymore.
Hollywood is all about cheap and easy ‘feel good’, and nothing more. Any good that may have come out of Hollywood pales in comparison to the irrelevance, and even damage, to society and to the world. I don’t care who or how many disagree with that, I know it is true – and in their hearts, so do many actors. The real acting that goes on is acting like any of it really matters in the end.
You may be on the autism spectrum. Your matter of fact black and white thinking and while your article is a logical, it is void of empathy and compassion. I have no personal interest in Robin Williams, and never really cared for his movies. But, when I think of the pain his family is going through, it stirs compassion. People care because it is a human life, period. People are saddened by the stories of strangers or “nobodies” in the news that are hurt or die (see Casey Anthony’s daughter).
I notice your blog speaks of your inability to maintain a job. This speaks to problems with rigidity, perhaps inflexible thinking and maybe interpersonal difficulties. Your interest in computers and anime is very common among individuals on the spectrum. You may want to get tested since it would help you figure out why you feel like you don’t fit in and lash out due to how you view society is treating you.
Social interaction is not easy for those on the spectrum and speaking through a blog probably helps you get your point across and give you time to formulate your thoughts. You have a lot to offer to the world, so you may consider sharing your strengths rather than criticize others for what you perceive as phony or weak.
If you care to find out, here is a site with an unofficial test, if you get a lot of yellow highlights you are likely on the spectrum https://aspietests.org/ https://aspergersquiz.com/ and http://www.aane.org may help you identify some of the issues you may have faced.
You have a lot to offer and are a talented writer, it would be great if your talent could be used to encourage rather than to get your point across in a way that shames or tears down others in the process.
Dee,
Thank you for such a detailed comment. But I think you are making a lot of assumptions based on little information. (Especially if you think I am in to anime) I was named after a Japanese animation cartoon character that my parents watched when they were kids but I cannot stand the stuff.
This article was impactful specifically because people cared for Robin Williams and was used to make a greater point that I feel not many people are making. That is what I do. I fight absurdity by being absurd and I think most people see that and understand it.
As for my jobs, let’s put it like this: I have kept all of the jobs I have wanted to keep. I am on my own because I have a vision for how things need to get done and it is hard to do that inside the confines of another mans dream. Saying that I might be in the autism spectrum because I have bounced through a number of jobs is like assuming someone is gay because they have had a lot of girlfriends and are still single. It is not even a logical line to draw.
You seem to be sitting mighty high on that horse as you make your assumptions and assertions. To me that stinks of elitism and arrogance. Telling me my flaws, while unwittingly exposing your own.
Yes, writing helps me get my point across, but I also do live video and live podcasting. Oh, and I have been in sales for the last 10 years so interpersonal is not really a problem. Actually, I might be a little too personal and I thoroughly enjoy meeting new people.
As for sharing my strengths. My strength is hard love. Its brutal honesty and a unique perspective on business, life and love. I want to force people to understand why they think the way they do, not necessarily tell them what to think. I want to make the reader hate me and then realize how foolish it is to let another mans words rise up inside of them and pull out those emotions.
I appreciate your thoughts and the compliments on my writing but you have no clue the impact I have had on anyone’s life through my own methods and madness. The lives that my tough love has touched. This is therapy for me, you are not wrong in that sense, but people relate because of the torment you see shining through my work. My harsh reality and almost unrealistic expectations are what give me an edge over other authors.
If you read past skin deep you would see that my words are the most effective of encouragement, specifically because they make the reader uncomfortable. Some people may not like it but the growth and popularity of this website leads me to think otherwise.
Thanks again, for reading and sharing your thoughts. I truly do appreciate diverse perspectives but I think that your assumptions were as shallow as your interpretation of my words.
Aw, wassa matter big guy, did Dee strike a nerve? I think he/she may be on to something. Susan Marie may be even closer to the mark. As for myself I think you’re just a jerk who gets off on attacking others for little or no reason in order to cover up their own inadequacies. “Tough love?” yeah right; ain’t no such thing.
Raymmar, I get it. that’s why I searched for
“caring about celebs.” We focus too much attention on celebrities period. I met my idol at 18 years old. He was a total ass. We put them up on a pedestal and shun the rest. Frankly, I want the news that will be affecting my life. They flashed suicide prevention hotline numbers the day R.W. Died and a good friend of mine called and was committed. I guess it was good timing, but now we need more celebrities to die so they can run a banner and save more lives. It is a total waste for a 22 minute news show to report on celebrities, even if there is a crime. Nobody is showing the pictures of albatrosses piled ten feet high with bellies full of plastic. Peace. Earth Sux.
You’re a real mean-spirited guy with a lot of personal problems. I hope you’ve gotten help since this was posted.
It’s more then completely obvious you are jealous at that amount of attention Robin Williams got when he died. You know you will never become anywhere near as important to people as he was. This makes you very irritated which is why you chose to write this post at 3am.
I was drawn to your post because of the title. I’m curious about viewpoints that aren’t my own. And while I don’t concur with the opinion or attitude here it does challenge, and so I feel it’s valuable for that. On distractions (not referencing the post): Kim K’s selfies are not in the same league as this talented performer was and is, as distractions go. Some distractions are necessary, crucial in fact; they have the ability to restore us in order to cope with the important stuff. I remember reading Night and Wizel’s comment about how they knew there was no hope in the camp but somehow humor remained. And, right, some pretty important stuff was going there. They distracted each other with ridiculous jokes. In that way, Robin Williams filled in like no other, visiting some who had no hope and making them laugh and feel good during their last moments. He wasn’t just celebrity soapsuds. What a contributor to mankind. He wasn’t just important to friends and family. He belonged to all of us because of what he left us. Maybe this was written for a much younger crowd. I don’t know a single person who values facebook likes, so that’s something I don’t understand. But hey, thanks for the post and causing me to step back and look at why I care.
It was because he was so important that this article had the impact that it did. Because we all held him in such high regard.
This article was intended to do exactly what it did to you. Challenge you to know why you feel the way you do but not really to tell you to change that view point.
It was written to my generation because that is who I am trying to impact with my work.
Some of the commenters on here are ignorant and for that they get ignored but thank you for being honest and objective. I just try to push people to understand and be sure of the things they think. Not just follow popular opinion or adopt a mob mentality.
Thanks for your thoughts.
You certainly got our attention! I think the world is entirely too fascinated with the rich and famous…we have clearly gone off track – away from what is important – However, I was really upset by Robin Williams passing, not because I was some rabid fan – but because he was an extremely kind and generous person who tried to make a positive impact on the world – in spite of struggling his entire life with mental illness. I did a lot of research on it for an article, he used his celebrity for good – right up until he died – making a video for a woman dying of cancer who had it on her bucket list to meet him. He was, it seemed, a humble man, who loved his family, and was just a struggling human like the rest of us. I have had to comfort family members after a suicide – it is just so tragic – And I guess to see that played out in the media – involving a public icon – hurt .
I find it variously laughable and infuriating and very cynical that the media suddenly decides that Depression is a ‘sexy’ subject when this concerns a well know person. Why no interest in the other 25% of the great unwashed who suffer from depression yet who run the risk of losing jobs and stygmatisation. My advice to the media, get real and stop being so two faced!!
Right on!
It’s still unclear whether he offed himself on purpose. So I don’t know what to think, actually.
I’m not going to talk about Robin Williams, I’m just going to talk about suicide and depression: almost every depressed person is an a**hole. Before you throw a hissy feat over what I’ve just said, try to remember the families of the 9/11 victims. If those families managed to overcome the pain and move on, so can everyone else.
Depressed people who commit suicide (and who also happen to be very rich) are too selfish to be helped. They could donate their money. They could find their balance by helping other less fortunate people. But they never do. Most suicidal people think they are just too good for this life. They think no one is good enough to understand their pain. The fact of the matter is that many people are depressed for the wrong reasons. Just to put things into perspective: there are children who saw how their parents were mercilessly killed. Now compare them to those wealthy rich people who are “depressed” because they fell in love with last night’s call girl who won’t return their calls. See the difference?
Lol. You’re the asshole – you clearly know nothing about depression and suicide.
You are neither right nor wrong. Your perceptions are based on your life experiences. This was a great share and gets our minds ticking.
I am sad for Mr. Williams. I grew up watching Mork and Mindy and so forth. Robin Williams represented memories throughout my life time – its not just about him.
His death made the majority realize something – that no amount of money or fame could stop the inevitable. I feel that his depression hit home with many of us, and may have awakened us from thinking that depression simply effects the average person. Maybe his death was a gift to the world to the people who suffer from depression. I am not really sure. I was sad but I am more so, “grateful” that I had the opportunity to see his talents throughout my life. Thanks for this.
This is the most horrible article I have ever read in my life. I knew I shouldn’t have opened it. Curiosity just got the best of me. Robin Williams did more for other people in one day than you have in your entire life. News flash it is OK for other to care about another’s life ending, whether you knew them personally or not. I feel like I lost a close friend from childhood because of the many hours I spent watching his movies. Its a tradgedy when a life is is gone and its a shame you don’t see it that way.
Agreed….awful insensitive article…combined the topic of being fascinated with celebrity dating etc….this is totally different.
You are a really, REALLY, blinded person. You have an attachment to someone you have never met nor spoken to. He made ACTED in movies. Those weren’t even his words they were made by writers and his expressions and body language were done by directors and producers. Even with that said you are missing the point, the real world around you is changing and getting worse or better and you are choosing to put your time into things like feeling bad about some dude who you never passing away. If he was your friend, your family member or someone you truly knew you should feel sorry but he isn’t. The person who wrote this article is one of the small group of people in America that actually is in tune with the important stuff. The other countries, even ones like ours (Brittan and the wester hemisphere in general) don’t care about stuff like that. Its shown and talked about a little but it’s not publicized like it is here. They know how to focus on the real stuff. Wake up or there will be an entre country of a sob story before we know it and a debt level of hundreds of trillions because nobody cared about the real things. We all will just let the greedy take more under our snotty teary noses.
I agree with everything you wrote. The preoccupation many have with celebrities seems to have taken the place that religion used to occupy. I couldn’t care less about Mork and would love it if the news stories about him stopped.
I don’t think I thought as much about this as you seemed to. Robin Williams was a talented individual and did a lot of philanthropic work. He committed suicide and that was a shame. Other than that, I hope he rests in peace. End of story.
I for one was researching Robin Williams for two weeks straight. I dont know why, just he consumed my thoughts. I told my husband on the 8th I thought he would leave the world on his own clock. I had no idea it would be a few days later. That was mind blowing. I have watched him in film and on TV for over 30 years. His talent and persona was amazing. I have not only been close to the edge I fell off it. many years ago. I took my life and was found by my landlord. The paramedics brought me back and I awoke days later in the ICU. I know that I felt dead weeks before I decided to kill my body. I am grateful to be here now..Lorraine you scare me. you talk about Christ and I believe he would be very ashamed to hear your unkind judgement and self righteousness. Thou shall not judge must have slipped by you when you were reading the bible..This blog is sad to see. I am heartbroken for Robin and his love ones. I agree that he has brought awareness to depression and suicide and Parkinson’s as-well.What a gift he was as a person as a actor and comic. I feel like I lost a friend. Peace to Robin and his family
Wow.
If you didn’t get anything from Robin when he was alive then his death shouldn’t be of interest enough to bitch about all the people in the world morning him. Yet you do.
Someone like Robin Williams helped people through his humor. That’s what the rest of us take away from this. You obviously didn’t/don’t need what he was giving away. He spent more time helping others that was never mentioned in the media.
Six USO tours from 2002 to 2013, including five overseas. He visited troops in 12 foreign countries, making three stops to both Iraq and Afghanistan and the below charities
Aid Still Required
American Foundation for AIDS Research
Amnesty International,
Andre Agassi Foundation for Education
Augie’s Quest
Bob Woodruff Foundation
Celebrity Fight Night Foundation
Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation
Comic Relief
David Foster Foundation
Doctors Without Borders
Dogs Deserve Better
Dream Foundation
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
Heifer International
International Medical Corps
Keep Memory Alive
LIVESTRONG
Love Our Children USA
Luke Neuhedel Foundation
Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center
MusiCares
Prince’s Rainforests Project
Prince’s Trust
Robert F Kennedy Memorial
Smile Train
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
UNICEF
My father and I were huge fans of his, didn’t worship him, just fans. I like that my father had Robin Williams to listen to when he was healthy and dying from cancer. Robin wasn’t any ordinary celeb. I can’t stand most of them either but this guy had something special and he wasn’t afraid to share it with the world.
There are plenty of causes and people to help in the world that need the kind of attention you are paying to this, self admitted seemingly unimportant topic. Why don’t you find something good even important to do with your life. Many then this won’t weigh so heavily on you at 3am.
HE WAS A MAN AND ACCORDING TO THE VALUES HE HAD ON SCREEN HE WAS AN UNSAVED MAN WHO IS IN HELL. ANYTHING HE DID WAS NON-EXISTENT BECAUSE WHAT DOES IT VALUE TO DO ANYTHING WITHOUT CHRIST? ALL THAT IS WITHOUT CHRIST IS DEAD, NULLIFIED, OF NO VALUE. HE WAS LOVED, HE DID SOME GOOD, SOME BAD LIKE ANOTHER MAN. GOD IS NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS, HE WAS NO BETTER THAN THE SINGLE MOTHER MAKING HER WAY TRIUMPHANTLY, LOVINGLY HER KIDS. HE HAD EFFECTED MANY THINGS FOR GOOD, BUT IF YOU CAN’T GIVE IT TO ONE WHO CREATED YOU AND ALL THE MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE YOU LIVE ON, HE DIED WITHOUT THE REAL WISDOM OF GOD THAT MANY CHILDREN UNDERSTAND. THAT’S WHAT TRAGIC. WHATS TRAGIC, IS NOT ONE PERSON IS TALKING OF THE SPIRITUAL REALITY OF THE ISSUE. JESUS IS THE INGREDIENT TO BALANCE ANY SPIRIT OF DEPRESSION. HE CONQUERED DEATH AND SIN AND GAVE US MANY EXTRAORDINARY THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST. IF HE BELIEVED HALF OF THEM HE WOULD BE THE BIGGER INFLUENCE THAT HE WAS CREATED FOR; GOD’S GLORY. IT’S ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE WORSHIP; IDOLATRY. WAKE UP, IT’S A CONCEPT, AS CHRISTIANS, WE UNDERSTAND, FOR UNBELIEVERS TO GRASP, BECAUSE IT TAKES THE HOLY SPIRIT IN MOST CASES TO GET IT. YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH, YET IF YOU HAVE YOUR SALTINESS, OF WHAT VALUE ARE YOU? HE HAD NO SALT. HE WAS EXHIBITING AMAZING GOODNESS, MORE TIMES THAN NOT AND CONSISTENTLY, YET IT DOESN’T DO ANYTHING AT ALL IF THE ONE WHO GAVE HIM THE GRACE AND GIFTS TO DO SOMETHING WITH HIS LIFE, WHO, CALLED HIM BY NAME BEFORE THE FOUNDATIONS WERE CREATED, WHO EVEN BEGGED GOD AT THE THRONE TO BE BORN, IS NOT EVEN ACKNOWLEDGED. WE HAVE CHILDREN, WE CARE FOR THEM, IN CASES, AND INTIMATELY WATCH THEM FLOURISH AND UNDERSTAND THE BASIS OF THEIR POTENTIALS AND QUALITIES AND ALL ABOUT THEM, LOVE THEM, BEYOND WORDS. WE SET THEM ON THEIR WAY AND WHAT IF WE SET THEM ON THEIR WAY AND THEY DIDN’T CALL, VISIT, REMEMBER WHERE THEY LIVED, CHANGED THEIR NAME, IDENTITY, QUIT CARING ABOUT YOU, THEN DENIED YOU WERE THEIR PARENT, AND WHEN YOU BUMPED INTO THEM OR TRIED TO VISIT THEY SLAMMED THE DOOR IN YOUR FACE RAGING ABOUT HOW THEY HATE YOU FOR NO APPARENT REASON. WORSE CASE SCENARIOS, THEY ONLY ACKNOWLEDGE YOU WHEN THEY WANT SOMETHING. THEN WHEN THEIR DEAD AND THE MORGUE IS TRYING TO TRACK DOWN THE FAMILY ALL THEY FIND ARE A BUNCH OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE TO CALL EACH OTHER FOR DAYS AND WEEKS BEFORE THEY CAN FIND THE PARENT, BECAUSE THE CHILD WAS SO FAR AWAY. IN REALITY, WE ARE GIVEN THE CHANCE, HE TELLS OUR SPIRIT WHO WE ARE..THAT WE BELONG TO HIM. THEN IF WE LIKE IT, IT DOESN’T MEET OUR NEED TO FIT IN WITH THE WORLD AND WHAT OUR FLESH WANTS, WE MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON THE FLESH, NOT THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHO TRIES OUR LIFE TRYING TO GET IN OUR HEARTS. OUR NAMES ARE WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE ALL THE WAY TILL THE LAST DYING BREATH, WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT CALLING AND TRYING. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE MORE PEOPLE PLAY GAMES WITH THEIR PRIDE AND ETERNAL LIFE CHOICE, THE HARDER THE HEART GETS, AND BECOMES TO HARD FOR ANY SEEDS OF THE LIVING WORD TO BE PLANTED IN THE HEART. SEEDS OF KNOWLEDGE OF WHO GOD IS AND HOW THIS ALL WORKS AND OUR RELATIONSHIP HE WANTS FOR US SO WE DON’T DIE IN THE SPIRIT WHEN OUR BODIES TIME IS UP. IT’D FRUSTRATING AS A CHRISTIAN TO KNOW THIS AND BE CONNECTED TO THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO’S MAIN OBJECTIVE IS TO HELP US SAY YES TO GOD AND GUIDE US IN LIVING FOR GOD. WE AS CHRISTIANS, ESPECIALLY IF WE ARE CLOSE TO GOD; BY PRAYER AND READING THE LIVING WORD OF THE LORD, JESUS, ALL WE WANT IS SEE FRUITS THAT SAY, THAT GUY WAS SAVED, WHAT A RELIEF. LIKE WHITNEY HOUSTON, IF YOU SAW THE PICTURE IN THE LIMO WITH HER HAIR ALL JACKED UP, IT, IF YOU ARE DECENT, BROKE YOUR HEART. BUT AT LEAST BY HER FRUIT, WE KNOW SHE’S IN HEAVEN WITH JESUS SINGING AND JOYFUL. SHE DRUGGED IT UP!, YES! BUT SHE WAS SAVED! SHE JUST DIDN’T GRASP ALL THERE WAS FOR HER IN CHRIST AND A LITTLE SECULAR LIVING CAN INFECT MUCH. INFECTION IS WHAT PEOPLE TODAY HAVE IT’S CALLED IDOLATRY. IF MORE PEOPLE DIDN’T HAVE IT THE NEWS MEDIA, WOULDN’T MAKE SO MONEY FEEDING US ON THIS. IF WE WOKE UP WHEN 9/11 HAPPENED, KATRINA, AIDS, TRAFFICKING, OPEN PORN FOR CHILDREN AT EVERY POSSIBLE REACH AND EYESIGHT, GOV. CORRUPTION, OIL SPILLS, EARTHQUAKES ALL AT LEVELS NOW THAT ARE FESTERING ALL THE PROBLEMS, ALL OF THEM, AND IT’S JUST THE BIRTHING PAINS OF THE UNIMAGINABLE. IGNORANCE THINKS IT’S NEGATIVE MANIFESTATION. NO, IT’S BIBLICAL PROPHECY. HAD THERE NOT BEEN SO MUCH RUNNING FROM GOD IN THE FIRST PLACE IT WOULDN’T BE LIKE THIS. CHILDREN ARE GETTING BEHEADED, PEOPLE ARE SYSTEMATICALLY TAKING TRUCKLOADS OF CHRISTIAN ADULTS AND SHOOTING THEM IN THE HEAD. WHAT ARE THEY DOING WITH THE KIDS? I DON’T WANT TO KNOW. THE ENTIRE WORLD IS ON FIRE LIKE WE HAVEN’T SEEN AND IT’S AT OUR DOOR STEP, LITERALLY, AND WE ARE SPENDING EVERY SINGLE MOMENT, ALL DAY, EVERY DAY ON THIS ONE PERSON, IN A COUNTRY WHO STILL DOESN’T GET IT THAT IT’S IMPORTANT AND OUR RIGHT TO TALK ABOUT THE SPIRITUAL LACKING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT CAUSED THIS TRAGEDY OF SOMEONE WHO MEANT TO INFLUENCE MANY TO CHRIST. -I’m not edited this, obviously went into caps and didn’t care many words left out. I think any half way intelligent person, understands, I’m not heartless. I was in a live audience of Mork and Mindy and LOVED, that man, he waved at me and said hi. I pray everyday for his family to receive the grace to get through this. I’m glad for the knowledge that got out. Again, it pains me even more that people are not getting the crux of the issue, because it’s politically incorrect. I could throw up. What is, these days? My only hope is maybe somewhere, he believed in Jesus, and that the prayers of the saints will rise and more people will quit looking at peoples faults and see each other for who they are in God’s eyes. In Gods eyes, we are the salt of the earth, the light of the world, the apple of His eye, friend, ambassadors of Christ, the King’s kid’s with full inheritance of all God has, more than conquerors through Christ who goes before us in battles, made for His glory, a flower quickly fading, like sheep, yet, sheep hear only the voice of the Shepard, our hearts are deceitful above all things; who can know the measure of it?, easily swayed, and so prone to messin’ up that we needed God Himself to come down off His holy throne and make himself as low as man, and lower to scoop us up and save us by shedding His blood on the cross, so when we mess it up and live ugly and do ugly all He sees is the blood on us and when we say sorry, AND MEAN IT, He says it’s alright kid, I got your back and when we test Him, we get spanked, Ouch. We are wonderful to Him, more than we can comprehend. He grieves all the time, read it. Any separateness from Him makes mourn and cry. Yet, He is God, and He also hears us all, and intercedes for us all, all the time. If you really got it before, just sit there, He’s there, He’s not just looking at you! He’s pleading with you to let Him in. It’s EASY, just say Jesus, I don’t get it all and nobody ever will completely because you are eternal, I know all have to do is nothing cause you did it all at the cross for me, or so they say, so just in case, cus I really don’t want to take a chance at thinking I know everything when I don’t, ….save me, take me as your child. DONE – What they don’t tell you is you will now take part in an never ending spiritual war. First the devil is all miffed and will sic his demons on you, they’ve been putting thoughts in your head the whole time you’ve read this. Listen to what Robin says, ‘I thought’. The battleground is in the mind. It’s subtle and it’s takes speaking the Living Word to win. God wins, God IS love and love never fails. The cool part is when you really see it playing out in your life. If you don’t read, you don’t pray. you don’t seek His face. Ain’t gonna stick. The devil has been doing this longer than you, dear. Pride, ask God to get rid of it right away. Ask for the gifts of the Holy Spirit! Gets easier, and harder, but it rocks. So completely rocks. Live! and Live eternal! Peace.
Jesus said I am the Life. If you have all good, positive, love, generosity, and turn around and say, but I give it to make me feel good about making others feel good or whatever ‘good’ reason, and add the BUT clause in small print..’but it does not go to Life’. Well where does it go? It should’ve went to Life! Life! is what put RW on the earth! Life! is what was screaming for his soul! Life! is moved him with compassion! Why didn’t Life! get it? ….Cus RW had the choice, and didn’t give it to Life. What else is there, but Life? Anyway I find myself sorry about saying he’s in hell. Not because I believe he is, poor soul. But because of the way I said it. It was my being livid with overkill that sent out a wee too much insensitivity. BTW don’t think you believe no one’s perfect and then go nuts when Christians make the slightest foul. Everything else I stand behind, only wish I’da edited it. Thanks for the venue, my dear! I can’t believe I typed in the browser field -sick of hearing of RW- just to see if any single person on the planet felt as I do, and found all this. ..Trip.
Blah Blah Blah….Mork, Jesus…..etc…..
That’s what i got out of that comment. He was a Christian, he said so……so stop preaching already…..
Well your a nice person maybe you should go to hell if your going to say that watch your mouth do u know how much people you hurt from what you said why don’t you go to hell
Yes, it is sad. Very sad. But let’s face it aside from his friends, family, and colleagues, I don’t get the endless rending of garments and gnashing of teeth. It reminds me of Princess Diana’s death. I remember being quite shocked the moment I found out. I’m not sure why. Perhaps because she was a contemporary of mine. But to see the crowds of strangers weeping was truly bizarre. Crowd phenom?
I think you mistake that there is somehow a limit to people’s compassion and care about someone. I am sad Robin Williams is dead because he suffered and eventually lost his fight. I am sad that this happens to thousands of people every day. The fact that a celebrity committed suicide at the very least gives us the opportunity to open up the discussion about mental health and possibly preventing others from hurting themselves because they were able to get help from an outpouring of sympathy for Robin Williams.
My grief for him and his family in no way lessens my heartbreak for the many children around the world starving, sold into the sex trade, or anything else. Because I really, really believe that everyone has value. Celebrities are no exception.
Honestly, I think this blog is great. I am a person with depression and when I am at my lowest no one calls, no one comes by, its like folks around me ignore the fact they know me. When I am doing well, I spend time caring for my friends and family. If anyone needs anything I help. Even going to see and spend time with my depressed friends. Its a one way street. Yet the same individuals on Facebook and Twitter are blowing up their social media about Robyn Williams. They have never met this wonderfully talented guy. It makes me wonder if I committed suicide would they blow up social media about my death? Yet, while I am still alive they care less. Do people have compassion that is limitless? Maybe. However, as long as they don’t have to get involved in the messiness they cry on stage for the world.
Nailed it! Right on. As a depression sufferer and person who has sat on the edge of suicide, I take issue with the people who think that this article is insensitive.
I would argue that it is them who do not see the try issues that surround them. Lost in a pretend reality while their loved ones struggle to keep up the facade.
Everything you do, do heartily as unto the Lord. Then there’s never unappreciative issues. And if your filled with the Holy Spirit, you’ll get balanced! and stay balanced! The imbalance is the loss of the Holy Spirit, Jesus. And if your saved, get closer, speak the Word, connect with people who praise and worship in Spirit and Truth. Just say Jesus, help me on this, He will! xo
Of provision, Jesus said, ‘Seek me FIRST and My righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you’. That’s the spiritual blood work. Then get physical blood work done. And start juicing, get those greens on an empty stomach. God be with you all. I’m free of depression because of Jesus.
I agree, it’s sad he died but I fantasize about suicide all the time and nobody is there for me, and if I died people might be sad for like, a day. I get what you mean about the one way street, I’m always there for people but when I need them nobody is there to be found.
Amen.
Frankly, you come off quite arrogant. Even the title. Most propagandists do, now I didn’t mean that word as a slight. All media and entertainment is propaganda. The social media comment did have value but still… How about this? He was vastly overrated by a wimpy, fawning public! Yes some of his better movies were good. But his stand up was washed up decades ago, annoying as hell just like his dumb interviews. Attention whore that succumbed to it all!! And the parkinsons news flash doesn’t change that one bit. Sorry, truth hurts but someone has to tell it like it fuckin is!!! RIP Robin. And I hate that superstitious old saying RIP. I don’t believe in the sanctity of life, but for the retarded masses. Stick that up yur smart phones folks.
He hammed it up – an attention whore as you like to call it – when cameras were on him but generally a recluse.
LOL Dusty must be a joy to be around.
Like that? Haywood, aren’t you bff with Craven Morehead? Haha. For the right people I am a joy to be around. For fake, oversentimental, boring, robotic people not too much, eww.
I agree with you fuck this guy i miss Robin Williams
In this article you claim that Hollywood draws people’s attention off of reality and that it is what it is designed to do. To a certain extent you are right but in the case of Robin Williams committing suicide, you are wrong. With Robin Williams being as big of a star as he was and being so beloved by so many people for so long his committing suicide brought more attention to reality. The reality that depression and addiction can strike anybody and if you are stricken (as I am and so many others)then you must seek help. His death has raised awareness on the adverse effects of mental illness and addiction and I think that is a positive we can take out of this. We should care, it does matter.
Who are you to tell me what to care about or not? seriously, his death is more than just a celebrity I never knew personally dying…his work is rooted in my childhood, my teens, my adulthood, when he passed it felt like a piece of me passed. It felt like someone I did know passing, yes people die from the same thing everyday, but those people did not have an affect on my life, Robin did, he touched my life by making me laugh and moving me in movies like The Birdcage…so yeah I was sad when he passed…. you’re doing nothing more than using his death as a story to further your career…so you do care.
I never met Robin Williams, but like millions of others, I loved him, and had I known he was in such pain, I would have purchased a plane ticket, flown to San Francisco, got him to treatment, and when he was well enough, take him somewhere beautiful for a piece of pie- with ice cream on top!
that is really sweet but in reality you would have NEVER gotten close to him…see we are the normal people and celebrities make is so that we can’t get to them ever. Even though they want to be just as normal as you and I; but they aren’t sad to say. So you never would have taken him to treatment nor had pie with him.
Robin was spotted by my friends riding Muni by himself, he was seen around town, he wasn’t some celebrity that thought he was too good for the public….so yeah there was a chance to run into him and maybe just maybe become friends…
awesome! and I agree! me too!
I felt bad for Robin Williams’ family. The media needs to quit talking about him. You can’t glorify a suicidal insane person. Its like when Linda Lovelace died in a car crash a few years back. (we loved her in Deep Throat back in the 70’s) The media didn’t even pick up her story. You shouldn’t glorify a cock sucker, and you shouldn’t glorify a cock sucker that kills himself either. Although, between the two, Linda Lovelace should have gottten all kinds of media coverage.
While I wholeheartedly agree with the author, ms. Rodriguez, you, my dear are a cold hearted bitch. To call somebody that is struggling with a mental disorder and life itself a cocksucker shows your true ignorance and callousness. My son is mentally ill and I assure you, its all too real and a devastation of life beyond what somebody with your limited intelligence could comprehend. Its people like you that can only see within their little box and can never see the bigger picture.
Yeah, have to conquer with Millie there. Although, without the cus words – to each his own.. Don’t grow cold. When we allow ourselves to wantonly exhibit that kind of cold attitude, it unnecessarily brings down the value of humans, and generally bums everyone out, man. I get you, but hating is equating yourself to the very thing your protesting, and worse, cus you know better. -In the last days hearts grow cold, growing cold is a choice as is rejecting Jesus. Be well.
concur, duh
I was going to create a post on my blog regarding Robin Williams’ death but you hit the nail on the head and I couldn’t state what you did any better. I get that he was a talented entertainer but I don’t get the constant media attention and quite frankly it’s making me sick to my stomach.
Your basic point is obviously valid and important, but not about much. Celebrities and celebrity interest performs many functions for people, which you apparently haven;t considered. For example, some functions are similar to mythology, in which people envision an embodiment of certain wishes. We often lionize social leaders and athletes because they represent what our species might all aspire to–what many of us might have accomplished–if we devoted ourselves to the development of skills and talents we forwent to develop others. The affection we feel for Williams is affection for gentleness and warmth, coupled with an admiration for creative wit and humor among so many other things. To not care about THAT, is to not care about people,their wishes and ideals.Why stress the negative as compared to saying there are other things too, their are realistic aspirations also that may deserve far more concern than they’re getting?
Actors — stage or film — have devoted their lives to connecting with us and to bettering our lives thru the talent they possess. Why is it such a horrible thing that some actors, like Robin Williams, have achieved doing so more than the average actor, comedian, playwright? Being human is to connect emotionally with other humans, be it on-stage, on-screen, thru the pages of a book, or in person. It’s a beautiful thing. I’m all for society giving it a break on needing to know what Kim Kardashian is doing, but the author is diminishing the gift of a truly talented man; of a fellow human being. He’s telling us not to hold actors up on a pedestal, but who is an actor, really? An actor is a person. It’s as if he’s forgetting they’re actual people. How thankful are most of us when we find a quiet moment in our busy lives to catch-up with our favorite author’s latest novel? Wouldn’t we feel sad if he/she passed away? Yes. Because for whatever time we spent with them thru the pages of their writing, we were connected. It’s not wrong to evoke emotion as you feel it, or to develop a connection with someone thru their art (which painters and photographers do daily; why else do we purchase their work to hang in our homes?). Establishing a connection shouldn’t be dependent on which industry a person has selected to work in nor should we limit it as such. The author’s advice to emotionally tune-out is odd to me. I’m not sure why he’d spend time writing such a thing. Suicide is a horrible epidemic, perhaps the saddest one. So how can one not feel saddened by knowing a man who made millions laugh, who devoted his life to making ours a little more manageable a few hours at a time, couldn’t find laughter for himself.
Alana, beautifully stated, thank you.
Yes he was a great actor/comedian. He killed himself. End of story. Help others with depression especially people who are actually close to you!!
Nice article sir. Here is one that echo’s your sentiments.
https://beforeitsnews.com/celebrities/2014/08/world-mourns-robin-william-death-as-genocide-largely-ignored-in-middle-east-2467118.html
Some people are truly moved by Robin Williams’ death. Some people are not. Who is the author to dictate how anyone other than himself should react to this or any other situation? Feel or don’t feel whatever you like but stick to “Why I don’t care” and be respectful enough of the fact that you are not alone in the universe to lay off of the “…and neither should you” angle. I care very much about whether a product I’m using on my body or in my home was tested on animals. Do you? I’m not presuming…I don’t know you so maybe you do, maybe you don’t. I think you should but I wouldn’t be surprised if you don’t and if so, it really isn’t my business. You may be thinking that this is over-simplifying, that the issues you mention are far more important…but I don’t see it that way. It sucks when people don’t think the same way we do, but that’s life. If we can’t care about this death because there are “worse” deaths, then how can we justify caring about anything at all, especially anything good? Dead kids in Gaza don’t spring back to life when you get a promotion. On your birthday nobody says, f*** you there are starving kids in Rwanda!
As far as the animosity towards the method of his death that I’m seeing in some of the comments….wow, I really don’t know what to say to that. I’m nowhere near comfortable enough with my own saintliness to make that kind of judgement, so hats off to your confidence. Suicides used to be buried face down so that when judgment day came around they would go the wrong way and dig themselves straight to “hell”. I really thought we were all beyond that kind of crap. The only people who have any right to be pissed at someone who has taken their own life are their family members. That’s it. If you want to be that kind of person with that kind of hatred then you go ahead, but do me a favor and keep that sh*t to yourself.
This comment is incoherent.
Well that’s a shame.
What part of ‘some people are moved…some are not’ did you find confusing?
It’s never too late to practice basic reading comprehension.
So what I just heard you say……….is, everybody has the right their own opinion and has the right to speak it, but when it comes to something you, disagree with it’s acceptable to become, verbally abusive and intolerant. This is contradictory. What I think your really trying to say is, it pains you and shocks you to have found tones of hatred expressed at RW’s method of death, so much so that you wish you have never encountered that view. Furthermore, I hear you saying don’t be hateful. —Yet, I must reiterate, THE WAY, your feelings were expressed about their ‘hatred’….was hateful. Cussing is verbally abusive. Yet, most importantly, i hear you saying, ‘don’t tell me or anyone for that matter, how to respond. Good point. (again, your choice of conclusion contradicted that, too, but it’s Cool!)
How I interpret Raymmar when he titles, ..’and why you shouldn’t either’, is his perspective on a social breakdown of what we prioritize – as a social system. I can’t bet money on Raymmar being type A; my way or the hwy type thinking, esp. with the given forum on which to freely express ourselves. -Again BTTB (back to the bible)….Jesus said, ‘You know a man by their fruits’. i.e. what they have said, done, accomplished, inspired, etc. Peace.
I agree with this article. Too much time and news space is spent on celebrity news. It’s cheap, easy journalism. I don’t really blame the entertainment community or their fans. The problem is with the news outlets. They will argue that they are just filling a demand. That may be, but they also have a choice who and what to cover, how to cover it, and how much time and space to devote to it.
The news cycle or wave just feeds upon itself. Case in point is myself. I was complaining to myself yesterday that the canonization of Robin Williams was already beginning and promised myself not to pay attention to it. But I just read an article online by Dick Cavett, who wrote that performers seem more prone to suicide caused by depression. I disagree. That group is probably in synch with other groups. The problem is they get all the focus. Again, not their fault. Then, I stumble upon this blog. Robin Williams is everywhere now. It’s hard not to click. There have been stories condemning the negative reaction to his death. How dare someone offer a different take. No joke. It’s really depressing that the crowd of celebrity worshipers can’t stand to share the airwaves or cyberspace with nonbelievers.
If someone is going to focus on the positive, why not the negative too? Of course, there is civility to consider. To me that means being tolerant of views opposite yours within reason. In this era where people are considered more often consumers instead of citizens, companies, including big media, spend their resources selling what they think will make people happy, in the hopes of gaining mighty dollars.
For what it’s worth: Be selective in how much media you expose yourself to daily. It may lead to a healthier world view and lessen gloomy thoughts.
Let me guess… The original author is about 18-25 years old, didn’t grow up watching his movies, didn’t laugh and cry with his performances, didn’t live in the Bay Area and just come across him living his life at a coffee shop or go to a comedy show where he just popped in unannounced to do an impromptu stand up routine.
He’s not Rihanna or some other celebrity. We knew him even if we didn’t know him. He impacted our lives in some way.
I’m not affected by celebrity deaths. This is the first one I’ve ever cared about. I can’t put my finger on it but this one is different.
Congrats for being the contrarian, the one to say “who cares”. Some of us do care. Hope you got the clicks you were after. And you’re right, when you, or someone I don’t care about or who hasn’t affected me does, I won’t shed a tear.
I must be the only one in the US who doesn’t think RW was funny. Too wired. Loved the movie Hook but RW couldn’t act. Lousy facial expressions. Sorry he chose to commit suicide, but where is the grief for Lauen Bacall? Far superior actor, bigger movies, bigger icon. Mrs Doubtfire? Really? Let it go, feel bad for his kids, and talk about something else..ANYTHING else please. What? Something happening in Ukraine,middle East, Afghan, our border, fast and furious, gas was 1.88 a gallon in Jan 2009 before we became the Saudis Arabia of North America, etc. What about things that matter or those who die in accident or bad health. Suicide sympathy for him? Move on.
Dirkus, I kind of think that the difference i that Lauren Bacall was a raging bitch in real life. Robin treated people with respect and was so not “Hollywood”. I met them both. Didn’t know them, just met them briefly at Broadway show openings. I think we’re treating this differently because it’s just now coming to light how tortured he was. You would never know it. He made us laugh through his tears. But, more importantly, spent so much of his time giving his money AND time to charites. Entertaining troops, terminally ill children… when I’m sure all he wanted to do was to hide out in a room by himself, giving in to the demons. And, for so many years he didn’t give in, he fought.
Lauren Bacall made coffee adverts for “Maxwell House”….. That’s what I remember about her….and she could whistle…….
Before my time. I’m guessing the blog writer is really young.
you´re right, he wasn´t good comedian …but his suicide was sad
I’m actually 31, Loved his work and watched many of his movies. You assume much to prove a very weak point.
I know he is not Rihanna, if it had been Rihanna, I would have been racist and a selfish bigot. But if it was someone you didnt care about then you would have ignored this post. But it wasn’t and I respect that.
I knew that the world would be talking about just that. I used this as an opportunity to prove a bigger point and in that I was successful. Yes I got my clicks but I was honest about that in the article. MAybe you didn’t read the whole thing?
Sounds like something you might do after all the assumptions you made about me.
I did not attack anyone in this email. I did not degrade the mourners of his death. All I said was that we face an issue as a nation where we deify these celebrities and then prop them up as gods when they die.
Meanwhile, the whole world is falling apart and no one gives a shit. So you may think I was insensitive but I think the apathy and ignorance that has plagued our society about the issues that matter piss me off and I think that is something worth speaking out about.
Thanks for your thoughts. As shallow and ignorant as they might have been.
I like this point of view. I am sick of the Hollywood media taking over all aspects of news. Whether it is a suicide, a break up or a basketball star slapping his girlfriend, it seems that has become far too important in our lives. It is almost like the seven kingdoms on the Game of Thrones fighting among each other and completely ignoring the bigger picture of what is coming from the north with the white walkers. Between our corrupt government, being in far too many wars that leave our defenses scattered about and shattered economy, you would think that we would be more concerned about important things that really effect us.
Robin Williams was funny about 20 years ago. More recently he was way more obnoxious than even slightly humorous. I totally agree with the original blogger. We are only being distracted by the bigger picture and there are way more serious things in this world we should be concerned with.
Thank you. Somebody had to say it. I’m sick of hearing everybody’s unsolicited eulogies for celebrities they never met. “Oh I am just soooo heartbroken. When I saw (fill in the blank) it changed my life!” Meanwhile, these Facebook contests to see who can break the news first or be the most sensitive or profound is making me ill.
Thank you!! I couldn’t have stated my own feelings any better than this!!
Here here!
You are absolutely wrong…….You are a selfish ******* you are to love your neighbor as yourself but then you probably wouldn’t know anything about that either……To bad…….
And with this, you mean you’re a good Christian?
He had problems with whats right or wrong. he coped out by killing himself, all people that claim they are gay has a proble,. Calif. had it right to start with by saying they was sick, then the gays got that law changed. His soul was lost cause he killed himself & couldn’t ask to be forgiven.
I’d also like to point how now suddenly in the last few days everyone has been battling depression and suicidal thoughts. You know I’m pretty fucking sure everyone on the god damned planet has been depressed at some point in time. Stop making everything about you.
You know what? Don’t ask me to feel as sorry for people who choose to die, as I feel for those being victims of this selfish world we’re living in. I completely understand that depression is evil, invades every cell of your body, possesses you but let me say: He had billions and he chose to die as many other people do, because money can’t bring you happiness, because people forget that being happy is very simple, is appreciating what you have!
Do you know that there are billions of people living in genocides, that are prisoners in their homes, that are condemned to death because they were born in the “wrong” country, because we don’t give a shit, because when we see massacred kids and we choose to switch TV program to another brainwashing program, why?? Because it’s not us? Because it’s not Robin Williams? Robin Williams blood is dearer to me than of a kid murdered whilst playing on the beach? It’s been seven years that I have chosen to live without TV! Yes, yes called me stupid but I do not need Jersey Shore, Big brother or X Factor to become smarter and believe me…I’m not bad at all!!
I know what war is, I know what not having 1 single $ means, and I know am/was the best candidate to become depressed but I can’t accept someone else taking my life, I would be able to KILL for my own life!!
I consider suicide a choice, a very bad one but still a choice so please don’t ask me to feel sorry! On the contrary, I do feel very sorry for thousands of I N N O C E N T people, kids, women, entire families, entire countries being oppressed…but we chose to feel sorry for Robin Williams! Shame to humanity!
This, Aida…this.
I need to add to “this”…The moment I found that he had died (News Alerts overtaking my Sattellite Phone), I thought it may be drugs or suicide. Ten minutes later, it was an “apparent suicide.” Who are “they” protecting with that description? His identity isn’t compromised, WE KNOW IT’S HIM. Also, detail after detail is spilling out. Why are we glorifying the act this man took upon himself? How many other celebrities have to die to make it “not okay” to commit suicide? If I had my way, the news story would read like this:
“Robin Williams, award-winning actor and comedian, committed suicide at his home today. He suffered from depression and had just recently reentered a 12 step rehab program. He made us laugh; he changed some lives. He was 63.”
and that is all. It’s not that I don’t care how his friends and family feel, I just don’t think it should dominate the news cycle, nor do I think if he gets this much press, others, who aren’t celebs shouldn’t have their 15 minutes also. After all, they died the same way – and several on the same day. The coverage is making me tired of even hearing bout him and causing disdain for the four movies that are to be released. I’m losing interest by the update.
And let me say something that people ignore!!! Talking about this , so f****king much on the media will encourage all the depressed people to commit suicide because ” E V E N Robin Williams did it, he was a S T A R, we’re not smarter than Robin, are we? ” Please don’t forget that we live in a contagious society. Remember that sheep jumping off the hill, how many sheep did follow after?
Let me tell you a story. When I was a student, I was working on the Eiffel Tower. People would come and jump from 110 m altitude every single month, twice a month…. and they were all unavoidably D E A D!! Never did I hear this kind of news appearing on the French TV, why?? Because this would give ideas, options and encourage depressed people to kill themselves.
I liked him, but it would be a disgrace to post his death on facebook when there are people starving, they have no reason to hold on for life but they do, till the end! Entire countries, cultures being oppressed with no respect for human rights. Who posts this on facebook? Today it’s their turn, but tomorrow can be ours!
Let me also remind you that nobody can escape death, we will all die, so if Robin dies today and I die tomorrow, who really gives a damn?
When I read this stupid article I was both perturbed and angry, I mean the sure stupidity and insensitivity of this is beyond measure.
This is not an article by someone rallying for social justice nor someone wanting us to stop treating a celebrities death like a big deal but ignore other issues like what is happening in Gaza.
Dont you think someone out there is concerned by these things at the same time, this is not an issue about morality but it is an issue of someone’s tiny ego on a website made by a man who is clearly devoid of pity nor sympathy.
This is not a cry for revolution nor is it a cry in a dark but the spatterings of a total idiot who has no values in things like compassion.
There is no meaning to this article nor to the life of the poor insect that has written it.
Look the matter is that Robin Williams was in his way an icon love him or not it is irrelevant.
He had done a lot of great work for charities and put smiles on faces across the world.
Far more valuable then some backwater tosspot who took this opportunity to get some heat so he can grab attention.
It is the writings of someone who is delusional and self important.
This is not a call to rally but a cry for help.
Get some therapy, take some pills then then lets have a chat.
What, did you say Gaza? Are you sure everyone knows what/where Gaza is?
Gaza is the only thing you focused on? Nice.
Could not have put it better. The more I read the angrier I became until I realized this person is soulless. Some of my favorite childhood memories are of watching Robin Williams play pan in Hook.
Well better focusing on Gaza than pan in Hook I would say. You’re grown-up enough for me to show you the difference, aren’t you?
Yes
I’ll start off by saying that I found him completely unfunny. I do feel sorry for his family and friends. You are spot on with your assessment. I’ve seen people post that it was like their uncle died, lost a best friend, or they lost a part of their childhood. It’s social media and the media in general building up celebrities, sport stars, musicians etc. into these cults of personalities. Where people become so attached that they really believe the crap they are spewing. It’s fine to be bummed out when a favorite actor dies. That being said acting as if said favorite actor was some close personal friend and you are going to struggle from here on out is border line insane. I also believe it has to do with what I call “the bandwagon factor”. People love to commiserate over something and feel like they are part of the “team.” Whether it’s mourning a dead actor, picking on a terrible band (nickleback), or hating on a celebrity (Kim Kardashian) people want to be accepted and not be looked at as an antisocial jerk or a snob. Regardless of the fact that people are entitled to their opinios. Social media is a great tool but it’s also turning people into mindless zombies that will follow any trend and agree with the masses in the search for acceptance.
Do you believe the crap you’re spewing? Because you’re a moral elitist. You comment your ever so valuable opinion just like everyone else. To agree or disagree. A human being died, and that’s a sad thing. Allow people to mourn as they wish, many feel like they knew him and that’s fine for them. So what they chatter on social media about it? Like the idiot who wrote this article, you’re just another one of the masses eager to voice their opinion and be heard. Or else you wouldn’t be writing this crap. The fact that you choose to be vocal by being critical and judgemental of people shows you’re no different, though you claim to be different by the very implication of your post. We’re all the same, except you give people an easier reason to hate you compared to a band like nickelback who just makes lame music. Obviously neither you or the author has any real value or tenderness for human life. I know you can’t just make yourself start having real feelings, but you all will fare better in life by not sounding like bitter, frustrated losers :/
I will be critical of some schmuck in bumfuck, WI who thinks that some actor, playing a character in a movie, was like a family member to them. That’s bizarre behavior. I also find it disgusting how disingenuous people are. 2 weeks from now no one will give a flying fuck about Robin Williams just like no one did 2 weeks ago. It was just so they can get some likes on FB. The truth hurts. It’s people like you that call people like us “bitter losers” because we make you see how obsessed you people are with popularity and the cult of celebrity. Get over yourself.
Agreed, this is definitely a distraction, there are such huge things going on in the world right now and this is being slammed in your face again and again. It’s such a trivial event in the grand scheme of things, how can people be so blind to the extremely heavy things going on, not just every day and around the world, but things that are so much bigger. A lot of people are acting differently…. with each other more than anything else, I notice. This isn’t just due to “bad times” and the recession and all that, I feel there’s far huger things in motion that we can’t stop or change, I only wish I knew what they were.
And back on planet earth, it seems prudent to point out that yes, politicians do field events close to people’s hearts to distract them from distinctive political issues. One famous examlpe being the Falklands-Malvinas war in the 1980’s that allowed Thatcher to consolidate her rule, people bought the whole nationalistic crap hook line and sinker, they were blinded to the very real war being waged against the working-class.
I agree. It is making me feel nauseated that the “news” keeps hashing out gory and more gory details–emphasizing words like “disturbing” “asphyxiation” etc. whatever words that will grab the viewers’ attention. I stopped watching the “news” after a few minutes because of that. It seems like CNN is more interested in sensationalizing this story and as you said, it detracts from other news that is more important. I am not implying that Robin William’s death is not important….but when you think about children who are dying just trying to find a safe place to live in Northern Iraq, then it is hard to accept that one individual’s suicide is prioritized over news like that.
I’m deeply affected by the death of this man, probably the funniest human being who every lived because I have battled suicidal thoughts for the better part of my life. I feel as if a fellow soldier has been felled by the enemy. The quiet, sneaky every present enemy. The fact that a person who has this level of personal success could feel utterly hopeless scares and humbles me. Please, please the real issue here is mental health treatment and acceptance. It isn’t a weakness of character it is a disease. People who suffer from Bipolar disorder frequently stop taking their meds and end up feeling hopeless. Please don’t beret me for grieving. I never met the man but he was a human who suffered in the same way I have.
Don’t listen to these people. They act like the United States is at a stand still because Robin Williams committed suicide and because people are genuinely saddened by his death. People like this blog writer make these ridiculous allegations that the society is so caught up in the media hype of it and use the opportunity to shove whatever their viewpoint is in, our faces. Pft. This blogger is a moron and if he can’t understand why people, not just in the United states are sad about a man who is an iconic figure who impacted decades of generations then we really shouldn’t be wasting our breathe (fingers) or energy even responding.
Here is a great link for you Kay. https://raymmar.com/tell-suck-please/
While I agree with some of the points you have made, I find it hysterically ironic that you tell others that, “(You) shouldn’t be wasting (your) breathe (fingers) or energy even responding.” when you have responded, not once, not twice, but three times to tell other people that someone’s opinion is wrong. As I said, some of your points are valid, but still hypocritical.
Okay, Kay— not gonna lie— you’re starting to ruffle my feathers. And, when it comes to “this blogger” it’s hard to stand by, bite my tongue, and watch!
I take it you are a fan of Robin Williams. I also gather that perhaps you mourn his loss. I get it. I was saddened by it, too. Why? Because he was more than just another Hollywood fallen star, to many. I get why you’re passionate in your responses.
But the way you’ve chosen to personally attack and call names, and be hateful . . . that shows intellectual walls that you have yet to scale.
Stop calling him a moron just because he stepped on your toes! Stop attacking just because someone has a different perspective than you! The point of this article was not to “bash” Robin Williams, it was to question why bigger concerns are not our concern right now. It was to ask why depression, suicide, mental health take this kind of media coverage to get attention. It was to make us stop in the middle of our “oh me, oh my, we’ve lost a hero” and question what’s behind the loss and the media BS.
It’s to question what should be “news” to us, and challenge what we glorify over the things we should be concerned with and value!
BUT MOST OF ALL . . . Since you are clearly a fan of Robin Williams, (I am too), then at the very least, respect the message he sent when he moved an entire generation to speak out just as Raymmar does here; to challenge the regular way of thinking; rip the pages of books! Open your mind! ((Feel free to read my take if you don’t follow that reference https://elitedaily.com/entertainment/celebrity/generation-y-will-verse/707125/ )) Which, incase you have not noticed, is a lot of what this site is about!
So this article wasn’t your favorite. We get it. Geesh. But, just because you don’t agree, doesn’t mean you get to attack it, and if you’d like to attack it, bring some intellectual points into your banter. Don’t just call names.
I support this article, 100%!! Not the title . . . THE CONTEXT! The meaning! If you read. Did you read?
Conversation creates action.
Action creates change.
Easy killer, it was simply a different perspective on things.
This is such a tired argument. Every celebrity death gives some author the impetus to get on their high horse and condemn people for enjoying celebrities. People can be concerned about 2 things at once, like for example Robin Williams dying, and firemen and police who die without there being a conflict if interest. Want to devalue Robin Williams life? Go ahead. But don’t be confused that while you’re writing articles like this, that you are somehow morally better than everyone else because you “care about the everyman.”
It’s fine to be bummed out that he died. The over reaction of grief is ridiculous. I keep thinking that in 3 days he is going to rise from his this tomb and save us from original sin.
LOL! I got this sarcasm 100% :)
God forbid someone being sad about Robin Williams committing suicide AND also that mass genocide going on in the middle east because MY GOD our brains can’t comprehend that morons like this blogger are only using this as a way of pushing a debate and continually shoving some personal agenda.
than why you go ahead and comment so much and “support” indirectly the agenda of the blogger ? I am sorry but when I see how many people are interested in kardshian and co and have little idea of what’s going on the world it pisses me off.. this article does not put down the value of actor’s life it just enlights the superficial side of people of this world … and this is SAD
Very much agree with you Steve. Lame self-indulgent article designed only to serve the author.
Great article, I wholeheartedly agree.
Quite frankly I had forgotten he existed until today and I am sure most of my friends on Facebook would not have named in in their top 100 actors of all time. However today he is treated like a deity with excessive adulation, and it is so false!
Same here. Haven’t heard him mentioned in years and now it’s like the greatest man in the universe died. no offense to him. I’m just disgusted at how fake people are. People just want attention.
My dad killed himself fourteen years ago. Because of the stigma attached to suicide and mental illness my mom and aunt decided we would tell everyone he suffered a heart attack. Obviously, that was quite the mind-fuck for my then 20 year old brain and it stymied my ability to effectively cope with his death. It also gives me a very different perspective on Robin Williams passing.
I think people are so enraptured by Robin Williams death, because, by all accounts he had achieved the American Dream. He seemed to be able to find humor in anything, he had fame, fortune, a family, he served others and yet he was unhappy. I’m sure some people, yourself included, are chiming in on his death solely to garner facebook likes or blog visits, but I think a lot of people are so struck by his suicide because, seriously, if Robin Williams couldn’t hack it, does anyone stand a chance?
Yes, there are more important issues in the world than the death of a comedian, but as you mentioned in your article tens of thousands of people commit suicide each year and millions more struggle with mental illness, yet you make a blanket statement that no one who didn’t know him personally should care about his death? You think that all those people suffering with mental illness don’t have a right to empathize with a man who struggled just as they do? You don’t think that those mourning the loss of a family member to suicide don’t have a right to empathize with his family?
I think knowing that Robin Williams struggled and succumbed to the same demons that many of us battle daily makes us all feel a little more ‘normal’ and more inclined to share our relatable experiences. I don’t see his death by suicide as just another celebrity death, I see it as an opportunity to shed light on America’s unspoken pandemic of mental illness.
You should have saved this post for Kim and Kanye’s divorce.
Very well said – –allie
This blog writer is an idiot. I cannot say one thing more accurate than your post other than my first sentence.
I grew up as many of us did to Robin William’s work from his sitcom, stand-up and movies. He was a comedic genius and growing up in the Bay Area I could have probably just been a stone’s throw away from him at any moment throughout those years. But I did not know the man, just his work. The legacy he left behind in his work will live on forever, so I find myself not as deeply touched by grief as other fans. I can always go back and experience his work as though to relive it once again but since I did not know him on a personal level, there is no feeling of loss.
As someone who’s lost a family member, it’s hard for me to put this loss at the same level. I’m sure his own family members and close friends can and for them I’m most sad for and offer them my condolences. As for me, I’ll continue to celebrate what he left us with and be grateful just for that.
What is funny to me is when you said, this is America (for now). Which is an implication that at some point we will not have the freedom to say or feel as we wish. Yet, the title is telling you how one should feel.
hated the article. pissed me off. His art brought light into the dark. His talent made us laugh. He helped lift people out of their own misery with laughter. It has nothing to do with us missing the other things going on in the world, those things don’t help us escape our world that is dark ENOUGH…but Robin Williams DID and that is why we mourn and feel sadness, real sadness. He was a good man. Not sure who pissed in your cheerios but get over yourself Raymmar.
Do you realize that you’re….an idiot?
Wow you’re stupid and don’t get the point.
Raymmar, the master of controversy! Your headline didn’t make me furious, but curious to see how people would react to it, and I wasn’t disappointed as you really hit home. Well done man! Still, I am pretty sure that behind closed doors you had a least one small thought for Robin Williams who lost his battle with depression. He must have had a hell of a time and it just goes to show that depression doesn’t give a shit about your status in life and hits you just as hard. Sure a media sensation like the one created around his death (which you expertly exploited for your own cause ;) distracts from the real issues, but people who care about those real life issues will continue doing so, no matter what. Those who are trapped in the spider net of trash media and the ‘glamour’ of Hollywood won’t change their views since they don’t know any better or just don’t give a fuck living in their bubble (however, bubbles are known to burst sooner or later).
You are pretty much spot on here. Sad thing, Makes you stop and think about Suicide, Depression, etc. Sorry he is gone, I really. Liked John Belushi, I think the world will miss future performances of these performers, (that they will never do….) but they will never directly affect me or my life.
as nothing to do with his social status… has more to do with his impact on the imagination and childhood of many. This article is cold and tasteless… would he have written it about Ray Charles and his music, about DaVinci and his paintings, or about any other artist who had a high social status because they were artists that penetrated to a deeper part of our understanding of life? I’m thinking not. The guy was a great artist… not a great celebrity… a great artist and from what I’m reading a great person.
… and you pretend like we live in a bubble where we aren’t allowed to feel and mourn unless it’s feeling and mourning what you think is important. Grief in any circumstance should not be judged by those not in tune with it. Yes we have bigger issues in this country but to insinuate that those of us who enjoyed Robin Williams should temper our grief is idiotic. There is plenty of time and space for humans to feel everything regardless of what you or anyone else may think is important. What kind of sad life have you had sir? Do you feel nothing? Have you found no joy in life?
This I completely feel the same way^^^the talent this man gave in his acting helped entertain and remove some of us from our OWN miseries and helped us laugh and escape our own lives. He made lives better this way and we knew him as this artist, this man who helped lighten our dark worlds
I completely agree with you in the aspect that as a society, we base our lives around the entertainment world. People aren’t aware of a fallen soldier, but are aware of Robin Williams. This soldier wasn’t in the lives of people around the world quite as directly as Robin Williams, but that soldier served a greater purpose of defending our freedom. We should care less about the celebrity world in general and focus more on the things that effect us as a society and our world.
I do agree with some of the other commentators that your title was too harsh-but it was eye catching and intriguing.
Thank you for this article.
I completely agree with you aimeemdoyle!!!!!!
The instant I heard the news, my heart sank, my eyes teared and all other thoughts seemed equally unimportant. Was it because I glorified Robin as a celebrity? He touched our souls Mr. Tirado, in a way that very few people do.
Your heart decides who you really care about. The media decides which stories will get the most ratings.
Wow, what a crap article. This bonehead is missing the point. Robin Williams touched hearts, he made people laugh and we are going to miss him and his incredible contribution to the arts. When someone with a talent such as his, can touch a person emotionally, which he did to millions of fans, of course the loss touches them, why wouldn’t it and would this goof then be writing an article on how horrible of a society we are for not recognizing this talent? Sound like another new generation hater to me. I’ve had many, many friends who have left this world on their terms and have mourned their loses just the same – just because I personally didn’t know Robin Williams doesn’t make that any different. When Bradley Delp from Boston committed suicide a few years back, I almost cried – why?!?! Because I grew up listening to Boston and it was some of my favorite music. The stories of other Rock and Roll Hall of Famers saying he was the nicest guy you’d ever want to meet and that voice – that one of a kind signature Boston voice that we’ll never hear again live or never hear again on a new Boston album – That’s why we mourn. I’d like to knock some sense in to this joker and then hand him a McDonalds application – sounds like that’s where he belongs.
That’s relative. I never found him funny.
First, I would note that several of the stories you cite as “more important” than Robin Williams’ death (i.e., the Benghazi cover-up, the “lies” about Obamacare, and the “level of deception and untruthfulness in [the] Obama Administration”) are not in fact, stories at all, but rather political spin meant to debase the Administration and the left wing more generally. The President’s opponents are attempting to manufacture conspiracy theories and keep these stories in the headlines not because they are actually interested in “the truth” or “the American people,” but to advance their own political objectives. Rather than examine and critique the merits of their claims, the media has instead given these folks a platform from which to spread disinformation.
Those stories that do merit attention (i.e., the death of an American general, Christian persecution in Iraq and elsewhere, and the IRS scandal) have, in my view, received an enormous amount of coverage, and the fact that the media is in a frenzy over Robin Williams’ death does not detract from the attention its given to those issues.
That leads to my second point. In my view, your article suffers from one fundamental flaw–namely, you fail to recognize that one can simultaneously care about all of these “important” issues and mourn the death of Robin Williams. The two are not mutually exclusive. Robin Williams was a brilliant and beloved artist, and it’s only natural that the country will collectively mourn his passing. And just because we mourn doesn’t mean we don’t care about, or that we’re somehow distracted from, the very serious social and political issues going on in the world right now.
Oh lord. You’re one of those who think there was a Benghazi cover up and Obamacare is something sinister. Go away. You and your type will be gone soon. Let’s speed up the process if we can.
What we are not getting as a whole is that the title was meant to spur conversation. The fact that we are all getting together on this platform and having a discussion is proof of that! I really like and enjoy just about all of Robin William’s work. He was a terrific actor and comedian but it does not negate the fact that we don’t “know” him personally. It really sucks that he took his own life and this saddens me but what I got from reading this entire post is that we need to start being more involved in our communities instead of worrying about what celebrities do. They are regular people with extraordinary jobs/careers and achievements. Should they get more press than a soldier that dives on an explosive to save his fellow soldiers? No way! I believe we should be sad and mourn the loss as a society but we need to also start caring about those around us that we can actually reach out and touch or affect in our daily lives.
It’s a great article but unfortunately it’s just not realistic. There has never been a time in the history of humans that everyone was equal. There will always be people “better” than you, more “funny” than you or whatever. Some people will generally be more like able than others. If everyone was the same, how do we achieve bigger and greater things? Life’s a competition and Robin Williams won in life. He is a role model and a hero to some. The reason why people don’t cry over a random soldier’s death is because there are thousands of soldiers, there is only one Robin Williams.
I agree. That was not the pint of the article. It was not about him being better or more popular. Just about our disproportionate attention to the death and idolization of individuals in the entertainment industry as opposed to understanding the problems of our society as a whole.
When an artist touches your life, that is a platform for suicide discussion… not a hindrance… obviously your heart needs to grow a few more sizes before you can understand that.
I cannot lie, I was kind of angry when I read the headline and I seriously considered unsubscribing from your mailing list but after actually reading the article I have to say this is “Spot On!” Your style of writing is engaging and provocative! Excellent article! We as a society do get caught up in just watching celebrities live out their lives! So much so that we forget to live our own lives. I see it everyday! I never quite understood why people have bought into reality television but it is doing more harm than good. The media is brainwashing us and glossing over the things that really matter. I government is also bit by bit taking our freedom away and we are very “Entertained” by it! We are not paying attention as a whole will suffer for it really soon! It is sad but true. Once again, great post!
I can imagine many people feel that way when they start reading my stuff but they usually stick around for exactly the same reasons. Because my perspective is unique.
I appreciate that you did not unsubscribe and actually took the article on the basis of its writing and not the way it made you feel initially. Something I am not sure many people are capable of doing anymore.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
While I completely agree with your article, I do mourn. I mourn the loss of a human who was in my memories. It was a loss of uncontrolled laughter within several different parts of my life…as a tween watching Mork and Mindy. Then it was his Genie with my small daughter. As Mrs. Doubtfire, also with my daughter and then the pride I felt as a teacher watching Dead Poet’s Society. Now as a person who has battled depression and won, I again mourn. Yes, social media has blown up and who cares, but for me it is about my own memories of when he touched my life that make it so poinient. Yes, we NEED to worry about our country and the world, and the downward slide they are both taking. But, we humans need to process loss, also. The shock has touched us on our own memory levels and the laughter has hit a bump…
Cindy, I agree completely. This article was not about diminishing his accomplishments or any of his work as an actor or artist. I actually appreciated his work very much.
The greater point was that we as a society place too much weight on the death of these entertainers while ignoring the voids we create in our lives.
We do not take the time to understand depression and how it affects the lives of our friends and those around us and you might be surprised to find out how many people you know are dealing with the same issues that lead Robin to take his own life. I just wonder how many people are aware of those pained friendships as opposed to posting about the death of this individual comedian who they never actually knew.
Your thoughts are so right on. It bugs me to see all the attention that is given to people in HOllywood or sports etc. Perhaps people do it because it is easier than to think about the problems that really count.
I think that is probably a pretty fair observation. That and it is easier to care about something in your news feed as opposed to having to actually talk to a real person to understand how they feel.
Damn you Raymmar!
Your headlines always infuriate me!
Of course, once i delve into the content you always hit me over the head with superb writing and facts.
As a sufferer of severe depression this article is very important to me and could be to millions of others that are suffering.
I hope this gets picked up by a national news outlet so people can read the truth and not all the dribble they put out.
Great piece man.
You rock. I am sure many people feel the same way and those headlines are written like that for just the reason you described.
I want people to come in guns blazing and then understand that my thoughts make sense and that often they make more sense than those from the mainstream. If only because they make you think about the issue from a different perspective.
Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts.
You ask, when will we stop glorifying those who entertain us. We glorify them, don’t we? Don’t we have a name for the ones that shine brighter than the rest of us? STAR….lol…lol. Movie star, baseball star….star of screen and stage. ROCK STAR!
The answer is….not soon. Salvador Minuchin wrote a book on “systems”…a must read for any intellectual. In it he insists that we are not so much individuals as we are part of a system. And his theory is not just limited to “families” to be viewed as a system, but leagues, businesses, village, cities, countries, societies etc. His theory even encompassed things like cars and other machines because like families, they are too, made up of parts that need to move in harmony to work. You remove one part of “any” system and it either stops working completely, or all the other parts must adjust to keep the system running at homeostasis…harmony.
So you cannot remove any pre existing part of the American system without a huge impact. If we all get together and agree to stop glorifying movie stars, so that we can refocus our attention to the millions of non-shining depressed and suffering, then the movie stars will cry foul. And they will be right. They will claim it unfair that we withdraw glory from them but still adore rock stars. OK, OK, OK….I got it, we’ll stop adoring movie and singing stars. BUT, then they will still say we glorify athletes and tv stars…..OK, OK, ALL areas of entertainment will now be treated the same way we treat mechanics, plumbers and bakers, and secretaries. When any of them commit suicide, we grieve the same way as if they were also stars…or vice versa.
BUT, then everyone in entertainment, which will include all artists and sculptors, dancers and magicians will still complain because we glamorize business tycoons and billionaires. They will say…if we don’t get to have our asses kissed, why should they get to have their asses kissed. And someone will say because they are job creators, and when job creators commit suicide or get depressed we need to pull them to our bosom and heal them, because they are exceptional people (lol, lol, lol) and anyone who is exceptional needs to be glorified.
So then a battle royal will ensue and finally everyone will agree that billionaires, millionaires, and wanna be tycoons, and anyone who wears their wealth or lives in a house with more bedrooms than family members or owns more than 6 cars, or gets plastic surgery, or botox, or eats in exclusive restaurants, or flies in 1st class, or has a butler, will be included with the movie stars and athletes…..and thus be grieved the same way as the mailmen, the sales clerks, and the cooks, (as long as they are not celebrity chefs).
But this growing group of glitterati will still complain, and rightly so. And they will always complain until everyone on the planet is actually treated the way god intended, as equals.
Minuchin is correct. You cannot cherry pick the aspects of a system that you want to change and just scold that aspect and/or remove that portion of the system. The whole system needs changing. The ‘system’ itself is the patient.
So to answer the question, when will we stop glorifying the stars? Not soon.
Dave, I could not agree with you more. I talk about systems in my book Sales Li(f)e quite a bit. I agree that our entire society is built by and around systems because we are creatures of habit and habits are hard to change.
That being said, we can never stop criticizing it or striving to change it. It is going to take time but we can systematically change the basic behaviors and understandings of the very systems we live in and that might be a chance to finally make some meaningful changes to the world around us.
Thanks for the insight.
Obviously, you’re not wrong, Stella. You make a point not to be wrong.
But this man inspired a whole generation. His work is his voice, much like yours; much like mine.
I don’t “know” you, I’ve never met you, but I have followed your work and been an avid fan.
If the headlines read differently, and your name instead filled the gap, I would mourn. Oh, yes, I would mourn.
Perhaps, the media, instead of targeting the cool attention-getting words like “suicide”, needs to help bring attention to some of the topics that you discuss within this article.
That is how change is made—by changing the conversation.
Good article, no doubt. It’ll thrive; and it has an important message.
Grace, I agree with you completely. I loved his comedy, his acting and his overall work as a decent human but you already know that is not where I chose to spend my time or effort in writing and sharing my thoughts.
I do not have to explain the point of this article further to you but appreciate your perspective none the less. Much love!
I couldn’t agree with you more. I was just echoing this very sentiment just the other day to friends. Social media in general has diluted people’s perspective of waht is important in life. Unfortunately I don’t think this is going to change anytime soon
I agree. I am not sure it changes any time soon but that doesn’t mean I am going to give up trying. Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts.
People can’t wait for drama. If it weren’t for sudden deaths, mother nature shit storms and announcements of break-ups / on camera make-ups… What in the world would people have to do all day? Social media is the ultimate procrastination machine. A slow day on Facebook, (meaning no deaths or twearking incidents), only means more Candy Crush and Pinterest boards. We are in a society obsessed with the refresh button. It’s almost like bored people are willing another celebrity death or White House scandal. Misery loves company. Social media has proven that, without a doubt. Go outside and get some fresh air people. This man, none of you ever met, and his family you never sat down to Thanksgiving dinner with –will not find any more peace knowing Jessica Numbnuts from Nowhere Indiana posted (between a chest baring selfie and a recipe for super food tacos) the lyrics from Eagles Wings with a photo of Robin Williams as Ms. Doubtfire on her Facebook page. So everybody just needs to calm the hell down — Football starts in 2 weeks.
Meghan, I agree and am also guilty of the things you say. I think we all are. The things you mention are life emotional drugs. The validation we receive from social online interactions is the same feeling we used to get from interacting with real people. However, it is a few steps removed from the real thing because emotion, inflection, personality and posture are all important parts of understanding a conversation.
We often fill our lives with these artificial feelings of acceptance while more and more people struggle with suicide, depression and other symptoms of this ever perpetual cycle of our social society.
Amen Meghan
I bow to you. This is the most awesome thing I have read all day.
Spot on, Raymmar! I wonder, will Robin Williams’ suicide actually make one single person pick up the phone and check on that severely depressed person in his life? I doubt it. His suicide is meaningless, like most deaths. Did Williams ask himself, “what will my suicide do to my children (and my “adopted” Christopher Reeves children)???? It is THEY who will be left with the negative legacy and questions of the suicide. If Williams had thought of his children, though grown, he wouldn’t have done the deed, as THAT is the one way to truly screw up one’s children psychologically. That is the real tragedy, a tragedy that is repeated far too often around the world each day: a parent offing him/herself without thought of what it will do to the child(ren).
As someone who battled suicide himself I completely understand what you are saying here. It is a sad moment when you set aside the feelings of all the other people around you by taking your own life.
It is a real problem and your point about checking in on others with these issues is a valid one. Something I fear you might only be able to understand if you understand the evils of depression first hand.
Raymmar: yes I know depression, deep and suffocatingly anti-life, to the point of suicidal ideation and, I’m sorry to say, beyond. This was before I was a mom, not that I didn’t experience severe depression again. The only reason I am still alive is because someone once checked in on me and spoke from experience that if I wanted to mess up my children for the rest of their lives, go ahead and off myself. I have since met adult children of parental suicide, and I am glad I didn’t, at the basic level–I’ve much to live for than not. Second point: one out of two people will know someone with depression (CDC.gov) at some point in his life in the US. That is a stunning statistic! So YES, if nothing else, the unfortunate suicide of Robin Wiliams SHOULD spur one to “check in” with that person or persons one knows who are “down.” It could save a life. I know someone saved mine, just by “checking in.”
I’m handcuffed by my diction & inability to articulate my thoughts as poignantly as you in the short hours of the waking night, but to answer your question: No. I do not think you “got it wrong”.
Idolizing celebrity is simply absurd. Looking outside for what is not within; attempting to live vicariously through others you do not even know – through lives you have fictitiously fabricated amid internal imagination, to me, typifies the denial in which the instant gratification society resides. It is the paradigm in which they (ha! look at me 8^( so righteous) reside, and I can’t find the paradox.
On another note Raymmar, I’ve recently joined your “blog”, and your words are quite the inspiration. I am ultimately no better than those I just lambasted, well I am, but I am still just a cog spinning ineffectually in the scheme of existence. Hope your words help continue to inspire my way, the way my way has always been… and therein lies the problem.. I must let go to allow my evolution.
Clay, I am glad you found us and thanks for sharing your thoughts. I am sometimes surprised at how well I am able to corral my thoughts into coherent articles like this. Most of the times those thoughts are just jumbled emotions and voices but every once in a while they come out of my mouth and finger tips in a way that moves the world.
Thanks again for subscribing and welcome to the Raymmar Revolution.
Great article, Raymmar!
I’m with you on that 100%!
Almost 2 people die each second, that means while I will be typing this comment, about 150 people are going to die in this world.
It’s happening right now – folks are dying…
Should I go find out who exactly just passed away?
Should I shed some tears about EVERYONE of them?
OR Should I pick Top 5 of them and not mention others?
No, thanx, I’d better concentrate on my own life and on life of my friends and family members, while I’m still alive!
Exactly Serge. So much goes on that is more important than this death and we just walk around ignoring all of it. If people want to mourn this death then fine by me. I just didn’t want to be another clone in the world of online perspectives.
truth
Thanks for reading David!