Anyhow, I disagree with people who argue that depression is no excuse for being an arsehole. It’s a bit more complicated than that.

In my experience there are moments or even periods when the void/black dog is so consuming that you just don’t give a hoot, and you’ll damage yourself (and that’s what you do most with anti-social behaviour) without giving much thought to it.

Then there are moments, even long periods, when the sobriety of contentment and happiness cause you to look back and shake your head at yourself …. and that’s just me.

Perhaps with Cameron there is no real respite from “the void”? I don’t know if i’ve ever seen him express regret at his nastiness to people. It’s just impossible to tell exactly what his situation is.

But surely we can, with this knowledge and understanding, treat him civily when he is behaving poorly. Understanding where it comes from means you can accept it as being somewhat a natural part of things. This isn’t to say his bad behaviour shouldn’t be pointed out and moderated however. Just that responding in kind to his vitriol does no good.

Play the ball, not the man….

In terms of my comment about “trying to subtly shut down his ideas”, I’m referring to this, from Eddie:

“I think there is a lesson here for the media. Cameron was obviously unwell and that should have given journalists pause both before running his stories and citing him as a commentator of note, and before exposing him to pressures he could not handle through greater public exposure.”

Be very careful with these types of statements. Just because someone is unwell mentally, does NOT mean they are not capable of using their voice. In fact, I was interviewed myself yesterday for a major story. My depression, my medication, has nothing to do with it.

Now in Cameron’s case, pretty much everything he says in the media I disagree with. Much of it, I find offensive. But I’d rather attack what he SAYS not his illness as the reason for it – because that is an analysis best left to an expert me thinks.

Fair enough, but I can’t see him returning the favour anytime soon.

As for ‘subtly trying to shut him down’, I doubt anything less subtle than the proverbial bus running him down could do that.

The OP does not disclose personal info — reports were already in the news media, and Eddie surmises that perhaps some of Whale’s more “robust” outbursts are not only motivated by political convictions, but possibly the result of an unhealthy thought process.

Personal attacks would be unkind, but his ideas should be fair game, since he’s been spouting off to all and sundry for several years.

I’m certainly not a fan of Whale Oil, but I would really like to see him just being left alone by all.

Some of you who have been on the blogs for a few years may remember me from 05-06 – a leftie, Labour party member who has suffered from depression on and off since 05 (and probably before). I openly blogged about my depression and so did others from the ‘left’.

While I wouldn’t personally consider him of the ilk of the list of luminaries he produced, he makes a fair point, which is that many of us who have suffered from depression are still capable of doing great things. Depression shouldn’t remove a person from being considered useful, or thoughtful, or capable. In fact, considering a person in a positive light can actually help the chances of recovery, from what is, an illness.

I agree with the commenter earlier that a “rethink” around creating a world where people can work with depression would be really, really good.

A person who was bullying me in 05 when I was pretty incapable of working used to hassle me because I was blogging. The thing is, the blogging is what kept me alive. But I was incapable of doing pretty much anything else (I don’t miss spending 4 days straight in my pyjamas).

I was capable of doing some things, but not all things that would class a person as being of “normal functioning.” What I mean is that just because someone has depression, doesn’t mean there aren’t things they can do well. It’s just that doing those things can take such an enormous TOLL that they can’t function in any other way.

For instance, I can argue, I can write till the cows come home, I don’t mind laundry. But getting out of bed on time, getting to work on time, getting big jobs finished, being proactive in building some of my key work relationships, sorting out issues with bills, money management, these are the sorts of things I find difficult when my depression gets out of hand. And then sometimes it all becomes so hard it is easier to spend the whole day with my head under the covers. And then, because I am an extrovert I miss out on the energy I need from other people to be in any sort of ok state.

But one of the things I never lose is my ability to analyse, to rationalise, to apply logic, and to apply language.

Everybody’s depression is different, I don’t think anyone commenting here is an “expert”, so all I have to say is stop judging, and stop gossiping.

If Whale Oil pisses you off, just ignore him. But don’t subtly try to shut down his voice because of his illness.

Concern Troll

If he’s so wonderfully accomplished why is he on a benefit? Reality eludes the poor chap.

Well if you ask me and you know that you will; we should pay the families of all sufferers of mental illness $10,000 and have the person put down.

In fact, we should put down all people who are a drain on society, or have the potential to be a drain on society.

For too long we the people of NZ have put up with these sooky bubbers, its about time we manned up. You dont see those child killers getting all depressed now do you.

I think i will put in a referendum for next years local body elections. We will start with Whanaganui (yeah i realise i lost that one so i will spell it with an H now), then we will export my tough love proposal to the rest of east germa, ah i mean New Zealand.

Big mike

Interesting Eddie – so is that Cosgrove and Mallard’s excuse for the “Tinkerbell” jibes towards Chris Finlayson then? I thought you guys would condemn homophobia, regardless of which side of the Chamber it emanated from.

[lprent: Really? I figure we have been pretty restrained considering how some of us feel about Whale.
Perhaps you'd care to elucidate your points clearly so people can do a point by point answer to your objections.
Otherwise your comment resembles meaningless self-stimulation. ]