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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by akc on September 27, 2001, at 21:04:48
I knew it -- I knew the young woman was suicidal when I saw her -- but I didn't think they would start the episode with her jumping. Now I am freaking out. Totally.
Posted by Adam on September 27, 2001, at 21:23:01
In reply to ER - You've got to be kidding, posted by akc on September 27, 2001, at 21:04:48
Not to trivialize your discomfort but, well, it's just a TV show. A rather poor one, if you ask me; but I don't like 99.9% of what's on television anyway, so I suppose that makes me a bit of a crank. You might consider getting angry that people use sensitive issues surrounding mental illness to add drama to a soap opera set in a hospital, and resolve to give the writers of ER the boot rather than dignifying their exploitativeness by being manipulated. It might be a more constructive response.
I'm not harshing on you at all here. It's natural to be upset by upsetting things. I think you've been done an injustice, quite frankly, and it may be beneficial for you to channel your emotions into a just reply to the affront, like "hey, that's bullshit!"
> I knew it -- I knew the young woman was suicidal when I saw her -- but I didn't think they would start the episode with her jumping. Now I am freaking out. Totally.
Posted by Kristi on September 27, 2001, at 23:38:18
In reply to ER - You've got to be kidding, posted by akc on September 27, 2001, at 21:04:48
I opened this post without even thinking. ER isn't on here yet(west coast).... oh well.
> I knew it -- I knew the young woman was suicidal when I saw her -- but I didn't think they would start the episode with her jumping. Now I am freaking out. Totally.
Posted by kazoo on September 28, 2001, at 1:31:13
In reply to ER - You've got to be kidding, posted by akc on September 27, 2001, at 21:04:48
> I knew it -- I knew the young woman was suicidal when I saw her -- but I didn't think they would start the episode with her jumping. Now I am freaking out. Totally.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Back in the simple 1960s, there was this black and white, sci-fi, "B" movie called "The Tingler."
As part of the movie's promo for this flick's benign horror (by today's standards), the announcer would advise the audience when the horror became to intense to keep chanting "It's only a movie, it's only a movie, it's only a movie" ... this was to allay any fears the viewer would have (It didn't work, by the way: I chanted instead "What crap! What crap! What crap!")
Anyway, AKC, when thinking about this latest episode of ER I want you to chant: "It's only Hollywood, it's only Hollywood, it's only Hollywood." until you realize that what you see is what you don't necessarily get, a sort of anti-WYSIWYG.
But, all in all, I thought the show was excellent. I liked the formatting; i.e., the small vignettes about each of the main characters, and how a very common theme kept playing over and over again as each character was examined. Excellent way of doing this, and quite original. I was impressed with acting as well, and the way a particular controversial topic was handled.
Okay, Okay, so not *all* television is crap as I had previously blurbed. I do make exceptions once in a while.
(critic) kazoo
Posted by akc on September 28, 2001, at 6:26:48
In reply to Re:ER-You've got to be kidding:Who has got to be? » akc, posted by kazoo on September 28, 2001, at 1:31:13
Next morning. No longer freaking out.
For me -- tv may be crap -- but it is a great way to escape for a while for me. And I actually think some of it is pretty well written and acted. For those of you who dislike it, let me have my pleasure. I just got caught off-guard and posted too quickly.
Here is my attempt at trying to use I statements -- I am as hurt by responses telling me that tv is crap and to give it up as I was by the shock of the opening to ER. When I posted, I was not looking for someone to tell me to give up tv -- I was looking for some comfort for the shock at what I had seen. I'll try to be better at communicating my needs.
On a different point, overall, I was pleased with the episode. Though I do think the writers used the suicide solely as a shock value and nothing much more -- just my opinion, of course. I didn't see where having that start of the episode added to the overall structure, point, etc. of the episode.
akc
Posted by tina on September 28, 2001, at 8:10:06
In reply to Re:ER-The next day., posted by akc on September 28, 2001, at 6:26:48
>
> On a different point, overall, I was pleased with the episode. Though I do think the writers used the suicide solely as a shock value and nothing much more -- just my opinion, of course. I didn't see where having that start of the episode added to the overall structure, point, etc. of the episode.
>
> akc
Oh I'm positive the opener was only for shock value akc. It may not have added to the plot, but I bet it made a few people who would not normally watch the show, tune in. Isn't that the point of the "teaser" portion? I have to say I don't watch ER but I'm sorry it gave you such a start. I would never telll you to give up TV. TV is a wonderful escape tool, that is, if you can find something on it that makes you feel that way.Hugs to you akc
T
Posted by susan C on September 28, 2001, at 12:18:28
In reply to ER - You've got to be kidding, posted by akc on September 27, 2001, at 21:04:48
hi akc, I am with you on this one...tv is escape, and at the same time I have to be very careful about what I watch. Sometimes the images can be too much and I get triggered. I hadn't realized til I read these posts, that what I was learning to do was to get up and turn the tv off and leave, to hell with anyone else watching...and make a place for me to go and go there before I 'lost it'. A place where I can be quiet and reassured. That I can ask that for myself. That I can be selfish.
I guess it could be called, 'self intervention of self for self preservation'?
It reminds me of when my kids were little and loosing it...being angry, or mean, or as I put it doing inappropriate things...I would tell them to go to their room for 'time out' and do something they enjoy until they could come back out and be reasonable. I remember the first time I got very angry and gave myself time out...Mommy needs time out, time by herself...I will never forget the look on their faces as I proceeded to lock myself in my room.
Thanks for sharing and allowing me to reflect on my process.
mouse caught by the mirror's reflection
susan C
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