![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by saturn on April 18, 2007, at 21:08:16
This is not a med post, but I can't think of a more appropriate board to post this. If there is please redirect.
I imagine some of us have encountered people who possess certain attributes comparable to the Virginia Tech murderer; a loner, abnormal affect, seemingly spiteful and mad at the world. The kind of person who may, on a good day, seem relatively normal on the outside, but that you're pretty suspicious of a deeper pathology below the surface. The kind of person who secretly admires people like Stalin. The kind of person who just frankly scares you.
Let's also say this person has made comments regarding certain people deserving violence and being unworthy of life (but no specific threats) etc, which you have written of as racist.
Let's even say you knew someone who the Virginia Tech shooter eerily reminds you of, but this person has never been charged or convicted of a crime and goes about day to day life in society. You know they had seen a psychiatrist at some point, but you don't know if they do anymore.
What does one do in such a case? Call the police? Their boss? Nothing?
Furthermore, what if you knew that saying anything to anyone would result in this person knowing it was you that had done this?
???
Posted by Phillipa on April 18, 2007, at 21:52:29
In reply to *Trigger* : People who concern you, posted by saturn on April 18, 2007, at 21:08:16
Saturn is there some way for an anaymous letter or something. If this person works with you to maybe health if there is a health section. That is a hard one indeed. Gee I really don't know. Love Phillipa
Posted by scratchpad on April 18, 2007, at 22:08:30
In reply to *Trigger* : People who concern you, posted by saturn on April 18, 2007, at 21:08:16
I think this is an important question. Assumptions can be made, and may be wrong. We can step aside and do nothing, and then something terribly tragic can happen.
I guess that I'd try to talk to the person myself and see where their head is at presently (if you've been on sociable terms before) in some neutral place like a cafe or restaurant.
I have encouraged some people to get help. Sometimes that results in the severance of a relationship. SOmetimes it results in a person deciding that talking with a professional person could be a good thing. Sometimes it results in further alienation.
I would approach any contact with the most caring of attitudes. We wouldn't be worried if we didn't care, right? And then if it was still worrying me, I would talk to my own doctor, counselor, therapist, and ask their opinion.
It's very difficult.
sp
Posted by saturn on April 18, 2007, at 22:16:03
In reply to Re: *Trigger* : People who concern you » saturn, posted by Phillipa on April 18, 2007, at 21:52:29
> Saturn is there some way for an anaymous letter or something. If this person works with you to maybe health if there is a health section. That is a hard one indeed. Gee I really don't know. Love Phillipa
Hi Phillipa,
I don't actually work with this person. You're right...it's tough. Thanks for the response. Saturn.
Posted by saturn on April 18, 2007, at 22:42:20
In reply to Re: *Trigger* : People who concern you » saturn, posted by scratchpad on April 18, 2007, at 22:08:30
> I think this is an important question. Assumptions can be made, and may be wrong. We can step aside and do nothing, and then something terribly tragic can happen.
>
> I guess that I'd try to talk to the person myself and see where their head is at presently (if you've been on sociable terms before) in some neutral place like a cafe or restaurant.
>
> I have encouraged some people to get help. Sometimes that results in the severance of a relationship. SOmetimes it results in a person deciding that talking with a professional person could be a good thing. Sometimes it results in further alienation.
>
> I would approach any contact with the most caring of attitudes. We wouldn't be worried if we didn't care, right? And then if it was still worrying me, I would talk to my own doctor, counselor, therapist, and ask their opinion.
>
> It's very difficult.
> sp
Thanks Scratchpad. I don't know this person terribly well, but bump into them well enough to perhaps have lunch sometime and get a better idea of their state of mind. I suspect it's generally "in tact", though there are probably "issues" going on as well. Or maybe not. It's difficult, as you say, because you can't (for lack of a better word) convict someone for being odd or racist or even hateful. Peace...Saturn.
Posted by Racer on April 18, 2007, at 23:17:29
In reply to *Trigger* : People who concern you, posted by saturn on April 18, 2007, at 21:08:16
I guess I'd have to say, "It depends..."
If I had this sort of situation in someone I knew socially, I would talk to my T and/or pdoc for advice. Without those two, or my regular doctor, I would likely call Adult Protective Services, and ask them what I could do?
If it was someone I knew from school, I'd head for the administration, but would probably discuss it first with a psych prof.
If it was a work relationship, I'd go and talk to my boss and/or human resources.
But you notice one thing about all those options? In all cases, I would talk to someone. I would report my fears to someone. I would do it as anonymously as possible, for a variety of reasons, but I would do it. You know why? If there's nothing to worry about, I'll look silly -- but if there really is a problem, and I didn't do anything, Very Bad Things might happen, you know?
It is scary.
I once reported a teenager in one of my classes for something she wrote. I had access to what was on everyone's computer, so I could read what she wrote, and it was so violent, and it included violence against named individuals. I talked to my boss about it, and we forwarded it on to the school district. It's a hard choice to make, but i think it was the right one.
That was a few weeks before Columbine.
Posted by Declan on April 19, 2007, at 20:12:15
In reply to *Trigger* : People who concern you, posted by saturn on April 18, 2007, at 21:08:16
I'm unsure about this pathology business, and I hope my thinking aloud will not annoy anyone.
Whether Stalin was popular or not, he managed to get people to die with his name on their lips (but not these days!).
We had a case here recently where some quite young boys raped a girl, filmed it on the mobile phones (of course!) and sent the pictures off, and in that way they were apprehended.
This seems to be a fashion. It feels like a quest for immortality, and reminds us of this power of the media.Once no matter how unhappy/bitter/whatever you were, you did not shoot your classmates or teachers.
Is success so important that any success (breaking the record) will do?
Is this the negative side of empowerment, assertiveness, and freedom of expression (anger in particular)?
Posted by Phillipa on April 19, 2007, at 20:21:05
In reply to Random reflections, posted by Declan on April 19, 2007, at 20:12:15
Declan are you really serious how horrible. These new devises are not being used as they were intended. And people are becoming more violent. Less conscious another psych diagnosis.Psychopathic no med for that except prison? Don't know. Love Phillipa
Posted by Declan on April 19, 2007, at 20:45:08
In reply to Re: Random reflections » Declan, posted by Phillipa on April 19, 2007, at 20:21:05
You watch (modern) films, PJ?
It's all there, by which I mean the psychology.
You remember once upon a time there was 'the done thing'?
As in: 'It's not the done thing, old boy, to shoot your school chums and school masters. It's just not on'.
Posted by Phillipa on April 19, 2007, at 20:52:58
In reply to Reflections of a paleolith » Phillipa, posted by Declan on April 19, 2007, at 20:45:08
Declan no I don't not worth the money. I'd rather tape TV shows and watch them whenever. Did you ever watch Intervention? Very good about addictions of all sorts. Love PJ
Posted by FredPotter on April 25, 2007, at 17:55:59
In reply to Random reflections, posted by Declan on April 19, 2007, at 20:12:15
Declan yes I think everyone pushes the high self-esteem thing. Prisons are full of people with high self-esteem. Humility seems to have gone out of fashion Fred
Posted by FredPotter on April 25, 2007, at 17:58:57
In reply to Reflections of a paleolith » Phillipa, posted by Declan on April 19, 2007, at 20:45:08
I saw Singing in the Rain yesterday. More of that please
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.