Very
often this blog receives some rather strange anonymous comments
They
range from threats to nonsensical paranoid rants.
I've
spoken about these comments here and there since the blog started.
Some of the comments have
been shared and others have made the journey to the recycle bin, and
then onto who knows where after that.
All come
from angry people, some are sad and some are funny, but in general I
have come to the conclusion that most, but not all of course, are
clear indicators of the writers mental health.
They are
short and sharp snapshots of how they view the world at that very
moment in time.
They are
angry, upset and lashing out.
Maybe the
comments could be construed as cries for help.
Of course
they wouldn't consider that to be the case at all, but as they are
attempting to rant on a blog that has a public audience I suppose we
could all accept that they are looking for a reaction.
So
subconsciously they want to engage in some way.
I really
don't want anyone to misconstrue what I am saying here.
I'm not
talking about individuals disagreeing with me and coaching a response
in a reasoned and logical manner.
That's
fine, and I will always have time to respond to that sort of response
to an update, even if it is anonymous, but what I am talking about
here is the outpouring of bile, as mentioned paranoid delusions, and
very poor attempts to create disharmony between people where there is
little or none.
A few
days ago I had one closely followed by another.
The first
was a general dig at the blog, and the second an admonishment of the
dig that included a name that would indicate that they knew who the
original poster was.
Immediately
the question must be asked how they would know who the initial poster
was as at that point both comments were languishing in my inbox and
hadn't been made public.
So the
logical conclusion is that both anonymous posts came from the same
individual.
Initially
I thought that it was a rather pathetic attempt from someone to draw
attention to themselves and their loosely termed artistic endeavours.
After all
it is a commonly held opinion that there's no such a thing as bad
publicity, just publicity.
Then
today I awoke to another missive.
The
content of it may as well have been written in neon and left hovering
above the contributors head as it very clearly says to me who it is
due to past experiences/contact with them.
I
wouldn't mention their name publicly because apart from not being
able to substantiate the name beyond the shadow of a doubt I wouldn't
actually do that to someone who is clearly going through a low ebb at
this moment in time.
It would
be the reality of kicking someone when they are down, and this is not an attack on them.
However I
do feel that this needs to be made public because it brings me to
something else.
That
something else is about a social responsibility that we all have.
If any of
us have a friend who is maybe behaving erratically and lashing out in
some way or another, physically or verbally, then we should help.
Just like
if we became aware that a close friend was self harming then we would
advocate that they visit a professional, then I would urge others to
similarly offer that advice when a mate divulges their participation in different
behaviours that are a concern.
Even if
that's them sharing that they have been indulging in delivering what
is little more than manipulative hate mail.
There are
consequences to their actions and a real friend would point that out
to them.
I don't
mean consequences like police involvement, but more so a decline in
their mental health until they are seriously unwell.
An
intervention is needed for their sake.
I
consider that the person who is currently posting to this blog has
lost a a certain degree of a grip on what can be construed as normal
behaviour.
They are
unwell.
They are
seeing issues where there are none, attempting to create conflict where
there is none, and in all honesty seeing the blog, and by extension
of it myself, as a bogeyman that needs to be challenged.
If I was
to upload the comments and share them the main response would be a
query about their relevance to the posts that they are responding to
as there is none.
None at
all.
I
sincerely hope that they have told a friend, or partner, about what
they are doing and equally I sincerely hope that they are taking
steps to either get them help, or are pushing them in the direction
of seeking some additional support themselves.
I
appreciate that some may wish to know who I am talking about, but
I'll not be divulging that, and instead leave you with a thought.
If you
think you know who it is based on something said by them, or this
reminds you of someone that you know, then maybe it is time to have a
word with them.
I'm not
talking about people having a silly joke of course.
Let your
own judgement guide you.
There's help out there.
