CapnZapp
Legend
Good.
About Reveille
- Thread starter Piratecat
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I've purposefully stayed quiet on this until now as I really didn't know Rev, but I've seen this kind of behavior many, many times going as far back as my time on BBS/Telnet (before there was an Internet). Its always sad to see, but in truth, its inevitable in this anonymous environment.
I just want to point out however, as a former EMT and Suicide Counselor, that you are quite wrong on this point. There are Many ways of crying out for help, and I would estimate less than 10% of them are actually anything to close to actually admitting "help me". In fact, in most cases, the person doesn't even realize they are crying out for help with their actions, with the cry for help being more of a subconscious survival instinct. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 75% of all people who try to kill themselves give prior warning of their intentions.
A small sample list of typical signs of severe depression and suicidal tendencies include:
- Talking About Dying -- any mention of dying, disappearing, jumping, shooting oneself, or other types of self harm; as well as hypochondriasis
- Recent Loss such as through death, divorce, loss of job , money, status, loss of interest in friends, hobbies, activities previously enjoyed
- Changes in Personality, Behavior and Judgment
- Change in Sleep Patterns, Eating Habits, Sexual Interest
- Fear of losing control -- going crazy, harming self or others
- Low self esteem -- feeling worthless, shame, overwhelming guilt, self-hatred, "everyone would be better off without me"
- No hope for the future -- believing things will never get better; that nothing will ever change
Also keep in mind that these behaviors can begin years before the "condition" reaches a critical point. In fact, many people in this country live with varying levels of mild to severe depression for most of their lives. Just because this pattern of behavior started months or years ago, doesn't mean the person in question hasn't been on a downward spiral.
The person in question may also suffer from a mild (or growing) form of Munchausen Syndrome.
Again, I'm not saying the person in question should be excused for their actions, nor am I condoning the actions. All I am saying is that the person in question is most likely in need of some professional help, and nothing is so simple and cut and dry as saying that someone in need of help would simply say "help me".
Just my $0.02 worth.
Ydars
Explorer
What Rev did is analogous to someone committing arson: he wanted to have an effect and to see his actions writ large. We all want to feel important but problems start when the only way someone can feel important is by causing harm to other people or their property.
They are literally saying "this is the only thing I know how to do that makes me feel like I mean something to this world."
It must be a terrible thing, when the only effect you feel you can have is bad.
They are literally saying "this is the only thing I know how to do that makes me feel like I mean something to this world."
It must be a terrible thing, when the only effect you feel you can have is bad.
Aberzanzorax
Hero
I'd again caution against ascribing motivations.
As far as psychology goes, yes, a cry for help can be in many forms. The above post by Khaalis put it very well.
However, there are also disorders in the Axis II spectrum called "personality disorders". They don't mean you have a crappy personality, and I have a personal dislike of their name because of that unfortunate connotation.
A personality disorder is a longstanding maladaptive pattern of interacting with the world. It is usually less focused than an Axis I disorder (those that you likely have heard of that are not in Axis II).
So, constantly reaching out for emotional comfort through patterns that repeatedly result in the opposite of emotional comfort (alienating others and creating a cycle of emotional need) could be an example of a personality disorder.
I am NOT attempting to diagnose ANYONE through forums. That is an endeavor foolishly attempted and doomed to failure. This comment should not be taken as any form of advice for Reville. It is meant to be educational for the forums as a whole.
In a personality disorder, negative actions are not usually (though sometimes, and are more common in some specific personality disorders) cries for help. They are ways of coping with the world which ultimately don't get the person what they need, and also tend to cause problems for the individual (and perhaps others).
All that wall of text is basically meant to again state: we don't know. We shouldn't pretend we know, or really, even hypothesize, as we have no way of testing any hypothesis. This behavior could have been multiple cries for help, a longstanding pattern of maladaptive interaction, or simply someone who gets his kicks by messing with others.
We just don't know. I certainly wouldn't claim I do.
As far as psychology goes, yes, a cry for help can be in many forms. The above post by Khaalis put it very well.
However, there are also disorders in the Axis II spectrum called "personality disorders". They don't mean you have a crappy personality, and I have a personal dislike of their name because of that unfortunate connotation.
A personality disorder is a longstanding maladaptive pattern of interacting with the world. It is usually less focused than an Axis I disorder (those that you likely have heard of that are not in Axis II).
So, constantly reaching out for emotional comfort through patterns that repeatedly result in the opposite of emotional comfort (alienating others and creating a cycle of emotional need) could be an example of a personality disorder.
I am NOT attempting to diagnose ANYONE through forums. That is an endeavor foolishly attempted and doomed to failure. This comment should not be taken as any form of advice for Reville. It is meant to be educational for the forums as a whole.
In a personality disorder, negative actions are not usually (though sometimes, and are more common in some specific personality disorders) cries for help. They are ways of coping with the world which ultimately don't get the person what they need, and also tend to cause problems for the individual (and perhaps others).
All that wall of text is basically meant to again state: we don't know. We shouldn't pretend we know, or really, even hypothesize, as we have no way of testing any hypothesis. This behavior could have been multiple cries for help, a longstanding pattern of maladaptive interaction, or simply someone who gets his kicks by messing with others.
We just don't know. I certainly wouldn't claim I do.
Mournblade94
Hero
Yes it did can cause problems. People were demonstrating goodwill and there is emotion in that. When someone extends that goodwill and it is discovered the reasons were false, they will be less apt to extend it in the future. It increases the cynicism of the community while limiting the goodwill that is available.
Henrix
Explorer
I felt betrayed by Reveille, but I also feel very sorry for him. I don't think he's really hurt anyone much.
In the main he's been a good and constructive member of this board for a long time.
Getting caught in destructive beahaviour is easy, and sad. I've done it (though by other means), and I can understand.
I hope he gets help and that his problems will be resolved.
I'd welcome him back, with perhaps a few provisions, any day. (But I can really understand if he doesn't want to.)
To err is all too human, and forgive divine.
In the main he's been a good and constructive member of this board for a long time.
Getting caught in destructive beahaviour is easy, and sad. I've done it (though by other means), and I can understand.
I hope he gets help and that his problems will be resolved.
I'd welcome him back, with perhaps a few provisions, any day. (But I can really understand if he doesn't want to.)
To err is all too human, and forgive divine.
Thank you for your elaboration on this. I was worried about Rel, but because there was a long-term pattern to his deceptions, my worry had subsided. Now I see, however, that even a long-term pattern can indicate a cry for help. Still, at least he is now talking to his family about it, so that will hopefully help him.
Mournblade94
Hero
This is most likely unenforceable.
During any given day, I operate from several different computers. It is easy for me to make a fake hotmail or yahoo email and make up an alt. No one here would ever know if I was posting under an alt, which I would not do anyway (I hold myself accountable, I would not write anything in a forum that I would not say to someone personally).
With that said I don't know how deceptive posting under an alt could be since the forums are by their nature anonmymous identities (though the true person can legally be tracked down).
I am not forum savvy so I could easily be mistaken, but I think there are probably people here posting under alts that are sailing by fine. You would be recognizable by writing style alone, and any skilled writer can alter that.
broghammerj
Explorer
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