As regards my previous blog about the writer who self annihilated this past weekend.

Also mentioned in several reports about this incident, is the fact that this guy was suffering from "clinical depression". As if that somehow quantifies his abuse, reaction to it, or resulting self annihilation.

As alot of us here already know- having depression does not, in and of itself automatically render the sufferer as less adequate, less intelligent, nor less able to perform in the workplace. It is only the exacerbated stigma placed on said sufferer, and all too many times, the abilities of Bullies to hone in on this fact that can kick ones depression into a major phase.

Think of it like this. Mikey Fox has Parkinsons "disease", so, i seriously doubt the fine idiots at "Dancing wit the Stars" are beating down his door tryin ta get him on their show. Same with Muhammed Ali- seen anybody badgering his ass to get back in the ring?

In other words- don't poke an already festering wound with a garlic coated stick- and then blame the wounded for getting an infection and dying.

Its already been proved that depression is a disease centered around the limbic cortex- that little place in our brain that makes us happy watching kittens play; or hot and bothered when we view hotbodies. Its the spot that keeps a junkie wanting more, and also the place that makes a tourettes sufferer jerk, spit and cuss involuntarily. In short: Depression is basically Limbic Disease. If i came to work and announced i had heart disease, i would be treated as such; and not bullied, boogered, nor bogged down because of it. People would be more than careful not to place unreasonable demands on me because of my disease- cause they'd (hopefully) feel pretty bad if i had a heart attack for being stressed beyond my limit. People with such disabilities and diseases have rights in the workplace, and for the most part are dealt with, with a certain amount of decency and accomodation, as is their legal right under the disabilities act.

Many of us who have depression can work at jobs that others do- just like i can do my job without ever telling anyone that i'm blind in one eye-they don't know unless i tell them, and oftentimes, folks are totally astounded when presented with the fact. Joe himself was already an established actor, with many reels in the can before he discovered his own depression- and prolly nobody ever would have know had he not said anything about it. But the point is he did come out and talk about it- to his own detriment. Producers are afraid of "mental Meltdown" and insurers want to do the same- so his ability to get quality roles has no doubt suffered. Which is the reason he set up this site- not for himself; but for other folks in the same position.

If you're at work and you break your finger; and you go to your boss and say, "I think I broke my finger.' Does the boss then have any kind of right to take said broken finger and break it more?

We can't smoke in the workplace anymore so as not to expose our fellow coworkers to "secondhand" smoke- but do our bosses and supervisors have the right to go up to someone suffering from asthma and blow smoke in their face?!

Same goes for those of us with limbic disease- don't aggarvate an existing disablility- and you won't have to lay your head on the pillow at nite and face the fact that you bullied somebody to death.

Tags: Workplace Bullying

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