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I've been to the edge, and there I stood and looked down. And then I turned around and walked away. I've been back for a few visits but have kept turning around

I've been to the edge, and there I stood and looked down. And then I turned around and walked away. I've been back for a few visits but have kept turning around. I lost a lot of friends there. Anthony and Ernest and Robin and so many others didn't turn back. It's easy for me to sympathize. But maybe it's better to give them contempt. Moral opprobrium, disgrace, dishonor, could help the marginally committed to turn back. Contempt for such great human beings, who did far more with their lives than I ever will? No. Just for one choice. The ability to not sympathize with that choice is a blessing, an apple you may be better off not eating.

ArrayList 8y ago
Just wanted to say that was quite a poignant piece of writing. I wish you well.
- maxcrunch 8y ago
  Yea, but ... Van Halen - Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love?
  - ArrayList 8y ago
    hahaha. I don't listen to them much, clearly.
WaddyJones 8y ago
Your logic makes no sense. You left out the part where bourdain abandoned his nine year old daughter. Mental illness is not an excuse to abandon children. Bourdain deserves more than contempt —- he deserves vilification. If he’d had zero kids, I’d sympathize and say RIP, what a tragedy. But he DID have a kid. A kid he abandoned. Bourdain is not just mean for that decision — he’s borderline evil.
- thwy12321 8y ago
  Why is the highest purpose in life children? Of course he had a responsibility for another human being, but why is that the highest good? Are we not allowed to strive for more? Or consider other higher goods?
  - WaddyJones 8y ago
    Did you read my comment? I never said having children is the highest purpose in life, or that it’s the highest good. Your comment bears zero relation to mine I said that abandoning children is contemptible and all child abandoners including bourdain deserve vilification.
- mthoms 8y ago
  >Mental illness is not an excuse to abandon children. Bourdain deserves more than contempt —- he deserves vilification. What you're saying here is "I acknowledge that guy had a condition that made his thought process irrational. But.. what an asshole for making an irrational decision!" How can you call that logical? If you want to deny the existence of Mental Illness, thats one thing. But to acknowledge it exists and still blame the patient for succumbing to it? That my friend, a level of mental gymnastics that even climate change deniers or flat earthers would envy.
  - WaddyJones 8y ago
    You just debated a straw man because I never said what you just quoted me as saying. All thought processes are irrational because humans are not rational beings. He’s not an asshole for making irrational decisions — by that logic we’re all assholes. He’s an asshole for abandoning his fucking child. Lots of people make irrational decisions WITHOUT abandoning their children. Those people are certainly NOT assholes. Bourdain does not fit that description. You’re doing mental gymnastics to excuse the abandonment of children that are absolutely next level. Here’s Occam’s perspective: Abandoning children is bad. There’s no excuse for it. Full stop. The end. You’re currently a child abandoner apologist. It’s not a good look.

ArrayList 8y ago

Just wanted to say that was quite a poignant piece of writing. I wish you well.

maxcrunch 8y ago
Yea, but ... Van Halen - Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love?
- ArrayList 8y ago
  hahaha. I don't listen to them much, clearly.

WaddyJones 8y ago

Your logic makes no sense. You left out the part where bourdain abandoned his nine year old daughter. Mental illness is not an excuse to abandon children. Bourdain deserves more than contempt —- he deserves vilification. If he’d had zero kids, I’d sympathize and say RIP, what a tragedy. But he DID have a kid. A kid he abandoned. Bourdain is not just mean for that decision — he’s borderline evil.

thwy12321 8y ago
Why is the highest purpose in life children? Of course he had a responsibility for another human being, but why is that the highest good? Are we not allowed to strive for more? Or consider other higher goods?
- WaddyJones 8y ago
  Did you read my comment? I never said having children is the highest purpose in life, or that it’s the highest good. Your comment bears zero relation to mine I said that abandoning children is contemptible and all child abandoners including bourdain deserve vilification.
mthoms 8y ago
>Mental illness is not an excuse to abandon children. Bourdain deserves more than contempt —- he deserves vilification. What you're saying here is "I acknowledge that guy had a condition that made his thought process irrational. But.. what an asshole for making an irrational decision!" How can you call that logical? If you want to deny the existence of Mental Illness, thats one thing. But to acknowledge it exists and still blame the patient for succumbing to it? That my friend, a level of mental gymnastics that even climate change deniers or flat earthers would envy.
- WaddyJones 8y ago
  You just debated a straw man because I never said what you just quoted me as saying. All thought processes are irrational because humans are not rational beings. He’s not an asshole for making irrational decisions — by that logic we’re all assholes. He’s an asshole for abandoning his fucking child. Lots of people make irrational decisions WITHOUT abandoning their children. Those people are certainly NOT assholes. Bourdain does not fit that description. You’re doing mental gymnastics to excuse the abandonment of children that are absolutely next level. Here’s Occam’s perspective: Abandoning children is bad. There’s no excuse for it. Full stop. The end. You’re currently a child abandoner apologist. It’s not a good look.