Heroes argh
Watching the season premiere of Heroes and being frustrated because -
The character Claire has just started at college. Her room-mate was of the obnoxious over-achiever stereotype. At some point she (the room-mate) is found dead, having apparently jumped from the dormitory window, with a suicide note found later.
And the reason I am annoyed? Because Claire and her one friend keep insisting that this woman could not have killed herself because she was so happily pleased with herself, having an abundance of self-esteem, openly planning her life out for the next several years. As if the only people who might kill themselves are those who are noticeably mopey and sad, that no one who had the appearance of a happy, forward-looking life could do such a thing.
I am sure this character was murdered, because that's the shape of the story, but I think the way the characters are coming to this conclusion and expressing it is perpetuating untrue ideas.
The character Claire has just started at college. Her room-mate was of the obnoxious over-achiever stereotype. At some point she (the room-mate) is found dead, having apparently jumped from the dormitory window, with a suicide note found later.
And the reason I am annoyed? Because Claire and her one friend keep insisting that this woman could not have killed herself because she was so happily pleased with herself, having an abundance of self-esteem, openly planning her life out for the next several years. As if the only people who might kill themselves are those who are noticeably mopey and sad, that no one who had the appearance of a happy, forward-looking life could do such a thing.
I am sure this character was murdered, because that's the shape of the story, but I think the way the characters are coming to this conclusion and expressing it is perpetuating untrue ideas.