Crazy People

[angrykat]

When celebrities have very public melt downs (ie charlie sheen) it makes me feel better about my mental illness. am a I bad person?

Comments

[moon_custafer]

I suspect that's the real point of celebrities. I figured out a real or so ago that if Dorian Gray were a real person and alive today, he wouldn't keep the portrait hidden - he'd write a best-selling confessional about it and have a live web feed so fans could watch it get more horrible.....

[icedrake]

Is it because they're celebrities and are expected to have their shit together (HAH!), or because of this being a high-visibility event, making you feel less like you're the only one out there struggling with mental illness?

I mean, when a high-profile, or just plain very experienced person in my field makes a mistake I keep kicking myself for, I feel better, too -- means I'm not totally clueless, if someone far ahead of me can screw up in the same way.

[elizalavelle]

I believe that's called schadenfreude and makes you human :)

[realsoonnow]

I will join you all in the schadenfreude tango.

I heard a not very impressive (possibly very not impressive) presentation from a tenured researcher in my area not long ago...and I will admit to some very...well, it made me feel good in a nasty way I hate to admit.