From: (No Email available)

Date: 2001-04-30 15:21:43

Comment:

I have to pose this scenerio.
A man takes a hammer and repeatedly hits himself in the head, as hard as he can, for as long as he can, before his loses consciousness and is hospitalized. When he heals and is released, he does it again. He does this a number of times. Now, exactly how are we supposed to feel about this? Do we say "Gee, it's a shame what happened to Frank, with all that hammer business"? Or do we say something more like "Dang, what the hell is wrong with Frank? Doesn't he know that hammers are hard and they hurt and cause blunt force trauma when applied to the head in such a reckless manner"?

Please note that Frank is not insane. He does not have any predisposition to any sort of mental illness that would cause him to do something like this. He just made an honest choice to hit himself in the head with a hammer.
In all honesty, I would find it difficult to be sympathetic towards Frank. I would probably be inclined to say something along the lines of "Frank, I like you and all, I mean, generally, you're a swell guy. But this hammer thing. What do you expect from us? Do we have to knock you down and take the hammer from you by force every single time you decide to go on one of your hammer binges? Is this our responsibility? Do we have to put our lives on hold because we have to watch you every second of every day for fear you might break into the tool shed again and bash yourself stupid? Come on Frank. I'm sorry Frank, like I said, I like you alot, but I just don't have the time nor patience for this sort of thing, and frankly (pardon the pun), I resent you for being so selfish, inisting that others take responsibility for you. Bash away Frank, do what you have to do."