Jerry Coyne: Robin Williams, Depression & Stephen Fry

[onager]

I guess everybody has heard the horrible news already about Robin Williams' death.

Coyne mentions that, of course. But I mostly wanted to post this for the Stephen Fry part. I think it goes right to the heart of the "atheists are cold unemotional poopy-heads who lack empathy because they lack a god" etc.

Fry, who suffers from clinical depression like Williams, got a letter from a young fan with the same affliction. She asks if Fry can give her any advice on dealing with it.

He does, and I wouldn't ruin your experience of reading Fry's response by posting any excerpts. It would almost be insulting. You need to read it yourself in this case:

http://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2014/08/12/robin-williams-depression-and-stephen-fry/

[kdmorris]

1. That was an amazing article...and tribute n/t

[progressoid]

2. OK, I'll say it.

PZ was an ass.

Fry, as usual, a gentleman.

[mr blur]

3. Stephen Fry's volume of autobiography that deals with this,

is very good. I remember at the time he was due to appear on stage in a play in the West End and freaked out, and disappeared off to mainland Europe before the opening night. Nobody knew where he was - he hadn't talked publicly about his depression at that point. This was long before the days of QI, of course, when he and Hugh Laurie were primarily known as a (smart) comedy act.

Since then he's talked much more about his bi-polar and, I believe, helped a number of other people to come to terms with it.

(you're right about PZ - not my favourite atheist spokesperson)

[progressoid]

4. Is that "The Fry Chronicles"?

Our library has the audio version. Might have to get that for my next road trip!

[AlbertCat]

5. PZ was an ass.

Myers' comments were not about Williams. They were about the media. I too find it positively ghoulish this rush to report the "Breaking News" and the endless air time it will now get. Of course retrospectives of Williams' greatest stuff will be great and most welcomed (Funny, I've read 3 things now that mention dreadful movies like "Mrs Doubtfire" but not a word about "The World According to Garp".... his best film... IMHO of course.) Not so great is the contest for everyone who has ever heard of him to be as, or more, caring and sentimental than everyone else.