Thursday 14 August 2014

Depression and suicide

We live in a world where negativity is rife and the apparent need for competition in some is like the need for air. But life is not a competition it’s about finding *your* happiness, not trying to duplicate someone else’s. There is so much negativity and neediness online these days that it’s often hard to tell whether someone is genuinely suffering or simply seeking attention. How often must someone repeat the same positive messages to you before you believe them? Why would a person choose to talk to you regularly or in some cases every day if they didn’t like you? Why is it so hard to accept a compliment and believe the good in yourself instead of constantly believing the bullies of the world and hating yourself instead?

Depression is a silent illness fought by so many and yet when something like suicide rears its head do people ban together to help combat this often silent killer… No, they take it as an opportunity to once again assert the need for competition and fight over the morality of suicide, a competition nobody is ever going to win because the very concept of taking one’s life is such a personal one. So instead of making this about morals or personal beliefs, which nobody is ever going to agree on, why don’t people take this as yet another opportunity to spread awareness of mental illness? Tweet the number to the suicide hotline in your country along with any organisations that help those with depression. Offer to listen to those who want to talk. Let people know they are not alone. Make trending count for something and hashtag suicide or depression in these tweets.

Instead of choosing to divide society take this as an opportunity to work together and collectively get behind a cause that many share. Help reduce the stigmatism that still surrounds mental illness and just maybe more people will admit they have a problem, seek help and not wind up committing suicide. Don’t waste another opportunity to make this a priority by bickering and attacking each other’s opinions.

Help in Australia:

Lifeline (24 hour support line): 13 11 14

Beyond Blue – depression and anxiety support http://www.beyondblue.org.au/

Tuesday 5 August 2014

Greedy Hollywood Needy Hollywood

In light of the cast of The Big Bang Theory demanding more money I feel this is an important issue to voice given they aren't the first and they won’t be the last.

This kind of mentality in Hollywood is appalling. Nobody needs the amount of money those in Hollywood receive in a lifetime let along a year or per movie, especially when there are so many people struggling or going without. The Big Bang cast is currently reportedly on $350,000 an episode, which based on say 22 episodes a season is $7,700,000 a year; how is that not more than enough!

"According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, the median wage for workers in the United States in December 2013 was $786 per week or $48,872 a year for a 40 hour work week."
http://jobsearch.about.com/od/glossary-a/a/average-salary.htm

So compared to their fellow US employees they are already earning over $300,000 more an episode than the average American does in a year. Do they not understand that people are struggling, that the minimum wage in the US is garbage? And sure they work long hours but so do doctors, nurses, cops, etc. Is there no compassion for the average person; the very roles that actors often take on to earn the exuberant amounts that they do? Shouldn't acting be about a love of the art, about expressing and sharing that love with the world, not egos and greed...

Consider if instead of increasing cast wages part of that money was redirected to the writers and crew (without them there wouldn't be a show), part was put back into the show and the balance was given to charity. Just imagine how much the world would change for the better if shows started donating to charities. They could even do so based on the show's theme:
  • ·         Medical shows to medical research;
  • ·         Cop shows to law enforcement;
  • ·         Law shows to help people who can’t afford representation;
  • ·         Science based shows to the advancement of science;
  • ·         School shows to education and;
  • ·         Family shows to helping those in need.


And yes, we as viewers help compound this issue by watching the shows and buying the merchandise, but that doesn't make it right. I for one feel the behind the scenes is as important to a show/movie as the finished product I am watching. This mentality gives me a bitter taste about shows I have otherwise enjoyed, because the integrity and compassion of those involved is as important to me as the story being told. It is why more than ever I am drawn to the world of indie where story is more important than money and ego.