[at-l] Please keep Heather in your thoughts and prayers

[Slyatpct at aol.com (Slyatpct@xxxxxxx)]

What, you refute my response?

I'm glad you have faith in your average woman beater because I don't. I really don't care what you or our resident psychiatrist thinks, this is my own gut feeling.  I lived first hand in a somewhat similar situation and it wasn't a pretty picture seeing my mother battered and bruised, day after day.  There is no reconciliation. 

If you think a 19 year old woman should continue a relationship with a beat-me-up wannabe thru-hiker, I can tell you right now it isn't your daughter.  

This kid is a loser, period.

Sly



In a message dated 5/31/2003 8:09:50 AM Eastern Standard Time, jbullar1@twcny.rr.com writes:

> Having dealt with severe mental illness in close quarters I would like to
> make a point here. You have to separate the illness from the person when
> making judgments. Having a mental illness does not make someone a bad person
> or an "idgit". Kicking their ass resolves nothing. If anything it may
> reinforce the distorted sense of reality that is the result of the illness.
> If he was on medication, it's quite possible that he got off the schedule
> due to the thru-hike and it resulted in a psychotic episode. What he needs
> competent evaluation by a psychiatrist. There's only one of those (that I
> know about) on AT-L and (no disrespect intended, Sly) you aren't him.
> 
> Whether Heather decides to continue a relationship with Ragamuffin is
> entirely up to her and, similarly, is not a subject for our judgment. Life
> with a mentally ill person can be a challenge that some people are not up to
> or willing to deal with but making the decision to continue that
> relationship does not make them a fool any more than the decision of a
> person who decides to continue a relationship with someone who becomes
> paralyzed.
> 
> This is a sad and scary situation but we don't know enough 
> to make judgments
> about either of the people involved.