NationStates Jolt Archive

I know this is going to sound strange, but I was wasting time on Gaia ( http://www.gaiaonline.com ) and I noticed several threads mocking self-injury. Due to my own life experience, I find this no laughing matter. The most common causes are serious disorders, often stemming from abuse.

What I don't understand is why people feel the need to make fun of other people's problems. I find it quite juvenile, and, frankly, stupid.

People will mock anything. It doesn't mean they have no sympathy for people who are actually hurting, but online it's fun to make jokes, particularly irreverent, tasteless ones.

I know this is going to sound strange, but I was wasting time on Gaia ( http://www.gaiaonline.com ) and I noticed several threads mocking self-injury. Due to my own life experience, I find this no laughing matter. The most common causes are serious disorders, often stemming from abuse.

What I don't understand is why people feel the need to make fun of other people's problems. I find it quite juvenile, and, frankly, stupid.

For starters, people don't understand and, quite often, what a person doesn't understand, they degrade.

Secondly, on a society that demands selfishness and apathy, anything that hurts someone else to a certain degree is seen as "humerous."

Because we typically view people with mental disorders very badly. There is a horrible stigma to it. It's getting better, but sometimes people react to being uncomfortable by lashing out.

I know that it is nothing to be joked about, online or in real life, especially as I know first hand since I found out several of my friends were saying hurtful things about me behind my back when they saw my scars. You find out who your real friends are, thats for sure.

People will mock anything. It doesn't mean they have no sympathy for people who are actually hurting, but online it's fun to make jokes, particularly irreverent, tasteless ones.

They weren't even jokes -- that was the thing that got me. It was mostly people saying "oh it's just preppy kids thinking it's cool, begging for attention, mopey goth kid this, poser-punk kid that."

Many were saying that they indeed felt no sympathy, and called a girl who offered help and coping skills a "retarded attention-whore."

It's like being in a room full of arrogant teenagers again..

I know that my old girlfriend used to do it. I never understood why. I think I know a little bit more of the story now, but I still don't understand it. Anyway, she stopped (supposedly -- I'd left for college by then, so I don't really know). Just out of the blue, she decided that it was horrible and disgusting. Odd. At any rate, that's the only other place where I've ever heard of it.

one of my mates in my college used to cut her arms, and her so-called ''freinds'' used to tease her about it, saying that she was just doing it for attention.
she was lucky, she got help and support about it, and now is a great outgoing person, and is also my girlfreind.
she said that the single worst thing was her ''freinds'' not supporting her or trying to help her, and that that just made her feel even worse.
Self-harm is no laughing matter, and anyone who makes jokes or sarcastic comments about it is just plain sick.

I know that my old girlfriend used to do it. I never understood why. I think I know a little bit more of the story now, but I still don't understand it. Anyway, she stopped (supposedly -- I'd left for college by then, so I don't really know). Just out of the blue, she decided that it was horrible and disgusting. Odd. At any rate, that's the only other place where I've ever heard of it.

Most people who do it don't really want to hurt themselves, its a form of projection, they project what they hate about the world and other unto themselves so what they are really hurting is that self-image, these people have a deep sense of powerlessness and this is a way of showing yourself that you are powerful

Most people who do it don't really want to hurt themselves, its a form of projection, they project what they hate about the world and other unto themselves so what they are really hurting is that self-image, these people have a deep sense of powerlessness and this is a way of showing yourself that you are powerful

Exactly. Many people feel that they have no control over what is happening. Their parents are abusive, things are going badly, etc. But you do have power over yourself, over cutting yourself. "Anything to feel again"

Most people who do it don't really want to hurt themselves, its a form of projection, they project what they hate about the world and other unto themselves so what they are really hurting is that self-image, these people have a deep sense of powerlessness and this is a way of showing yourself that you are powerful

Not just powerful, but that you have any control over any aspect of your life whatsoever. It can be similar with suicide, although the two aren't always linked - when I attempted suicide I felt that my life was totally out of my hands, and in my rage and powerlessness and despair the only way I could think to handle it was to say 'F you, God, I didn't want this life and I'm not waiting around for you to decide when it's done. My pain ends now.' Basically, it was a rather poor attempt at being proactive for once.

But yeah, I self-harm too, even at my age, when I get depressed. I don't really know why...I have a lot of feelings of self-hatred so sometimes that manifests as wanting it to show on the outside how I feel on the inside, what I normally try to hide. I should be over it by now but I don't think all the money in the world could pay for all the therapy I'd need.

DOes pulling pranks on people who I know are going to beat me senseless count as self-injury?

DOes pulling pranks on people who I know are going to beat me senseless count as self-injury?

I thought that was stupidity :confused:

Easy mistake. :p

I work in A+E (or as you Americans call it ER), and i come across many self harmers, it is tragic but a drain on the medical service. Most are wasters hooked on drugs, but dont get me wrong I only wish people didnt do this, i have seen many young lives lost because they`ve took it too far.

I think some of it may also come from the fact that the pain releases endorphins, the body's "feel good" hormone.

I had some experience with self-harm about two years ago.

I think some of it may also come from the fact that the pain releases endorphins, the body's "feel good" hormone.

I had some experience with self-harm about two years ago.

Some of it is that, there isn't just one root cause to this phenomena

That you're supposed to go down the highway, not across the road.

It's disgusting. People who do that to themselves should get help.

Well, about two years ago, I used to hit myself a lot. I even gave myself bruises. I think the reasons I did it were endorphins, as I mentioned earlier, and the fact that I was punishing myself. I wanted to punish myself.

That was a hard experience.

They weren't even jokes -- that was the thing that got me. It was mostly people saying "oh it's just preppy kids thinking it's cool, begging for attention, mopey goth kid this, poser-punk kid that."

Many were saying that they indeed felt no sympathy, and called a girl who offered help and coping skills a "retarded attention-whore."

It's like being in a room full of arrogant teenagers again..Like being in a room full of arrogant teens? You were in a room full of teens! Actually half of them were probably pre-teens, it was Gaia for crisakes. What exactly were you expecting there?

Like being in a room full of arrogant teens? You were in a room full of teens! Actually half of them were probably pre-teens, it was Gaia for crisakes. What exactly were you expecting there?

Eh...point :p

It's disgusting. People who do that to themselves should get help.

As long as it's not from you, right?

I've learned that denial combined with a few white lies and half-truths can be a powerful force. It helps when you've actually got a slight skin condition.

Like being in a room full of arrogant teens? You were in a room full of teens! Actually half of them were probably pre-teens, it was Gaia for crisakes. What exactly were you expecting there?

I think NationStates has spoiled me. The level of maturity here has me expecting everyone to act like they have at least half a brain. Oh well.

That you're supposed to go down the highway, not across the road.

Self-harm is not always connected to attempting suicide.

I started cutting over two years ago, and stopped after a couple of months. Started up again over my finals this year. It was much worse the latter time, and I only eventually stopped by ending two friendships. Or so-called friendships, at any rate.

I see self-harm as being akin to alcoholism or drug abuse. It's an unhealthy way of dealing with stress, or at least it was for me. It usually takes outside intervention to put a stop to it, and even then there's a risk of relapsing in times of stress (again, talking more about me than others... there'll always be exceptions). I know there are people out there who do it for attention, and I can understand why sometimes it causes a knee-jerk :rolleyes: reaction - sometimes it is just attention whoring. But normally that's people talking *about* doing it... not actually doing it.

Well, if you are going to harm yourself for attention, then maybe you need some attention.

I'm not talking about drama queens. I'm talking about people who genuinely feel alone.

Self-harm is not always connected to attempting suicide.

I started cutting over two years ago, and stopped after a couple of months. Started up again over my finals this year. It was much worse the latter time, and I only eventually stopped by ending two friendships. Or so-called friendships, at any rate.

I see self-harm as being akin to alcoholism or drug abuse. It's an unhealthy way of dealing with stress, or at least it was for me. It usually takes outside intervention to put a stop to it, and even then there's a risk of relapsing in times of stress (again, talking more about me than others... there'll always be exceptions). I know there are people out there who do it for attention, and I can understand why sometimes it causes a knee-jerk :rolleyes: reaction - sometimes it is just attention whoring. But normally that's people talking *about* doing it... not actually doing it.

Quite often (though not always, 'cause the human mind likes to be a little bastard), the ones who talk about it the most and loudest are faking it.

The ones who come up some excuse or quickly change the subject...they're the ones you need to watch.

As long as it's not from you, right?

You kidding? I knew someone who used to do that, and I helped her through it as best I could. She hasn't done it since, and is going on three years without harming herself now.

You kidding? I knew someone who used to do that, and I helped her through it as best I could. She hasn't done it since, and is going on three years without harming herself now.

Ah-my apologizes. It Sounded like you meant "those people are just sickos, some needs to help them and get them away from me."

No need to apologize. It can be difficult to get a sense of tone from typed words. Now that I think about it though, I want to rephrase how I put it. They need help, and we all should be ready to help them.