Most of you won't know who the Fevinator is, but that's ok you don't need to. Suffice to say he is an AFL player here in Australia who has fallen into a bad way.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/fevola-caught-playing-pokies-20110324-1c7ou.html
"Brendan Fevola appears to be losing his long-running battle with a gambling addiction, visiting a hotel in Melbourne's south-east to play the pokies this morning."
He has what are euphemistically called 'gambling and alcohol issues' as well as 'depression'. Whether or not this is a result of people telling him he's a great champion and that he can do no wrong for as long as he can remember or not is a debate that is best left for AFL die hards.
I was reading that story and found myself thinking 'poor bloke, if I were a psych I would totally help him'. I'm not the only person who feels that way either.
"Recovered gambling addict, and former Demons star David Schwarz told SEN radio this morning that Fevola had ignored his attempts at assistance."
Indeed the whole football community has made it clear that they will help the Fev any way they can, without going so far as to sign him up of course.
It was at that point that I realised that, but for his stardom and his ability to kick goals, he's just another poor sod with life destroying problems. If he was an insurance clerk or a burger flipper, would he have the same levels of support and generosity? Of course not.
Why on earth not?
Why on earth not??
(I can only speak for myself, but I am assured that everybody thinks the way I do to some extent)
Why is it that well paid high flying superstars endenger compassion within the breasts of punters like me, but the hypothetical bloke in the unit next door that lives with cats and drinks himself to sleep every night is treated with derision? Alcoholism is alcoholism.
Is it because we all know Fev? Has Melbourne become so saturated with footy news that famous players are felt to be some sort extended family? Is it the cult of celebrity?
Is it because he is such a dominant, alpha male that we feel cannot help but express subservience even though we only ever see him on the television or out on the park?
Or could it be because we all just have shit for brains?
As a society we are supposed to look out for each other. Otherwise what is the point of living in a society, we may as well go off and live as hermits. The Fev can afford as much help as he wants. Can the same be said about the people you are ignoring?
Wake up! Buy the fat girl in your office some flowers! Take the nerd in your class out to a strip joint! Reach out and touch someone. There may yet be hope for us all.
My heart goes out to Fev and the thousands of people suffering like him that I don't know.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/fevola-caught-playing-pokies-20110324-1c7ou.html
"Brendan Fevola appears to be losing his long-running battle with a gambling addiction, visiting a hotel in Melbourne's south-east to play the pokies this morning."
He has what are euphemistically called 'gambling and alcohol issues' as well as 'depression'. Whether or not this is a result of people telling him he's a great champion and that he can do no wrong for as long as he can remember or not is a debate that is best left for AFL die hards.
I was reading that story and found myself thinking 'poor bloke, if I were a psych I would totally help him'. I'm not the only person who feels that way either.
"Recovered gambling addict, and former Demons star David Schwarz told SEN radio this morning that Fevola had ignored his attempts at assistance."
Indeed the whole football community has made it clear that they will help the Fev any way they can, without going so far as to sign him up of course.
It was at that point that I realised that, but for his stardom and his ability to kick goals, he's just another poor sod with life destroying problems. If he was an insurance clerk or a burger flipper, would he have the same levels of support and generosity? Of course not.
Why on earth not?
Why on earth not??
(I can only speak for myself, but I am assured that everybody thinks the way I do to some extent)
Why is it that well paid high flying superstars endenger compassion within the breasts of punters like me, but the hypothetical bloke in the unit next door that lives with cats and drinks himself to sleep every night is treated with derision? Alcoholism is alcoholism.
Is it because we all know Fev? Has Melbourne become so saturated with footy news that famous players are felt to be some sort extended family? Is it the cult of celebrity?
Is it because he is such a dominant, alpha male that we feel cannot help but express subservience even though we only ever see him on the television or out on the park?
Or could it be because we all just have shit for brains?
As a society we are supposed to look out for each other. Otherwise what is the point of living in a society, we may as well go off and live as hermits. The Fev can afford as much help as he wants. Can the same be said about the people you are ignoring?
Wake up! Buy the fat girl in your office some flowers! Take the nerd in your class out to a strip joint! Reach out and touch someone. There may yet be hope for us all.
My heart goes out to Fev and the thousands of people suffering like him that I don't know.
