A Sad Day

I can imagine why someone would commit suicide at work rather than at home---at least in your office, someone would actually find you in a decent amount of time.

Is it only our American lifestyle that keep us so isolated from one another? We live alone, away from family, barely having a conversation on most days. We being the single and estranged-from-all-family group of lonely men and women.

I think many of those living alone are happy. But not all. Not all.

What about those alone not by choice but by force. Oh, there are lots of reasons--crippling shyness, too much work, etc. There are thousands, I'd imagine, that are invisible to us, for all intents and purposes.

Why is reserve of personality such a bad thing in American culture?

I don't talk much in crowds, or around new people. I have to know someone for a bit, or face a problem alongside a coworker or fellow student long before I ever pass more than a few words between us. AND, I've been told on more than one occasion that I seem stuck up or arrogant or that I thought myself better than others. All because I'm not the life of the party, so to speak.

I admire many of the foreign exchange students on campus. They are quiet, reserved, and full of personality. In America, it seems those things don't go together.

Maybe as a nation people here are too busy to see past the surface of a person and therein lies a great error. I think we are missing so much because we are all in such a hurry.

Okay, here's my disclaimer: I don't find "social" people to be a bad thing (Helen, I think you are the greatest btw!). I only wish "the shy people/the quiet people" could get a little attention too. Not in an embarrassing sort of way, just in a hello or the occasional invite to a movie by a coworker or classmate.


I leave with an explanation of what prompted my tirade here--please see Eric J. Herboso's site (link to your right). If Dr. Allin did commit suicide, I can, as Eric said, nearly understand why. I KNOW I understand the "where" part.

Dr. Allin's Spring Hill College web page: http://faculty.shc.edu/sallin/Index.htm