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Nordette You Got It

cluelesscrafter — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:11:00 -0600

Snarky responses are the only way to cope with the frightening results of this science. I'm considering this crazy talk.

http://www.thecluelesscrafter.com/

Hey, I'm all for this

Nordette — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:07:46 -0600

I'll take anything that implies I'm superior, and since I fight depression with regularity I'm all over this. O.K. Not really but kind of hoping this is one more sign pain has a divine purpose and the next time someone tells me I over-think and over-analyze, I'll just smile smugly and say, "That's because I'm more evolved than you, you happy person, you. Deal with it."

Postpartum depression, however, whole other animal.

Nordette Adams is a BlogHer CE & you can find her other stuff through Her 411.

I think there needs to be

emcgillivray — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:31:34 -0600

I think there needs to be a distinction between being clinically depressed, which is harmful to your health and even your life, and being just depressed/blue. Okay, being depressed/sad/blue can make you more analytical; that's great and possibly an evolutionary adaptation. Being clinically depressed is an illness and is not a good thing and in no way helps the evolution of humankind.

Erica

Sliver of Ice

This Research Can Screw Everyone Over

cluelesscrafter — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:24:32 -0600

There's quite a risk that these results will play down the importance of treating those with severe depression. I think this study should change the word "depression" to something like "melancholy" or "malaise," not something referring to a real medical problem.

Also, how do the drug companies react to this? Like hell they'd want us to kick off our crutches and shout "drugs are dead!"

http://www.thecluelesscrafter.com/

sigh bleh

wondergirl — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:07:53 -0600

Good response, Catherine. Surely no one conducting this research has suffered a severe depressive episode, because if they did this speculative evolutionary psychology theory would have not made it out of the starting gate. This is not the kind of study that should be out and available to the millions of people that are trying to get through depression. Dr. John Grohol's response on Psych Central is also great.

Argh

ozma — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:29:39 -0600

I hate that kind of speculative evolutionary psychology. BLEH. Such a stretch. We don't know why that gene was selected for. We don't even know if that gene's expression in depression is the thing being selected for.

Darn. I thought their research on religion and genes sounded interesting. On second thought, I realize that is hooey also.

The woman writing the Time article is even dumber. There is no necessary risk to an individual if they modify some evolutionary adaptation. We evolved to have hairy legs--should we not shave them? Why are people so dumb when it comes to evolution? Whereas we know depression can be risky. And even crippling.

Sorry. This type of evolutionary psychology infuriates me sometimes.

"Most men are within a finger's breadth of being mad." Diogenes

Really science? Are you going there?

the weirdgirl — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:40:05 -0600

Wow, this kind of reminds me of the researchers whose study "suggested" that left-handed people were brain damaged.

Interesting. And kind of BS, too.

alladither — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:23:24 -0600

I love Catherine's take on this information. Not only is depression a detriment to parenting effectively, it's pretty bad for the person living through it as well. If depression is related to suicide rates. Which, yeah... I'm quite sure it is.

Angie

www.alladither.com

www.HalfAssedKitchen.com

My Story

Myama Boone — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:21:48 -0500

I am a foster mother to my 16-year-old niece who is biracial and her two little sisters ages 5 and 2. One of her sisters is biracial as well, but her other sister is White. My story is a bit unique as I am not married and my mom and I are sharing the responsibility of caring for these precious children. I am black and am very proud of who I am, not simply because of my skin color, but because God made me who I am. So I am taking care of these children with the intention of helping them be proud of who they are. Adoption is a strong possibility. But for now we are happy.

It is unbelievable how people stare and act strange when we go places. But I am the type of person that really doesn't care what nosy people think. I wanted to be a mom to these girls and that is what I am going to be. None of the so-called concerned strangers that are trying to figure out why I have a white child in my home are putting food in her mouth or clothes on her back.

I have been challenged to be well-informed and concerned that each child remains a part of the culture they are accustomed to. And my white and black sister-friends have been key in helping me accomplish this. But more than anything else, I love these babies and my race doesn't keep me from extending the love God placed in my heart to them. I have to answer to Him for every decision I make and I choose to love...

.

LittleMissStreep — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 11:32:24 -0500

I'm a white girl in foster care and about two months ago I was placed with a black family. It was my first time ever in the foster care system, and I honestly believe it will be my last. This family has given me the love and support that no one else has been able to share. I know many people are against cultural-mixes, but I for one don't see anything wrong with them at all anymore. Sure, I may have been introduced to a new culture, and a new lifestyle. I may have been introduced to new people. But I'm so closely attached to them now. They're the family I've never had and have never been given up until now. They treat me like their own daughter, and the fact that I am white, with diffirent beliefs and a different skin color and culture doesn't change anything they think of me.

Honestly, I believe race and skin color doesn't matter. Neither do cultural beliefs. We're all human. We're all in America (well, not ALL, but you know what I mean...hopefully). I can't wait until I'm finally able to see the day where blacks will hold their arms out to whites, and whites will hold their arms out to blacks, and every race in between will share the love as well. I can't wait until the day we're all considered Americans, and not African-Americans or Hispanic-Americans, or any other category like that. I just want everyone else to look at each other as normal humans, living lives. That's all.

Ha, I'm done rambling now. :)

http://www.brendasblogfrompar

brendaparaguay — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:36:41 -0500

http://www.brendasblogfromparaguay.com/

I used to love Oprah and plan my day to watch her. But her arrogance and disinclination to recognize when she is wrong has made it increasingly difficult for me to tolerate her show.

She is a beautiful, elegant woman with so much potential for good, but no one is perfect, no ones advice infallible.

I never watched the Oprah show

Vered — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 15:21:10 -0500

Which probably makes me weird or maybe un-American. In general, I don't get health advice from celebrities, regardless of how rich and powerful they are. I get it from my doctors and researching reputable sites on the internet.

----

Need to hire a blogger? I’m a mommy blogger and a blogger for hire.

No such thing as 100% or 99% accurate shows.

ana2271 — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 04:30:19 -0500

I don't think there is any 100% accurate show out there. Oprah, like most television hosts can only do the best she can. She isn't a nutritionist or personal trainer. She doesn't have a qualification in physical fitness, so she does what we all do, the best we can.

I do think that Oprah's show is much better than, say, a Jezebel blog post. In her position, Oprah can put health professionals on her show. Let's not forget that every era has health fads. Oprah isn't the only show that has featured fads.

Who knows, nanotechnology (not pads, but the technology) may be a key element in health in the near future.

Thanks!

Ungirdled Passion — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:53:25 -0500

Thanks so much for your kind words, Megan! I really appreciate it! Everyone at BlogHer has been so nice! - Tracy

http://ungirdledpassion.blogspot.com/

Way To Go!

Megan Smith — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:37:38 -0500

Yes, what Maria said. If you're new to blogging you can't tell it by this post!

And thanks for once again reminding everyone that Oprah is not trying to be the end all and be all of everything. I love her to death, but even I don't buy everything she has to say.

Still, I really do think Oprah wants to do right by us. Oprah plays big. She takes big chances to do big things. When you do that, and you make the occasional mistake, it might be a big one. The plus side is you're going to make big, positive differences and changes, too.

You couldn't have said that better. It's up to us as viewers to either accept or reject what she has to say and not buy into the media hype surrounding her.

Megan
BlogHer Contributing Editor, TV/Online Video

Megan's Minute