Calvin & Hobbes - a very sad cartoon

[riffer]

This one affects me on a lot of levels.

I think we're too quick to put our kids on ritalin and other stuff if their imaginations are too vivid. And I guess the cartoonist agrees with me too. Wither Winnie the Pooh if Christopher Robin Milne was given ritalin?

What do you think?

[Squeak the Rat]

Nice post riffer.

I love Calvin and Hobbes, it reminds me that an imagination is fun and positive, and that there is an innocence to life (especially childhood). So lets get him on drugs. Sad.

[WRT]

In some instances, yes, I fully agree with you Riffer. I'm really not a favour of medication and I avoid doctors, and shrinks especially, as much as possible - I really doubt most of them know what they are doing. However I know of one boy who, when he needs his ritalin, NEEDS it. For his safety and that of those around him.

I also know of three adults who benefit greatly from it. One, someone very close to me, has only just been diagnosed as having ADHD after years and years of being treated for depression. Ditching the anti-depressants, the anti-anxiety medication, the heart pills, the sleeping pills, the psychologist and the psychiatrist in favour of a ritalin derivative has transformed her life, and indeed, brought her back to life.

[Guitana]

This one affects me on a lot of levels.

I think we're too quick to put our kids on ritalin and other stuff if their imaginations are too vivid. And I guess the cartoonist agrees with me too. Wither Winnie the Pooh if Christopher Robin Milne was given ritalin?

What do you think?

Hell yeah!
We have some freinds who put their little fella on that shit!! He was a great kid full of life always up to something and always in trouble for some reason or another, when they put him on that stuff he changed so much he wasn't the same kid!!
His mother after a short period stopped medicating him because the change was so bad the little fella lost his spark which is why so many people liked him just he was a little naughty.
It turns out the real reason he acted the way he did was the diet he was on junk food with food colourings and sugary junk!! Once his diet was balanced there was a marked improvement!
Unfortunately some kids problems are due to chemical imbalances in the brain.
So he was lucky within two weeks he was right!
People are too quick to put their kids on drugs these days it's an epedemic in the states!!!!
When all it can take is a change to their dietry intake or lifestyle!!!
Doctors are becoming PUSHERS for the DRUG INDUSTRY and should take another look at the damage they are inflicting on society!!!
Putting your kids on that shit is a form of child abuse!!

[yungatart]

Sad indictment on today's society isn't it?
I'm sure if ritalin had been around when my younger brother and I were growing up, we would have been on it too! Truth is, we were just inquisitive, adventurous kids who always had to push the boundaries.. well, that's how I see it anyway, my parents may beg to differ!

[Finn]

Well we're not allowed to beat the living shit out of them anymore so expect Ritalin sales to go through the roof.

[Coyote]

That's depressing. Poor Hobbes

Is that a genuine cartoon or one someone photoshopped up? I would of guessed the latter. Wouldn't expect Watterson to come up with something so gloomy. And the pauses within the comment bubbles is unfamiliar

[WRT]

Hell yeah!
We have some freinds who put their little fella on that shit!! He was a great kid full of life always up to something and always in trouble for some reason or another, when they put him on that stuff he changed so much he wasn't the same kid!!

. . .

It turns out the real reason he acted the way he did was the diet he was on junk food with food colourings and sugary junk!! Once his diet was balanced there was a marked improvement!
Unfortunately some kids problems are due to chemical imbalances in the brain.



Sad indictment on today's society isn't it?
I'm sure if ritalin had been around when my younger brother and I were growing up, we would have been on it too! Truth is, we were just inquisitive, adventurous kids who always had to push the boundaries.. well, that's how I see it anyway, my parents may beg to differ!

That's the problem as I see it. Ritalin affects people with ADD/ADHD differently to those without it. Put the wrong people on it and it can almost count for child abuse. Even those that should be taking it I'm of the belief it should only be at times when it is needed.

As an example, if withholding the drug means the kid cant focus enough in class, then you are having a detrimental effect on his future. However, if its just mild misbehaving round home, then giving him the drug is just lazy parenting.

[Riff Raff]

It turns out the real reason he acted the way he did was the diet he was on junk food with food colourings and sugary junk!! Once his diet was balanced there was a marked improvement!

I honestly believe that is the main cause of the majority of childrens behavioural problems. Doctors are far too quick to put children on Ritalin when they should be assessing other factors first.

[WRT]

I honestly believe that is the main cause of the majority of childrens behavioural problems.

I agree, but it's not limited to kids! Over the last month or so I've cut right back on my sugar intake, and tried to cut out a lot of the junk food I eat. And I can really feel the difference in my health already, and things like my alertness and attention span.


Doctors are far too quick to put children on Ritalin when they should be assessing other factors first.

Doctors are too quick to put people on all sorts of medication, adults and all. People these days think all life's ailments can be solved with a pill.

The sad thing is that with Ritalin etc, the kids have no choice in the matter.

[Goblin]

Doctors are becoming PUSHERS for the DRUG INDUSTRY and should take another look at the damage they are inflicting on society!!!Doctors have ALWAYS been pushers for the pharmaceutical companies. It's all about the money ya know, the dont give a fuck about pepoles lives.

[Coyote]

Well we're not allowed to beat the living shit out of them anymore so expect Ritalin sales to go through the roof.
So true. Many of these kids with supposed ADD/ADHD are just dickheads that haven't been told to shut the fuck up by their parents

[Coyote]

Doctors have ALWAYS been pushers for the pharmaceutical companies. It's all about the money ya know, the dont give a fuck about pepoles lives.
They don't make money selling cures

I swear there is a cure for eczma (which has plagued me my entire life), just there's more money to be made selling hydrocortizone than a one shot cure. No ones dying from it so there's no problem...

[Goblin]

They don't make money selling cures

I swear there is a cure for eczma (which has plagued me my entire life), just there's more money to be made selling hydrocortizone than a one shot cure. No ones dying from it so there's no problem...
EggsZachary!! Using hydrocort long term thins the skin and can make the problem worse. My 9 year old has suffered with eczma all his life too and the only thing I have found that actually works is flaxseed oil capsules which cost a fortune.

I'm sure there's cures for all kinds of diseases but as you say, there's no money in cures. Farmasuitical companies want people to be sick and dependant on their drugs. Psychiatric drugs are the worst!

[WRT]

I sent the cartoon out via email, and had this reply:


Hey Walt you can add this to it if you want from someone who has had 6 years exp with medicated kids


If you have a child with ADD or ADHD you will no doubt send that child to school. Your unmedicated child will not be able to learn the important skills and gain the knowledge nessesary to lead a normal life in todays world. Not only that but your unmedicated child will be preventing his fellow class mates from gaining an education also. ADD and ADHD kids are known for their disruptive behaviours and this will hinder the learning of other children. By not medicating your child you are not giving them the opportunity to learn and you are not giving their class mates the oppertunity to learn either. This is not fair, its also not fair on the teacher who has an important job to do. If you want to educate an unmedicated child then the best way to do it is either hire a teacher for the sole purpose of one on one or homeschool them. I believe that medication should only be given when needed i.e. for learning opportunites or saftey reasons.

[Guitana]

ADD and ADHD are a reasonably new so called sicknesses I can't recall them being around when I was a young tacker!
This is why I beleive it is a product of a bad dietry imbalance!
The foods our kids today are scoffing by the truckload are full of transfats,food colourings,High sugar content and are over processed! In essence their diets are shit! Society has forsaken good healthy foods for junk as it's easier to give the kids $10 and send them off to school!!
Is little Johnny gonna buy a wholesome apple and banana from the fruitshop
on the way to school??? I think not!! No generally it's a pie and a coke good way to start your day!!!
Everything we buy these days is so overprocessed it takes 10 days for a loaf of bread to go mouldy!!!
It used to go blue in three days when I was younger!!

[Smorg]

ADD and ADHD are a reasonably new so called sicknesses I can't recall them being around when I was a young tacker!
This is why I beleive it is a product of a bad dietry imbalance!
The foods our kids today are scoffing by the truckload are full of transfats,food colourings,High sugar content and are over processed! In essence their diets are shit! Society has forsaken good healthy foods for junk as it's easier to give the kids $10 and send them off to school!!
Is little Johnny gonna buy a wholesome apple and banana from the fruitshop
on the way to school??? I think not!! No generally it's a pie and a coke good way to start your day!!!
Everything we buy these days is so overprocessed it takes 10 days for a loaf of bread to go mouldy!!!
It used to go blue in three days when I was younger!!

A product of bad diet? Thats such a load of shit, do some research before you add your 10 cents worth it doesnt matter how much 20/20 you watch its still no substitute for real life experience. While I agree that some people are mis-diagnosed the majority are not.

I took Ritalin when I was younger and Dex when I got older to help me study without it I was a menace at school couldnt sit through a class without pissing either my class mates or my teachers off. On Ritalin I was calm collected and could do my classwork no worries and still had the energy to get out on the playground. My two brothers were also on one or the other and we all agree that without it we would have accomplished nothing in high school, my sister did not take as she was not ADD. None of this came about because of bad diet and junk food, I only ever got to go Macca's for my birthday and fish and chips sometimes after coming back from the beach. So before you go making uninformed statements.....research

[Juud]

Everything has to be catagorised nowadays, most people expect a name (syndrome if you llike) for the "disorder". GP's can't come up with an "I don't know" so they take the easy way out send them away with a bag full of pills. One patient less in an overfilled waiting room.

After a few years you discover that there was no add/adhd, the kid played you and most probably sold his medication to 'friends'. Been there, experienced it.

But Smorg, you're correct as well. ADD/ADHD is just not easy to diagnose.

[Guitana]

A product of bad diet? Thats such a load of shit, do some research before you add your 10 cents worth it doesnt matter how much 20/20 you watch its still no substitute for real life experience. While I agree that some people are mis-diagnosed the majority are not.

I took Ritalin when I was younger and Dex when I got older to help me study without it I was a menace at school couldnt sit through a class without pissing either my class mates or my teachers off. On Ritalin I was calm collected and could do my classwork no worries and still had the energy to get out on the playground. My two brothers were also on one or the other and we all agree that without it we would have accomplished nothing in high school, my sister did not take as she was not ADD. None of this came about because of bad diet and junk food, I only ever got to go Macca's for my birthday and fish and chips sometimes after coming back from the beach. So before you go making uninformed statements.....research

Well I'm entitled to my ten cents worth and as far as being informed goes I have two sons that have been through all this shit so dont lecture me!
Since my oldest boy was six, and he's now Fourteen he's had problems which were written off by the various specialists and GP's as ADD or yes fucken ADHD If it wasnt for my wife and I pushing the doctors and specialists he would still be medicated and still fucked up!! It appears that what they were so readily prepared to write off as ADD and write out a perscription for was actually a rare form of Epilepsy of which only a handful of people in the world are known to have!!!
My youngest son was also a handful but he was found to have an extreme reaction to most of the processed foods containing wheat,sugars and especially food colourings!!!This was cured by slowly introducing a more stable diet and what do you know a different kid emerged out the other end!
What I was trying to convey to KBers is that you should always look at all the options trust your feelings if you know somethings not right stick to your guns until it's diagnosed properly! Too many people put complete trust in health professionals but they're not always right!
I'm glad you're doing ok and benefited from the drug treatment and I am sorry you missed out on so many trips to Maccas!
Maybe one of our fellow KBers works at Maccas and could possibly send you a voucher for a free Happy meal!!!!

[Squeak the Rat]

I gotta agree with Guitana - diet is a factor in many cases. My nephew suffers from aspergers syndrome. He was always super hyper with severe attention difficulties. Ritalin was prescribed but they took him off it after a couple of years when his mum accidentally took one or two instead of panadol (so she says) and was shocked by the effect.

They did the research and talked to a lot of different people including those who don't benefit from the sale of pharmacuticals. He's now on a restricted diet - no food colouring, no wheat, no dairy, limited sugar and processed food. It hasn't cured his aspergers but he's a completely different kid.

[mstriumph]

I agree, but it's not limited to kids! .............

too true

mainly avoid coffee ...... one strong cup and i can be bouncing off walls ...

[Ixion]

Starting to get a bit ugly there for a while folks. Play the ball not the man , please.

[Guitana]

Starting to get a bit ugly there for a while folks. Play the ball not the man , please.

Point taken!!

[hXc]

mainly avoid coffee ...... one strong cup and i can be bouncing off walls ...I think that the "coffee makes me hyper" thing is a load of bullshit! If caffeine/coffee is introduced in large amounts first, yes it will make you bounce off the walls. If you introduce it slowly into the body, you can comfortably drink 10-20 cups of double-shot espresso a day and nothing will change.

I'm a barista; at work, I drink about 2 cups of coffee an hour. I only drink double shot, or stronger, and I go home and sleep fine at night. The Finn's drink a lot of coffee. 10+ cups a day, and they are all fine.

Yes, there are exceptions, and I'm not saying you may not be one, but the majority of people that claim coffee makes them hyper are full of shit. They just don't introduce it properly. Coffee has never had an effect on me at all; I don't get hyper and I don't get withdrawls.

For those metaphorically (sp?) minded people, it's the boiling frogs theory. If you drop a frog in a pot of boiling water, it won't be too pleased. If you put it in a pot of cold water, and slowly bring it to the boil, you have it exactly where it didn't want to be, but now it doesn't notice, and doesn't think it's that bad.

[Mr. Peanut]

What can I say? I've moved on, he's a big boy now :bye:

[mstriumph]

...................................
Yes, there are exceptions, and I'm not saying you may not be one,...... thank you kind sir ....................................
................................... Coffee has never had an effect on me at all; I don't get hyper and I don't get withdrawls. that's nice .. i've noticed it makes some people quite aggressive and argumentative? [yes, there are exceptions, and i'm not saying you may not be one ...:) ]
...................................

If you drop a frog in a pot of boiling water, it won't be too pleased. If you put it in a pot of cold water, and slowly bring it to the boil, you have it exactly where it didn't want to be, but now it doesn't notice, and doesn't think it's that bad. now why on earth would anyone want to go to all that bother to introduce yourself to something that's going to taste as nasty as overboiled frog [or overboiled coffee]?

....................actually, this MAY be the place to say that i prefer tea ... :innocent:

[Smorg]

Rats my rebuttle was deleted! Understood though................

[scumdog]

In my experience there seems to be a predominance of white trash 'families' who have their kids on Ritalin - but often it doesn't get to the kids.

I expect to be black flagged by the moderators for that but don't give a shit 'cos it's true.

And I've has a Tequila or two..

[Steam]

WTB, Ritalin, willing to pay $4 per tablet.
Suffering terrible ADHD, please help.
Contact Steam by PM.
(p/t)

[Colapop]

Tried Ritalin (as an adult) and it made my brain run like I had mud draining through it. I'm not the easiest person to be around sometimes (I have a bit of spare energy) but I don't mean any harm. It doesn't help that I'm not little either. Nope not a pisstake.
Took a power of beating as a kid but as I said I wasn't easy to be around. Stay the fuck away from that shit. Keep your kids of it. If you have a problem child (high energy) run them - even if you have to put a harness on them and mush across America. What I mean is find some outlet that they can focus on and channel their energy towards. Support them, even if it means taking time out of your precious life to do so. There are probably only 1% of 1% of the kids that take that shit that actually need it. That shit is shit.

[Ixion]

In my experience there seems to be a predominance of white trash 'families' who have their kids on Ritalin - but often it doesn't get to the kids.

I expect to be black flagged by the moderators for that but don't give a shit 'cos it's true.

And I've has a Tequila or two..

Why? Tis fair comment, based on personal experience.

Though, if it slows people down and makes them quiet and industrious, why would there be an illicit market? Doesn't sound the sort of high y'r typical junkie would be looking for.

[scumdog]

Why? Tis fair comment, based on personal experience.

Though, if it slows people down and makes them quiet and industrious, why would there be an illicit market? Doesn't sound the sort of high y'r typical junkie would be looking for.

Cos ya get two (at least) types of druggie.

Those that want to get wasted and mellow-out, be calm and have things go slow.

And those that want to get wasted in a super-hyper frantic way. ('P'?)

The first lot use Ritalin and other 'slow-me-down' crap.

[Ixion]

Hm.

Very strange creatures you mortals.

Would not a bottle of $FAVOURITE_BOOZE be cheaper?

[pixc]

OK, ritalin has its place. I struggled for over 2 years and two school expulsions before I finally decided to give it a go. My son is intelligant, very active and I believe he is 'gifted'. His talent is that he can muck around in class, bother his class mates, ignore his teacher yet he can still pass his tests (if applied). His brain soaks it all in at once and it sinks in. Unfortunately is soaks in the things that other people can tune out to (This is were he gets frustrated) If I had the money, Id send him to a school that could cater for his different learning abilities but I dont and I cant. Instead I suppress his 'gift' so that he can 'fit it' with rest. He has a paper run and we live 5 kms out of town UP hill all they way. Its a hard ride for him on his way home but he manages. I give him a less then is prescibed and he has none after school nor on the weekends. He has just enough to get him through school. Its a decision I havent taken likely and it took 2 years for me to make it. Some people genuinely need it. Others dont. Yes I agree its often a 'quick fix' were further investigation should be taken. I have been through several specialist etc, and at $250 per 15 min visitit hasnt been cheap.

I have done my home work, ive spent thousands getting opinions, I havent taken my decision lightly. If its needed its needed. If it works FANTASTIC, if you find something else that works for you GREAT. Just dont give parents and people prescribed ritalin a hard time when it WORKS for THEM!

[Timber020]

Worked with really rich kids in the states, out of the 12 I had to eat with, 6 were on ritalin. One kid was on a dose strong enough (and I quote the nurse) "it would blow the eyeballs out of an elephant"

You shouldnt take them if your an adult, crush em up an snort em.

[Squeak the Rat]

Ritalin is very similar in makeup to methamphetamine.

Isn't it ironic that we give it to our children.

[Ixion]

Ritalin is very similar in makeup to methamphetamine.

Isn't it ironic that we give it to our children.

No, it's not. They are quite different. The molecular structures are shown below

[Pixie]

Ritalin Song {bjr}

Bart: [singing to the tune of "Popeye, the Sailor Man"]
When I can't stop my fiddlin'
I just takes me Ritalin
I'm poppin' and sailin', man!


http://www.snpp.com/guides/lyrics_list.html

[Pixie]

In some instances, yes, I fully agree with you Riffer. I'm really not a favour of medication and I avoid doctors, and shrinks especially, as much as possible

Me Too.
And the voices tell me this lump on my neck will go away soon

[Pixie]

ADD and ADHD are a reasonably new so called sicknesses I can't recall them being around when I was a young tacker!
This is why I beleive it is a product of a bad dietry imbalance!
The foods our kids today are scoffing by the truckload are full of transfats,food colourings,High sugar content and are over processed! In essence their diets are shit! Society has forsaken good healthy foods for junk as it's easier to give the kids $10 and send them off to school!!
Is little Johnny gonna buy a wholesome apple and banana from the fruitshop
on the way to school??? I think not!! No generally it's a pie and a coke good way to start your day!!!
Everything we buy these days is so overprocessed it takes 10 days for a loaf of bread to go mouldy!!!
It used to go blue in three days when I was younger!!

I'm glad the sweets I ate every day when I was a kid weren't artificially coloured and weren't made of sugar-tui

[Curious_AJ]

i love calvin and hobbes, its so true, i was a little calvin when i was younger...

but yeah, people who use ritalin on theri kids should be shot, all the kids need is a different way of learning. pills are never the answer, i personally refuse to take pills (even thoughi SHOULD be taking some... *whistles* for my health) they're evil...
if you want a solution, go natural, best remedies ever!

*rainbow*

[Pixie]

The best way to deal with these behaviours has always been to stimulate the childs endorphine production.
unfortunately sue Bradford's bill will make that illegal

[Ixion]

Me Too.
And the voices tell me this lump on my neck will go away soon

Hm, that lump on top of your neck is called a "head". It won't go away of its own accord, you'll need to cut it off. Need a knife?

[Curious_AJ]

i think an axe may work better.

[Guitana]

Try sticking it in the freezer overnight then running it through a bandsaw!!

[Curious_AJ]

yum... can i watch?