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.