[JGatti]

Originally Posted by Northman

Don't listen to this guy. He lives in Oakland County downstate. He's obviously never lived through a 6 month winter in northern Michigan.....especially on the windy side of one of the Great Lakes.

I was one of the biggest skeptics in correlation with S.A.D. before I moved up here, but after 2 brutal winters I now know that it's real. I love my seasons as much as the next guy, but nonstop snow, ice, wind and cold, combined with minimal sunlight for SIX MONTHS STRAIGHT definitely.....DEFINITELY has an effect on the psyche. I don't know exactly what Mr. Gatti means when he refers to the people that "sit around and mope" all winter, of which I am certainly not one, but I've been up here for 2 years now and have heard the most active and content citizens of this area - many whom are natives - lament the effects of S.A.D. on multiple occassions. I don't "sit around and mope" or "cry" during the winter......I actually keep myself pretty busy with a variety of activities, but still.....come about mid February......I start to go a little crazy. I combated it this past winter by taking trips down south and out west, and plan to do the same thing next year. This is a gorgeous area, and I love having real winters again after living in the southern U.S. for many years, but for one individual to speak for everyone by saying that S.A.D. is something that "mopers and criers" made up is high on the list of most ridiculous opinions I've seen in this forum.

Yes I live downstate now, but did live up north when I was younger. Lived in Rapid City, worked in TC and Kalkaska both. I still think SAD is a bunch of crap to a degree. Because winter gets old and drags on they there has to be a name why people are bummed out? Yes winter is long and it get depressing. But to have a disease because people are not happy and skippy all year round. That's just life get used to it. It's not always happy and some things suck. Deal with it. I was just reading because I was curious and now they have a depression for summer too. It's reverse seasonal depression. OMG When are people just going to realize nobody is happy all the time and deal with it?
I'm sure to a degree SAD exists. But I'd be willing to bet it truly exists in people with a pre existing condition or someone who is more prone to depression. My point I guess is this. Some people truly suffer from it and there are other reasons beyond the weather. But I'd guess 99% of the people who suffer from it is because they watched some stupid report on the news saying, " hey if it's winter and your bummed out, you might have S.A.D. Here are the symptoms. check check check check check, HOLY***** I have S.A.D!!!! What am I going to do? The they come to work. " Hey Sarah why so down?" ( sarah) " I suffer from S.A.D". "Wow that sucks since when? I've worked with you for 12 years and never seen you down like this" ( sarah) I know I know it's the weirdest thing. I woke up feeling kind of down today and watched the news, they did a report on a disease called S.A.D and I have all the symptoms."
This is what makes me so skeptical. I've known so many idiots who are just feeling down, claim they have S.A.D and the next day they are back to normal happy go lucky. I don't care for easily self diagnosed illnesses, and SAD is one of those illnesses that everyone seems to claim to have because winter is long and the sun has not been out in a month. Oh man it's SAD. Oh man my azz.
Oh and Northman, it almost sounds like your one of those people. You moved up there 2 years ago. Have experienced two more normal winters up there, and because your not used to a little extra winter you think your experiencing SAD? Did you feel thoughts of suicide? Did you call in sick and stay home from work for days at a time? Did you gain weight, oversleep and have no energy for weeks and months at a time? If not then no you did not experience the symptoms of S.A.D. You just got sick of winter.

[Northman]

Originally Posted by JGatti

Oh and Northman, it almost sounds like your one of those people. You moved up there 2 years ago. Have experienced two more normal winters up there, and because your not used to a little extra winter you think your experiencing SAD? Did you feel thoughts of suicide? Did you call in sick and stay home from work for days at a time? Did you gain weight, oversleep and have no energy for weeks and months at a time? If not then no you did not experience the symptoms of S.A.D. You just got sick of winter.

Ha ha ha....you are hilarious, dude! You've got it all figured out!

All hail King Gatti.....able to look deep into the souls of mankind and favor us with his majestic interpretation! LONG LIVE THE KING!!

[Bydand]

Summer must be getting to you as well.

[JGatti]

Originally Posted by Northman

Ha ha ha....you are hilarious, dude! You've got it all figured out!

All hail King Gatti.....able to look deep into the souls of mankind and favor us with his majestic interpretation! LONG LIVE THE KING!!

Nope not the slightest. I did a little reading about the symptoms of it. I never made any claim to be a know it all, just relaying facts I read about the condition you said you know all about first hand because you lived up north for 2 years. I also dated a shrink for a very long time and have heard stories first hand about how many people come in thinking they have something that's making a splash on the news. Does this make me an expert? Nope not by any means. But when someone makes the claim to know first hand about something I just had to ask if these were the symptoms you had when you experienced it first hand.

[Northman]

Originally Posted by JGatti

Nope not the slightest. I did a little reading about the symptoms of it. I never made any claim to be a know it all, just relaying facts I read about the condition you said you know all about first hand because you lived up north for 2 years. I also dated a shrink for a very long time and have heard stories first hand about how many people come in thinking they have something that's making a splash on the news. Does this make me an expert? Nope not by any means. But when someone makes the claim to know first hand about something I just had to ask if these were the symptoms you had when you experienced it first hand.

I apologize, you're absolutely right. Shouldn't have questioned you in the first place.

In unrelated news, I read an article on kitty litter today and have therefore decided to perform a heart transplant on my cat in the morning.

Good God......

[JGatti]

I had myself a pretty witty and insulting response for you. But then I decided I don't need to lower myself to your level. If you think your ridiculous response is in any way shape or form comparable to my reading about a condition you claimed to experience.....well your response speak wonders and much more than anything I could add to your response about kitty litter.

[Michigansnowflake]

nice weather we're having eh?

[JGatti]

Originally Posted by Michigansnowflake

nice weather we're having eh?

As a matter of fact it is,Michigansnowflake. LOL Indeed it is. LOL