Dean Cummings went full-bore crazy

[Meadow Skipper]

Like so many around Dean as he slowly freaked out, I didn’t really know what to do (about this schizophrenic I had freaking out on my bus, not Dean, I wasn’t around Dean during this deterioration) about the immediate freaked out guy in front of me... you’ve got an adult man with rights, it’s a messed up world with corruption and violence, so what he’s saying could be true... most of my thinking was involved in just not getting on the wrong side of all this misplaced aggression and getting shot or something. It’s like, once somebody is that unable to assess what’s happening around them and that agitated, it feels like anything could happen, and you just want that live grenade away from you.
Is some random police patrolman the right mechanism to handle this? Almost certainly not. Is there some well-set-up, reasonable residential situation where dangerous paranoid schizophrenics can go feel safe and be evaluated and helped? Almost certainly not. Is doing nothing ok? Not really. The whole thing stinks, because we’re in a system built to prioritize rights and freedoms at the risk of encountering somebody actively in the process of losing their mind and becoming criminally insane.


From my point of view, the best possible thing to take away from all this is that in a gentler, less-armed society, the breakdowns may still occur (genetics, etc) but they would likely be less violent and catastrophic. We should really strive in our own families and communities to be gentler, and less saturated with warlike ideation and weaponry. It’s the only approach I can see working long-term.

Well said, J.

Can someone provide us a summary of this thread for those of us who haven't paid much attention?

No.

[bodywhomper]

I had a roommate in school that eventually was diagnosed with schizophrenia. I was there during part of her downward spiral. My roommates and I (and other friends) all tried to help or at least provide her support when she asked and be there as best we could. She lived with me on and off for several years (full time for a year). At minimum, we always tried to provide her a safe place to sleep. She was smart and fun. When she was “present,” it was really fun. The spiral was really hard. I don’t know what happened to her.

[RootSkier]

Well goddamn this thing has taken a turn.

[grskier]

Can someone provide us a summary of this thread for those of us who haven't paid much attention?
The 333 skis guy killed a guy?
Some of you know him?

Do you not know who Dean is?

Just read the thread, some gems in here... and as Danno said, it's weird.

[TahoeJ]

I do have to say, potential mental illness issues and conspiracy theories aside, I believe the part about the smear campaign and false accusations of abuse. I just went through that myself. Divorces get ugly and shit gets crazy. You never think you’ll be involved in something like that until suddenly it’s happening. I can understand all of that sending someone over the edge. Just saying.

[jrredho]

II believe the part about the smear campaign and false accusations of abuse.

When you have interviews available from several folks who know Dean, some of them long-time friends, and all of them point to issues they've encountered in Dean in recent years, it serves to reinforce the story doesn't it?

When I read the Outside article from the link posted earlier in this thread, one thing really struck me: It was the quote from Mr. Arriola's sister who stated something about his death being responsible for finally getting Dean the help he appears to so desperately need. For heavens sake, that's a generous way to look at things, I think. All the best to her and the rest of her family.

john

[XXX-er]

50% of amercia was able to divorce without killing the other 50%