Today's coined word: Literothanatophobia

[dianeduane]

Or, "The fear of death in literature."

A British book retailer plans to set up a counseling hotline for all heartbroken fans of Harry Potter, in case he dies in the much awaited next book.

As a former psychiatric professional, I can kind of see the point.  ...But I do start wondering, sometimes... Are human beings actually less robust, more fragile, than they used to be -- or are we just being encouraged to believe we are? 

And I remember clearly the resilience and fortitude of my younger patients as compared to the so-called "adults". The kids were endlessly more pragmatic and better at handling pain than the grownups. Any bets on the percentage of over-eighteens who wind up being counseled, as opposed to the under-eighteens?...

Comments

[stefka.livejournal.com]

Would I count as an evil parent who doesn't shield the kids if I said we're quite happy to pluck and gut animals in the kitchen and enjoy showing them the feet and pull on the tendons to see what happens?

If so, so were my parents, and my husband's parents, and so, God willing, will we one day be ourselves. "Okay, kids. THIS is a chopping block ..."