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

[gramina.livejournal.com]

FWIW, I figured out why I had a disturbed reaction to this, and it actually doesn't apply in most cases. (So it was useful to realize.) ((The only person I know who was exposed to animal-slaughter and dressing was exposed to it in a context of violent domestic abuse; because of that context, there was an implicit threat -- "look what I did to *this* animal..."))

I think in a loving setting, learning that animals die so we can eat, and we should take the best care we can to make sure that's no more awful for them than it has to be, and then use every single part of the animal we can (and here's how!) is a very very good thing :)

[tysolna]

Oh dear... I am sorry my comment disturbed you; it was not intended to do that.

I did half of my growing-up on a farm, so the connection between fluffy bunnies in the morning and rabbit for dinner was always there without me being unduly conscious or upset about it.

And I completely agree with you on your last sentence!