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

[wondergecko.livejournal.com]

I chime in to say "the latter" with pretty much everyone else.

Granted this year has already been deliciously sucktastical in terms of dealing-with-death trauma already, but it does leave me in an excellent position to keenly appreciate the difference in the way I get choked up on contemplating my favorite (Xenosaga) character's death versus getting choked up, locking my jaw, and wanting to crawl into bed and never come out over a close family member dying.

(The perceived callousness is an attempt to keep myself from coming off as throwing a pity-me party down here; just making a point, not asking for sympathy. ;) Oyez.)