Web Comics

New Hyperbole and a Half!

I feel like she's writing about me. Seriously, you should see the sad pile of clean laundry sitting in the middle of the floor of my living room.

Ditto. I have three piles, actually. I think my depression is more low-level, built-up stress from the last 10 months of work and life finally catching up with me.

I appreciate how 99% of the commenters are super supportive and sympathetic. There is about .02% serious assholes, and another .08% who are like, "Look at how many people love you! Cheer up!" Gross. I know they think they're being nice, but Allie's not talking about having a shitty day or something. She's talking about months of serious to-the-bone depression and your response is "turn that frown upside down!"

I was equally put off by the people who were like "HAHAHAHA! This post was so hilarious! Yay new post!" without acknowledging the content at all. Or even people who were like "You made depression funny! This is awesome!!" Man, I wanted to give her a hug.

Me too. It was just these people like, "Oh I was so excited to see you posted, finally!!! I thought it would be funny, but then it was sad. :( I hope you feel better now! Hugs!" I appreciate the sentiment, but think for a minute before you post. Maybe I was the only one who didn't think that was a "happy" ending. I mean, it was happier than the two weeks straight on the couch I guess, but it certainly doesn't feel like she's just all better or something. If I were her, the pressure of people's expectations would be my biggest stressor... I just worry about her, that's all.

I found it funny in a dark way, but not in a gushing hilarious way.

I found the ending more alarming than funny. I hope that she's either exaggerating for effect, is already on the other side and is writing from a place of health, or is in the process of getting help. I've been there and it's not a place that's she's going to get out of because people on the internet say they like her.

I concur with inversed. It's...not a good thing to have come to that place. I'm concerned, I'd like to see her say she's getting help/has gotten help, because that's pretty worrying.

Exactly. And bookworm, I found parts of the entry funny in a dark way too. Like this one and the Skittles part. But most of it is like a punch in the gut - especially the self-loathing section. And if that ending, her "tiny rebellion," did spark something in her that made her get help, then that's great. But that feeling - freedom from caring about anything - just sounds like another facet of depression.

I think the very fact that she managed to draw a comic and get it posted means she's on the other side or on the way out. I think in the throes of depression, it's horrifying to even think of telling anyone that your dirty laundry is hanging out on your couch. The way she tells it, she seems to have reached a place of perspective.

But, whoo boy, could I relate. Especially to the not-giving-a-fuck part. I came out of my depressions feeling totally fearless, because I knew there was nothing anyone could say to me that would be worse than what I'd said to myself.

Carrie Ann wrote:Maybe I was the only one who didn't think that was a "happy" ending. I mean, it was happier than the two weeks straight on the couch I guess, but it certainly doesn't feel like she's just all better or something. If I were her, the pressure of people's expectations would be my biggest stressor... I just worry about her, that's all.

Yeah, no. I also didn't see it as a happy ending. It was pretty cynical, actually. I hope she's OK. I came very close to posting a comment, but there were 120 when I first clicked on the link, and when I finished reading and thought about posting there were 250.

She just seems like a such a sweetheart, and like so many people I DEEPLY understand a lot of her neuroses, and it's great that she can be funny about them, but I also hope she's not cracking under the stress of being a Famous Internet Person. Particularly if she's relying on it for income. I agree with Miss MP that her having posted something is a good sign. (And I did find it funny too.)

I was wondering if it was necessarily what she has been like recently, or if it was how she was, and she felt like writing about it? Didn't she post she was working on her book so she wouldn't be posting as much?

Has there been any news from Hyperbole and a Half? It doesn't look like she's posted anything anywhere since October, and her last comic was pretty dark...

Has there been any news from Hyperbole and a Half?

I've been hoping that she's had all her time taken up with her book.

She posted on Reddit, where she said she was still very depressed, but had gone in to a therapist and was starting medication. Things were looking up.

After reading the comments, it is so very nice that the internet can be a pleasant place.

Please tell me that May is not sticking around on Questionable Content.

inversed wrote:Please tell me that May is not sticking around on Questionable Content.

I'm hoping she becomes rarely used. I'm not a big fan of the current storyline - particularly the Dale being "scared to talk to girls" (WTF? He was cool and slick when we met him) and the ongoing "Marigold is an totally judgmental asshole but it's cute and acceptable". I like the other "jerky" characters like Faye, but Marigold is written from such a woobie angle that it seriously annoys (part of my reaction here is from reading the forums, where people see Dale as a creepy stalker for some insane reason).