Reaction to Elizabeth Wurtzel article

A note on this article. It was written because the thoughts expressed in the paper could put people in physical danger. Words are power I don’t need to tell you that. The audience he was speaking to wasn’t the most stable group of people. If you have any questions about this, please feel free to phone me. I can have you talk to some people that I took care of today after they read the article (617)352-6229.

Leigh Held Letter to the Editor “A Mishap of Epic Proportions” Depression and addiction are forms of disease. This is a fact which seems to have been overlooked by Justin Conforti in his February 28 article “Wurtzel : Crazy and Clean.” Symptoms and diagnoses for depression can be learned by reading a medical journal. The nature of depression and addiction is not one that “looks for attention and sympathy.” Depression and addiction are often fueled by self-alienation, not feeling at home in ones own skin, and feeling at odds with the herd. The full-page spread, which paints those who are depressed or addicted as “addicted to themselves” is nearly ridiculous. People in that state are battling life. Conforti must believe that depression is a state of being sad for no reason. It is more complex then that. It is a state of being sad about everything, all at once. It gives way to the sort of odd rambling of Elizabeth Wurtzel’s speech. That is why her books appeal to so many people. She has embraced self-alienation. She isn’t a Britney Spears. In his article Conforti suggests that Wurtzel is making depression and addiction glamorous. Fans of her books may make her appear glamourous, but it is the fans that do so, not her intention. Her intention was to tell her story, she writes about herself. However Conforti’s lack of education about the subject matter effects how he wrote the article. It is largely opinion, not report. In most COM classes that involve reporting of any kind, students are told that opinion has little weight. They are also instructed to educate themselves before attending speeches. Perhaps he should have considered the content of Elizabeth Wurtzel’s three previous books, among which is Prozac Nation. Which was a national bestseller, and is currently being made into a movie. Conforti’s article is littered with stereotypes because he does not understand the subject matter. Stacey Liss (CGS ’04) would be considered “normal” according to the standards in his article : she has no piercings and is not angry. She found his article “really disgusting and completely distorted based on the entire lecture.” Conforti had a stage to speak to a substantial female population and engross readers.