Iris Robinsion quitting politics due to mental illness

L1011

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/8433117.stm

I'm going to hold my tongue over what I want to say here; thought it'd be of relevance here seeing as she considers homosexuality a mental illness.

boredboard

aha now it all makes sense...

KnifeWRENCH

Depression is a horrible thing to have to live with. I wouldn't wish it on anyone, not even someone like Ms. Robinson whose views I find absolutely abhorrent.

Anyone who takes pleasure/gets a kick out of this should be ashamed of themselves.

hot2def

well, perhaps with help she can be turned around...

Euro_Kraut

MYOB wrote: »

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/8433117.stm

I'm going to hold my tongue over what I want to say here; thought it'd be of relevance here seeing as she considers homosexuality a mental illness.

I think we have need to reconsider the context of those quotes in light of what we now know about her mental and physical state over the past 24 months. It doesn't excuse it, but perhaps we have an indication that she was not in the best place in her life recently and that may have promoted her to make a series of erratic and hurtful remarks.

Good luck to her in her recovery.

Louisevb

Given the fact that Iris Robinson is the wife of the First Minister, I'd have thought that Peter might have gently persuaded her to keep quiet on the curing gays issue, knowing what he obviously knew at the time about his wife's state of mental health... What I find quite incredible is the total lack of empathy with gay people, many of whom suffer from depression at times in their lives when coming to terms with being gay, often in dificult family and social circumstances.

L1011

Euro_Kraut wrote: »

I think we have need to reconsider the context of those quotes in light of what we now know about her mental and physical state over the past 24 months. It doesn't excuse it, but perhaps we have an indication that she was not in the best place in her life recently and that may have promoted her to make a series of erratic and hurtful remarks.

Good luck to her in her recovery.

I don't agree fully, due to the "series" bit. If she knew she was having problems (as she clearly did), she wouldn't have gone on scheduled TV and raido appearances to defend erratic actions

Maybe her marvelous psychiatrist friend can help... no, he's been struck off, actually.

Tricity Bendix

I don't have sympathy for that wench and I never will. 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you' is writ far larger in the bible than any anti-gay message. Depression is an awful illness, but she needn't neccessarilly die from it. Rather, it's something she can't fully control that she'll have to learn to live with. Sounds rather familiar.

Euro_Kraut

MYOB wrote: »

If she knew she was having problems (as she clearly did), she wouldn't have gone on scheduled TV and raido appearances to defend erratic actions

She clearly lacked the ability to think straight.

Euro_Kraut

Tricity Bendix wrote: »

I don't have sympathy for that wench and I never will. 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you' is writ far larger in the bible than any anti-gay message. Depression is an awful illness, but she needn't neccessarilly die from it. Rather, it's something she can't fully control that she'll have to learn to live with. Sounds rather familiar.

Bitterness will do you no good. I understand you have been hurt by this individual, but wishing an illness or taking delight in someone illness is plain nasty.

Tolerance and understanding for others is required in this day and age. Just because she lacked it in the past does not mean that we should deprive her of that now. Otherwise she will have dragged us down to her level.

Boston

Euro_Kraut wrote: »

Bitterness will do you no good. I understand you have been hurt by this individual, but wishing an illness or taking delight in someone illness is plain nasty.

Having no sympathy for a person means just that, having no sympathy for them. It isn't taking delight in misfortune, nor is it wishing misfortune on them, it's simply not caring that misfortune has befallen them. To give a **** about the problems of a person who doesn't give a **** about the problems faced by you or the people close to you would be an extreme act of alturism. The following is a quote from her on the issue of LGBT Mental Health.

Iris Robinson wrote:

“There can be no viler act, apart from homosexuality and sodomy, than sexually abusing innocent children”

Euro_Kraut wrote: »

Tolerance and understanding for others is required in this day and age. Just because she lacked it in the past does not mean that we should deprive her of that now. Otherwise she will have dragged us down to her level.

You seem to assume that her opinions are in the past and that she has recanted them.

As for my view; It's great she's left politics, I only wish it had been cancer.

Yours truly,
Boston.

thebigcheese22

Boston wrote: »

Having no sympathy for a person means just that, having no sympathy for them. It isn't taking delight in misfortune, nor is it wishing misfortune on them, it's simply not caring that misfortune has befallen them.

You make a good point there

As for my view; It's great she's left politics, I only wish it had been cancer.

Yours truly,
Boston.

But this comment really disgusts me tbh. Bad form IMO

Tricity Bendix

Euro_Kraut wrote: »

Bitterness will do you no good. I understand you have been hurt by this individual, but wishing an illness or taking delight in someone illness is plain nasty.

Tolerance and understanding for others is required in this day and age. Just because she lacked it in the past does not mean that we should deprive her of that now. Otherwise she will have dragged us down to her level.

Pah! First off, she never hurt me. I dislike her because I find her politics and her morality to be abhorrent. Secondly I never wished depression on anyone, although I have to admit I do enjoy the irony of someone who labelled so many people as disordered being forced to step down from her position of considerable power because she is disordered herself.

As for tolerance and understanding, I have no respect for Robinson, and as such I couldn't care less about the state of her health. But her absence from politics is something to be celebrated, regardless of how it came about.

jamijary

I don't agree with her opinions on many many issues but I wish her all the best also the same for her family who will need to support her.

stephen_n

It's not really surprising that Iris Robinson is suffering from an affliction caused by the repression of unconscious desires, considering the repressed and puritanical nature in which she would have been raised and lived her life. Many gay people suffer depression from trying to repress their true nature and the only real answer for them is to accept who they are to resolve the depression. Maybe in the process of accepting herself she may become more accepting of others but I wish her well on her journey one way or the other.

Aard

I'd like to think that this "personality-changing illness" will help her change her views on a demographic in which depression is more prevalent than in the general population. Probably not though, unfortunately.


I hope she recovers - from all her afflictions.

Bottle_of_Smoke

Iris Robinson wrote:

“There can be no viler act, apart from homosexuality and sodomy, than sexually abusing innocent children”

Looked this up. It's word for word true, not taken out of context and she didn't retract it.

How was she not removed for this? Even Neo-Nazi openly homophobic individuals would see child abusers as worse than gays. Have NI politicians got a bigger crazy statement allowance or something? I don't mean that in relation to her depression, that wasn't known when she came out with that statement

Tricity Bendix

If I had to pick between Iris Robinson getting better and returning to politics or remaining depressed for the rest of her life and keeping her views out of the public domain, I'd definately choose the latter.

Boston

thebigcheese22 wrote: »

But this comment really disgusts me tbh. Bad form IMO

You're welcome to your opinion. I can respect differences in world views without having to liken you to a child rapist. Iris Robinsion gave legitimacy to every thug who ever attacked someone before of their sexuality. Never down play the roll played by people like her.

Aard wrote: »

I hope she recovers - from all her afflictions.

I like it.

Tricity Bendix wrote: »

If I had to pick between Iris Robinson getting better and returning to politics or remaining depressed for the rest of her life and keeping her views out of the public domain, I'd definately choose the latter.

Monster.

BanzaiBk

stephen_n wrote: »

It's not really surprising that Iris Robinson is suffering from an affliction caused by the repression of unconscious desires, considering the repressed and puritanical nature in which she would have been raised and lived her life. Many gay people suffer depression from trying to repress their true nature and the only real answer for them is to accept who they are to resolve the depression. Maybe in the process of accepting herself she may become more accepting of others but I wish her well on her journey one way or the other.

:O

Don't you DARE put her on my team.

; )

Duddy

Does this mean she's a lesbian?

Tricity Bendix

Duddy wrote: »

Does this mean she's a lesbian?

Yes, this means she's a lesbian.

BanzaiBk

Tricity Bendix wrote: »

Yes, this means she's a lesbian.

We always get the nut jobs, ffs.

*turns*

stephen_n

Duddy wrote: »

Does this mean she's a lesbian?

Well she seems to hate everyone, so hating men shouldn't be that much of a stretch!

Annasopra

stephen_n wrote: »

Well she seems to hate everyone, so hating men shouldn't be that much of a stretch!

Sure - cause all lesbians are mysandrists!

Boston

stephen_n wrote: »

Well she seems to hate everyone, so hating men shouldn't be that much of a stretch!

Not all Lesbians hate men... Just the ones with any sense.

stephen_n

Johnnymcg wrote: »

Sure - cause all lesbians are mysandrists!

Joke Joke Joke!!!!

L1011

This may all be a sham. UTV News at 6 going to break something....

eamo127

Boston wrote: »

As for my view; It's great she's left politics, I only wish it had been cancer.

Yours truly,
Boston.

Actually, this a typical comment from this forum and doesn't surprise me at all.

KnifeWRENCH

Boston wrote: »

As for my view; It's great she's left politics, I only wish it had been cancer.

Yours truly,
Boston.

It's wonderful that she's left politics; I can't argue with you there. But that cancer comment is seriously low. I'm sure you know someone who's suffered from cancer and how awful it is for the victim and their loved ones. At the end of the day, Iris Robinson is a wife and a mother of three children. I'd never wish something as horrible as cancer on her or anyone else.
You might call that extreme altruism; I'd respectfully disagree and call it basic human decency.

Tricity Bendix wrote: »

If I had to pick between Iris Robinson getting better and returning to politics or remaining depressed for the rest of her life and keeping her views out of the public domain, I'd definately choose the latter.

As someone who's been through depression, I could never wish for anyone to have to live with it. I've been through hell with what my doctor refers to as "mild depression"; I can't even begin to imagine what serious depression must feel like.
Iris Robinson remaining out of politics; brilliant. Not having to put up with her extreme bigotted views; fantastic.
But still, I hope she recovers from this affliction because no-one deserves to suffer through it for the rest of their life.

rovert

ITV are promoting some kind of dirt on her marriage tonight at 6.

rovert

Iris had an affair and tried to kill herself

Bottle_of_Smoke

Jesus, feel sorry for Robbo, your wife cheating on you and its public knowledge. F*cking hell.

L1011

The statements suggest the affair was short-lived and for a period before March 2009. This, if true, means it hadn't happened yet around the time of her homophobic statements.

As a result, I don't think her homophobia has anything to do with her mental difficulties following the affair.

jamijary

There now some rumours that there is even more behind this! so it could run a bit further than this!

L1011

jamijary wrote: »

There now some rumours that there is even more behind this! so it could run a bit further than this!

The one I'm hearing is that the BBC were digging for something else and fell upon this by accident.

Annasopra

eamo127 wrote: »

Actually, this a typical comment from this forum and doesn't surprise me at all.

No - it's not a typical comment for here at all

markphillips

It's weird. Being gay you would think I'd have it in for this woman who has being nothing but ignorant and bigoted to gay people. Despite that, I genuinely hope she and her husband can sort things out and wish her all the best. It's not nice to see anyone in a situation like them, and I'm sure the public eye is making it tougher for them and their family.

Really, I guess, it's all none of our business.

dreamer_ire

MYOB wrote: »

The one I'm hearing is that the BBC were digging for something else and fell upon this by accident.

Rumour, and it is only rumour, is that there might be some issues around financial irregularities concerning Mrs R.

While I'm not a fan of either of them, I do feel some sympathy for them given their marital difficulties. That said there was something about Peter Robinson's interview tonight that seemed too stage managed to me, everything form the highlighted bits on the script to the "Dad" picture in the background. Regardless I do wish them well.

L1011

It *was* his birthday last week so the birthday card (the "Dad" thing) isn't too out of place. Conveniently put there for the cameras, yes, but not completely scripted up.

Boston

eamo127 wrote: »

Actually, this a typical comment from this forum and doesn't surprise me at all.

In what way is it typical. I can't exactly find too many posts by you on this forum or much interaction on which this opinion might be based. Genuine feedback is always welcome.

KnifeWRENCH wrote: »

It's wonderful that she's left politics; I can't argue with you there. But that cancer comment is seriously low. I'm sure you know someone who's suffered from cancer and how awful it is for the victim and their loved ones. At the end of the day, Iris Robinson is a wife and a mother of three children. I'd never wish something as horrible as cancer on her or anyone else.
You might call that extreme altruism; I'd respectfully disagree and call it basic human decency.

If god loved Iris, he wouldn't have made her depressed. Thats a flippent remark but kinda fitting.

KnifeWRENCH wrote: »

As someone who's been through depression, I could never wish for anyone to have to live with it. I've been through hell with what my doctor refers to as "mild depression"; I can't even begin to imagine what serious depression must feel like.
Iris Robinson remaining out of politics; brilliant. Not having to put up with her extreme bigotted views; fantastic.
But still, I hope she recovers from this affliction because no-one deserves to suffer through it for the rest of their life.

I forgot that only good people get depression. This attitude of sinner to saint is oh so very Irish. I've encountered it with extended family who were regarded as absolute bastards their entire lifes, but as soon as they got cancer or died of a heart attack, they became a "credit to the community" and deserving of compassion. Maybe I don't really wish her dead from a painful disease but I sure as hell don't give a god damn about her problems.

Tricity Bendix

Boston wrote: »

I sure as hell don't give a god damn about her problems.

Pretty much.

solice

This makes me very angry, people suddenly feel sorry for this woman because she is depressed! She had an affair and according to Peter Robinson in his statement yesterday, she became so racked with guilt that she developed depression! UGH! She chose to have an affair, her depression developed out of choice she made.

Many gay people suffer depression through dealing with the stigma of being gay, something that they have no choice over.

Her words are venom and she is reaping what she sewed!

Rick_

No sympathy for her whatsoever. Not for someone who could come out with something so dispicable and had no concern or forethought about what she said and the matter-of-fact / holier-than-thou way in which she said it as if she was some sort of authority on the situation. Maybe now she has 'retired from public life' we won't ever have to her from her or about her again.

KnifeWRENCH

Boston wrote: »

I forgot that only good people get depression.

I never said she was a good person.

This attitude of sinner to saint is oh so very Irish. I've encountered it with extended family who were regarded as absolute bastards their entire lifes, but as soon as they got cancer or died of a heart attack, they became a "credit to the community" and deserving of compassion.

Can't say I've ever encountered anything like that, I guess I'm lucky that my extended family aren't bastards.

Maybe I don't really wish her dead from a painful disease but I sure as hell don't give a god damn about her problems.

Fair enough.

DubArk

May be Iris might take note of,” Let he/she who has not sinned cast the first stone!” Before she drops her knickers next time…..

Sorry I laughed when I heard about her affair last night ( couldn’t help myself) after what she said about gay people and the family unit… LOL

L1011

According to the UTV News, the 'man' that Iris was boffing was NINETEEN YEARS OLD. Anything about cradle snatching in the bible?

jamijary

This story will develop on spotlight bbc1 tonite 10:30 sex, youth and who knows maybe even money??

And to think I felt sorry for her! Still feel sorry for her husband and family!

shay_562

What exactly is so wrong with wishing ill on others who have harmed you? If someone did something that hurt me or someone I loved directly (most simplistic example possible: someone punches my mother in the face) I would hope for bad stuff to happen to them in return. When someone spouts hate speech that harms me and a number of people that I love, I don't think it's wrong for me to take pleasure in their misery later on. I'm not saying that I'm dancing around the place over her mental illness, but I am glad that she's being held up as a hypocritical skank, and I sincerely hope that financial irregularities regarding her teenage toyboy do come to light. So yeah, maybe hold off on wishing her cancer, but in general I see no reason to pity her, or even to pretend like I'm not happy on some level that bad things have happened to her. She contributed towards wrecking the lives of countless people. Now her life has been wrecked. That's not even poetic justice, that's just the regular kind.

Roro4Brit

Such hypocrisy. It's always the same when these people in power condemn gay people for being who they are. I firmly believe that the hatred for gay people comes from an individuals recognition of something deeply missing within their own lives (in Iris' case it was pubescent boys - now who's the kiddie fidler? - ya aul ****!)

This same thing happened to that evangelical nut of a preacher who was the leader of the New Life Church in the US....turns out Teddy boy not only liked rented cock, but he liked his cock with a side order of amphetamine.

As for Iris. There is no link between her vocalised hatred of homosexuals and her 'depression'. I've known a few depressed people in my life and none of them chose to deal with their issues by hating on others, so please, have no sympathy for this evil soul.

Anyhow, its only a bunch of old crap. This depression thing is just her get out clause and a way to make people feel sorry for her (Ted used the aul depression story too so seems to be all the rage).

One thing I will say for the bitch is that she has good taste - the guy is kinda cute.

Seriously though, I don't hate this woman, but I am glad that her hatred is coming back to bite her in her saggy old ass.

anotherlostie

Roro4Brit wrote: »

Such hypocrisy. It's always the same when these people in power condemn gay people for being who they are. I firmly believe that the hatred for gay people comes from an individuals recognition of something deeply missing within their own lives (in Iris' case it was pubescent boys - now who's the kiddie fidler? - ya aul ****!)

This same thing happened to that evangelical nut of a preacher who was the leader of the New Life Church in the US....turns out Teddy boy not only liked rented cock, but he liked his cock with a side order of amphetamine.

As for Iris. There is no link between her vocalised hatred of homosexuals and her 'depression'. I've known a few depressed people in my life and none of them chose to deal with their issues by hating on others, so please, have no sympathy for this evil soul.

Anyhow, its only a bunch of old crap. This depression thing is just her get out clause and a way to make people feel sorry for her (Ted used the aul depression story too so seems to be all the rage).

One thing I will say for the bitch is that she has good taste - the guy is kinda cute.

Seriously though, I don't hate this woman, but I am glad that her hatred is coming back to bite her in her saggy old ass.

Ah here! The lad was 19 so suggesting that she was a "kiddie fidler" is completely OTT. Would you say Ronnie Wood was a peadophile for banging that Russian model? Don't think so.

There is a chance that her erratic behaviour could be caused by mental illness - manic depresives often do or say things they normally wouldn't. I just hope the illness is not a cover for everything going on now as some are saying. That would be more disgusting than anything she said but none of us know. And if she said those vile things when ill I hope she apologises when she has recovered...but I doubt it. Remember now that she is as vilified as we gays by many of the old crones within their 'church'.