Will You Please Answer The Question?

 

So often on TV shows that have a court room scene, some lawyer will ask a witness a question that then is responded to but not answered. Typically the lawyer interrupts with a very firm, "Will you please answer the question?"  Keep this in mind for Thursday.

You see, Thursday is R U OK Day. This has come about because people (particularly men) won't answer the question. We are in the habit of responding to "Are you ok?" with "I'm fine".  What most men don't realise is that FINE stands for: 
F*&ked up,
Insecure,
Neurotic and
Emotional.

We don't like exposing how we are feeling. We carry invisible burdens that only we see and feel (and they are heavy burdens). For some men, and more and more women, these invisible burdens get so heavy that we get confused. In that confusion suicide seems like a valid option.
The founder of the RUOK organisation, Gavin Larkin, founded it because his successful and gregarious father suicided. (See Gavin's story on Australian Story tonight on Australia's ABC). Gavin felt that a simple conversation started with the question R U OK would help combat the rising suicide numbers in Australia.

The question R U OK is very important, but not as important as the answer. So on Thursday, don't forget to ask the question to some of your friends, and if someone asks you the question, answer it! Don't have them feeling like the lawyer shouting "Will you please answer the question!"  A problem shared is a problem halved. For those men (typically in senior roles) who are thinking "I couldn't answer the question it would ruin my reputation, authority, ego or whatever" - today's Get More Goer is dedicated to you.

Will You Please Answer the Question?