How is it there's no online video of Kevin McDonnell with the spike through his head? Here's the whole speech:

Yes. I've got a spike through my head. I've accepted it. Why can't you? I've got a spike through my head, a spike through my head, spike through my head, a spike through my head, a spike through my head! It's hard to look at, isn't it? Look at it. Read it. It says 'Pennsylvania Steel'. Yes I know I should be dead. Yes, the doctors say I'm a freak of nature. But there's one thing I *do* know damn it! I'm alive, and I love you. And that's the hardest thing of all to accept, isn't it Connie?

I have tended to notice increasing creativity going hand-in-hand with increasing flakiness as a general trend, but it's not universal enough to be certain that one indicates the other.

I'm not laying this all at your feet, bonny. I just have seen it both far and near, excuses being made, or even people "understanding" that talent must come with a price.

While I'm always glad to spark conversation, my tongue was shoved so far into my cheek I might have looked like I had the mumps.

And Corwood made me snort and then glow with amusement. Perfect.

I'll add my own personal pet peeve to the genre of excuses for flakiness/creativity/doom...having been abused as a child.

I'm lookin' at YOU KPAX and all the other, "He's a whacknut serial killer!'

But, but, he was abused as a child!!

Well, alright then, let's give him a hug." Rubbish

So, yeah. I can see where you are coming from.

I'll add my own personal pet peeve to the genre of excuses for flakiness/creativity/doom...having been abused as a child.

HOMG for serious. I was so happy that Dexter didn't go that route.

Hmm. Didn't Dexter go that route, though?

Please not to spoil Dexter in-thread without whitefont.

thanks for the warning. we should take that to premium.

I'll add my own personal pet peeve to the genre of excuses for flakiness/creativity/doom...having been abused as a child.

I'm lookin' at YOU KPAX and all the other, "He's a whacknut serial killer!'

I realize you're talking about using the childhood abuse to allow us to sympathize and forgive the serial killer in question, but there is a distinct correlation between serial killers and childhood abuse.

That is to say, not every abused child becomes a serial killer, but generally speaking, most serial killers were abused as children.

there is a distinct correlation between serial killers and childhood abuse

t ultra-semantic nit Do you mean correlation or causation? t /nit