PTSD TKC OMG

November 12, 2008 8:05 AM

I'm sorry, but this gem from tkchrist absolutely needs to be on the sidebar.

I got lucky that he's in my contacts and the contacts sidebar pointed it out but wow. What a story. THanks for that, man.

posted by notsnot to MetaFilter-Related at 8:05 AM (73 comments total)

Sometimes, Metafilter, you turn out the most incredible stuff in the world and make the world seem a bit brighter.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:26 AM on November 12, 2008

Wow. Great vignette, great writing. Thanks for bringing that to our attention, I wouldn't have seen it otherwise.
posted by amyms at 8:32 AM on November 12, 2008 [1 favorite]

Yeah. This is like injecting pure awesome.

With tkchrist's permission and if a mod could do it, I'd gladly volunteer to edit up the post a little bit to make it a smoother read. But the typos kind of make it more real, so feel free to ignore my offer.
posted by allkindsoftime at 8:32 AM on November 12, 2008

I kinda like it the way it is. At first I didn't, but then it got so easy to hear his voice in it.

I wish he'd write a whole book of stories, actually.
posted by HopperFan at 8:35 AM on November 12, 2008

Heartbreaking. Thank you for sharing.
posted by ColdChef at 8:51 AM on November 12, 2008 [2 favorites]

Well that was inspiring. I AM OFF TO THE COKE MACHINE.
posted by brownpau at 9:01 AM on November 12, 2008 [1 favorite]

That is TIME FOR SOME STORIES level awesome.
posted by By The Grace of God at 9:02 AM on November 12, 2008 [1 favorite]

I was just about to say. This reads like it's out of a book made of awesome.
posted by dunkadunc at 9:02 AM on November 12, 2008 [1 favorite]

Great story. Why apologize?
posted by mkultra at 9:11 AM on November 12, 2008

Oooooh, that is a good story, the best yet from a man with a tradition of telling the best stories in any given thread. I got chills AND tears AND chuckles!
posted by padraigin at 9:12 AM on November 12, 2008

I couldn't favorite it hard enough. Yes, definitely sidebar.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 9:36 AM on November 12, 2008

Nothing to be sorry about, notsnot. That's a great post, thanks for bringing it to our attention!
posted by Lynsey at 10:02 AM on November 12, 2008

It's amazing and tragic and funny, and then amazing again–that's life.
posted by Mister_A at 10:08 AM on November 12, 2008

Thanks. I missed it the first time.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 10:10 AM on November 12, 2008

(it was a "sorry if you don't agree with me" sort of thing. Call it a personal colloquialism.)
posted by notsnot at 10:20 AM on November 12, 2008

Thank you for sharing this tkchrist.

I worry these sorts of stories will become common in the next couple decades. I was listening to a radio interview yesterday of a medic who served in Iraq helping treat combat troops suffering from shell shock. She said the best treatment was to get them some time away from combat but to get them back with their unit as soon as possible. Why send traumatized troops back into combat? Because being with their unit - with the only people they trusted - was better for helping them cope.

I hope we get our Iraq vets more help than we gave our Vietnam vets.
posted by aapep at 10:20 AM on November 12, 2008

Wow. That was a knocked-it-out-of-the-park-into-the-water-past-the-first-three-rows-of-boats level of amazing. That's the kind of post that makes me love MeFi so very fucking much.

Thanks for that, tkchrist. Truly. And thanks to you, notsnot, for the alert. I would've definitely missed it without this thread.
posted by shiu mai baby at 10:22 AM on November 12, 2008

Apology accepted
posted by bonaldi at 10:24 AM on November 12, 2008

It's tragic that these guys were just left to their own devices like this. I also hope that the Iraqi and Afghani / War on Terror vets get much better treatment.

I also hope that they get a lot more publicity. This is the best advertisement against US imperialism I can think of.
posted by Meatbomb at 10:41 AM on November 12, 2008

Thanks for bringing that to our attention, I wouldn't have seen it otherwise.

Yes, ditto.

tkchrist - what happened to him eventually? Did he ever get better?
posted by CunningLinguist at 10:44 AM on November 12, 2008

Wow, amazing story. Thanks for bringing it up here, otherwise wouldn't have seen it.
posted by jmd82 at 10:55 AM on November 12, 2008

We're not worthy!
posted by lukemeister at 11:07 AM on November 12, 2008

Apology accepted, Captain Needa.
posted by grobstein at 11:17 AM on November 12, 2008

he left out the ending: "...and the call was coming from INSIDE THE HOUSE."

Anyway, I preferred the movie version.
posted by blue_beetle at 11:33 AM on November 12, 2008

Thanks, tkchrist.
posted by ObscureReferenceMan at 12:06 PM on November 12, 2008

I'm looking forward to the inevitable battle when tkchrist and Astro Zombie meet in a thread and attempt to out awesome anecdote each other.

The thing I fear the most is that resultant conversation might attract so many favorites that it will create a sort of internet singularity which will destroy us all.
posted by quin at 12:18 PM on November 12, 2008 [2 favorites]

Great story, well told, and very generous of tkchrist to post it here when he could have made money selling it to any major media outlet.
posted by orange swan at 12:22 PM on November 12, 2008

The thing I fear the most is that resultant conversation might attract so many favorites that it will create a sort of internet singularity which will destroy us all.

It's already happened to me. I'm looking for a MeFi 12-step program.
posted by lukemeister at 12:40 PM on November 12, 2008

I hope we get our Iraq vets more help than we gave our Vietnam vets.

Hope and a 5 dollar bill might get you something off the menu at Starbucks. Vote for candidates who will do something about the problem and then make your voice heard.
posted by allkindsoftime at 12:40 PM on November 12, 2008

First a thank you to tkchrist's father for fighting for our country and making the sacrifice's he did including his own well being and his family's on our behalf. Whatever your opinion of the Vietnam War, this is a righteous man. (Also sounds like an amazing woman in his wife --tkchrist mom) Also thank tkchrist for writing about the story and writing about it so well.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 12:47 PM on November 12, 2008

With tkchrist's permission and if a mod could do it, I'd gladly volunteer to edit up the post a little bit to make it a smoother read.

Groan . . .
posted by Neiltupper at 12:51 PM on November 12, 2008

Oh my christ, I laughed AND cried. And I am now laughing with tears in my eyes. Thankyou notsnot, thank you so much tkchrist.
posted by saturnine at 12:59 PM on November 12, 2008

I'd have missed it too. I had the same thought others did about Iraq and Afghanistan vets while I read it and had another moment of "Thank God Obama got in."

Thanks, tkchrist and notsnot.
posted by cybercoitus interruptus at 1:49 PM on November 12, 2008

Fantastic story. We need someone to recite this for the next podcast.
posted by panboi at 1:50 PM on November 12, 2008

That is a brilliant story...although I'm not sure anyone, at least from the generation who were the kids of the Vietnam era, could read it without crying.
posted by dejah420 at 2:26 PM on November 12, 2008

Definitely sidebar, but sidebar this comment by timsteil in the same thread, too.
posted by orthogonality at 2:28 PM on November 12, 2008 [1 favorite]

cortex sidebarred the tkchrist comment. Flagging as "fantastic" also works. I figure once people read that, they'll already be in that thread and can read the rest if they want to. We don't generally pull out multiple comments in one thread for sidebarring.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 2:52 PM on November 12, 2008

Those are both fantastic stories.

Also, I'm not sure which I hate more: asshole jocks, or asshole Coke machines.
posted by turgid dahlia at 3:03 PM on November 12, 2008 [1 favorite]

Thank you, war, for the fantastic stories.

And next time, if you want a comment sidebarred, just start your own website. It's cheap and easy, man.
posted by Eideteker at 3:37 PM on November 12, 2008

Oh wow, such an amazing story. Thank you tkchrist, and thank you notsnot for pointing it out.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 3:39 PM on November 12, 2008

tkchrist, you have a gift for storytelling. I hope you eventually tell more.
posted by SpacemanStix at 3:52 PM on November 12, 2008

Does he know we're talking about him? I'm mailing him.
posted by Pronoiac at 4:06 PM on November 12, 2008

Tkchrist is a bit of a fabulist, isn't he? -- is that story actually true?
posted by empath at 4:07 PM on November 12, 2008

I'm really upset by timsteil's story. I wish I hadn't seen that one.
posted by CunningLinguist at 4:08 PM on November 12, 2008

I'm sorry, but this gem from tkchrist absolutely needs to be on the sidebar.

The reason so many people took notice of the "I'm sorry..." lead in is that it's a blatant disregard for MeTa culture. Proper style dictates that you write your request and/or question in the form of a snide put-down that calls into question the motives and competence of the moderators.

This would've been better:

Why hasn't tkchrist's gem been added to the sidebar? Was there another arbitrary rule change or do the mods just hate veterans?
posted by mullacc at 4:14 PM on November 12, 2008

Oh you guys. Thank you. Really. I'll forward this to my dad.

people have been asking me about him so here is what I told Brandon earlier:


My dad?

He's awesome now. After he retired from the army in 1976 he became a new man. And over time this kinda crazy slightly angry guy got replaced by a sincerely nice person. Since the war in Iraq he has been a thorn in the side of the local right wing chicken hawks. His letters to the editor are somewhat famous where he lives.

I envy his lifestyle. He's 77. He still goes on at least three fishing trips every year, a couple of ski trips, and golfs and hikes two or three times per week.

On our last fishing trip he told me this:

"Todd. I wake up every morning and I think 'what have I done to deserve the great life I have had.'"
posted by tkchrist at 4:20 PM on November 12, 2008 [18 favorites]

Tkchrist is a bit of a fabulist, isn't he? -- is that story actually true?

Yes. Well. I was just a kid at the time. And I've heard my mom, my sister, my brother, and my dad tell different versions. And. Sure there is the filter of time, hazy memory, family myth, and the fact I like to gang stories up, play with words a bit. But yeah. It's pretty much true. Do you really want me to ruin it with footnotes?

Eh. I'm too lazy anyway.

BTW. I wrote that last night when I was trying to install new server software for our office. And everything had gone wrong. So in between hard drive formatting I would write a bit and then go back. So the grammar is just awful. I have a terrible time with spelling and grammar. Always have. And when I'm distracted it's worse.

I will see if I can get my dad in here. Though that makes me very nervous becuase he will be tempted to tell his version. Where the coke machine had it coming and how it was all part of his plan to get a section 8 out of our family.
posted by tkchrist at 4:31 PM on November 12, 2008 [4 favorites]

No, I believe you, but I thought I remember you admitting at some point that some of your other stories were not entirely factual.
posted by empath at 4:33 PM on November 12, 2008

Whether there is a bit of slight exaggeration is somewhat immaterial to what an incredible writer tkchrist is. Also, I would like to hug his dad and/or buy him a beer.
posted by HopperFan at 4:41 PM on November 12, 2008

Listen, every story ever told is only 'based on a true story' at their most factual. Because that's how stories work, and that's how eye witnesses work, and those are the stories that we tell and remember. It's ok for that to be the case.
posted by garlic at 4:51 PM on November 12, 2008 [1 favorite]

I don't care if it is made up. It's still awesome.
I'm going downstairs at work now, and the Coke machine better watch out.
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 4:56 PM on November 12, 2008

~ He's awesome now. After he retired from the army in 1976 he became a new man. And over time this kinda crazy slightly angry guy got replaced by a sincerely nice person. Since the war in Iraq he has been a thorn in the side of the local right wing chicken hawks. His letters to the editor are somewhat famous where he lives.

I'm really glad to hear that. For him, and for you. And also for me, because now it is a funnier story, and not such a sad one.
posted by paisley henosis at 5:08 PM on November 12, 2008

No, I believe you, but I thought I remember you admitting at some point that some of your other stories were not entirely factual.

The death of joy is an over-scrupulous attention to detail.
posted by rodgerd at 6:00 PM on November 12, 2008

My wife, ever the pragmatist, just added:

"Great. You got 'side barred.' What ever that is. So how can you make some money from all this online chit-chat crap."

Oh. Let's not cheapen this with talk of money, honey. I do it for the people.
posted by tkchrist at 6:00 PM on November 12, 2008 [13 favorites]

Money or no money, you've got talent; I was genuinely relieved to hear things worked out for your dad in the end.
posted by Ryvar at 6:24 PM on November 12, 2008

Shake Sidebar your money maker.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:25 PM on November 12, 2008

One of these days we'll have enough banana liqueur to tell you all about the time tkchrist showed up unannounced at our bamboo hut wearing nothing but a smock and carrying three plastic grocery bags filled to overflowing with zebra lard, and then we'll talk about this "not entirely factual" nonsense.
posted by An Infinity Of Monkeys at 6:29 PM on November 12, 2008 [1 favorite]

"GOD DAMNED NIXON!"

I think I'll start saying that...
posted by Tube at 6:37 PM on November 12, 2008

LIAR!

That wasn't a smock.

That was the encrusted blood of my adversaries smeared about my scared chest!

For your information I had just scratched a convincing floral pattern into it with a stick.

My god man. I'm not a total barbarian. Fashion must be observed by any reasonable gentleman.

Now. To the Zebras we must fly!
posted by tkchrist at 6:41 PM on November 12, 2008

Thanks for this thread. I would have totally missed it.
posted by CwgrlUp at 7:15 PM on November 12, 2008

Cheers to you and your dad, tkchrist. You people are good people.

Okay; your wife, too. Hey, she's looking out for the finances!
posted by yhbc at 7:32 PM on November 12, 2008

that was fantastic; thank you.
posted by UbuRoivas at 7:34 PM on November 12, 2008

The connection between truth and memory is a dodgy one at best. What makes a memory a truth? Is it what actually happened or is it the reconstructed events which shape our lives? Is the truth the thing that happens or the thing that is remembered?

I'm glad your dad got better. That was a fantastic story.
posted by winna at 8:47 PM on November 12, 2008

I teared up at the part about the airport and the dog.. Something about your dad striding in and nobody challenging him because they knew where he'd been really got me.
posted by davey_darling at 9:35 PM on November 12, 2008 [1 favorite]

A good story well told. My hat's off to you, tkchrist.

Well, let me buy a hat first, and then I'll do the doffing. Ah to hell with it, here's an IOU for a beer or ten, on me, next time I'm wherever you are.

Also, it's great to hear that your dad got on an evener keel, eventually.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 9:47 PM on November 12, 2008

That was the encrusted blood of my adversaries smeared about my scared chest!

Don't be scared, I'll protect you!
posted by The Light Fantastic at 10:53 PM on November 12, 2008

I too enjoyed the bit with the dog.

Tkchrist is a bit of a fabulist, isn't he? -- is that story actually true?

Flagged as Oh For Pete's Sake, Not This Again.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 10:57 PM on November 12, 2008 [1 favorite]

Thank you for that tkchrist, that's greatness on so many levels. What a Mom, what a family.

Thanks for bringing it to our attention, notsnot.
posted by alicesshoe at 9:40 AM on November 13, 2008

Dang, tk! It's like I can't favorite you enough...
posted by ObscureReferenceMan at 9:42 AM on November 13, 2008

I have a terrible time with spelling and grammar. Always have. And when I'm distracted drunk it's worse.

FTFY.

(I kid! tkc is a hard man to drag out for a pubcrawl, his time is well-booked! Although i am sure his server install would have gone faster without the banana liqueur.)
posted by mwhybark at 10:24 AM on November 13, 2008

Suddenly, Walter from The Big Lebowski is a bit less funny.

Here's a classic Carlin routine about the American penchant for euphemisms, vis a vis "shell shock" vs. "PTSD".

......

Also, on a completely different note, I was shocked to find out that tkchrist's username comes from his real name. I always thought it was a pun on the graphic designer's shorthand TK, which means "to come," or, "I will put text/graphics here later, once I have them." So tkchrist would translate to "Christ, to come," which I thought was kinda clever.

And no, I don't put this much thought into everyone's usernames. Although, I will mention that, inside my head, I always pronounce XQUZYPHYR as "EX - QUIZ - A - FUR," and I STILL need to force my eyes not to read gleuschk as "glue chunk."
posted by Afroblanco at 11:11 AM on November 13, 2008

An understandable confusion.
posted by gleuschk at 2:03 PM on November 13, 2008

I've always read tkchrist's name as Team Killer Christ, imagining a Jesus model being a griefer in a team-deathmatch game of Quake 3 or something, with friendly-fire on, as a metaphor for, well, something funny.

I do need to cut down on the gaming a bit.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:13 PM on November 13, 2008