Comments on: Fear and self-loathing in America’s Rust Belt, Part II

By: Matthew Newton

Matthew Newton — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 04:01:14 +0000

Nice to hear from a fellow Pittsburgher, and I’m glad you enjoyed the series. Getting rid of that office plant was a great way to purge. So was writing these essays. I was so pissed when I lost my job that writing about it actually made me feel better. And I also received so many supportive emails, notes, and comments afterward that it turned out to be a great remedy to a bad situation. The new job is good (thanks for asking), I feel much more at home. I’ll never place much trust in an employer again — but that’s probably a good thing.

By: paulak

paulak — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 18:54:37 +0000

Both your Fear & Loathing pieces are just great! They are a perfect capture of the awful alienation, insecurity, and sadness in “business casual” land…right down to the tragic office plant. In the midst of sad departures, orphaned plants always seem to punctuate the death of hope with such painful precision. I was cheering for you when you had the guts to chuck the peace lily. “Mad” is so much better than “sad.”

I am a native Pittsburgher, long gone from home, but like most Americans today, I still have plenty of job-related worries. I feel less alone when I read great pieces like these.

Glad to hear you got a new job. Better? (I hope).

By: Matthew Newton

Matthew Newton — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:27:42 +0000

Thanks for your comment John, it means a lot. And I’m very sorry to hear you’re going through the same experience that I did. I know firsthand (as you read) how shitty it is to lose a job. Especially being from Pittsburgh, I know how tough (and unsatisfying) the job market can be here.

I wrestle with this same existential crisis that you mention, this idea of how to balance survival and happiness without feeling I’ve completely sold myself out. Being treated the way I was by my former employer, however, taught me a ton about my own resilience, which has been enlightening, as you said. Good luck out there.

By: billhicks

billhicks — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 14:17:50 +0000

Matthew, like one of the commenters in part I, I also signed up specifically to comment on this post. Your story parallels my own in many ways. I too am unemployed in Pittsburgh. I too have had the humbling experience of mental health issues including depression, anxiety, and worse. My situation differs in that I am the only person I have to support financially, and in times like these I am grateful for such a lack of responsibility. The thought of not being able to pay bills and support myself is distressing enough, I cannot imagine how exponentially worse this would be with a family to support.

I too share your disgust for the banality of the cubical-cell life sentence. I would delude myself on a daily basis into thinking that this was only temporary and somehow in my spare time I would derive the solution of “surviving” and “happiness” being mutually exclusive in my life. This is a major existential issue, and I hope that myself, along with the collective conscious of this nation can learn something from it in these times of economic hardship. It’s sad to say, but sometimes enlightenment can only be induced by a crisis.

I really enjoy reading your posts.

-John

By: Matthew Newton

Matthew Newton — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:12:26 +0000

Thanks for the encouragement and positive feedback Chris. Things are looking up and I appreciate your continued support of my work.

By: iskid2astop

iskid2astop — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 05:16:59 +0000

Matthew,
Thanks again for writing this. You are sharing your inner emotions, and not playing them for sympathy, or laughs, just sharing, and I appreciate that. Keep it up! Looking forward to hearing more from a fresh, strong voice.
I wish there was something we could do for you.
Chris

By: Matthew Newton

Matthew Newton — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:25:17 +0000

Thank you fleetlee, your comment made my day. I think you are definitely right, that things happen for a reason. I was so unhappy at this job that I think this is the kick I needed to escape. Of course the question of how to support a family in such an unstable economy make it troubling. But I’m trying to remain optimistic.

By: Matthew Newton

Matthew Newton — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:10:50 +0000

Thanks for sharing your story with me orioleadams. I’m sorry to hear you’ve had to go through a layoff as well. A lot of people minimize it, but as you know, it can be a really bizarre and difficult experience. And thanks for the very kind and encouraging words.

By: Matthew Newton

Matthew Newton — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 18:56:25 +0000

Thanks for the note kmicky, and for your sound advice/real-life experience. I’ve definitely been enjoying the new freedom of unemployment. I get to hang with my wife and son a lot more; catch up with friends I haven’t seen in awhile; go cycling; play music; and of course, write more. It’s been a strange but good summer.

By: fleetlee

fleetlee — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 02:58:10 +0000

You are a great writer. You made me feel what you just experienced. You have a gift of being able to make the reader climb into your skin and feel what you are feeling.Most things in life happen for a reason and I have been in situations where I could not imagine where to go from there, but things always get better. You will look back on this as the best thing that ever happened to you, because you were better than they deserved. Keep writing and it may turn out to be a book.