Thread by @CurtisHouck

Alright, time to talk about #MentalHealth. If you haven't followed me for very long, haven't seen my pinned thread, or don't pay attention, it's something that's important to me. If you need a refresher, use the search bar.

With that said, here's my take on Simone Biles. 1/

1. It's a good life rule to not mock someone for having trauma over being sexual assaulted. Great job, guys. You're no worse than leftists who mock unvaccinated people for dying of Covid. When it's gleeful, you're--at minimum--a jerk. Try being assaulted and see how it feels. 2/

2. Did Simone put her teammates in a precarious position? Yes. No obfuscating that. Likely cost them gold. But if she had kept going and continued to fall and flop, we wouldn't have won anything. I'd bet the little money I have that the same people would be trashing her. 3/

3. Will it be a part of her legacy? Absolutely. Her career obit will include how, despite being the greatest gymnast, it all went wrong at the end. Therefore, I wouldn't use the word "celebrated" or insist she "won" the day by any stretch. She and her teammates still lost. 4/

4. Did she do the right thing? Tough to say. Her team seems to have supported her and she didn't think she could have helped them win. That goes back to point two and how they might not have medaled at all.
However, I will SUPPORT her in prayer (also as she's a Christian). 5/

5. She's talked over the last year about the pressure she's felt and how she's had to grapple over the last five years or so with the trauma of being molested by Larry Nassar because, as she's tried to use her platform on the issue, she's had to relive how so many let her down 6/

5 (cont). We all know this that people who seemingly have "everything"--fame, family, money, etc.--have demons and struggles.

For me, it included the breakup, rejection from friends who told me I'd be fine, and claims I was controlled by Satan. I wanted to die and tried to. 7/

6. For Simone Biles, a breakdown came on the biggest stage of her life as the anchor of #TeamUSA and arguably the face of the entire #Olympics . Of all the days to have one, this was the worst possible one. Try walking in her shoes with those experiences. 8/

7. #MentalHealth is no joke, but it's not something you use when it's convenient to get out of stuff, but especially mundane. Take Naomi Osaka's struggles. The idea you shouldn't have to answer media questions after you lose is preposterous 9/

7 (cont). Skimping out on press conferences because tennis reporters are supposedly vicious people or choosing not to do it because you're tired? Give me a break.

All of that to say Biles is different (and which @sunnyright was correct--sorry for flooding your mentions!) 10/

8. To wrap this thread in which I talked in circles, I'll say I have empathy for Simone Biles and think she should decide whatever's best for her ASAP so her teammates can properly fill in for individual events instead of keeping them hanging by a thread. 11/

9. Thanks for listening, fans and haters. #MentalHealthMatters, take your meds, talk to your therapist, engage in self care.

P.S. I'm not here to worship anyone, including Biles. We're all human. The older and more cynical I get, the less I'm into that. Idolatry is bad. 12/12

P.S., #1 -- this is what I was talking about in point 3 as hero worship I'm not exactly keen on and talking like you -- idk -- shouldn't ever have to win anything to be a great athlete. While not everything, it's definitely a big part of it!

https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/1420183502461542403