‘The fifth effect has more to do with you, how you’re perceived. It’s powerful although it’s use is more restricted. Pay attention, boy. The next suitable person you’re in light conversation with, you stop suddenly in the middle of the conversation and look at the person closely and say, “what’s wrong?” You say it in a concerned way. He’ll say, “What do you mean?” You day, “Something’s wrong. I can tell. What is it?” And he’ll look stunned and say, “How did you know?” He doesn’t realize something’s always wrong, with everybody. Often more than one thing. He doesn’t know everybody’s always going around all the time with something wrong and believing they’re exerting great willpower and control to keep other people, for whom they think nothing’s ever wrong, from seeing it. This is the way of people. Suddenly ask what’s wrong, and whether they open up and spill their guts or deny it and pretend you’re off, they’ll think you’re perceptive and understanding. They’ll either be grateful, or they’ll be frightened and avoid you from them on. Both reactions have their uses, as we’ll get to. You can play it either way. This works over 90 percent of the time.’

— David Foster Wallace, (R.I.P.)

Didn’t know him well myself, but feeling for you all today. Reminded me of DFW who himself succumbed to depression. This is of course not the day about DFW though.

Another hero gone too soon. Snoop is right. We should all reach out.