Walt has no time for shallow slogans. Hope is not a Game plan, He's keeping it real...

I clearly remember that scene with Walt throwing out the "Hope" button in the trash and sensing Walt must have bitterly sneered at the cheesiness of the button given to people who were grappling with their own private hell of having cancer. Not only suffering with the cancer eating away of the flesh, the continued painful treatments, the stress on the families, but it also drains the wallet of any spare cash or savings to stop the metastasizing of the disease to just plain survive. Then add insult to injury, some stranger hands them a mass produced metal "hope" button, which is not very reassuring to a patient fighting for their life. It's a mockery. Hope for what? " I might survive the illness, but can I survive the costs for my cure????" Would the sweet old lady still hand Walt a "hope" button if Walt couldn't find a way to pay for his treatments??? I think Vince is cleverly murmuring subliminally.....Health care in this country does NOT produce a "hope button" and if you are not able to churn out a couple of millions of dollars for your cure, then you had better have another way of making payments by either draining all monies you possess and go to the poor farm OR go the route as Walt. "Hope" is also discussed as to man's struggles in life in a conversation between two prisoners in the movie, "The Shawshank Redemption" and I paraphrase.....
"Remember, Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things. And no good thing ever dies."
and Red replies......" Hope is a dangerous thing....it can drive a man insane".

Possibly Walt has been driven insane for all he has endured since the beginning of the Breaking Bad series. It's a thought of mine lately.Walt goes temporarily insane from stress and doesn't know how to stop.

Like most men,Walt just doesn't want to carry useless crap around in his pocket.

repugnant - Never a truer statement was made. :-)

Yes, it's probably all of the above. I strongly recommend watching the season a second time around, one episode at a time for getting a deeper understanding of the characters. I've never done that with a show before. Usually after a season of a show is over, I'm done with it til the next season. But "Breaking Bad" has so many levels, it really rewards repeat viewing.

Quote By Lindas555 on September 17, 2009 2:48 AM:
"...Then add insult to injury, some stranger hands them a mass produced metal "hope" button, which is not very reassuring to a patient fighting for their life. It's a mockery. Hope for what? " I might survive the illness, but can I survive the costs for my cure????" "

Linda hit the nail, right on the head concerning the costs of a bout (or several) in this "Cancer Industry®"!
(I say "Industry" because, a great part of it IS a money-making scam...the "®" is just put there, to be smart-@ss.)
The bills start coming & they don't quit. Soon it becomes boxes & BOXES of bills from the hospital, doctor, radiation, lab, etc. etc...ad nauseum.
The "Survivor" is "drowning" in the debt, that is JUST as stressful as dealing with the disease! =(

The "Hope" button in this past encore episode, reminded me of the "Diploma" the nurses at the Radiation Center gave my Ex-husband, for finishing his round of getting burnt-to-a-crisp...
"Come back to see us!! We'll MISS you!!!"
Blah, blah, BLAH!!!
When his insurance started running out...their sweet tune changed...The change in attitude was a sad thing to watch...he had become someone to "push under the rug", then. =(
After he passed away, I tore that damn, fake-@ss & hollow-sentiment of a "Diploma" up...and burnt it.

However...I have the UTMOST RESPECT, for the Hospice nurses!!! =)
They are truly a whole different breed of care-givers!!
The Hospice nurse he had, was the BEST & she was a SINCERELY caring individual.

Wow...what a difference a few months make. =(

Seems like just yesterday, we were sitting there with him, watching the premier of that episode...
(He did'nt think much of that "Hope" button either...)

But he DID love watching Breaking Bad!!

Sorry to hear of your painful experiences, Diksee.
My belated condolences to you and your family for the painful memories of your ex-husband's suffering.

"Come back and see us..we miss you" and hand your ex-husband a ....?diploma?.????? ...the diploma must seem like the cheesy hope button. What an insensitive line to say to a patient struggling with a horrible but painful disease...sounds very insincere, and dismissing what your ex has had to endure Believe me, when I worked the hospital Cancer floor as a student nurse many years ago, that was NOT what we were taught to say to a patient.

Yes, usually a Hospice staff is very understanding and helpful in times of stress and sadness and when I lost my father to Cancer, they were the staff I relied on for comfort and support and they gave unconditionally.

I also remember,Rockmama, your analysis of Walt hitting the paper towel holder when finding out his Cancer was in remission. Your analysis of that scene with the hope button has some similarities.

diksee, my condolences, too. I'd seen you mention your bad year, but didn't know what that was about until your post here.

Linda555, yes! - the paper towel holder scene! I didn't even realize the parallels until after I had already posted the hope button theories.

One more thing. It's weird how when you're thinking about a certain subject, you notice similar references popping up all over the place. Last night Larry King was interviewing a woman whose daughter had been kidnapped years ago. Her hopes that her daughter was still alive were briefly rekindled when that other kidnapped girl turned up
alive, and she had to go through the same old cycle of hope and disappointment. One of her quotes really caught my ear:

"Hope is a heavy burden to bear."

I think Walt doesn't care for the idea of hope for himself anymore. If anything, hope for himself might come at the cost of hope and promise for his family and he has destroyed everything else(morals, self-health, even his own relationship with his family) in his all-consuming quest to financially secure his family.
He also is very proud and self-reliant, so maybe he has an attitude that hope is delusion, and that willing himself into power and possession is the only way he can achieve what he wants, which isn't hope for his own recovery anyway.

Thank you, Linda & rockmama...your kind words are very much appreciated. =)
I was'nt dealing with his death very well...as obvious, in some of my posts.
Also, Linda, let me take the time, to personally apologize, for how I've treated you in the past couple months...it was totally uncalled for, on my part.
I could have gotten my point across, WITHOUT the unkind words & NONE of the "venom & acid" being added to them.
Once again, I am truly sorry, for my actions & treating you so unfairly... =(

This apology also extends to Tweeds...or, anyone else I may have offended.

(Sorry if this turns out to be a "Double Post")

Thank you, Linda & rockmama...your kind words are very much appreciated. =)
I was'nt dealing with his death very well...as obvious, in some of my posts.
Also, Linda, let me take the time, to personally apologize, for how I've treated you in the past couple months...it was totally uncalled for, on my part.
I could have gotten my point across, WITHOUT the unkind words & NONE of the "venom & acid" being added to them.
Once again, I am truly sorry, for my actions & treating you so unfairly... =(

This apology also extends to Tweeds...or, anyone else I may have offended.

(Sorry, if this turns out to be a double-post...Internet issues...*sigh*)

Thank you, Linda & rockmama...your kind words are very much appreciated. =)
I was'nt/have'nt been dealing with his death very well...as obvious, in some of my posts.

Also, Linda, let me take the time, to personally apologize, for how I've treated you in the past couple months...it was totally uncalled for, on my part.
I could have gotten my point across, WITHOUT the unkind words & NONE of the "venom & acid" being added to them.
Once again, I am truly sorry, for my actions & treating you so unfairly... =(

This apology also extends to Tweeds...or, anyone else I may have offended.

(Sorry, if this turns out to be a double-post...Internet issues...*sigh*)

Thank you, Linda & rockmama...your kind words are very much appreciated. =)
I was'nt/have'nt been dealing with his death very well...as obvious, in some of my posts.

Also, Linda, let me take the time, to personally apologize, for how I've treated you in the past couple months...it was totally uncalled for, on my part.
I could have gotten my point across, WITHOUT the unkind words & NONE of the "venom & acid" being added to them.
Once again, I am truly sorry, for my actions & treating you so unfairly... =(

This apology also extends to Tweeds...or, anyone else I may have offended.

Hope is all we have as humans.
It is the difference between depression and enjoying life.
Hope was rejected by Walt because this is make believe and a series. Its in the script.
Think about what they are REALLY trying to tell you about where this fantasy is going.

Thank you, Linda & rockmama...your kind words are very much appreciated. =)
I was'nt dealing with his death very well...as obvious, in some of my posts.
Also, Linda, let me take the time, to personally apologize, for how I've treated you in the past couple months...it was totally uncalled for, on my part.
I could have gotten my point across, WITHOUT the unkind words & NONE of the "venom & acid" being added to them.
Once again, I am truly sorry, for my actions & treating you so unfairly... =(

This apology also extends to Tweeds...or, anyone else I may have offended.

Love this scene, and I have thought about it alot since first seeing it.That lady had no idea there wasn't any hope for Walt,he'd already killed a man.

Thank you, Linda & rockmama...your kind words are very much appreciated.
I was'nt/have'nt been dealing with his death very well...as obvious, in some of my posts.
Also, Linda, let me take the time, to personally apologize, for how I've treated you in the past couple months...it was totally uncalled for, on my part.
I could have gotten my point across, WITHOUT the unkind words & NONE of the "venom & acid" being added to them.
Once again, I am truly sorry, for my actions & treating you so unfairly... =(

This apology also extends to Tweeds...or, anyone else I may have offended.

Diksee- your cool. Hope everything goes well this year.

I'm wondering if diksee's multi-posts are because she's not seeing them show up on her computer, because of the Internet glitch we've been noticing. If anyone has her e-mail or anything, maybe they could tell her using the "refresh" might help? It took me awhile to figure that out by trial and error.

LMAO, rockmama!! YES!! I'd been reduced to "lurker status" temporarily! =(
Nothing was showing up for me...(Yikes!! Almost thought I was "banned" there for a lil' bit! ha ha ha!)
Thanks for posting this thread...it's actually been good therapy for me. (I'd been holding way too much inside, during his illness & then, after his passing away.)

repugnant...thank you SO much, also!! I appreciate your well-wishes very much!! =)

Hugs ya'll!

diksee!!! Glad you're back! I had the same problem and couldn't figure out what was going on. I was getting paranoid, too, thinking I'd been banned or that my posts were being systematially ignored or something. Another poster explained about using "refresh," but since her post wasn't showing up for me, either,I had to fumble around on my own until I figured it out.

Hey diksee, glad to see you're back!! Apologies accepted. Just take care of YOU this year for all that you have been through and sounds as though you have had a undescribably hellish year and understand your frustration and pain. I have seen what Cancer can do to a human.....Cancer is a never ending evil and seeing Walt in the first Season dealing with Cancer, you and your ex must agreed with the Vince's presentation of how others deal with Cancer. Just glad to see you back on the forum!

Let me rephrase my last posting and try to explain without insulting anyone that has dealt with Cancer. Vince has touched on the subject of health care and debilatating diseases to possibly make the viewers more understanding, sympathic and give a glimpse of just what a patient has to experience with not only the disease but a clueless medical society that shoves patients in and out of the hospitals like herding of cattle for slaughter. Vince and his writing staff has hit on the "REAL" issue of problematic health care and presented it accurately through Walt's experiences of having Cancer.

I am surprised Elisabeth Kubler-Ross's classic book on Death and Dying (understanding the five stages of death and dying) wasn't presented in the Cancer episodes as supportive reading material for Walt to read. Also a "must read" book for families while consoling a loved one with Cancer.

Now why the hell would a guy who just killed two people and is running a major methamphetamine organization need a book on death and dying. Roller explained Walts situation above and it doesn't involve books.

repugnant - I concur. Walt is way beyond all that touchy feely self help book crap. That would be completely delusional...

Diksee, first off I'd like to say, YOU ARE A WOMAN?!!!!! OYE! Girlfreind. If you're not that's okay too. Sorry to here about your EX. That truly sucks. I had a friend who died of brain cancer 3 years back. She was an artist, a pretty good one actually and she did have money. She didn't have to worry about paying for her health care. She came from a rather wealthy family. She did write alot too. Her name was Hannah. Even though she had money, she didn't agree with how her treatment was being handled, and disagreed with how healthcare was being handled back then. Sure she had funds, but she couldn't get access to alot of experimental treatments being held in the world.
Our FDA doesn't allow that. Anyway I do appreciate and accept your apology with all of my heart which goes out to you.
On a different subject, I emailed Clayton about how this website needed cleaning up and how whenever I tried to access it, it would slow down my computer big freakin time. I thought for awhile like the rest of you that I was not allowed on this site. This was before the C word topic that I'd started. I told him that I thought the AMC site had been slow for months and had been invaded and possibly passing around a virus. It seems to be better now.
Linda555, I do agree that Elizabeth Kubler Ross's book on Death and Dying is a good book. But I truly think that healthcare in this country is bereft of Care and really doesn't care about health. Mentally, physically and all things for all people. Its very stupid. Two weeks ago while I was sitting for Planned Parenthood at Center Street Daze here in Milwaukee I had the most amazing conversations with not only with teenagers but also college undergrad interns who were sitting with me. There was one who had a name similar to mine. I'll call her Diz. Anyway we wound up having an argument about how comprehensive sex education differed from healthcare. She was argueing that comprehensive sex education (in other words something other than abstinance only education) was just that. Education, not healthcare perse, but straight up education only. Oye, kids these days I thought. Here I am cocktailing, found the best bar on the street with the best 2 buck vodka and lemonade place and this lovely undergrad girl is challenging me on semantics of education and the healthcare benefits of it. Plus she's engaged to a really cute guy named Krishna. The attractions are endless!!! Well, anyway Diksee, you're fun.
So is everyone else here. I'm glad I found the thread where folks still hang and tell stories.
Tweeds