When did Tom have a breakdown?

[OldHamburger]

I have been listening to  the old episodes every night for the last few weeks, starting with episodes 10 years ago, and contrasting them with the show on tonight, there is a dramatic difference in Tom's personality or persona.

I would describe Tom as being preoccupied with some kind of self loathing or angst.

Could anyone explain to me what happened to him, or what caused this change, or what happened?

I really enjoy listening to this show, but keep wondering what the story arch is in the "Tom Sharpling" saga...

Any explication on this point would be enormously appreciated. Thank you very much.

[thom]

There is a marked change, yes.
It is gradual. Super gradual.
I like to call this slow change in personality and worldview over the course of years and years and years "being a human."

[OldHamburger]

So, I understand that he didn't have a emotional breakdown or suffer from a traumatic event.
Thank you for your response.
I guess we will all become embittered and resentful as we grow older.

[thom]

Also keep in mind that being bitter and resentful is funny and fun, especially on the radio, and it's fun to have fun being funny on the radio.

[not that clay]

Why don't you just call in and ask yourself?

[Mr. Colin]

"OldHamburger", at what point in your life did you give up on ever amounting to anything worthwhile and become an internet troll?  I ask this sincerely because my brother became one a few years before he died in his apartment completely alone.

[dave from knoxville]

Best thread in the history of threads.

[Tom Scharpling]

I refuse to allow my mental health to be examined by someone who I only know as 'Old Hamburger'.

Nice use of the 'when did you stop beating your wife' line of questioning, by the way.

Tom.

[Jason from Huntsville, AL]

I refuse to allow my mental health to be examined by someone who I only know as 'Old Hamburger'.

Words to live by.

[Tom Scharpling]

I also appreciate your being able to determine that I experienced an incident that caused 'self loathing or angst' but you can't spell my name.

And in the name of me becoming less self-loathing and working to get to the state of mental health of an Old Hamburger, I am banning you from the board. That's personal progress, right?

If you want to explain yourself to me, you can do it at toms@wfmu.org.

Tom.

[dave from knoxville]

But Thom and Mr. Colin's responses are for the ages. I bet Oldhamburger has 6 hours of undergrad psychology under his belt, with the incisiveness of his observations.

[Martin]

What do you expect from a guy who can't even spell his own name? Shame on you, Old Handburger.

[AllSussedOut]

You don't get to work at Consolidated Cardboard without a thorough background check, you munch.

[Mr. Spacely]

I kinda want a one-off podcast with Old Hamburger and "Feltdown "-era Wally Wackimun debating the topics of the day.

[yesno]

Shortly after the Radio Heartbeat incident Tom was spotted wandering downtown Newbridge in a bathrobe with tissue box shoes.