Kevin Smith explains in the Reddit top comment (which earned him 3 Reddit Golds):

Hi. Some have asked why I posted this, calling me an "attention whore." I guess I can see that perspective, but I had posted the picture (and an accompanying explanation) on my FB, Twitter and Instagram pages because those folks who follow me have been hearing about Mulder for years. And call me callow, but I just wanted to unload the emotional burden a little by sharing with the folks who'd enjoyed all the Mulder and Scully stories I'd told over the years. This wasn't about look at ME - this was about look at HIM. And based on the amount of likes and comments the posting drew, I don't think the image came across to the intended audience as in poor taste. But I guess I can see how someone could just see the picture, read I'd posted it and call it attention-whoring. However, that certainly wasn't the intent: I was in pain and I just wanted to hear from people who knew that distinct pain of losing a dog. And I'm glad I did, because I got to read some amazing stories people posted about the lives and deaths of their pets. It was therapeutic for me. We don't really do wakes and funerals for our pets, so we usually miss that important step of the grieving process: grieving with others, sharing stories about the departed. Anyway, that's why I posted this picture on my FB and Twitter and Instagram accounts. This is the text that went along with the original posting of the picture...

-------------GOOD DOG

Dark day in our household: our oldest dog Mulder is dying. As I've spent the last year carrying him around like Hodor, I'm not taking this terribly well. They never tell you when you get a dog, but there is a price to pay for being the recipient of 17 years of unconditional love, loyalty and companionship: they take a huge chunk of your heart with them when they go.

I'm reminded of a line from DOCTOR WHO, Series 2 - the "School Reunion" episode (which featured the return of Sara Jane Smith and the robot dog K-9, ironically enough): "You can spend the rest of your life with me... but I can't spend the rest of my life with you." And later, when Rose asks Sara Jane if she should go with the Doctor, Sara Jane responds "Some things are worth getting your heart broken for." Mulder was beyond worth it. Fuck, this hurts...

R.I.P. Mulder.

2000 Reddit comments:

http://reddit.com/r/pics/comments/2vkhb6/kevin_smith_just_posted_this_picture_with_his/