Please, let's stop using mental illness as a perjorative.

[lightningandsnow]

I am sick and tired of people on here constantly calling freepers "mentally ill", "bipolar", or "schizophrenic". It is far from progressive - it's extremely ableist.

Many DUers have psychiatric disorders, or know someone who does - myself included. And we know that mental illness doesn't make someone an extreme-right winger.

This kind of stuff does nothing but contribute to the stigma that folks with mental illnesses face every day.

[WonderGrunion]

1. I agree for the most part

But Michelle Bachmann is clinically paranoid. I don't think she's dog whistling, she's a true believer.

P.S. So is Orly Taitz.

[Gabi Hayes]

2. what're you, nuts?

[robo50]

74. Love that Glenn Beck portrait!

[Gabi Hayes]

116. sorry I couldn't find anything more flattering....

[AllentownJake]

3. I agree using actual diagnosis is in bad taste

Calling someone bat shit insane is ok though, I know plenty of people without any chemical mental illness or personality disorder that are simply batshit insane.

[subcomhd]

12. One could argue the opposite

Obama's death panels will kill my baby = paranoia

Talent on Loan from God = narcissistic personality disorder. (Not really an illness.)

Fucking nuts is derogatory.

[AllentownJake]

13. I'm bipolar

I'd take more offense if you called someone bipolar than if you called them nuts.

[subcomhd]

16. And I have been treated for depression (luckily that one doesn't get made fun of much)

But I dated a bipolar woman long enough to understand the symtpoms and I really think Glenn Beck is bipolar. That doesn't make him a bad person. His racist BS does. But what do you think? Don't you see the weeping/exctacy swings he seems to make?

[AllentownJake]

20. I think he's an actor

:shrug:

I saw something with him putting vicks vapor rub under his eyes to make him cry the other day.

[subcomhd]

48. maybe - but my point still stands

his "act" is one of a person with bipolar disorder.

[mindwalker_i]

42. One of my majors was in physics

and it goes great with depression.

Gravity. It really gets me down.

[Caliman73]

101. The problem is you can't diagnose anyone from on particular behavior or trait.

Diagnostics is done through testing, observation, family history, and report of symptoms over a period of time. We really don't have enough information about Beck's behaviors over a period of time to make an accurate assessment of him. As with other extremists we can definitely point out the behaviors we find troubling, but labeling them as "mental illness" or any specific diagnosis is not accurate, and it does imply negative association to people who are struggling with mental illness diagnosed or otherwise.

[tavalon]

32. I've been known to use "batshit insane"

but as a person with a couple of people who have the bipolar condition living in my personal world, I know, for a fact, that between episodes, these folks are some of the sanest people I know.

[AllentownJake]

34. As long as I'm not having an episode

I'm one of the most rational people in any room.

Confuses the shit out of people when I'm having one and I don't realize I'm having one yet.

[shadowknows69]

57. So is "they must be off their meds"

Take it from someone who is "batshit insane" by most definitions of the phrase. It's derogatory. In some cases, if someone is on the edge of that suicidal chasm many of us look into every day it could be a fatal comment.

[Pool Hall Ace]

127. I had to Google that phrase

"Talent on Loan from God" He's being tongue-in-cheek, right? :scared:

And I mean Limbaugh, not God.

[bobbolink]

Don't denigrate the bats!

They are much more important to this planet than people you are calling batshit crazy!

[Posteritatis]

19. And someone could be completely sane and still just be an ass. (nt)

[billh58]

109. Almost all

people who exhibit criminal anti-social behavior suffer from some type of mental disorder. Conversely, not all people who suffer from mental disorders are criminally anti-social.

What can we deduce from this observation? Most Republicans should be watched very, very, carefully...;-)

[subcomhd]

4. Some of their ravings in fact DO meet the definition of paranoia.

Obama's Czars are bringing muslim communism to America and the ACORN census workers are their stormtroopers and Obama can hypnotize people with his speeches are in fact the type of thing that in less interesting times could get one committed and diagnosed with a real illness..

[lightningandsnow]

6. I have a friend with Paranoid Personality Disorder....

And while I don't technically disagree with what you're saying, not everyone with issues with paranoia acts like that. So I still think how people say it around here is still inappropriately stigmatizing.

[subcomhd]

7. I get your point. And I'll try. But it is going to be hard.

nt

[bobbolink]

18. It's hard for some people not to speak in a racist manner.

But we expect just that of them.

[subcomhd]

22. And some people just like to tell others what words they can use.

I think the OP is NOT such a person and is making a good point, don't you agree?

[bobbolink]

27. I don't know how you got to that from what I said,

To repeat... I replied to your saying it would be hard.

It may be hard, but it's what we expect of mature people who call themselves "progressive".

[subcomhd]

30. and not all progressives agree on everything - censorship is one of them

[Posteritatis]

31. They generally agree that throwing ethnic slurs around is inappropriate

And no, I don't see reducing mental illnesses to slurs as the slightest bit different.

[subcomhd]

33. no I repeat NO words are bad or evil in and of themselves.

it's all about the context.

[Posteritatis]

36. Considering bobbolink is taking issue with the context, I'm not sure what the difficulty is here (nt

[subcomhd]

39. I think he's dragging an old argument into this and was implying I am a racist

We went round and round on PC speech once. I don't want to hijack this thread so i'm going to let it go. if that isn't the case, my apologies to bbl.

[bobbolink]

40. Go censor someone else.

You've worn out your welcome.

I'm sick to death of people who defend the "right" to hurt others. You're no progressive or liberal or Dem.

Welcome to my ignore list.

[subcomhd]

41. reported - hurtfull, soul-crushing, personal attack nt

[onehandle]

5. Puh! I call them racist assholes.

They choose to be what they are.

[JohnnyLib2]

8. For sure.

And there is so many others choices!

[Odin2005]

9. A few DUers claimed that the Teabaggers were those Reagan de-institutionalized. It's bigoted BS!

It's nothing but the bigoted "crazy = violent" nonsense.

[Posteritatis]

47. Ouch! My account's glad I missed *that* one.. (nt)

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Posteritatis]

15. I think you're missing the point

Generally speaking I agree with the idea that mental illness is Not A Good Thing, and I don't think it's healthy in most cases to describe it as such (or - worse - glorify it actively, like I've seen done now and then).

The problem is people deciding that mental illness is a socially acceptable way to slur their opponents anymore. Oh, look, someone did something ridiculous or pathetic and made the news about it because of their mental illness? They're clearly a Republican anyway, because that's what mental illness means, right?

It's that kind of "thinking" that needs to get steamcleaned. My main problem is the mindset that actively politicizes the concept as a whole and extends it from there to "I don't like what this person's doing/thinking/saying/etc, therefore I'm going to dismiss them as simply being insane." It's exceedingly common here, and often is taken to the extent of people saying all sufferers of mental disorders are simply conservatives, or axe murderers, or both.

A lot of DUers' views on the subject haven't changed much from the popular attitudes in the fifties or sixties. Or the twenties or thirties. You actually can't see how turning something like that into a mere political label in some cases, or a reason to actively dehumanize someone (the "lock 'em up so they don't hurt us" crowd), can be detrimental to people who are actually trying to deal with their problems one way or another? You don't see a problem with the number of people here who blow off a third to one-half the population of the United States as merely the mentally ill at times? You don't think people finding it easy to get away with effectively saying "the enemy are all mentally ill," which is a damned short trip away from "the mentally ill are the enemy," is a problematic attitude to have?

I don't think the OP's asking for people to "swallow what they're thinking" about it. I know I'm not. In my case, what I'm asking for people who decide that mental illnesses are just a convenient label to dismiss their opponents or enemies is to get the fact that their attitude is hurtful, stupid, ignorant and wrong. There is no dishonesty involved there.

[EFerrari]

72. The Op isn't asking anyone to lie and having a mental illness isn't bad..

You seem to have a lot of misconceptions about mental illness and are doing some stigmatizing of your own.

[Caliman73]

104. That is not the point the OP is making

People often use diagnostic words to denigrate others and to dismiss them, much the same way that racial epithets are used. Do you not think that people with mental illness know that what they have is "bad"? Not wanting to be reduced to your symptoms, your diagnosis, your gender, or your ethnic background is not a sign that you "can't handle reality" It is the desire to be considered as a whole person and not dismissed just because they have an illness with symptoms that can influence behavior that is not accepted in society.

Your statement "but MOST people who have an illness that affects their ability to make good decisions WON'T overcome and the rest of the world can't help but notice that?" shows the lack of understanding of mental illness that many people have. Most people with diagnosed illnesses can be and are helped tremendously with medications and therapies or other treatment modalities. People with mental illnesses are all around us leading everyday lives doing the same jobs as those of us who are fortunate not to be going through those struggles. They are not just the homeless people walking around scaring people. Those scary homeless people that many associate with "mental illness" are the people that have fallen through the cracks of a society and a health care system that wants to maximize profits and production.

It is important that people speak from a position of knowledge not of judgment. Some of these extremist right wingers, as well as the extremists on the left, do exhibit thoughts and behaviors that are not considered acceptable, but labeling those behaviors "mental illness" is not done to detect and help. It is done to push them away and isolate them as "other"

There is a difference between lying to exploit someone and what the OP is talking about. Calling someone "mentally ill" without the proper information to make that claim is wrong and not helpful at all. No clinician worthy of their education, training, and certification would make that kind of statement and no lay person is qualified to make it and be considered credible.

[lightningandsnow]

11. Who the hell keeps unrecommending this?

x(

[subcomhd]

14. I have mixed feelings about it but I rec'd it. nt

[Posteritatis]

17. In my case I think I hit the wrong link; my bad. :P (nt)

[bobbolink]

21. Thank you! You are quite right.

But those "progressives" who insist on using mental illness as a perjorative, using hurtful language to women, ignorantly criticizing poor people and holding themselves as superior refuse to get that in doing so, they are emulating that which they claim to desise... the right wing.

[WeDidIt]

23. "Batshit crazy" has nothing to do with mental illness

Batshit crazy = willfully stupid.

[armyowalgreens]

37. No it doesn't. Bat shit crazy means someone is severely insane.

[shadowknows69]

59. And the word Fag has nothing to do with being gay if you're in the U.K. and want a smoke

But, somehow I'll bet some of the LGBT community is still sensitive to that word.

[Obamanaut]

125. It also used to mean tired, fatigued. It's almost to the point where

we must talk with asterisks lest someone be offended. G**** G** T***'* g**** s***! (Golly Gee that's gonna suck) Crap, I said s***. C***, I said c***.

[wickerwoman]

24. "We know that mental illness doesn't make someone an extreme-right winger."

Yes, but being an extreme right-winger actually does suggest mental illness. And when specific attitudes are addressed, like the compulsive need to control others or the absolute certainty that God wants us to kill gay people, I don't think it's inappropriate to label it as mental illness. That's not at all the same as saying all mentally ill people are right wingers, or that being mentally ill makes you conservative.

Likewise, schizophrenic as an adjective doesn't always refer to the mental illness. It means "Of, relating to, or characterized by the coexistence of disparate or antagonistic elements" as in "His position on states rights is very schizophrenic".

[subcomhd]

25. authoritarianism is more of a personality disorder than a straight-up illness

nt

[VOX]

26. "Many DUers have psychiatric disorders" - You just handed trolls and freepers a fat Christmas gift.

I understand what you're saying, and I hear you, but ironically, in an effort to set things right on this issue, your phrasing is regrettable.

BTW, I've dealt with a heavyweight anxiety disorder for 30 years.

[Posteritatis]

29. Oh, give me a break

You could switch "DUers" for any demographic on the planet with the possible exception of the dead and not lose an atom of truth from that statement.

This kind of thing - reducing things like mental illness to a mere political tool, which you just did here - is exactly the sort of thing that this site has a major problem with in the first place.

[shadowknows69]

60. Oh fuck them. Like that's not how they label us already anyway.

[GreenPartyVoter]

132. It's only a gift to those who still subscribe to the stigma. As far as I am concerned the

announcement could have been, "Many DUers have lupus." :shrug:

[tavalon]

28. Mmmm, popcorn

:popcorn:

[bobbolink]

44. Someone asking for sensitivity and compassion you consider just a show?

:wtf:

[tavalon]

50. It's flamebait

That's what I was commenting on.

[lightningandsnow]

53. How is it flamebait?

[bobbolink]

114. Up is down, north is south. The poster is reading from a different playbook.

[bobbolink]

113. So, asking for sensitivity and kindness for a segment of the population is now "flamebait".

That's very good..... from the Karl Rove book of truthspeak.

I hope you alerted on it for "flamebait". :rofl:

[cliffordu]

68. I'm having depressed popcorn with bipolar butter.....

With a lamotrigine back.

[elocs]

35. For the immature here at DU, it is all a big joke and they are overcome with their own cleverness.

I have an 18 year old goddaughter who has schizophrenia and is struggling to get her life together and there is nothing funny about it. Can't be a good Dem and use race, but mental illness is apparently fair game.

[bobbolink]

45. Poverty and "mental illness" ARE fair game.

It's times like this that DU disgusts me.

[shadowknows69]

83. +1

[DireStrike]

38. Can we still say "That's crazy!" ?

While these people may not have actual illnesses, they do make statements that are completely out of whack with logic.

[bobbolink]

46. You can say anything you want. So can the RWers. It just shows who you are.

[shadowknows69]

61. Some people used to think guys like Newton and Galileo were out of whack with logic.

[Regret My New Name]

75. DEAR GOD!!! I hope you're not comparing the nutty freepers with crazy theories....

to people like Newton and Galileo.

[shadowknows69]

79. Yeah, that's what I was doing. No, the point, if I must spell it out for you.

Is that unless you're a fucking psychaitrist maybe you should just STFU about what you think someone's mental state is.

[Regret My New Name]

81. Spot The Flying UFOs? LOLWUT?

[shadowknows69]

84. Buh bye. Three ignores in a day. That's almost my primary record.

[Regret My New Name]

86. Ummm, okay? I guess that's a probably a first. Jeeez.

[shadowknows69]

87. Why do people I've just ignored always try to answer me?

I'm not un-ignoring you just so I can read it moran. Are you sure you don't have any "issues" with reality?

[Regret My New Name]

107. How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

42!

[shadowknows69]

108. And again the delusional ignored answers.

You know how much of an idiot that makes you look like?

[Regret My New Name]

110. On second thought.

Maybe it's not 42. I do believe a woodchuck would chuck as much wood as a woodchuck would chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood. However, this leads me to wonder exactly why a woodchuck cannot chuck wood and why would we name a non-woodchucking animal a woodchuck if it cannot chuck the very material its name would lead you to believe it could chuck. Chucking Aye!

[billh58]

112. If someone

places another poster on ignore, could a woodchuck still upchuck, or would a woodchuck simply stop chucking wood?

[Regret My New Name]

135. That's a trick question...

Woodchucks can't use the internet.

[billh58]

136. But, but

they have their own web page, and restaturants, and I've heard that Disney is in talks with them for versions of digital wood...;-)

http://www.woodiewoodchucks.ca/

[bobbolink]

117. .

:applause:

:hi:

[spanone]

43. i'll stick with batshit crazy

[Name removed]

49. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ecstatic]

51. I think you might be reading too much into it

Don't interpret it further than what was said--don't turn an attack on a RWer into something personal directed towards you.

[armyowalgreens]

52. No one is saying that it's directed towards us...

But it's still extremely ignorant and hurtful to use mental illness as the butt of a joke.

[The Animator]

64. I'll try a little more empathy in my future posts...

I have Tourette's Syndrome, and one of the quickest ways to push my buttons is someone say "Oh, the cursing sickness"... Nothing irritates me more than someone who thinks they know more about it than I do, because the saw it in a movie once..

People get the wrong idea about Tourette's, because they've learned everything they know (or think they know) about it from movies, and TV shows. Movies and TV shows that don't give a damn about accuracy and are just going for a cheap laugh. All this does is spread the misconception that Tourette's is just uncontrolled swearing. There's more to it than that, a lot more. Like Mark Twain once said, "It's not what you don't know that gets you into trouble, but what you know for certain, that just ain't so..."

Tourette's is a physical disorder, not a mental one. It's most common manifestation is involuntary muscle spasms. If you've ever seen Awakenings with Robin Williams and Robter DiNero, you'll remember the scene in which DiNero's character is twitching from too much L-Dopa. Although he did not suffer from Tourette's, this is (unintentionally) a fairly accurate depiction of what Tourette's is really like. Tourette's is caused by a chemical imbalance of dopamine, which is the neural trigger for movement. The result is frequent neural muscular "tics".

Yes, there are a few rare cases that result in uncontrolled swearing, but there are special circumstances that have to be met in order for that to actually happen. First, in addition to Tourrete's, you also have to have a compulsion disorder but still, that only occurs when the "tic" is somehow linked to the compulsive disorder. Two entirely different disorders combining to created a unique problem. Even then, it might not result in uncontrolled swearing, the tic could compel you to touch your thighs, or the top of someone else's head, maybe be compelled to go to the wall and flick the lights on and off 8 times.

(Rant off) I know what it's like to have something your born with, that's beyond your control, and has cause you untold grief, be the butt of countless jokes. I'm not one to dictate what can and can't be said, but I for one, will attempt to be more considerate with my insult choices in the future.

[lightningandsnow]

66. Thank you so much for posting this.

You really seem to get it! Thanks so much! :hug:

[bobbolink]

123. Thank you for your courage, and for enlightening us.

We are all connected, and thank you for reminding us.

This is one of those times I wish there was a flowers emoticon....

:yourock:

[shadowknows69]

63. Ok, so if I wanted to call Michael Steele a n****r that would be cool

Because it's directed at a RWinger? Really?

[ecstatic]

73. No comparison but nice try

:eyes:

[shadowknows69]

77. Here's a hint. Using a little animated smiley doesn't mean you've won an arguement

Or proved your point, which you didn't.

[backscatter712]

111. Can I call Michael Steele a House Negro?

How about an Uncle Tom? Seems to fit... :evilgrin:

[shadowknows69]

118. Being white I would never make that comment.

But apparently no insult is too vile if it's directed at "THEM"

[backscatter712]

54. What, I can't refer to Glenn Beck as "psycho"?

:evilgrin:

[Echo In Light]

55. The raging popularity of deeming anyone who disagrees w/you as "crazy."

It gets old quickly, and says much more about those who rely on the tactic than it does about those they attack or denounce.

[bobbolink]

124. Absolutel.y. Yet,, how sad to see how few are willing to understand.

What does it really mean to be "liberal" anyway, if we can't be sensitive to others who are hurting?

As Michael Moore said, "Who ARE we?"

Thank you.

[shadowknows69]

56. Thank you. I've been thinking about a column about this very subject

Probably one of the last I'll ever write on DU because mental illness and body image humor still run rampant on this board with no thought to the pain it might cause some of us. You'll get the occasional posting deleted if you want to be an uber-snitch and keep alerting on people, but the same suspects keep at it and never a tombstone in sight. If some of the same things were thrown around about race or homosexuality, a person would be banned immediately. You can't choose not to be mentally ill anymore than you can choose your race or sexual preference. This isn't an apple or oranges thing. If we have to be ultra-pc on here for some groups then it has to be for all groups.

[shadowknows69]

58. I have less problems with people making educated guesses about someone's condition

Than I do the crass remarks like "They're nuts", "must be off his/her meds", "raving lunatic".


ETA: But maybe if you're not qualified to diagnose mental health problems or don't at least have the experience of having some yourself then maybe you should just STFU.

[WonderGrunion]

71. This from the person posting the video mocking 9/11 survivors

Careful where you point that finger, you'll see three more pointing back at you.

[shadowknows69]

76. Pardon me? Care to link to that?

[shadowknows69]

80. Still waiting you stalking fucking cicada.

[shadowknows69]

88. Oh, I think you were referring to a Star Wars themed political satire about the general WOT

I guess biting political satire is ok when the others are in power but not our guy? I don't know how Trudeau kept his job on Doonesbury those eights years of Bush then, and funny thing, we used to cheer him around here.

[WonderGrunion]

89. Just got back on. I wasn't stalking you, just looking at your journal.

You seemed proud to mock the pain of 9/11 victims. I guess most hypocrites think it's OK when they do it.

[shadowknows69]

90. Again. Link?

Or are you just going to keep talking out your ass?

[shadowknows69]

91. The one Star Wars parody? That's what you base my reverence to 9/11 victims on?

It seems you neglected to comment on it and it got seven recs so someone must think I'm not such a bad guy.

[WonderGrunion]

93. I didn't even know about the video until I checked your Journal

Your "stalker" accusation really is weak when you publicly highlight your insensitivity to victims of terrorism.

[WonderGrunion]

94. BTW, reverence means worship

Dictionary.com is your friend.

[shadowknows69]

97. Reverence

rev·er·ence (rvr-ns)
n.
1. A feeling of profound awe and respect and often love; veneration. See Synonyms at honor.
2. An act showing respect, especially a bow or curtsy.
3. The state of being revered.
4. Reverence Used as a form of address for certain members of the Christian clergy:

Lot's of words have multiple meanings. You did get that far in English class right?

Source:The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

[WonderGrunion]

98. What you did to 9/11 victims by posting that video is hardly reverence

By any definition. I appear to have made it farther in English than you have. My high school honors English teacher would agree.

[shadowknows69]

105. I was high school honors English too BTW. 98% on my 11th grade final. How did you do?

[WonderGrunion]

99. One final thing

You go on ignore now. I'm through with you.

[Lilith Velkor]

103. Shit and run, just like a little fucking coward

That's my diagnosis.

[WonderGrunion]

95. And furthermore, just because others agree with your mocking

Doesn't make it any less insensitive.

[WonderGrunion]

92. You already know the video

You even call it "bad taste" itself.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/shadowknows69/238

The video itself is mocking 9/11 victims.

Clean up your guttermouth.

[Lilith Velkor]

100. I am a 9/11 survivor, and you don't FUCKING speak for me.

The video was mocking all the FUCKING moronic conspiracy theories, and posting willfully ignorant SHIT all over this thread like an ASSHOLE doesn't change that.

[shadowknows69]

106. No, it's mocking the whole War on Terror. And fuck you.

[billh58]

115. Having a bad

day are we...?

[shadowknows69]

119. Well, I have schizoaffective disorder and am generally consistently depressed.

So I guess the answer would be yes, because most of my days are "bad".

[billh58]

122. Sorry to

hear that. Is there anyone around right now that you can talk to face-to-face? Why not take a break from the Internet for a while, and try to relax?

Take care, and be well.

Aloha,
Bill

[shadowknows69]

126. I do appreciate the concern. Sincerely, but I'm ok.

It's like any disability. You learn to live with it, you learn to cope and you learn to look that abyss in the face daily and say: "Fuck you, you're not getting me today"

[billh58]

128. Thanks for

the reassurance, and I realize that the impersonal atmosphere of the Internet can be depressing all by itself. I have participated on many political discussion boards over the years, and DU is one of the most challenging that I have ever run across.

One day at a time has worked well for me, and many other old Vietnam combat vets I've known over the years...;-)

[pipi_k]

62. When people do, say, or think crazy things...

Are they "evil"?


I see many people referring to them as "batshit insane", like that's going to be more kind to people (like myself) who have mental illness issues, and set the Freepers apart as a whole nasty breed of subhuman scum, which they are not...and it sort of puts the blame on them for being "batshit insane"...like they're choosing to be that way and if only they would pull themselves up by their bootstraps and listen to REASON, they would be cured.

I see it all the time here at DU. People totally wasting their time and energy debating and arguing with Freepers or other paranoid types trying to MAKE them see reason. Trying again and again and again and again...over and over again. Well...as the saying goes, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results".

So we have people here calling the Freepers "batshit insane" while they themselves go on merrily wasting their time and energy trying to convince people who will probably never BE convinced, that they are wrong.

So like I said, I have various forms of mental illness, and I don't mind at all that I may have to "share" my mental illness, whatever form it takes, with people who probably say and think some pretty horrible things.


Anyway, I see what you're saying and I agree...we shouldn't use mental illness as an insult against people whom we dislike, even if they are Freepers

[Echo In Light]

67. As to your 2nd paragraph: spot on, & why I gave up 'debating' various "conspiracies" w/mods & haters

There's usually no common ground to be found. Neither side will ever say anything, or produce data that will convince the other 'side' of anything ... so, it just boils down to people who want to name-call, argue, or worse, actually attack and belittle those they honestly perceive as mentally ill, or 'inferior' in any way with an anonymous medium.

People identify things prior to beholding them.

[lunatica]

65. If I say someone is nuts am I offending trees?

Cause I want to know what's acceptable

[shadowknows69]

69. I doubt trees take much offense to anything cept maybe being cut down

But yeah, us human nuts it offends.

[lunatica]

138. So you're decreeing that I can't say someone is nuts right?

But I can still talk about the nut trees as being, well, full of nuts right?

Like I said I just want to know what I have permission to say. It doesn't mean I'm going to stop calling people crazy, because I'm crazy like that, but I just want to know which law I'm breaking so it won't surprise me when they come and get me.

My advice is to grow a thicker skin. When I hear someone disparage assholes I don't take it personally. When I hear assholes disparage women I don't take it personally, simply because they're assholes. When I hear someone disparage old people I don't take it personally. When I hear someone disparage women I don't take it personally. If they try to disparage me they almost always regret it, but if they want to do it, then they must live with the consequences. What I never do, is consider myself entitled to telling others what they should say or how they should say it. I may not like what they say or how they say it, and I will refute it or criticize it or throw it back in their face, but I sure don't think I should tell them they can't say it. And the reason is because only a crazy person thinks they have the right to dictate what everyone is allowed to say.

[cliffordu]

70. I'm a bipolar alcoholic/addict with PTSD.

I don't give a fuck what you call people.

Michelle Bachmann is a loon. I don't particularly care what her real diagnosis is, just as long as she stays as far away from the impressionable as possible.

[newtothegame]

78. Agreed, but we can only be politically correct when it's politically convenient.

For instance, Jamie Foxx calling Miley Cyrus, a 15-year-old, a "little white bitch" on his radio show is ok, because Jamie Foxx voted for Obama. No way that's racism.

Trent Lott wishing an aging Senator a Happy Birthday, and talking about his past, with no reference to race whatsoever, is absolutely racism because we can use that one for years against Republicans.

See how it works now?

[shadowknows69]

82. I admit I don't know the man outside his body of film and TV work

But in some of the interviews he's done and some of the creative choices he's made that surprises me he's fomenting hate like that.

[shadowknows69]

85. I'll pledge right now that if I ever do commit suicide I'll do it on youtube

Just so I can have my wife link it here for the entertainment of those that would enjoy it. This used to be a site I could come to and heal a bit.

[billh58]

120. On many

web sites, your post would be cause to call the authorities for your own protection. I'm assuming that you are just frustrated, and the threat of applying a permanent solution to a temporary problem is just rhetorical.

[shadowknows69]

121. I don't think you're going to find my address under shadowknows69 anywhere.

And I plan on keeping my therapy appointment tomorrow so no video tonight I promise.

[JVS]

96. Is "batshit crazy" still ok though?

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

102. In reference to Michelle Bachman...

this is an insult the people suffering from mental disabilities.

Not too flattering to bat excrement, either.

[backscatter712]

137. These days, I'm using the term "Glenn Beck crazy"

"He's not just crazy, he's Glenn Beck crazy!!!"

[SWr]

129. and some of us are sick of the overly PC crowd

[nolabear]

130. If anyone is interested in a professional's opinion

This thread very quickly became a blank slate for everyone to project their rage on. There's a great deal of understandable rage among the DUers because , as a whole, we despise the hateful RW rhetoric and the attempt at regaining control of a government that has us alternately very hopeful and very worried.

Quick tutorial on "mental illness." It's just a chatch-all phrase, is inexact, and again becomes a blank screen for people to paint their anger at one another on. Diagnoses fall into two categories (with some extras I won't go into):

Axis I: The major mental illnesses that may be directly treatable with drug therapy in combination with other therapies, talk, behavioral, ECT, EMT, and so forth. Includes Bipolar Disorder, Depression, the schizphrenias (and there are more than one), Anxiety Disorders, and many others. The sufferers SUFFER; they struggle to live and are generally strongly motivated to seek help.

Axis II: Mostly the "personality disorders" including Narcissistic, Borderline, Paranoid, Antisocial, and variations on the themes. Again, this is incomplete. Those with personality disorders tend to be miserable as well, but tend to believe that the fault lies with others and act accordingly. They feel alienated, betrayed, empty, and outraged that whomever could make them happy, wont. If they would just stop being plain old imperfect human beings and instead be what the sufferer needs them to be, all would be ducky.

We all have the capacity to visit both of these realms, most of us just aren't stuck there. Believe me, in both cases, even if they make you want to tear your hair, it is not "us and them." It's just "us". And the RW is another animal entirely. Many of them just want the power back and will do or say anything to get it, and many of them find power and recognition by giving those people what they want. It's not realy diagnosable because we really don't know much about these people. We're just outraged by the outcome and don't have good language for it. That's just an opinion, of course.

[shadowknows69]

131. Your insight is very much appreciated. Thank you.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

133. Thank you. I agree. :)

Add to the list people who use "retarded," "fucktard," etc. That really sets me off.

For the record, to me, mental illness is a disease that is to be treated like any other type of illness (like diabetes, hypertension, etc.).

[RagAss]

134. You'd rather hear "Crazier than a Shithouse Rat"?.....no problem...