I'm too sensitive

[ostarella]

So, a discussion on a writing forum about how to write a character who is 'mad', as in 'crazy'. And of course, he's violent!

Having a mental illness, I politely said that 'mad' and 'madness' are archaic and insulting, that the correct term is 'mentally ill' and that, btw, most mentally ill are not violent.

The members continued to use the terms. I again objected, and got all kinds of grief (including the 'threat' of being reported to the mods) because 'no disrespect' was intended.

Well, that makes it all better, doesn't it?

Sometimes the ignorance and arrogance of writers makes me want to puke... until I realize that they are probably no more ignorant nor arrogant than other folks. Just more pigheaded about their right to be so.

Comments

[beckyblack]

Gah, people. Certainly someone could give offence without intending it. But after someone has said "actually that is offensive", they can't still claim the offence is unintentional if they continue. They have to own the fact they've chosen to continue and take the consequences.

A person has a right to be offensive if they want to be, but they don't have a right not to be challenged on it by someone else.

[ostarella.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I would never say they can't use those terms - but they should be offended when someone calls them an asshole for doing it. (And, no, I didn't call them assholes - but I guess the implication was there...)