ostarella: (MostAngry)
ostarella ([personal profile] ostarella) wrote2012-01-13 02:36 pm
Entry tags:

I'm too sensitive

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.

[identity profile] ostarella.livejournal.com 2012-01-13 09:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Though I wonder, and this is purely curiosity, what about the times Murdock calls himself crazy? I know I've said it a few times about myself, but of no one else.

Well, it's like blacks calling each other n*****. Between members of any group, there are words which are okay that are definitely not okay for people outside that group. The reason? Basically, those outside that group haven't earned the right.