How do you define insanity?

[Mirren]

That term is just way too relative. So many people of great genius are/were supposedly insane. It's just too broad of a spectrum. I do some things some may think is insane and other things that are completely straight laced. It's all in the person viewing it and making the judgement.

[Mindgames]

The usual clinical criteria was "Voting Democrat", but now I'm not so sure the lunatics are inside the asylum.

mG

[sheramil]

best description i ever heard was Timothy Leary's:

when you think the game is football, but everyone else on the field thinks it's baseball. playing by a different set of rules to everyone else.

[Angel Slayer]

I think insanity is a complete lack of awareness toward yourself or your actions. Or toward society, which is kind of like what sheramil said. If you're aware of the consequences to your actions, or you know how other people will react to them, then I don't think it's really insanity. You're just weird.

[the_darkness_calls]

i think insanity is a total break from reality altogether, which pans out to the lack of awarenes, etc. that's already been said.

[sheramil]

some crazy people are aware that they're crazy, but their first priority is always making sure that tin-foil hat is in place, or telling everyone about the body Thetans/Merlocks/Insects crawling all over them, or warning the world about the Frankenstein-God-Monster-Satellite that's beaming accordian music straight into their brains.

[keiko]

my mother in law.

[Black Spiral Dancer]

You could take this test...

[kellie]

insainity is the mental incapability to distinguish delusion from reality.

[scaramanga]

insainity is the mental incapability to distinguish delusion from reality.

Sometimes it can be great fun, though!

[sheramil]

Sometimes it can be great fun, though!

oh yeah. trying to stop a hysterical friend from running off into the night in a suburb known for its junkies, rapists and generally violent assholes. fun fun fun.

trying to get your hand inside the door while they slam it on your fingers, because if you leave them alone they'll try to kill themself. again.

understanding that this latest manic screaming fit is nothing personal - they're just striking out at whatever's to hand - holding on to them through the distress even though you've just been kicked in the nuts.

going back, even though you know it's not going to change any time in the near future. refusing to abandon them even though the highs and lows are getting higher and lower.

let the good times roll.

[Mr Karl]

here's how I fugured it, you have a big vat of liquid called sanity, so either you are part of the liquid , therefore 'sane' or you are forced to swim around in it hence, 'insane'

simple really

[Buster Friendly]

insainity is the mental incapability to distinguish delusion from reality.

hmmm, i thought that was the technical deffinition of 'civilization'

[scaramanga]

going back, even though you know it's not going to change any time in the near future. refusing to abandon them even though the highs and lows are getting higher and lower.

let the good times roll.

please accept my apologies. i never intended to cause upset or grief.

i have lost two friends to mental illness, and nearly my brother as well. i know that having someone around you who is a bit off beam (suicidal, murderous, megalomaniac etc.) can be hard to take - especially if they keep leaping into rivers, in front of cars, etc etc.

i was only talking about being crazy myself. i assure you it has been known to happen.

again, i apologise. i have found a few things, though, that i feel i should say. please don't misunderstand my motivations here.

does your friend have a drugs problem? in particular meth? it really can send people loopy after a few days, or push vulnerable people over the edge. not many. just some.

without wanting to sound like a tosser, your friend may also need help. professionals really can help sometimes. especially with depression and anxiety. the mind drugs these days are outta sight. i've seen them work. they do.

again, please don't take my remarks too seriously. i really do know how it is to have suicidal friends. i was just being crazy myself.