The Tourist
member
Recently we had another thread about mental illness. As is the custom here, there was a discussion of what the correct actions should be based on our perceptions of this condition.
Several weeks ago, I had a candid conversation with hso on my involvement with THR. It was a very broad spectrum of topics, but most centered on what I can do here, and what it costs me.
It should come as no surprise to you that I grind my molars when I see a topic marked--in any way--"mental illness." As I have often freely admitted, I was diagnosed with Bipolar II. You'll notice that I did not use the phrase "suffer from."
Now, if you've read my posts you'll know that I get into debates for fun, but also because I've lived through the very aspects or defined history of the topic. And believe it or not, I do try to be polite, even when taking a passionate alternative view. I must do so here.
It doesn't matter if you're trying to be honest and forthright, a hobbyist forum is the worst place to discuss this topic. The anecdotal evidence is spotty, the understanding of the illness(s) is more than often poorly portrayed, and the examples used are more detrimental than of any use. There never seems to be a psychiatrist or a cognitive therapist here to untangle the untruths.
Among the members here, there are collectors, pistol guys, revolver guys, IPSC competitors, shotgun owners of all flavors, LEOs, gunsmiths, and yes, the shallow end of our gene pool.
Imagine your concerns and feelings if everytime someone mentioned their admitted involvement in the shooting sports that ten posts would appear at every turn linking gun owners to Aryan survivalists. And you know as well as I do that this group really exists. For example, several years ago a group took over the town of Tigerton Dells here in my home state of Wisconsin.
You cannot argue that such groups exist, but you are troubled because they do not represent the real spectrum of gun owners. On my side of the fence, this is exactly what happens.
Are there patients who quit taking their meds, go off on a mania, steal a weapon and hurt innocent people? Are there deeply troubled schizophrenics tortured by imaginary voices? Of course there are such individuals. However, we seldom tell the tale of the tens of millions of folks who have been given a second chance due to the very real involvement of specialists.
A patient trembling and crying in a doctor's office is no threat to you, nor will he ever be so. He's seeking answers. He wants the same life you enjoy. Trust me, been there, done that. It's not a weakness, or defect or one of a dozen misconceptions. In those tens of millions of examples, it's a problem with serotonin. Coupled with cognitive therapy, there's a bright future.
I admit, I march to the beat of different drummer. Yikes, I was one of the thousands of art majors to grace the campus of UW Madison. To that end, should we enclose all bikers in concentration camps--I'm one of them, as well. What about guys who have a command of language and trounce you in debates? Guilty as charged, I was also an English minor in college.
The condition of BP II is a only a small sliver of who I am. And yet we have people discussing my group as a whole in terms of "insanity" and the involvement of law enforcement. Great googley, moogley, the State Trooper down my block has PTSD, we have the same shrink.
I'll asking for one thing--think before you type. Imagine that each one your posts was read and digested by 20 bipolars. They then publically questioned your involvement in the Aryan Brotherhood, your race, your sexual preference and even your veracity simply because of what you said.
Unless it involves the loss of enumerated rights or your conduct to another suffering individual, I'm not going to answer any thrread with the phrase "mental illness." Why should I upset myself knowing full well there's little if any useable information.
Several weeks ago, I had a candid conversation with hso on my involvement with THR. It was a very broad spectrum of topics, but most centered on what I can do here, and what it costs me.
It should come as no surprise to you that I grind my molars when I see a topic marked--in any way--"mental illness." As I have often freely admitted, I was diagnosed with Bipolar II. You'll notice that I did not use the phrase "suffer from."
Now, if you've read my posts you'll know that I get into debates for fun, but also because I've lived through the very aspects or defined history of the topic. And believe it or not, I do try to be polite, even when taking a passionate alternative view. I must do so here.
It doesn't matter if you're trying to be honest and forthright, a hobbyist forum is the worst place to discuss this topic. The anecdotal evidence is spotty, the understanding of the illness(s) is more than often poorly portrayed, and the examples used are more detrimental than of any use. There never seems to be a psychiatrist or a cognitive therapist here to untangle the untruths.
Among the members here, there are collectors, pistol guys, revolver guys, IPSC competitors, shotgun owners of all flavors, LEOs, gunsmiths, and yes, the shallow end of our gene pool.
Imagine your concerns and feelings if everytime someone mentioned their admitted involvement in the shooting sports that ten posts would appear at every turn linking gun owners to Aryan survivalists. And you know as well as I do that this group really exists. For example, several years ago a group took over the town of Tigerton Dells here in my home state of Wisconsin.
You cannot argue that such groups exist, but you are troubled because they do not represent the real spectrum of gun owners. On my side of the fence, this is exactly what happens.
Are there patients who quit taking their meds, go off on a mania, steal a weapon and hurt innocent people? Are there deeply troubled schizophrenics tortured by imaginary voices? Of course there are such individuals. However, we seldom tell the tale of the tens of millions of folks who have been given a second chance due to the very real involvement of specialists.
A patient trembling and crying in a doctor's office is no threat to you, nor will he ever be so. He's seeking answers. He wants the same life you enjoy. Trust me, been there, done that. It's not a weakness, or defect or one of a dozen misconceptions. In those tens of millions of examples, it's a problem with serotonin. Coupled with cognitive therapy, there's a bright future.
I admit, I march to the beat of different drummer. Yikes, I was one of the thousands of art majors to grace the campus of UW Madison. To that end, should we enclose all bikers in concentration camps--I'm one of them, as well. What about guys who have a command of language and trounce you in debates? Guilty as charged, I was also an English minor in college.
The condition of BP II is a only a small sliver of who I am. And yet we have people discussing my group as a whole in terms of "insanity" and the involvement of law enforcement. Great googley, moogley, the State Trooper down my block has PTSD, we have the same shrink.
I'll asking for one thing--think before you type. Imagine that each one your posts was read and digested by 20 bipolars. They then publically questioned your involvement in the Aryan Brotherhood, your race, your sexual preference and even your veracity simply because of what you said.
Unless it involves the loss of enumerated rights or your conduct to another suffering individual, I'm not going to answer any thrread with the phrase "mental illness." Why should I upset myself knowing full well there's little if any useable information.
