Zeraph

How would you define crazy? Help me finish this sentence:

The individual functions and perceives things differently than mainstream society to such an extent that the individual...

or create your own.

Some things I consider part of being crazy:
1. Can still be useful and functional, just not in the normal 9-5 job kind of way
2. Difficulty assimilating self into social functions
3. Lack of understanding of mainstream perception
-mainstream being defined as the individual's immediate, and enveloping surrounding community, town, or society
4. Difficulty in maintaining an even sense of self

Plan9

Aaah, a thread about Hardcore World of Warcraft players! Should this be directed to Tilted Gaming? j/k

...

Due to obvious legal reasons, no TFP member will admit to "being crazy" so as to maintain their security clearance. TFP is actually a covert office under the Department of Homeland Security. We're all here to serve as glorified, self-righteous hamsters to psychological prodding.

...

Yeah, I don't know... "crazy" is such a wishy-washy value statement. It's either "crazy" or "not crazy" ("a little crazy" is even more elusive) and the definition could be psychological (internal processes), social (behaviors), or simply wearing socks with sandals.

...

Hah, I was totally your definition of "crazy" when I joined the US Army.

1. I was useful and functioning. Physically fit and going to community college while working a weird job. A degree of skill in oddball tasks like hiking long distances, shooting things, eating disgusting bag-food, sneaking up on people, and making Dakota fire holes.
2. I had more socially awkward vibes in me than the unnecessary locker room scenes in Top Gun. Peers? They're scary!
3. My world picture was very middle class white boy: spoiled, naive, cranky, pathetic, clueless, sheltered, etc.
4. My sense of self hadn't been defined yet because I had yet to be drop forged by any real life experience.

__________________
Whatever you can carry.

"You should not drink... and bake."

MauiMensch

Let me pour some light on this, as I am certifiably crazy. I was diagnosed with bipolar and threw a fit when I realized the grounds for this diagnosis are behaviorally based. That is, there's no blood test or any other sort of scientific test for bi-polar. If a psychiatrist thinks your bi-polar, and he calls you bi-polar, then you are bi-polar. I said "Hey, that's crap. What gives you the right to tell me that my perception of reality is wrong and yours is right?", because at the time I was high on a manic episode. I told him, "in another country, my behavior would not be so out of line and would be basically normal". And then he told me, "in another country, if you indeed were able to function, you would not be diagnosed as bi-polar. You're only being diagnosed because of your inability to function in this society". My wife, a double psychology major, backed up this statement, saying that although there are genes which would lead some to be more prone to bipolar behavior, the ultimate test of whether or not your are "crazy"* is whether or not you can FUNCTION in society. How you or your psychiatrist defines "function" and "society" will help determine whether or not you are "crazy".

* "Crazy" and "insane" are not included in the Psychologists' DSM IV [Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders]. Psychiatrists are expected to hazard a slightly more specific guess as to what brand of crazy someone has [ie bipolar, schizophernia, multiple personality disorder, ADD, HADD, OCD, Insomnia, etc...]. Bi-polar is one of the more popular diagnoses among psychiatrists these days. Most people have mental issues without being clinically diagnosable. What's the benefit to being diagnosed? A: Pre-established treatment = Drugs! The whole disease-model of psychology is kind of fucked, but its what we have to work with here in the U.S. I must say that lithium pills do help to even me out, and its worth a little damage to my pride.

To avoid being crazy:
1. Get along with the people you interact with (that is, Don't NOT get along to the point that you are no longer functioning within their society). OR change societies.
2. Don't think about killing yourself.

Strange Famous

I would say I am probably "unstable"... crazy is a bit far.

__________________
"Do not tell lies, and do not do what you hate,
for all things are plain in the sight of Heaven. For nothing
hidden will not become manifest, and nothing covered will remain
without being uncovered."

The Gospel of Thomas

noodle

People think that me and my SO are more than a litle crazy a lot of the time. Their reasons?

--"You don't want to get married?!?!" So what? We're happy as we are and currently see no benefit (in fact, quite the opposite to the government which would slash my fiancial aid) so why does that make us crazy?

--"You don't believe in our God?!?!" Nope. I'm a little eclectic. I'm not going to count anything out, but I just haven't found any set of mainstream beliefs that fits me and/or that I feel comfortable identifying myself with. SO?!

--"You work with dying kids?!?! how can you joke about death like that?!?!" You're serious? Really? If I don't joke, do y'think I might cry more often? It's not that horrible and I work with LIVING kids, dammit. And I'm really, really good at it. You work in a boring 9-5 job you hate every day? Are you crazy?!?!?

--"You actually LIKE that stuff?!?!" Yes, I enjoy video games from time to time, taking pictures of the insides of dead birds sometimes (I didn't kill it but it was fascinating), listening to offbeat music while laying in the middle of the floor in the dark, reading bizarre books, non mainstream gardening... Life's boring in the main stream.

--"You took him back how many times?!?!" Hey, when you know it's right, sometimes you have to hang in there until they know it, too. And we're damn happy. I'm over it now YOU get over it.

--"You don't care that he does ________?!?!!" Nope. He doesn't hit me, treat me like shite or do anything that makes me question his committment, sanity (not often anyway, ). So why wouldn't I "let" him go to Vegas for a bachelor party, have boys nights once a week, go off without me, spend 18 hours playing video games... We're two people. I don't "let" him anything, nor does he "allow" me to do anything.

I like my life a bit out of the mainstream and that translates to "crazy" to a lot of people. I think it's almost become a catch-all phrase and automated response rather than really meaning "insane." That bugs me. Nor am I "crazy" for going back to school for my PhD. it kinda makes me sane 'cause I'm gonna be making more money than all of those crazy bitches tellin' me I'm the crazy one.

/rant about my obnoxious coworkers and "friends" that drive me nuts with this.


I say all us "crazy people" have a party.

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World's King

I sure as fuck I hope I'm crazy.



If I'm not I have a shit load of explaining to do to a lot of people.

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heavy is the head that wears the crown

Zeraph

I wasn't sure how this would come off, so far so good. So I'll tell me story.

I started out "normal" (I wanted the same things my peers did, I functioned as my peers did) but with secret tendencies to be crazy. By crazy I mean, seeing things not at all the way my peers do and having impulses (OCD, schizoid, etc.) This led to a few years of confused angst, not sure which side I wanted to win out.

After a few bad experiences with humanity and my so called "peers" I began rooting for the crazy side. Ever since I've been delving deeper and deeper into the insanohole in my head. I've rejected what society says is the right thing to do.

Where this leads, I don't know. I may chicken out and pay lip service. But I'm hoping I'll have the balls to go through with it, wherever that might lead (suicide, mental hospital, drugs, etc). Hopefully something not so dark.

mixedmedia

Could you explain what you mean by this one?

Because as far as I'm concerned, the first three more closely describe what I consider sane than crazy. Exception being, I think SANE people can function perfectly well in a 9-5 environment only difference from crazy people being that they see said environment for the insanity that it is.

__________________
Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus
PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce

Zeraph

Like there's a steady theme to all your actions and decisions and the way you perceive yourself. Sane Joe is a fisherman and a father. It would take awhile for him to change.

But ya, you're basically right. It's all about perception. No one *really* sees themselves as insane.

mixedmedia

Well, I guess I'm a little confused...I know plenty of 'crazy' people who are steady in their actions, decisions and they way they see themselves.
Perhaps your observations more accurately describe conformists as opposed to non-conformists, rather than people who are exhibiting symptoms of a mental condition or behavioral aberrations otherwise.

__________________
Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus
PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce

Zeraph

Maybe, or maybe our definitions are different. Define crazy for me.

roachboy

i'm one of the sanest people i know except when i'm not.

__________________
a gramophone its corrugated trumpet silver handle
spinning dog. such faithfulness it hear

it make you sick.

-kamau brathwaite

Bear Cub

X2.


Although I usually blow off the explanations altogether.

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Living in the United Socialist States of America.

mixedmedia

Irrational. Erratic. Unsound.

Of course, I find what most people deem to be 'normal' as exhibiting all of those qualities and I can't quite understand why it's not more obvious to more people - that what we define as 'normal' is often quite pathologically unbalanced.

I tend to think that 'normalcy' more than a condition is defined by adherence to what is accepted as 'normal' without regard for whether it is rational or sound. And that's just crazy.

__________________
Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus
PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce

Xerxys

Crazy?

Do I think differently than most people? Yes.

Do I "function" in society? ...lets see, I don't do drugs, don't engage in illegal activities, Pay taxes, pay bills .... yes, I function.

Do I maintain an even sense of self? On the outside, yes.

No, despite the fact that I don't think I'm "even" in my head, I am not crazy.

Actually, I'm the most rational person I know.

snowy

I would say I am the hard-to-quantify "a little crazy" Crompsin mentioned--the cute, harmless kind.

I have been diagnosed with clinical depression, but I manage it with established beneficial routines, good habits, and exercise.

I've seen real crazy. I have a friend with schizophrenia and a family member has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Even years later, some of my experiences with that are still too raw to post about in a forum. I've only recently begun to even talk about it.

For me, I've developed internal controls to the point that it has become a choice. Something happens and I can choose to react as my depressive self would, or I can choose to react how my healthy self would. I am still lazy sometimes and choose the former, but I am working towards choosing the latter all of the time.

Did any of that make sense?

__________________
If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

ring

xuvio38

~~~~~

abaya

I wouldn't say that I'm psychotic-type crazy (which is what I usually associate the term with, if it's being used seriously), but I am prone to fairly severe episodes of anxiety and depression, which often make me feel pretty insane. And then there's the chronic low-level depression that has been an undercurrent of my life for at least the past 10 years, probably longer (but before that point, religion kind of dulled the ache). I'm starting to reconsider getting on meds right now, because it's pretty bad.

__________________
And think not you can direct the course of Love;
for Love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
--Khalil Gibran

Zeraph

That's awesome. And as far as crazy goes, would depend on what type of effect that has on the rest of your life (IMO).

lostgirl

"But I don't want to go among mad people," Alice remarked.

"Oh, you can't help that," said the Cat: "we're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad."

"How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice.

"You must be," said the Cat, "or you wouldn't have come here."


I am crazy, but in the 'fun crazy' kind of way.

Nothing is more fun than being a bit unpredictable and different with a dash of crazy fun mixed in.

Where do I stand against these
1. Can still be useful and functional, just not in the normal 9-5 job kind of way
~Never had a problem with this.
2. Difficulty assimilating self into social functions
~Only when I was younger, I was just shy.
3. Lack of understanding of mainstream perception
-mainstream being defined as the individual's immediate, an enveloping surrounding community, town, or society
~ I understand it, but that doesn't mean I want to be a part of the mainstream. I have always liked being a little different.
4. Difficulty in maintaining an even sense of self
~I think everyone can struggle with this at some point in their life

__________________
We're about to go through the crucible, but we'll come out the other side.
We always arise from our own ashes. Everything returns later in its changed form. - Children of Dune

ametc

I know people that are crazier than I am, but I'm still crazy. I'm suicidal and I don't know why. Seriously. If I'm left alone for DAYS on end.. I try to kill myself. It starts as a panic attack.. then ends with me slicing my wrists open... It gets annoying for me and my family. Maybe not annoying.. but tiring...aggravating...confusing.

I'm also fun crazy like lostgirl when I'm with my friends. As long as I'm with people who can remind me to snap the hell out of it... I'm good.. even better than good.. I'm brilliant!

FuglyStick

Nope. Had some run ins with depression, but not crazy.

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AZIZ! LIGHT!

Iliftrocks

Am I crazy, because I want other people to make sense?????

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bill hicks - "I don't mean to sound bitter, cold, or cruel, but I am, so that's how it comes out."

lostgirl

Real crazy people never think they are crazy.

__________________
We're about to go through the crucible, but we'll come out the other side.
We always arise from our own ashes. Everything returns later in its changed form. - Children of Dune

Xerxys

lostgirl, are you trying to say that my toaster really doesn't talk to me ... YOUR NUTS!!! YOU BELONG IN A TREE!!!!

**begins chant to place her back in tree**

ngdawg

My aunt used to say that only people who swear they are sane are the ones in need of help...

Once upon a time I was certifiable. I'd have panic attacks, crying jags, I'd gotten so many different ailments that I knew I was dying-I had a pantry shelf devoted to medications.
One day I threw all the medications out. I sought mental help, not physical. I learned that my thinking process had skewed itself and I had to relearn to think.

I ain't crazy(now)...but I don't ever want to be "sane".

I don't adhere to "normal" social behaviors. Case in point: Man friend's wife made some candies. I brought them to work, offered bosslady (who knows man friend) some, stating "his wife made them". She began to say "don't you think this whole thing is a bit wei.....nevermind". Crazy? Nah....Man friend comes to house, I do whatever while he and spouse chat it up, then man friend and I go off to wherever.

Long and short of it is: What some may see as crazy (read: abnormal) behavior seems perfectly fine to the one doing the behaving. As long as no one is breaking the law or harrassing others or talking to flies, who gives a shit? Get contentment where you can.

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Don't blame me. I didn't vote for either of'em.

NorthernGirl

I dont think Im normal but everyone has something crazy about them , Im only as crazy as the people around me .
I dont think Im normal when it comes to some aspects of work and socializing, meeting new people at someones home is really scary .
I read a great book called the introvert advantage, but sometimes Im extroverted, it just depends on the day and my mood , etc .
The way I see it is....accept me, great, dont accept me, fine, but I dont want to hear the reasons why because you aint perfect either.

pig

By my own personal definitions, I'm not crazy, but possibly insane. It waxes and wanes.

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You don't love me, you just love my piggy style

Zeraph

what's the diff between crazy and insane?

lostgirl

Not going back in that tree... lalalalala

__________________
We're about to go through the crucible, but we'll come out the other side.
We always arise from our own ashes. Everything returns later in its changed form. - Children of Dune

Shaindra

Only crazy people think they're sane and only sane people think they're crazy.

All I know is the crazy ones are better in bed. Next question.

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"Never regret something that once made you smile."

Lokus

I'm pretty neurotic but I wouldn't go so far as to say I'm crazy. I certainly have trouble integrating into society though.

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The black wind howls...

pig

Well, you have to remember I'm playing by my own definitions...that said:

I tend to think of sanity as having a belief system which is consistent with commonly accepted beliefs within a given society. I'd say that not all my beliefs are commonly held, thus I think I could technically be a little insane.

I think of crazy as having beliefs that are illogical, impractical. People talking to their toasters, beliefs that are consistent with (what I consider to be) the mythological underpinnings of many dominant philosophical/theological systems, etc.

To my mind, it's something like atheism/agnosticism. The terms are similar, and they get mixed up a lot. However, technically I hold them to be distinct. You will have some people who are sane, but crazy. Insane, but not crazy. Insane and crazy. Sane and not crazy.

I don't know too many of the last category. I think you need a little craziness or insanity to get by.

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You don't love me, you just love my piggy style

xuvio38

~~~~~

Shell

For anyone who thinks they're crazy, there's always this very effective therapy, Bob Newhart style:

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..."Say what you think. Those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind" ~ Dr. Seuss

thespian86

That sounds right for me.

ME:

I'm an artist and I'm bipolar. I don't conform well to norms but I'm really popular and I have been my whole life. I wouldn't say being crazy - and this is if we mean the more literal term of psychotic - equates social pariah.

I think being a socially inept being means saying things like "Man, I'm just so crazy". What ever you need to tell yourself at night.

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EX: Whats new?
ME: I officially love coffee more then you now.
EX: uh...
ME: So, not much.

Martian

Some people use 'crazy' or similar terms as an excuse for their social phobias. They think that if they can't get along with other people, they can be eccentric and use that as a substitute/explanation.

Some people think I'm crazy because I don't operate in the normal mode. I'm very straightforward, I am honest even when it hurts me, and I hardly ever take things more serious than the situation warrants (ie, I can be serious, but don't judge most things to be as important as people seem to think they are). It all really stems from one thing, which is the simple fact that I realize that I get to define my own reality. I can be the person I want to be and do the things I want to do. I can choose the things that are important to me, and ignore the things that aren't.

I don't think I'm crazy. I think I just have a different perspective. It's odd to me that so many people seem to equate one with the other.

Matthew Vita: Why the obsession with genres? Just write your music. Use the inspiration and let it come. Other people will apply enough labels to it, so you don't really need to worry about that part.

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I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept
I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept
I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head
I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said

- Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame

newtx

I am absolutely not crazy ...................................today. Yesterday and tomorrow are still open for debate.