Should Extreme Racism Be Considered a Mental Illness?

[Mark Stubblefield]

There has been a lot of talk lately about making extreme Racism an actual mental Illness. What does everyone think about this idea?

Personally I see it as a bad thing. If a criminal could argue that he has a mental illness then he could possibly get of a crime with a lesser sentence.

I am not sure I agree with the idea of classifying any crime, such as hate crime laws for that matter. If a person is guilty of something they should have the same punishment, no matter what their motive was for committing the crime.

Any thoughts?

[This message has been edited by Mark Stubblefield (edited 06-02-2001).]

[lynchmob]

I think the people who advocate racism should contract an illness.

[BBA]

Racism...what a joke.

But then again, Alcoholism is considered an illness, why not?

[Goldwingnut]

Racism IS a mental illness. The combination of obsessive compulsive disorder, paranoia and delusion. And fear, in vast quantity.

The only mental illnesses that will "get you off" for a crime are Psychosis and Schizophrenia. But: If you plead mental illness, you are admitting that you did the crime, but are not responsible for your own actions. So you get sent to the ricochet room at Hotel HaHa until you are cured. At which time you may be sent to prison, to do time for what got you sent to Hotel HaHa.

What I find interesting is that white racists and black racists are interchangeble . "I can't get no good job because the ( minorities/white racist power structure ) saves all the good jobs for themselves with ( affirmative action/nepotism ). Waaaah!

[Romulus2]

It comes dangerously close to classifying any way of thinking that doesn't happen to agree with what is considered politically correct as certifiable and therefore a mandate for locking that person away in an institution. It could be a dream come true for those who would like thought police.

Okay, we all agree that racism is despicable but where do you draw the line on what people can and cannot think without threat of being automatically diagnosed as mentally ill? Could it lead to a time when any opinion that doesn't happen to agree with what the government says would incur a charge of mental insanity and therefore imprisonment in a "mental institution" (gulag)?

Also, as caddmannq said, racism is only one symptom of a disturbed (not necessarily insane) mind. The cause could be mental illness but it could also merely be brainwashing, ignorance, irrational prejudice, personal childhood experiences, paranoia, immediate environment, etc. After all, MOST people were racist (even if only in a small way) in the 19th century. It was a product of social environment; it doesn't mean that most people in the 19th century were mentally ill!

The extreme racism mentioned in the title is more likely to be a symptom of mental illness but even so, I would hesitate before automatically classifying it.

[This message has been edited by Romulus2 (edited 06-02-2001).]

[Mark Stubblefield]

Btw, I'm not the one that is classifying it as extreme racism, it was in an ABC article http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

Romulus2, you made a lot of really good points in your post.

[BBA]

These psychologist coming up with this BS have gone off their rockers, HAH HAH... HEE HEE...

I also think the law is starting to look more like IRS code. None of it makes any **** sense. Just a bunch of dudley do-gooders making a big mess that they can't clean up!

[pickel]

Racism is learned, it is the exposure to the opinions expressed by those who hold a predudicial attitude to member of a different
biological background. As BBA said it's all
pure "D" B.S.

[jad1097]

I think it is more of a "social disease".

[Barney]

I think that guy is a fu<king racist.

They are parasitic, uneducable, criminally predatory -- and they hate whites.
I suspect, no blacks at all really like whites.
And he can tell all that from three newspaper articles.

Would I be discriminating if I said I hate racists/fascists?

[Warthog]

So you get sent to the ricochet room at Hotel HaHa until you are cured

ROFLMAO!!!

"Hotel HaHa" I will remember that one!!! ROFL! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

You had me cracking up, man http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

Warthog

[club_med]

*

[Hellmund]

I wouldn't classify that as discrimitating Barney, is it discrimitating to put a murderer in jail? I would say no, that's because it's morally wrong to murder another human being, much like it's wrong to discrimate a person based on skin color. The sad thing is that it is brain-washing, much like religion, racial beliefs are often passed on through the generations of families. Should Extreme Racism Be Considered a Mental Illness? I think not, anyone can be taught to be racist over time and people are in total control of there bodies when they are being prejudicial. That's my opinion anyway.

[BBA]

Well...I DO see blacks who want to take out anger against whites...and they don't even know why. Is it racism? Are they insane as well?

They think they were deprived.


Hell...any black person in this country, reading this, who thinks they are deprived...I'll help buy you a ticket to Africa!

I don't think I'll see any takers.

[Warthog]

You know why I like you BBA? Because you do the take-it-by-the-balls approach. Head on, watch out here I come, no holds barred style. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

Warthog

[Reddog]

Remember, racism comes as three names:

1. Racism

2. Sexism

3. Can't remember this one, it's the one where you are racist towards ethics and religion, not race.

And there are two ways to be racist:

1.simply being racist

2. fearing racists extremely.
An example: Jack and Sue are both 17 years old and start dating. Jack is black and Sue is white. Jack and Sue want to date. Sue's mom won't let her, fearing that racists might hunt sue and Jack down.

All of these are bad. America is based on ALL being free, regardless of what anyone thinks. I think Racism is already a mental illness, and that is that. This post shouldn't even be here right now. Racism is cause by people bringing up insignificant differences between class, race, wealth, ethics, religion, sex, etc.

[Romulus2]

Remember, racism comes as three names Ermm, don't you mean "prejudice"? Sexism isn't a subcategory of racism; it's a totally different kind of prejudice - sometimes combined with racism but not the same thing!

BTW, there are far more than just three forms of prejudice. Unfortunately . . .

[This message has been edited by Romulus2 (edited 06-03-2001).]

[daveleau]

While it is disturbing, it is NOT a disease. A Disease or an Illness is SOMETHING THAT CANNOT BE AVOIDED. It is not something that can be turned off. A disease is like cancer. Cancer cannot be avoided. you cannot suddenly decide to not have cancer. Alcoholism, racism, people who dish out physical, mental or sexual abuse....these are not diseases. These are people who make choices to do bad things. They should not be coddled and treated like they cannot help their conditions.

Dave

[Szech]

Getting in this one kind of late, but:

I don't think extreme racism is a mental illness. I think in such cases there is a mental illness (i.e. no self-esteem, loner, or just plain kookey) that is already there that latches onto racism and uses it as its expression. I also would not want it to be recognized as a mental illness because of all the aformentioned points of using it as an excuse.

BTW Mark:

I believe the logic of recognizing hate crimes is in fact distinguishing motive and treating accordingly. Like distinguishing between manslaughter, 2nd degree murder, and murder 1. The result is the same, but the punishment is different because of the motive and conditions that led to it.

I see hate crimes in the same light as crimes that are committed because of alcohol or other drugs. He might not have done _____________ if he weren't a drunk/racist. Courts currently recognize the role alcohol and drugs play in crimes and accordingly, people can get sentences of jail time and be forced to attend AA. I would like to see hate crimes recognized so that the person can be treated, that they are less likely to do it again. I would not want to see hate crimes recognized with the intention of giving longer jail sentences, because that wouldn't do anything. Racism only gets worse in prison.

Attacking the root of the problem, instead of throwing people in jail.

[LemonHead]

i think the general concensus is:

NO

[krusty the klown]

Making it a mental illness would surely create an 'excuse' for this kind of behaviour. A bad idea, IMO http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif

[jad1097]

daveleau, what you are refering to is "Human Disease" not disease in general. In fact a "social disease" is actually a STD. There are mental health illnesses or diseases. An illness is "an unhealthy condition of body or mind ". Racism is unhealthy for the humand mind. Is it not? FACT: Disease is sickness, sickness is illness. Alcoholism is a disease by definition, it is a genetic disease.

BBA has a valid point, I have seen the same thing myself. That is an example of why I would call it a social disease. It is spread in a social manner.

[daveleau]

Yeah, I actually went to Websters when writing my last post, and the definition of these words does leave leeway to classify alcoholism or racism for that matter as an illness and even a disease. I still have a hard time thinking of a self-depricating choice being described in the same breath as cancer and heart disease though. It seems like we are giving people who chose to do X because they cannot control themselves a crutch when we call these things diseases or illnesses.

Dave

[jad1097]

For some it is not a choice. I agree with you about it seeming as if we are giving them a crutch because too many doctors misdiagnose their patients.

[BFlurie]

Poor Hitler and his murderous goon-squads -- they were victims of racismotosis. We should've held them by the hand & applied gentle & soothing ministrations. They were simply victims of this random affliction.

[Mark Stubblefield]

BFlurie, well put http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif