In The Know: Is The Government Spying On Paranoid Schizophrenics Enough?
Humorous or in poor taste? You tell me.
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3 weeks ago
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Is The Government Spying On Paranoid Schizophrenics Enough?
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5 comments:
Schizophrenia is a disease of the brain. I imagine if you made fun of someone with brain tumors who had hallucinations it would be of poor taste, even cruel...10% of those with schizophrenia will commit suicide, the highest percentage of suicides for any mental illness including depression. Isn't that sobering enough?
Anonymous: Schizohphrenia is definitely a terrible disease with terrible affects. Personally, I take this condition very seriously. So I'm assuming you are saying that this kind of video would always be in poor taste.
I am thinking about other forms of humor that mock serious things and wonder why sometimes they seem acceptable and sometimes not. For instance, I remember reading in Lance Armstrong's book ("It's Not About The Bike") that his friend Robin Williams would make fun of the fact that cancer had taken one of his testicles (Williams called him names like "the uniballer"). Was it because it was after his battle with cancer that Lance took no offence and laughed along? Or maybe it was because he was his friend?
Is there a place for humor with debilitating diseases and other cases of human suffering? Is it OK to occasionally joke about terrorism, abuse, handicaps, obesity, lack of social skills,sin, etc? Or should we always play it safe and not attempt it as the chances of someone being hurt are so great?
I find it's usually okay to joke after the crisis has passed, but not while it's happening. You know how sometimes things happen and you say, "I just know I'm going to laugh about this later, but right now, this is so not funny". That sort of thing.
Because this particular disease is one that cannot be cured (as far as I know and I may be wrong), I don't really think it's something that should be joked about. The fear these people experience is real and they really think these things are happening to them. Can you imagine what it must feel like to live in constant mind numbing fear that people are out to get you?
So to make a long story short, I think this video was in poor taste.
Have you ever heard of Big Daddy Tazz? He does stand up for the Manitoba Mood Disorders Association. He has bipolar disease and ADD and is hilarious about it. I too struggle with why some things seem funny and others not. It would also be notable that in some cultures that which we joke about is no joke to them. All in all, I think it's good to be able to laugh, about even the serious of things to get you through them, but this video in particular seemed too far.
Hey Jacquie, in Big Daddy Tazz's case it probably makes it "OK" because he has BP himself and I'm guessing pokes fun at his own condition as much (or more so) then others. Interesting discussion!
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