Are racists mentally ill - should they be treated as such?

[kainedamo]

Bull ****, you have to realize that race relations have gone light years since the 50's or even the 90's. Things aren't perfect, but you cannot tell me that things have not changed.

Things have come leaps and bounds, yes. But racism is nowhere near dead. You seem to be fairly naive on the subject - you think a child raised by upper class liberal parents can't become racist. Of course they can.

 

[Kyalesyin]

I don't think its a mental illness along the same lines as Anorexia Nervosa, or paranoid delusions, but there are some interesting parallels that can be drawn.

However, your opinion of another's race... is hard to be 'treated' in a conventional sense. Its pretty obvious if an Anorexic has a problem. People would happily disagree for months over what exactly the racist person's 'problem' is, let alone how it ould be 'treated'. While I don't agree with racism, especialy the organised groups, its hard to criminalise and regulate opinion. Ideas seem to be very resiliant.

 

[kainedamo]

I wouldn't even call it a choice, It's like with serial killers where you realize that their parents are just as much to blame as the criminals themselves.

You seem to think parents have a greater effect on kids turning into bastards than what they do.

Yes, some criminals have bad parents. But not all. I'm telling you, a person can have the best parents, the best upbringing, and STILL turn out to be an evil ****.

But yeah, sometimes bad parenting results in bad people.

 

[Kritish]

Things have come leaps and bounds, yes. But racism is nowhere near dead. You seem to be fairly naive on the subject - you think a child raised by upper class liberal parents can't become racist. Of course they can.

I never said that racism was dead, read my posts dip stick. Nor did I say that It never say that the offspring of liberal parents could turn racist.
It just doesn't happen that much. But then again, you think people that dislike illegals are are skeptical of Muslims are racist.

 

[kytrigger]

I don't think its a mental illness along the same lines as Anorexia Nervosa, or paranoid delusions, but there are some interesting parallels that can be drawn.

However, your opinion of another's race... is hard to be 'treated' in a conventional sense. Its pretty obvious if an Anorexic has a problem. People would happily disagree for months over what exactly the racist person's 'problem' is, let alone how it ould be 'treated'. While I don't agree with racism, especialy the organised groups, its hard to criminalise and regulate opinion. Ideas seem to be very resiliant.

Not only is it hard, but should never be done. Think of how bad it would be to criminalize a thought, no matter how opposed to it you are? Making a specific thought or belief illegal would open up a huge pandora's box.

 

[kainedamo]

I never said that racism was dead, read my posts dip stick. Nor did I say that It never say that the offspring of liberal parents could turn racist.
It just doesn't happen that much. But then again, you think people that dislike illegals are are skeptical of Muslims are racist.

Wow, look who is resorting to personal insults over a debate. You said racism is dying. It is not dying. I don't even know why you're bringing illigals and Muslims into this. I didn't mention them once.

 

[Kritish]

Wow, look who is resorting to personal insults over a debate. You said racism is dying. It is not dying. I don't even know why you're bringing illigals and Muslims into this. I didn't mention them once.

I've noticed that your posts that seemed to be fixated with this topic. But yes, racism is becoming less common. The pricks with the swastikas just make lots of noise. Within a hundred years It will be almost gone in America.

 

[Kyalesyin]

Not only is it hard, but should never be done. Think of how bad it would be to criminalize a thought, no matter how opposed to it you are? Making a specific thought or belief illegal would open up a huge pandora's box.

Well thats my entire point. It's their opinion that other races are bad. Its our opinion that they are wrong. Even then, on this forum, we all disagree about how far things should/can go. Because nothing concrete can be agreed, it must never be made possible to criminalise an opinion.

Saying that, women who had children out of wedlock used to be decalred insane and locked up for it. Its interesting how the definition of 'menal illness' changes over time.

I'm half temped to troll the Prussian Blue forum to death.

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

However, your opinion of another's race... is hard to be 'treated' in a conventional sense.

Not if you're a delusional mind-control facsist wannabe dictator like Kd.

 

[Kyalesyin]

Not if you're a delusional mind-control facsist wannabe dictator like Kd.

He's a special case. The ass-squeezing has gone to his head.

 

[Kritish]

Not if you're a delusional mind-control facsist wannabe dictator like Kd.

I know, he's like a leftist fascist.

 

[Warhammer]

If being a racist is being mentally ill, then we all must be pretty ill.

 

[Kritish]

Kd is a bizzaro Celldog.

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

He's a special case. The ass-squeezing has gone to his head.

Good point and it raises the question, are people who randomly sexually assault strangers in public "mentally ill"?

 

[kytrigger]

Well thats my entire point. It's their opinion that other races are bad. Its our opinion that they are wrong. Even then, on this forum, we all disagree about how far things should/can go. Because nothing concrete can be agreed, it must never be made possible to criminalise an opinion.

Saying that, women who had children out of wedlock used to be decalred insane and locked up for it. Its interesting how the definition of 'menal illness' changes over time.

I'm half temped to troll the Prussian Blue forum to death.

Right there with ya I think quite a few people forget this though and while they lmabast other's for not thinking openly, they will immediately try and both discount and eliminate any opposing ideas others might have just because they don't agree with it.

Mental Illness changes all the time. Hell I think it wasn't until 1974 I think (forgot the exact time) that the Diagnostic and Statistical manual for Mental Disorders stopped considering homosexuality as a mental illness.

 

[kainedamo]

Well, look at it this way. We put people in asylums for all sorts of reasons. People get counselling seasions for all sorts of reasons. And there are all sorts of drugs to help people deal with mental problems.

I'm not saying we should lock people up for having an opinion, per say. I'm saying, if that opinion is irrational and paranoid, and harmful to themself aswell as others around them (their children for example) maybe they need treatment (not necasserily thrown away).

And maybe instead of throwing people into prisons all the time (which does not work, we should know this by now) we should search for an alternative.

 

[Kyalesyin]

Good point and it raises the question, are people who randomly sexually assault strangers in public "mentally ill"?

Before this thread came up, I'd have said yes straight away. I've always maintained that people that commit any form of sexual assault need heavy therapy.

Now, I'm gonna have to sit and think on it.

 

[mightiest_mortal]

Meh! Tolerance is for the exploited and the downtrodden.

 

[Kritish]

Well, look at it this way. We put people in asylums for all sorts of reasons. People get counselling seasions for all sorts of reasons. And there are all sorts of drugs to help people deal with mental problems.

I'm not saying we should lock people up for having an opinion, per say. I'm saying, if that opinion is irrational and paranoid, and harmful to themself aswell as others around them (their children for example) maybe they need treatment (not necasserily thrown away).

And maybe instead of throwing people into prisons all the time (which does not work, we should know this by now) we should search for an alternative.

You're an idiot, and a fascist. Doing that would just make it worse, at the moment racists are frowned upon. Persecuting a cause or belief system only makes it stronger.

 

[Kyalesyin]

Right there with ya I think quite a few people forget this though and while they lmabast other's for not thinking openly, they will immediately try and both discount and eliminate any opposing ideas others might have just because they don't agree with it.

Mental Illness changes all the time. Hell I think it wasn't until 1974 I think (forgot the exact time) that the Diagnostic and Statistical manual for Mental Disorders stopped considering homosexuality as a mental illness.

I don't know about the '74 figure, but the WHO only stoped classifying homosexuality as a mental illness in 93. Scary.

It is also hard though, to think openly, and not judge anyone. Some girl walks past me in college with dyed hair and a stupid outfit, my first thought is 'thick****.' She might be smarter than me for all I know, but I can't help making that judgement. Everyone does it, and yet most people get so uptight when other people do it.

And I will admit, put me in a room with a chinese guy and a black guy, I tend to feel more threatened by the black guy. Why? No idea. Never had a bad incident with a black guy. I rationalise and don't let the first set of thoughts that pop up override everything- its easy enough to tell yourself not to be so dumb, but nobody is 100% open minded and non-judgemental.

Am I mentally ill for not shaving and looking down on women who are slaves to fashion and diets? Is my mother mentally ill for having a passion for swords and pirate corsets?

 

[WTFimVENOM]

Racism is slowly fading out
They are a dying breed

 

[kytrigger]

Well, look at it this way. We put people in asylums for all sorts of reasons. People get counselling seasions for all sorts of reasons. And there are all sorts of drugs to help people deal with mental problems.

I'm not saying we should lock people up for having an opinion, per say. I'm saying, if that opinion is irrational and paranoid, and harmful to themself aswell as others around them (their children for example) maybe they need treatment (not necasserily thrown away).

And maybe instead of throwing people into prisons all the time (which does not work, we should know this by now) we should search for an alternative.

But their opinions and ideas are irrational to YOU, not to them. Just as you can't comprehend their thoughts on racism, they can't comprehend your thoughts either.

And we don't lock people of in jail for thoughts. The racists in jail aren't there because they dislike blacks/jews/whites/whatever. They are there because they commited a crime. For teh most part, it doesn't matter what the person was thinking when they knowingly committed a crime, just that they committed it.

 

[kainedamo]

You're an idiot, and a fascist. Doing that would just make it worse, at the moment racists are frowned upon. Persecuting a cause or belief system only makes it stronger.

There is absolutely no call for that. Giving racists counselling sessions and sending racist murdurers to asylums instead of overcrowded prisons where they will just get out and do it again is not extreme in the slightest.

I mean seriously. I think some of you act like that towards me because its cool, instead of realizing I'm making valid points and not saying anything fascistic at all.

Is it fascistic to try and find an alternative to prison?

 

[Kritish]

Racism is slowly fading out
They are a dying breed

It's about time that someone besides me has said that.

 

[kytrigger]

I don't know about the '74 figure, but the WHO only stoped classifying homosexuality as a mental illness in 93. Scary.

It is also hard though, to think openly, and not judge anyone. Some girl walks past me in college with dyed hair and a stupid outfit, my first thought is 'thick****.' She might be smarter than me for all I know, but I can't help making that judgement. Everyone does it, and yet most people get so uptight when other people do it.

And I will admit, put me in a room with a chinese guy and a black guy, I tend to feel more threatened by the black guy. Why? No idea. Never had a bad incident with a black guy. I rationalise and don't let the first set of thoughts that pop up override everything- its easy enough to tell yourself not to be so dumb, but nobody is 100% open minded and non-judgemental.

Am I mentally ill for not shaving and looking down on women who are slaves to fashion and diets? Is my mother mentally ill for having a passion for swords and pirate corsets?

Right, it generally shouldn't matter what you think, but the actions you take.

Personally, if someone isn't fond of black people for some reason and every time they see one they cross the street, I don't really care. That's their opinion, and while I disagree with it, they aren't hurting anyone. Now if they had disliked the black person and attacked them or somethign, that would be totally different seeing as how their actions hurt someone.