What IS Insanity?

[Daye.04]

Not realising that you're insane. If you're sane enough to realise that you are insane, then you must be sane.

Same as when the question of wether you're drunk or not, eh? =P

Insanity is not a psychological or medical condition. It's strictly a legal term for someone who has a mental condition severe enough to be unable to take responsibility for his actions.

Read: Something for the criminals to blame it on. Hence getting a less punishment

 

[Adfest]

There is no one set definition of it these days. Its divided down more into different types of psychological disorder.

This^

There are so many different flavors that it's impossible to lump it into the word "insane" anymore. The closest thing I've seen that fits with most people's definition of "insanity" would be the ones with full blown psychosis from a combination of being Schizophrenic and sleep deprivation. Sure, there are other things that cause people to act "insane", but a lot of times it's just behavioral. Like dressing up as a ninja and popping Xanax with booze.

 

[Grimm91]

The actual definition is " To repeatedly do the same action but expecting a different result."
So to be really technical people with OCD are "Insane".

 

[Scary_Bob]

"Insanity is the second album from melodic death metal band Darkane. It was released on March 6, 2001."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insanity_(album)

Thanks Wiki! *salutes*

 

[kawligia]

Insanity is not a psychological or medical condition. It's strictly a legal term for someone who has a mental condition severe enough to be unable to take responsibility for his actions.

Read: Something for the criminals to blame it on. Hence getting a less punishment

Its usually extremely difficult to prove insanity. Every now and then you will have an entire jury without any functioning brains that lets someone abuse the insanity defense, but its the exception rather than the rule.

The actual definition is " To repeatedly do the same action but expecting a different result."
So to be really technical people with OCD are "Insane".

No. The actual definition is in my quoted post above.

 

[_Janny_]

I'd say insanity is when you can't tell the difference between reality and the fantasies you make up in your head, seeing things that aren't there, thinking that you're in the Matrix, etc. Sadly, it's hard to define what 'real' really is, but I think that if the majority on Earth experiences reality different from you then you're likely to be in trouble... Like if you're convinced that the Earth is flat or that it's a big pancake might mean you're a little loony.

 

[Abedeus]

Performing a specific act over and over and expecting a different result.

By that definition, I'm insane. I'm trying to understand the thought of an average 16-year old girl that reads lame books and thinks pop music is cool.

 

[Daye.04]

Insanity is not a psychological or medical condition. It's strictly a legal term for someone who has a mental condition severe enough to be unable to take responsibility for his actions.

Read: Something for the criminals to blame it on. Hence getting a less punishment

Its usually extremely difficult to prove insanity. Every now and then you will have an entire jury without any functioning brains that lets someone abuse the insanity defense, but its the exception rather than the rule.

Why I sure hope so.
THe problem is that in Norway there's been several courts were the suspect has said "Oh dear, I happen to have been insane in the moment of action", then they'll be like "Oh. Poor chap. Let's make sure he and his awfully unpredictable behavior get back out on the street as soon as possible". ANd that's just ridicioulus.

 

[sirdanrhodes]

Insanity - Definition, me.

 

[fd18e3d0-816e-11e4-b4a9-0800200c9a66]

Not realising that you're insane. If you're sane enough to realise that you are insane, then you must be sane.

Catch 22?

Yep.

"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."
-Albert Einstein

But what about Quantum Mechanics? The wave-particle duality means that you can fire two photons in exactly the same way through a diffraction grating, but they will likely behave in a different (though probabilistic) manner. I guess that was one of Einstein's reasons for disliking QM.

And that his equations don't apply on a quantum level

 

[sirdanrhodes]

Insanity - Definition, me.

Hah! Beat yuh to it yuh soldier demon penguin bastard!

No body, NO BODY, talks bad to the penguin!

 

[spuddyt]

I would define insane as having different from average thought patterns - these people are totally harmless, but violently insane people on the other hand....

 

[spuddyt]

No body, NO BODY, talks bad to the penguin!

I just thought I should mention that nobody is one word... very bad grammar, tut tut

 

[Typhian]

I always say, "If you think everyone else is crazy, chances are you're the insane one." But I'm not always sure that applies. I know I often think the majority of society is nuts, and that's enough to drive a person bonkers. So yes, society can make you lose your mind.

 

[Kodlak]

Well I go insane after a bottle of whiskey... shame I don't remember really, I've only heard about the stuff I did. Which include quite a bit of climbing... and falling off of stuff ( like trees)

 

[orangebandguy]

a state of mind that doesn't fit in for what constitutes as a majority