
![]() How does our society determine what is sane or insane, appropriate behavior or deviant behavior? If one person believes an idea or creed that is totally opposite to that of the entire society, is that person insane?
Dan Mott
10/15/2012 09:22:15 am
Society is a corrupt pot of mindless fools. Social norms, trends, and ideas dominate the humanistic minds of today. Everyone seems to go with the flow, or more often emulate a celebrity. For example, Lady GaGa changed fashion and morales of people across the globe. Expecially affecting the gay and lesbian community. I have nothing against gays at all, just saying that ONE celebrity does something, so people follow. If you're gay, you're gay, express yourself... to a point.. don't go to far. Before anyone even knew who GaGa was, people should have been able to freely express themselves no questions asked. In addition, when she first became popular, Americans anways, thought she was insane and out of the norm, when infact she was just being herself.
Ally Caple
10/15/2012 04:53:28 pm
First, I just want to congratulate you on rewriting the book of Psalms.
Bridget Borowy
10/18/2012 07:08:42 am
Oh my gosh Ally "rewriting the book of psalms", that was funny! But Dan brought up some very interesting points for sure!
Christina martinelli
10/17/2012 08:38:26 am
Dan, you gave good examples in your arguement that were easy to relate to! Good job!
Kristina Lacasse
10/17/2012 02:00:16 pm
I liked the fact that you used past and recent examples in history such as Lady GaGa, The Green River Killer, and Christopher Columbus. Also you gave details on theories and laws.
Lauren Barry
10/17/2012 04:29:33 pm
Dan, you make really good points! What I liked most about your post though was the way you were able to connect your answer to modern-day society, using examples like the whole "YOLO" phrase. Really interesting!
Zach Antonio
10/18/2012 01:00:19 am
"They are doing there own thing" *their. I only checked quick for grammar mistakes, and this is what I first saw. You should be ashamed Dan. ASHAMED!
Christina Buswell
10/18/2012 06:16:22 am
Kudos to you Dan for taking the time to write a book! I liked how you used the quote from Albert Einstein to enhance the point you're trying to make. I agree with you completely, especially on the Lady Gaga comment you made. People base their beliefs and their opinions off of the example of celebrities.
Shayne Fitol
10/18/2012 08:20:04 am
Dan, your first sentence was awesome, and I agree that society, as a whole, is a mindless mass of, well, fools, even though the individuals that make up that society may be intelligent. I also like what you said about yolo and Darwin, as those two things did not occur to me when I read the question, especially Darwin.
Jess Fedak
10/18/2012 08:32:31 am
Dan, you have some really good points in your arguement. Good job!
Kaitlyn Twombly
10/18/2012 08:57:58 am
Dan, I too believe that norms are what contribute most to determining what is inappropriate and appropriate, which is your very first point. You used great examples throughout your response, and I commend you for the effort you put forth in this one!
Meredith Folsom
10/18/2012 10:17:12 am
Oh my goodness Dan, this is so long! But, it had A LOT of good evidence that supports your opinion (especially the serial killer example).
Haley Krivensky
10/18/2012 12:17:53 pm
The statement about Einstein and that being insane is when you do something over and over again and expect the same results is a great example for this question. Using serial killers in your explanation really proved your point, and I agree with you one hundred percent.
Jackie O
10/18/2012 12:32:31 pm
Dan, You are amazing. I was drawn in by the first sentence, "society is a corrupt pot of mindless fools"
Danielle O
10/18/2012 02:17:45 pm
Dan Mott, you always bring up great, and very relatable points. This is why we're getting married. Overall really good response though.
Tim Osborn
10/15/2012 12:47:25 pm
Sane or insane is really determined by the location and the type of people that inhabit it. Take the east coast vs. the west coast. Here on the east coast we are much more rigid and task oriented. However, the west coast is much more laissez faire about everything. In the west people surf while people on the east coast think it is crazy. Yes, very stereotypical, but in some cases, true. Take history for another good example. When the north wanted to eliminate slavery the south thought it was insane and crazy to pay people to work on their plantations. The north thought the south was crazy to keep people under a heavy hand.
Brennen Diaz
10/15/2012 02:37:57 pm
Good point about geography and how that can even effect what society thinks as insane or sane. The point that people who stray from the "accepted behavior" are insane is a valid point. There are a number of factors that come into the equation when dealing with society and human thoughts
Nick Casablanca
10/16/2012 03:12:34 pm
Good points, Tim. I like how you used points from history to support your post. Especially with Christopher Columbus.
Robert Costigan
10/17/2012 11:20:33 am
Great examples Tim. That was actually what I was going to write about but I had to change it completely after reading yours. Great minds think alike I guess haha. Well, then again, maybe my mind isn't as great as yours haha.
andrew lynch
10/17/2012 03:05:06 pm
Nice point about Christopher Columbus. Most people thought he was crazy because he was going to find new land he said. Others told him we already discovered the whole world, you are just going to fall off the side of it (during the time when everyone thought the world was flat). Then he proved everyone wrong, found America, and no longer was considered crazy. If others just though like him, we might have had people on Mars by now.
StevieMoho
10/18/2012 10:39:23 am
Good points! I thought it was awesome how you used an example from history. That made your side well rounded and helped convince me to agree with you.
Kyle Blake
10/18/2012 12:35:28 pm
I also believe that location on Earth plays a major role in the belief of the "sane" person.
Brennen Diaz
10/15/2012 02:34:15 pm
In society through out history, it shows that people like to follow the "crowd". Accept what they are told and believe what they hear. They do not question or want to question the established train of thought. To say that someone is insane or sane pertains to the status quot and the majority of the people. For instance, take a look back at the Salem Witch Trials of the late 17th century. Those women were considered insane and unstable because they were doing things of the "unknown" to the common people of the time. Humans fear what they can not factually prove to themselves. If we do not understand things with facts and evidence, we tend to push those ideas out to falsification. To answer the question, whether a new idea, opposite, of the established society considered insane? Most of the time yes. People feel safe with each other and being not the lone victim. However, in times of crisis when leadership is non-existent; that is when truly insane ideas can start a society. For example, Adolf Hitler after World War I; to blame the failures and harshness of German life on the Jewish folk was new at the time. Yet, people believed in his ideas and thoughts because they could not turn to someone else. A society is based of its founders ideals and if corrupt can lead to unfathomable consequences. In the end, the people themselves decide what is insane and sane from within.
Trevor Haigh
10/17/2012 04:09:49 pm
I like you're point about people just following the crowd. They don't formulate their own opinion and just blindly follow whomever their corrupt leader is.
Trevor Haigh
10/17/2012 04:10:19 pm
your*
Jeremiah Burr
10/18/2012 10:25:02 am
I like the comment about the witch trials
Ally Caple
10/15/2012 04:45:13 pm
Addressing the second part of this question first, I think it's a matter of what our definition of "insane" is. With the way it's worded in the question above, I would say that insane is the wrong word- I wouldn't use it to describe someone I disagree with (unless we're talking Dan Mott's case about the serial killers... because those people are in fact mentally ill). People that society would deem- for a lack of a better term- insane are looked at different, usually looked down upon and crowned dumber than the rest. They're simply the odd ball out, as they say, and people don't appreciate an opinion only backed by one or few people. Majority usually always wins.
Dan Mott
10/18/2012 06:57:08 am
I agree with the statement you mentioned, whoever is in the spotlight we try to be like. Also, I like when you mentioned the appropriateness of some situations. Lot of good points! Good job! WOO
Alyssa Ferreone
10/18/2012 09:25:20 am
I liked your points.. and the God reference!
Nick Casablanca
10/16/2012 03:22:54 pm
Society is split as to what we think is sane or insane. Definitely depends on who the person is or the place being discussed. Here in America, our biggest question on sanity or insanity would be the ideas of the presidential candidates during their debates. People who support Obama will call Romney's ideas insane, or vice versa. An example would be Romney wanting to drill off the coasts of Virginia and Alaska, whereas Obama does not. I do not know if what Romney or Obama states will actually make happen, obvious enough. However, people like environmentalists think drilling here is an insane idea because it will hurt the endangered animals and wildlife. I think it is good that people care about other things in the environment, but sometimes you need to do what helps the American people and I feel that drilling oil here will be best for us. But that is a different story. Back to the point, everyone has their own opinions as to what ideas/behaviors are insane or sane, but we will never know until we try.
Andrew Lynch
10/17/2012 03:10:32 pm
I liked how you linked personal opinions with insanity. Democrats may call Romney crazy well Republicans may call Obama crazy just because that is their own opinion and they need some way to express it.
Michaela Ryan
10/16/2012 11:25:01 pm
The context I usually hear "insane" used in is when someone sees something different and disagrees with it. I often hear classmates calling others "crazy" or "insane", and 99% of the time, it's because they're different. They are called insane simply for not believing the same things we think we believe. Is that fair?
Tim Osborn
10/17/2012 02:28:36 pm
He chopped off his ear to send to his girlfriend to show he loved her. Yes that is not normally done in society, so it is insane! He could have sent her flowers instead, a normal, healthy way to show love.
Michaela Ryan
10/18/2012 12:36:50 pm
Van Gogh's love for his girlfriend was another part of his art. He was inspired by his love for her, which was reflected in his art, in the same way his sadness was displayed after he lost her. Van Gogh's art and his life are both connected by this emotion
Meghan Giannettino
10/18/2012 06:58:22 am
Michaela, that is an excellent point about Van Gogh he wasn't insane he just had a different take on art and how to do it.
Robert Costigan
10/17/2012 11:15:16 am
Insanity has been defined as "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result." Those who exhibit this behavior are perceived by others as "insane". But let's go further into this topic. What if a person did the same thing over and over again, KNOWING they're going to get a different result?
Camille Glasow
10/17/2012 12:42:30 pm
Much of our society is based around conformity. Most people want to go with the crowd in one way or another to get acceptance from other people and fit in. However, some people may want to stand out from the rest and not follow the crowd, which I don't think is insane. If someone wanted to make a statement, such as a celebrity dressing in a crazy and different way, they would want to be drawing attention to themselves, whether it be negative or positive. But because many people have idoled this celebrity they will accept their statement and it will catch on and become a trend. So if one person makes a statement,others will soon follow. An example of this conformity is when in Mean Girls Regina George gets two holes cut in her shirt exposing her bra but still flaunts the shirt around in school. Soon all the girls who idol her, follow this example and cut their shirts, however if an unpopular girl had done this before anyone else, it would for sure have been deemed insane.
Richard
10/18/2012 03:00:59 pm
Camille, your answer is similar to what I have written. I do also believe that people tend to follow the crowd just for the hope that they won't be considered insane. People with different viewpoints than the normal would stand out, and sometimes people don't like being put on the hot seat. Conforming is sometimes easier than forming one own's opinion.
Kristina Lacasse
10/17/2012 01:57:00 pm
Society has an effect on how people act and how they are perceived. Most people don’t want to try something different because it isn’t normal. It has been scientifically proven that if a person thinks “everyone” else is doing something, they are more willing to try this action.
Kaitlyn C
10/18/2012 12:24:05 pm
I like how you used two examples of people who may have been called insane for what they did, and said how you'd draw the line between genius and insanity. It is also interesting how you said the outcome shows whether someone's crazy. What if Benjamin Franklin's experiment failed, and hurt him though...
Andrew Lynch
10/17/2012 02:53:50 pm
Insanity is not something that can be determined by just any individual off the street. It is an illness that doesn’t allow someone to have the mental capacity to follow laws, understand instructions, hold a relationship, or even their own temper. It is also considered to be linked to schizophrenia. On that note, the word "insane" does not refer to just a person doing something different from others (which is the way the majority of the population looks at the word), but rather an illness that is developed in ones brain.
Mrs. E
10/18/2012 11:13:11 am
Andrew, your response was fantastic. I think you might have even written a thoroughly developed essay.
Trevor Haigh
10/17/2012 04:05:08 pm
Insanity. n. mental illness of such a severe nature that a person cannot distinguish fantasy from reality, cannot conduct her/his affairs due to psychosis, or is subject to uncontrollable impulsive behavior.
Alex Mardis
10/18/2012 01:10:11 pm
I agree with this trevor. As I said in my response, the official definition of insanity has a completely different connotation than what society has made for it. Someone who we consider insane is usually nowhere close to what a doctor would determine as insane.
Lauren Barry
10/17/2012 04:25:53 pm
Any person who has looked at or studied aspects of sociology knows, or should know, what mores, norms, folkways, and laws are. For those who don’t a more is a norm that should be followed within society that have great moral significance. Norms, a more general term, are unspoken or unwritten laws that society has developed. If one person fails to follow a norm there is no serious consequence, they just appear out of place. The idea of following norms brings me right to the argument of sanity versus insanity. In society, sanity is most commonly perceived as following a norm, whereas insanity is obviously not following a norm. Although the norm can become something with more significance such as a law; speaking within reason, a person’s sanity is determined solely upon their ability to follow norms with the rest of people. Looking at sanity from a different aspect as proposed in the second half of the question, does a single person who believes something completely different from the rest of society meet the definition of insanity? As horrible as that may be, yes. All those who follow the norms within society obviously group together because they share some belief in what they feel should and shouldn’t be done, and once one person disagrees or does differently, they are immediately looked down upon. Although it may be something minor and of no significance at all, that one person who says something else is always looked at like a monster, which would indicate we believe he is insane whether it is intentional or not.
Zach Antonio
10/18/2012 12:54:41 am
Sanity...I flirt with the line between sanity and insanity. I think life is only fun if you are slightly insane. I think that people define insanity as doing something that "normal" citizens would not even think of doing it. Like, for instance, what if I came into school tomorrow with no pants on, and a monkey on my head? It's not going to happen...but if it did, wouldn't that be insane? I mean, of course there is clear insanity, like me cackling while I try to overdose on tic tacs in an airport. But then there are those people who think of ideas, or perform acts that just don't occur to other people. So if other people don't think your way, are you insane? Will society ostracize you and look at you as an outcast? But insane doesn't necessarily have to have a negative connotation. It could be a compliment. A compliment for thinking outside of the box, for doing something original to you alone. Of course, nothing is really original anymore, but that's a whole another topic. If I start debating multiple topics with you at once, I'll probably go a little insane. I mean, I don't want to be COCOA FOR COO-COO PUFFS! Or maybe I do. Or maybe I don't. Or maybe I want a horse. Or a dragon. Yeah, I definitely want a dragon.
Mrs. E
10/18/2012 11:35:14 am
Zach, my husband and I are laughing hysterically. Fantastic points and awesome conclusion.
Jackie Ortiz
10/18/2012 12:41:30 pm
I'd take the dragon!!!!
Katheryn Byrnes
10/18/2012 01:13:58 pm
Zach I loved it.
Christina Buswell
10/18/2012 06:11:54 am
Society determines what is sane or insane, appropriate or inappropriate by majority rules. Take high school for example. If someone has an opinion, if it is accepted by the majority it's okay. I, however, don't agree with this. I feel that everyone has a different opinion and just because it is different doesn't mean it's wrong or crazy.
Mrs. E
10/18/2012 11:43:22 am
Christina, I like when spin you took when making a connection to America
Meghan Giannettino
10/18/2012 07:43:58 am
In today society insane is more of a label given to people who are seen as different or odd. Because they say, think or act the way society considers not "norm". Society can't really determine who is and who isn't insane. It is just something said to make a person feel insecure about them self. Or the person who said it feel better about them self. Unfortunately calling people who are not the "norm" insane is something tough long ago and is almost embedded in all of society's heads. There are a lot of important people in the world who were and are called insane; those are the ones who did the most amazing things. Because they thought up ideas no one would ever image. And they came out to be beautiful inventions, ideas, creations. That actually better society's life.
Camille Glasow
10/18/2012 02:22:36 pm
I agree that many of us our considered insane when we think or act in a different way than the rest of society at that given moment, even if we aren't technically "insane". It's what makes us have different personalities and interests.
Amber Murray
10/18/2012 08:22:53 am
Kaitlyn Twombly
10/18/2012 08:54:30 am
There are a few ways in which people determine what is acceptable and what is not. Norms, which are agreed-upon expectations that a culture has for its members in given situations, are the biggest way that sane or appropriate behavior is determined. To expand upon that idea, there are also folkways, mores, taboos, and laws which determine appropriateness to different extents. If one does not obey the folkways, mores, taboos, and laws of a society or culture, that person is then considered insane or inappropriate. Of coarse these different types of norms vary from culture to culture, but in each society, failure to conform to these norms result in some type of social control. One type of social control includes ostracism, which usually results from failure to obey a folkway, more, or taboo. Some other types of social control include fines, minor punishments, and imprisonment, which will result from someone disobeying a law. Moral of the story, people determine was is acceptable and what is not through the norms of that particular culture. 10/18/2012 09:02:44 am
Our society determines who is sane solely based on their ability to conform. Those who choose not to conform to the social norms are automatically portrayed as insane. For example: transsexuals and the LGBT community are considered to be crazy to those who do not support homosexuality. Those who do support homosexuality find the people who are against it to be insane. Same thing happens in school, those who dress differently or just act different in general are labeled as crazy, freaks, or just weird. But, in reality shouldn't those who completely oppose the idea of diversity and change should be considered insane. The people of this country constantly preach about freedom and diversity, but when is everyone actually going to be accepting of people and their differing views? In other aspects of life thinking outside the box is a good thing, like in art, music and science, and those people are generally look upped to by the younger generations; they are the ones making an impact on the kids not the normal people. It's insane to not be accepting of those around us.
Victoria Marino
10/18/2012 01:53:17 pm
Good points Danielle. I completely agree with what you said about transexuals! Good job!!
Shayne Fitol
10/18/2012 09:07:22 am
Society determines what is or is not insane based on if the collective masses agree with it. So if the popular idea is that Dodge trucks are better than Ford trucks, you'd be "insane" if you thought otherwise. Now you could be 100% correct with your dissent or disagreement, but it would not matter. Society would still judge you as a crazy person. Society could randomly decide that shoes are meant to be worn on hands, not feet, and if you did not adjust your train of thought to agree, then you would be "insane." I don't necessarily agree with that, but that's life. And the problem is that since people mindlessly follow along with whatever society thinks, society can keep thinking that way and keep declaring everyone who disagrees insane, no matter how intelligent or right those "insane" person may be. So technically, yes, anyone that disagrees with society is insane. Maybe not to you or me or the people who use logic to question things, but to the population as a whole, they are crazy and should be regarded as such.
Alyssa Ferreone
10/18/2012 09:23:01 am
Society determines what is sane or insane by norms, beliefs and values. Everyone is taught what is proper behavior from their teachers and parents at a young age and those are the guidelines that we have to follow. However, those ideas of what is appropriate and what is not have been changing. People have been rebelling against the values originally taught to them by parents, family, and teachers and beginning to base their customs off of the people in the media. Like Dan Mott already said, people like Lady Gaga have been changing the morals that people everywhere used to believe in by using meat as clothing and telling people its okay to be homosexual and other things. I am not opposed to homosexuality, however I do think it is getting out of hand with some of the ridiculous things that some famous people do. People seem to think it is okay to act like people who are on TV wearing extreme things and acting bizarre. I don't know if I would say celebrities or these people following their examples are insane, but they are countering the culture that was once enforced in our country. I don't think that people who believe unpopular opinions are "insane", but I do think that there are people in our world who are insane. When I think of an insane person, I think of a mental patient in an insane assylum somewhere. I do not think of someone who believes in something that most people do not.
Amber Murray
10/18/2012 04:50:08 pm
I completely agree with what you had to say about famous people like Lady Gaga! She dresses so crazy and people idolize her, even everything she wears.
Meredith Folsom
10/18/2012 10:15:06 am
A society usually labels someone as insane when they are radically different from the majority of people. However, that isn’t fair, because what if you are the sane one and the rest of the society is insane? That’s exactly how Winston feels. Big Brother views Winston as insane because he is intelligent, while Winston views Big Brother as insane because of how they treat their citizens. Society decides what is appropriate behavior or not through tacit codes or rules. An example of a tacit rule is to always wear clothes in public. It is just implied that you are always clothes in public, if you aren’t you usually are labeled insane or crazy. Another would be holding the door for someone. Nowhere in American’s laws does it say that we have to hold the door open for people but it’s just something we do. That’s normal behavior. In 1984, Winston thinks Parsons is insane because Parsons accepts the fact that his daughter ratted him out, he is actually proud of her. Although Winston thinks he is insane, Parsons is considered a regular/good citizen of Oceania. It all really depends on the society’s perspective and their opinion on what’s insane or sane. Even in our world today there are many different views on how to define insanity. For example, many Americans think the suicide bombers of the Islamic religion are insane for crashing into the Twin Towers. This because in our country that’s something we are not used to and is a radical action. However, America coming into the Middle East, to offer aide, may seem like an insane action to the Islamic. There have also been people in history who have been labeled insane but later proved everyone wrong. He or she may have just had a different or advanced opinion during that time. Whether you are really insane or sane, it depends on the society’s perspective of insanity.
Jeremiah Burr
10/18/2012 10:23:48 am
Insanity is very complex and hard to understand. If we did truly understand insanity then we would probably all be considered insane. Insanity differs from person to person, sometimes people who are too smart are considered insane because they have a much higher level of thinking than us. Others simply can't control themselves where they have to clean or they think that the world is out to kill them. I think that we are all insane in some degree. We all do things that would not be considered "normal" and we all view things in a different way. Our world is what we make of it and the world is insane. If the world wasn't insane then we would all be the same. No differences, everything would be the same. We have differences because if there were no differences the world would shut down. We wouldn't have clocks, or food or anything because there would be no one to make it. we need differences and creativity for our world to thrive and if that was taken away then we would truly plunge into insanity because after all the definition of insanity is doing the exact same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. If there were no differences between people then the exact same thing will happen again and again without any change, billions of times a day and we would expect something different to happen each time. The insanity that we have int the world today is the only thing that is truly keeping us sane, because without it, then there would be true insanity.
StevieMoho
10/18/2012 10:38:11 am
Today society is all about being with the "norm." If you are with the norm, you are good. If you go against it, well let's just say you will be in for a rude awakening. For example, defining "sane" and "insane." If everyone thinks the sky is green, and you know the sky is blue, you are the insane one. The majority, in most cases, is always the normal or "sane" one. If you try to go against the crowd, you become even more insane and there is nothing you can do about it. To be a normal sane person, you need to follow along with everyone else. I am going to throw it way back here. You know who everybody thought was insane? Jesus. Yup you heard me right. Jesus. Everyone thought he was insane because he was preaching the will of God and going against what everyone else thought at the time. Eventually people believed in him and he became the sane one. The masses switched sides and the sane became the insane and vice versa. The insane people are few in numbers but that could always change.
Katie Mitchell
10/18/2012 03:00:37 pm
You have good points Steve. I like how you used Jesus as an example.
Chris F
10/18/2012 03:09:12 pm
You made a very good point about Jesus, I hadn't even thought about that.
Christina M
10/18/2012 11:19:39 am
Sometimes in society, what is sane and what is insane is based on personal opinion. What I think is insane my best friend may not. There are certain instances where things/people are actually insane such as people who have schizophrenia or someone owning 100 cats however, if we exclude those examples people usually create an opinion about what they feel is sane or insane. There are also people who do not create their own opinion and simply agree with what others think. For example, in 1984 Big Brother is insane for turning Oceania into a place where loyalty, friendship, love and privacy does not exist. Even though some people know its crazy they still go along with it because they have no choice. The same thing goes for right and wrong behavior. Some people will make their own opinion on what is right and wrong. For example, my dog is allowed to go upstairs and lay on our couches in the family room however my friend’s dog is not allowed upstairs or on the couches. To her family that is bad/wrong behavior. In my household it isn’t a big deal. Then you have people who do bad/wrong behaviors because celebrities do them. For example the whole theme behind Jersey Shore is partying and having a good time. Some many adults and some teenagers think the show is trashy for all the bad behavior however there are so many teenagers who do the exact same thing because they want to be like celebrities and because they don’t think that behavior is wrong. I think in today’s society someone who goes against the rest of society would most likely be considered insane.
Kaitlyn C
10/18/2012 12:14:56 pm
Insanity has to be defined by a society, without others for comparison, there is no standard for what is sane or normal. Insanity is not acting against human nature, it is acting against a society's moral and social standards. That changes with time, in the past, saying that the earth was round, and was not the center of the galaxy was seen as a madman's ranting. Now, I would like to think that people are no longer as ignorant and unable to accept someone who doesn't follow the norms of their society, however that may not be true. For example, if someone claimed something that contradicted what I had learned all of my life, just like my example about claiming the world was round, many people would probably assume they were insane without a second thought, myself included. About the second half of the question, if one person believes something that opposes what the majority of the society thinks, that does make them insane. That may sound very harsh; however I think that insane is not something someone can objectively be. It instead is a stigma put upon them by others. Any person who acts unusually in some way, if they lived in a society of similar people, would be seen as completely sane. Admittedly, some of those hypothetical societies would range from unusual to dangerous, but the point is that insanity is not something the person in question can decide themselves.
Kyle Blake
10/18/2012 12:33:24 pm
I believe that insane or sane is determined by where you live and what you believe in. Not only do people in the US think that people in other countries are insane, but people in different parts of the US believe that the other parts are insane. Determining the sanity of a person depends on where you live and grow up. In Oxford, we know how to get to the highway. For people in Bridgeport, they do not know where how to get the highway. When I visited Bassick High School in Bridgeport, I asked one of the students if they knew where the Webster Arena at Harbor Yard was. None of them knew where it was. When I think of Bridgeport, I first think of the Webster Arena. It is one of the main attractions in Bridgeport. I thought that the Bassick students were insane for not knowing where a stadium was that was within five miles of their house. I think people in China are insane for going to school for 12 hours a day, and they think we are insane for only going for half the time. It is all dependent on how you were brought up and where you live. Also based on trends can determine your sanity. In my opinion, all people should have an iPhone. If you do not have one you are insane. This is my belief. The person without the iPhone is not actually insane. Everyone is insane because of the different upbringings and cultures.
Haley Krivensky
10/18/2012 12:35:17 pm
Our society is strange in the fact that we base our standards off of conformity and being "in with the times". We strictly follow the norms of our society. We conform to fit in and to be accepted by others. We follow in celebrities' footsteps, instead of creating our own. In high school we want to be just like the popular kids, and in our grown lives we want to be just like the richest of the rich. That being said, I think our society determines what is sane and insane based on if someone is conforming or not. If instead of Uggs you wear flip flops in the middle of winter, people are going to think you're insane. If you wear a parka to the beach instead of a skimpy bikini, then people are going to think you're insane. If you don't have a twitter, insane. If you don't like pizza, insane. There are so many things that people can criticize you for, even though you're just being yourself and following what you believe in. One thing to take into consideration, though, is that there can be multiple definitions of what is "insane". It could mean a compliment, like what Zach said about going out of the box or coming up with a completely new idea that no one would have ever thought of. It could also just mean you're weird for not doing what everyone else is or following a certain norm. I don't think that when most people say "you're insane" they mean 'serial killer insane'. They just mean you're totally out there or weird for doing what you do (breaking folkways). In most cases, you won't be shunned for not going to the club with your friends on a friday night, or wearing your hair in pig tails every day instead of straightening it. You're not literally insane unless you think killing someone is enjoyable or watching someone being tortured brings you joy...
Amanda D
10/18/2012 03:08:57 pm
It truely does seem like you can not have your own personality. Everyone judges if you are not like the other, or do something out of the norm.I have seen some change. Society is outgrowing its normal path, and branching off to be individuals more and more.
Jackie Ortiz
10/18/2012 12:40:18 pm
Society's number problem is that it refuses to accept anyting different. Different in this case, is deemed as insane. Although majority of the time, the person or the person's idea is not insane just different. Because so many people are satisfied with going along with the norm or whatever the crowd is, the one person that stands out is looked at as crazy! How dare he or she say something so wild or out there, when most likely it is the truth that society wants to hide. Even in movies, the person who knows too much is said to be insane and just might disappear. We even see it in 1984. the people arent insane they just know the things you arent suposed to know. In my opinion, a person that goes against the common beliefs isn't insane, but bold and courageous. 10/19/2012 01:38:07 pm
Good point, Jackie. Conformity is taking over this world, and not all "insane" people are really insane. Just bold about their beliefs. :)
Bridget Borowy
10/18/2012 01:01:21 pm
Personally, I think this is a very interesting and challenging question. I define ones beliefs sane if they are moral. People who are actually deemed medically "insane", are either sick in some way or lack good morals. I strongly believe that morals are what make people good, and without them, people are very vulnerable to becoming corrupt and acting so irrationally, that they may be "insane". Its true that society influences the lines between sanity and insanity. However, I believe that most would agree that what we define insane is defined as such for a good reason. We determine our sanity or insanity.
Katheryn Byrnes
10/18/2012 01:18:10 pm
When your actions and thoughts are not that of everyone around you, or the majority, then some people call you unique or even insane. When you differ in thought you express any action that is not what everyone else thinks and believes in so the community shuns you out. There are many celebrities out there who's action are considered by many people insane because they are not the same as the rest of the population.
Alex Mardis
10/18/2012 01:21:30 pm
While many people mentioned that the official definition of insanity is one who does something over and over again while expecting different results, I believe that the societal definition is more along the lines of someone who does not belong. if society as determined an individual as insane, it has determined that the individual does not belong in or is unable to conform to the "norm". I think it has to do with how an individual interacts with others and the environment just as much as how they deal with themselves. For example, I would say that a man who does not adhere to rules or advice is just as, if not more, insane as the man who does the same thing over and over again and expects different results. Or the man who overreacts to everything. Or the man that lies about everything. To sum things up, I think there are a lot more examples of insanity than Einstein's version.
Victoria Marino
10/18/2012 01:47:28 pm
Society deems who is insane by what people believe is normal and abnormal. Being normal is considered what everyone in society conforms to, while being abnormal is being different. Many people are afraid to be different because its not acceptable to go against the social norms. People who are essentially "different" are the ones thought to be insane. I believe those people are not insane but are in fact, innovative. They are not afraid to be unique and do things they enjoy regardless of what people think. Just because some people consider things out of the ordinary doesn't mean they are wrong or insane. People who join in with society and think that what they believe is acceptable are the ones who should be judged. Maybe they are ones who insane. It just wouldn't logical to deem someone insane based purely on how they conduct themselves.
Katie Mitchell
10/18/2012 02:57:17 pm
Society uses their own personal judgement to determine who is sane or insane. If someone is different and goes against the majority of society then people label that person as insane. They are considered weird or crazy and have abnormal beliefs or behaviors. Society determines if someone is sane if they agree with the majority of the people around them. They are said to be normal and rational, and have good judgement and reason. I believe that everyone is allowed to have their own beliefs. Just because they are going against the "norm" doesn't mean they are insane. It could just mean they are more advanced then others. History is a good example of this. People like Galileo, who said the Earth was round and orbits the sun. At the time everybody thought he was crazy. It was unheard of to think like that. He went against the majority of the people's beliefs to prove his own. Many people considered him insane, when in reality, he was correct.
Richard Katrenya
10/18/2012 02:58:02 pm
Ever since the start of man, society has ostracized people who were "different". Anyone who wasn't "normal" or act the same as everyone else was always cast aside to never be thought of again. Anyone who has veered off the course of the status quo was always considered and outsider, and ergo, insane, and in my opinion that just isn't right. No one should be looked down upon just because they have different views than somebody else. If anything, that person should be revered for taking the road less traveled. No one is different for not believing in something, considering the people who do believe that one thing only hopped onto that band wagon because everyone else is doing it; that is the problem with our society, no one can make their own opinions and viewpoints on topics.
Amanda D
10/18/2012 03:03:43 pm
As far as behavior is concerned, society is often skeptical of appropriate or absurd behavior. Many people see others as rude, loud, or unreasonable as a result from the way they were personally brought up. Insane behaviors can be as small as operating a cell phone during class or sinning agianst Jesus Christ. It all depends on how you were raised and where you were brought up. For example, walking through the halls at OHS without a pass is unheard of with Rizzio tracking your every move. In other schools it is much less of a concern making OHS appear insane and obsessive. Insanity revolves primarily on your location in the world and the society you live in.
Chris Faber
10/18/2012 03:07:17 pm
I believe sanity is determined by what is and what isn't socially acceptable to our society. Within our society we have established what we think to be normal or sane behavior. This behavior is based off of our past, which for years and years has set the "norm" as we can call it. Fitting in with society is not a challenging task. You can simply never say anything to anyone and you might as well be like the rest of us. Truthfully, someone is called insane for the actions or behavior they perform. Of course with insanity comes many different degrees. You have your extremes, which can be psychopaths who are locked away in a mental institution. But also you have people who may be able to hide their sanity while in public for the most part, but may have insane thoughts. I do not believe there is a clear cut way to describe sanity and be able to call people insane, because overall, sanity is determined by pure judgement of one's behavior. 10/19/2012 01:32:31 pm
I believe classifying people as insane depends on everyone’s personal definition of the word. In societal examples, people claim others are insane if they are legitimately diagnosed with a mental illness by a doctor. Others classify insane individuals as those with irrational mindsets. Confirming sanity and insanity all relies on perception of definitions and society thinks is “normal”. In a society, conformity is a fixed concept, yet I believe it has been diminishing over the last century, or showing up in different ways. Anyone going against conformity is considered “strange” or an outcast from society. When many people use the word insane, nine times out of ten, they’re exaggerating. The word “insane” has become another word for ridiculous or “out of this world”. If only one person had a completely different mindset or belief as everyone else in society, they probably would be considered “insane”. That doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong with them however. People with their own opinions are just people with opinions and most of the time harmless. Comments are closed.
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English 12 HonorsRespond to the question AND comment on another classmate's response in at least 10 sentences. You can certainly disagree, but BE RESPECTFUL of the opinions/feelings of your classmates. Archives
June 2013
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