Insanity Defense

10/15/2012

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.
Instead of leading by example, most people follow rather than lead. People conform to what society is doing around them. Whether it be fashion, electronics, cars, behavior, slang terms. An example would be YOLO. A term introduced to express the meaning of life and that you only live once, so don't waste a minute of it. Meaning, go skydiving, climb a mountain, go snorkeling. Do "bucket list" type things that you would want to do before you die. On the other hand, millions of kids and young adults have interpreted it as not doing homework, staying up all night, or drinking and partying until they're liver eventually shuts down and they're in the hospital. Point is, appropriate behavior depends on the person. Just because people around you are swaering, being rude, or taking risks doesn't mean you have to, too.
According to Albert Einstein, "Insanity is when you do something over and over again, expecting different results." This is true. Many people say to others that they are insane, but do they truly know the meaning of what they're saying? An example you ask for? Sure. An ideal example of insanity is serial killers. They commit a violent crime to multiple people over and over agin to fufill there fantasy, until they are caught. Ted Bundy, Jack the Ripper, The Green River Killer, Albert Fish, they were all insane, along with many more.
I believe society and their behavior depends on not only the person, but the nurture aspect of the nature vs nurture debate and survival of the fittest. First off, people's behavior is definitely based on the environment around us and the influences. If you hang around with stoners, don't do your homework, and have no standards, than most certainly you'll end up in the dumps quicker than you know it. Versus the other side, where a happy person, who does everything and stays out of trouble for the most part. That is the person most likely to succeed. In addition, if you're motivated in life to do well that is what your will do. I completely agree with the Darwinsitc apsect of life, and you have to be the best of the best to do well. There is no "child left behind," per say. If you can't accomplish something or get somewhere, too bad. You have to try harder. Behaviorally, you need to want something, and go out and get it. Appropriate behavior is portrayed through each individual in the aspect of their surroundings. You have to chose the right path to go down, which highly influences who you are as a person. Rather then letting every little thing bother you and pointing out the imperfections of life, be your own person. Chase your dreams and be the best of the best and get to the top.
Just because that one person has a different idea, does not categorize them as insane. They are doing there own thing and trying to be their own person. Who knows, that one idea, which is out of the norm from everyone elses, might be the key to success or the game changer. You have to value all intelligent knowledge. Understandably if that one different idea came from the town drunk, known liar, or something of that sorts, don't trust it, but if it is an intelligent, well-rounded person, take the opinion and thought under consideration. For instance, Christopher Columbous one of the first to propose the idea that the world was not flat and there was a lot more land and civilization to explore. Everyone thought he was "insane" and there was no possibilty. He set out to prove them wrong, and lone behold he did. He "founded" The New World and changed the world as those peeople knew it. Massive land expansion and new settlements took place. If it weren't for him, we all could be living on one side of the planet, in an over-populated society, with a corrupt government, and bad economy... oh wait.

Ally Caple

10/15/2012 04:53:28 pm

First, I just want to congratulate you on rewriting the book of Psalms.

I like how you quoted Einstein, pointing out another perspective of the world insane that many people might not be thinking of when they first read the question to this assignment. Your example of the serial killers definitely differs from what we would think of when we discuss someone who's opinion we just causally disagree with. Good point, Dan Mott. You go, Glenn Coco.

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!
To accomplish what I am actually trying to do, I liked the part where you said we should value all intelligence. I believe that's true, but it's tough to try and value evil intelligence. Like sharks with laserbeams attached to their heads. That could get out of hand.

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.
When elderly people are characterized as insane it is based on the fact that they are acting out of the generally accepted behavior. They act crazy and irresponsible. The irresponsible part is what puts them in danger and the other people around them.
If one person has a thought is against everyone else then they have found something new that might work. Imagine if Christopher Columbus did not come over to the Americas. I bet there were people who thought the idea was crazy. If he didn’t make the trek the world would be a completely different place.

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.

Our society revolves around the ones who are in the spotlight. We watch what people around us are doing, and if it seems to be getting appraisal, we begin to do that same. All it takes is one person to make a statement, and it's the domino effect from there, which is a great thing when we're talking positive situations. But things such as Britney's shaving of the head incident and Lindsey's.... well, basically everything she's done post-The Parent Trap, are looked down upon, simply because it's not what the majority of the world was raised to consider appropriate. As young kids, we were taught concepts like sharing is caring, hugs not drugs, and so on and so forth; if we were taught that alcoholism & addiction, bullying, and animal abuse were all "appropriate" things, this world would be much different. Granted, obviously some people do believe all of these things are okay, but it's not a majority of the world... thank God.

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?
I don't know if I would even say that I believe in "insanity." Van Gogh was considered insane because he cut off his ear, but is that really insane? He sacrificed his own health for his art, maybe it doesn't make sense to us, but it's more brave and beautiful than anything I've ever done. Risking your life for something you believe in should certainly not be considered insane. Van Gogh loved art. We have billions of people around the world attending a job they hate everyday, but that is considered the norm. Surely, they MUST be the sane ones.
In my experience, the ones who seem to classify as insane are the ones who will never admit it. Hitler admitted that he was insane. Was he? Or was everyone else insane? Maybe this is a stretch, but what if he sanely tapped into the insanity of society? What if he killed himself because the weight of what he had done had hit him?
Insane, if it exists, is conforming to society, staying within the "norm," not following your own beliefs and ignorantly following others. A person should rely only on blind intuition and gut feelings, not the ideas of others. Anyone who follows rules of a government or society which he or she does not agree with is insane.

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
He used his art was an outlet for emotions he couldn't express. His sorrow due to his loss was so unbearable that he couldn't transfer it into his art, thus cutting off his ear. Yes, it's an extremely unique thing to do, but the only reason it's considered insane is because nobody else did the same thing. But is he insane? What would you do if you lost your girlfriend or someone close? Some people have even killed themselves over the losses of loved ones. It's not insane. It's a way of expressing an emotion. Each person expresses it differently, and being different is certainly not insane.

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.

p.s. I love Van Gogh

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?
Let's take sports, for example. I know I always include them and you all think I'm insane, but let's face it; sports are a great source of examples to any topic worth arguing. Some players, whether it's football, basketball, baseball, or volleyball, play conservative. What I mean by this is that every time they make a mistake, they change their game plan, which works for them. But then there are players who:
1.) Don't care if they make the same mistake twice
2.) Find that their mistakes may not have been mistakes at all
Now some of you are sitting here right now going "what the heck is he talking about?" what I mean by this is that their opponent may have just been in the right place at the right time.
Take Peyton Manning, for instance. One of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game of football. Let's say he throws the ball downfield and the defender almost intercepts the ball off(slips through their hands when it was thrown right at them, but you act like you made a huge play. That's why you play defense). The defensive coordinator picks a different play because he thinks Peyton isn't going to run the same play. But what they don't know is he is doing the exact same play. Not only that, but he's going to throw to the same exact receiver that the last pass was intended for. The defenders come up expecting a shorter pass, and he chucks it downfield 50 yards for a TD.
My own experiences are quite the same. Let's say I get set in a game of volleyball and I get blocked by the middle blocker, whoever it may be. Now the defense thinks it's going to someone else, and in knowing this, when my setter gives me the same exact set at the same exact speed and I swing at the same speed, chances are the middle is going to be a step off because he just blocked me and embarrassed me in front of the amazing Oxford fan population of four to nine spectators, and that that will change the mind of my setter. Yes, it's an insane move to do, but over 50% of the time for some odd reason it works. And thanks to extremely consistent sets, I can do that. I'd go insane without them.

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.
People can be labeled as insane if they present behaviors that are threatening and display a completely different mentality than everyone else. If no one else follows these behaviors besides that one individual, this person will be shun from society and viewed negatively by others. For example in 1984, Winston first thinks his views are right and everyone else is brainwashed by the Party. However when he gets arrested and his interrogations begin in the Ministry of love, O'brien forces Winston into thinking he is the only person who has these beliefs and is 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.
In society, it is the people who are different that make the most impact on the world, positive and negative. Oscar Levant said, “There's a fine line between genius and insanity.” I believe this is true because many geniuses have to take crazy risks. It depends on whether outcome is positive (genius) or negative (insane). Insanity is defined as extreme foolishness or irrationality, so it is more associated with negative outcomes. When Ben Franklin was trying to prove electricity with the kite with a key in a lightning storm, people could say that this was dangerous and he must have been insane. He was not crazy, but brave. He knew the risks, but he made a rational decision that his contribution would be worth it. Without this idea, we wouldn’t have electricity, so would he be considered insane? No, it would be considered genius, but a person such as Ted Bundy would be considered insane. If a person believes that killing multiple innocent people is justifiable, they are insane because of the fact that it is not justifiable. So I believe that people that think differently than a majority of society are not always insane, but there is a fine line.

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.
Now good behavior is basically what people consider normal behavior whether it is morally good or bad. Most people would consider it weird if they saw a rat in your house and you didn’t kill it. I would consider it weird to be honest, but the right thing to do would be to just catch it and let it go outside off your house even if it did take you longer to do( that’s weird behavior), and some might even call it deviant because rats are horrible.
Another example is religion. In America, the religion that is most common is Christianity. To many Christian extremists, it would be unacceptable that someone is worshiping Allah and they would be considered evil and horrible people. But at the same time if we were to go to Iran it would be the complete opposite. What this shows is it is based on location also to determine if you are weird or not. In some Middle Eastern countries it is considered normal to beat women. it is just looked at as discipline. In the United States it is against the law and you will end up in prison for that. So if a Middle Eastern man comes to America with his wife and beats her in public is he using appropriate behavior or deviant behavior?
World War 2. It started for the United States at Pearl Harbor when Japan devastated a massive US navy fleet. They used the tactic of a sneak attack to catch us when we were unprepared. They had torpedoes, high caliber machine gun rounds, and bombs. An amazing attack for Japan, but what we couldn’t believe was that they were dive bombing their planes into our ships once they were out of ammo. They were willingly committing suicide for their religion and their country. To the people of the US that was strange and unusual. We thought they were just a bunch of barbaric crazy people running around not caring if they died or not. They just wanted to hurt us. But to the people of Japan, those pilots were heroes, and they were given the highest level of respect for entering a battle fully aware that they were going to die for their country.
Finally, if one person believes in an idea that is totally opposite then society he might be insane, but he also might not be. Everyone thought Thomas Edison was weird because he thought he could create light out of electricity inside of a glass sphere. After a few hundred attempts he still did not manage to make a light bulb. By this point people didn’t even bother with him. He was insane, stupid, and a waste of time. Finally he created a light bulb and everyone was amazed. Now he was not only normal, but also a genius.
I feel that humans a generally followers, and when someone else doesn’t follow the crowd, then they are weird. But in order for the human race to prosper, people need to stray away from the crowed and experiment with everything and anything. That is how we are able to live our lives the way we do now. Think about it, if we were all just followers, then there would be no chance that we would be living in America right now, who knows, we probably wouldn’t even have made it this far.

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.

Insanity is a legal/medical term used to prove whether a defendant is guilty or not. This condition is determined by medical professionals, not society. The word "insanity" has gained a connotation that can not be any further from its denotation. We think of insanity as a person being radically different, when they are really just that: different.

So, to address the question, no, a person that thinks the opposite of the rest of society is not insane. They may have different beliefs but that in no way categorizes them as severely mentally handicapped.

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.
I believe that if are not insane you don't live life correctly.

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.
We look up to those who we put on a pedestal because the majority accepts their opinion. These people are celebrities, political figures. athletes, etc. We follow those people who we feel have sane or appropriate opinions. Society as a whole accepts the majorities vote. That is how we elect our president and pass our laws. America is run by the idea of majority rules and if your idea is not accepted by this majority it is deemed wrong, inappropriate, or inane.

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.

I think we're all a little insane, because if weren't we would all be the same.

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

The word insane is used very freely, some people use it in a joking manor or just to describe how one person may have acted in a situation. Therefore I don't think that if one person believe something that is totally opposite of everyone else that they are insane. Everyone is entitled to their own point of views and opinions, thinking something different cannot determine ones mental state. To me someone who is insane is the type of person to make up the most absurd thing and tell it like its the truth. They can sometimes be a compulsive liar or do things to get attention. Someone who is insane is pretty much crazy. If someone is insane it's not that hard to tell, especially if you know them. The definition of sanity is the ability to think and behave in a normal and rational manner. I don't think society can technically determine whether or not someone is sane or insane, because everyone acts in their own way and everyone thinks different things. For one person to judge someone and make that call that they are insane wouldn't be accurate. If it was a situation thought, where multiple people believe one person is not mentally stable then chances are that they aren't. I personally don't think someone's personal opinions or thoughts make them insane, their actions do.

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.

People are without-a-doubt considered insane if they defy the norms of their entire culture and have opposite beliefs. No, I do not mean that if everyone in a culture loves taking bike rides and one person doesn't, he or she is insane. I mean this in a much more extreme sense... as in if someone were to commit a taboo in their culture. A good example that I have read about in sociology books is incest. Anyone who has committed the taboo of incest is instantly considered inappropriate and insane in our culture, simply because incest is one of our taboos. Minor variations in beliefs within a culture will not lead to someone being dubbed as insane, but more serious norms that are defied will most definitely lead to someone being considered insane.

Danielle O link

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.
Did you know that the earth is the center of the universe, the moon is unreachable, and tobacco is good for you? Well now obviously we know these statements are false. But years ago the people that made up society believed these things to be true. And if you disagreed, well then your were just an insane person who had no idea what you were talking about.
And to continue with my trend of referencing something from sports, I will again. As recent as a few years ago, pretty much everyone in the sports world thought it to be insane that the option (or in other words what Tim Tebow is good at) would be successful in the NFL. And not too long before that people thought the same thing about the option in college football. It will never work here, said everyone collectively. Well not only is it very common in college now (Georgia Tech uses it every single play of the game), but a few teams have incorporated it in the NFL (Carolina Panthers, Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos last year, New York Jets try to this year, Philadelphia Eagles a year or two ago, San Francisco 49ers on a limited basis). People also thought the same thing about mobile quarterbacks in the NFL, and now there are quite a few of them. Cam Newton, Michael Vick, Robert Griffin III, Jake Locker, Russell Wilson, Tim Tebow, Colin Kaepernick, to some extent Aaron Rodgers, Ryan Tannehill, Christian Ponder, Alex Smith.
And no, society is not always wrong about things they believe to be true. Most of the time society is reasonably accurate, even with what it believes to be and considers insane. But society, like everything else, has flaws and needs to be checked. People should ideally stop blindly accepting everything society thinks is right, but this will never happen, as it is simply much easier to accept than to question.

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.

Kara DeVito link

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.
People nowadays also use the word insane in different ways. Sometimes insane can be used to express how awesome and incredible something is. On a day to day basis, I'd say I hear more "insane" things that are cool than things that are literally "insane".

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.
Many people are considered insane by the way the society should be. People picture the perfect society as a place where everyone is the same and no one has different thoughts or dress insane like lady gaga. So, if you are one of those people then society will not like how disrupt there picture and consider you crazy. Society deems people crazy and insane when they don't follow the rule exactly.
People have to be insane, at least a little bit, to have a fun life that is not a mindless sheep one. If you are a mindless sheep then there is no way you can get anywhere in life. With being insane you live life correctly and make daring moves, asking someone out or sky driving. Everyone is somewhat insane.

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.

On the other hand, I feel like there are, many examples of people who repeat the same thing over and over again but expect different results who are not insane. For example, if a student studies as hard as they can but only receives a B they aren't insane if they keep trying, they are simply motivated. The same can be said about sports. If a track runner has been trying to break a record for two years but hasn't succeeded yet he or she isn't insane, they just haven't reached their goal yet. Basically, insanity is very subjective considering the fact that society determines who is and isn't insane. So it is less focused on the definition and more focused on how one is perceived by others.

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.

Bringing in the topic of social media and celebrities, some celebrities have hundreds of thousands of people who adore them. When they sport a new clothing line or comment on a certain viewpoint, their fans will support their decision not because they also believe in it, but because they adore their idol.

Society is based around the idea of conformity, and because of this idea is where the idea of insanity came from. If someone does something "insane" or different from the norm, they will get noticed, and sometimes people don't want to get noticed and that's why people just tend to follow the crowd.

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.
As far as if one person believes an idea opposing that of the rest of society, I do not believe they are insane. Between all of the people within a society, no one has the same ideas for everything. If one's idea was that we should get rid of technology and live like the cavemen again, then sure, I can agree they are insane. But truthfully there must be a very extreme thought or idea in order for them to be insane.
P.S: Sorry my response was so late, I had a soccer game at 7:00p.m. and I just got home at about 9:30p.m.

Kara DeVito link

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.

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Insanity Defense

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