
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? Provide historical evidence to defend your position.
![]() 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? Provide historical evidence to defend your position.
83 Comments
Delaney Devine
10/21/2013 03:18:13 am
People are looked at as insane if they do absolutely anything that is against social norms. The only way to deem something appropriate behavior is if someone else did it and everyone was happy with it. If someone does something totally different and new, they are thought of as crazy. Many people in society have been thought of as insane purely for having different thoughts on a topic than "most people". For instance, a long time ago a group of men had an idea to become a separate country, something that everyone thought of as ridiculous. Who would ever want to be separated from our great king? An idea, however, is only crazy until it spreads. People are only looked at as insane until they are proven sane, which finally happened, and now we have the United States. Before any portion of their ideas caught on, they were thought of as traders, the low of the low, vile and awful. Now they are seen as heroes. Insanity is often defined by society, not the doctors that should have the responsibility.
Reply
Megan V
10/22/2013 06:38:55 am
I agree that a person is deemed as insane if they go against the norms in society. New ideas are crazy to people especially ones that seem ridiculous and impossible. I also think that its true that people are only looked at as insane until proven sane.
Reply
Megan C
10/23/2013 08:00:25 am
I agree with you, the only reason someone labels another with the term insane is because it is not what everyone else agrees with or believes in. New ideas are not crazy, they are just different, experimentation is part of growing and changing society.
Reply
Taylor D
10/21/2013 07:00:34 am
I think that society determines a person sane or insane by how well they fit the ideal mold of a person for that society. I think that someone who looks similar to the rest of society has half of the battle done. People usually judge a person by their looks and if you don’t conform you could be deemed insane. I also think that if you don’t have the same ideas as the rest of society even with the simplest of topics your ideas will just be disregarded and you will be seen as someone who is crazy. I think that in today’s world if your listen to different music dress differently of voice different opinions on topics you could easily be seen as insane. I think that society today is very intolerant of people who are different and people who are different shouldn’t be seen as insane just because they are different. Most great minds in history were viewed as insane by the people of their time, because they were different. People like Charles Darwin and Albert Einstein were viewed as crazy because they thought differently. These two individuals made some of the most important discoveries in history but to the people of their time they were crazy and told their children don’t talk to the crazy guy down the road, because Albert and Charles contradicted the main ideas of their time. Not fitting the mold society wants automatically gives an on looker the ability to assume that that person is crazy, is society insane for allowing such harsh judgment being placed so easily? I think that sanity is a very had topic to discover an answer. Who are we to judge if another person is crazy when we ourselves could be crazy, how do we make an assumption of a judgment of someone when there is no real right or wrong answer its neither black nor white but the grey space in between. I think sanity is a quality that is usually based with the eye of the beholder is being different a sign of insanity.
Reply
Kayla B
10/22/2013 04:44:26 am
Good points, however I do not agree that looks define your insanity through societies eyes. Listening to new music and keeping up with fashion trends are an important factor of being apart of a society, but they also do not determine your sanity. Behaviors do. Serial killers are insane, not a girl who prefers to dress like she straight from the 80s.
Reply
Clara M
10/22/2013 09:21:00 am
I agree that most people are judged based on how well they conform to society. Like you said, when someone is just a bit different people tend to treat them as though they are a completely different breed of humans. But everyone has that little thing that makes them a bit crazy or out of the norm. Your characteristics can be something that will either make you or break you in this world.
Reply
Victoria C
10/22/2013 12:20:38 pm
That's a great point about Darwin and Einstein. They were indeed seen as insane simply because of their views and intelligence. But we shouldn't be so quick to judge; they made so many contributions and without them, our world may not be the same. Sometimes, insanity may be seen as a good thing; maybe not at that specific time, but possibly in the future.
Reply
Dan Trombetta
10/21/2013 07:38:01 am
Sanity is determined by the norms of the people in a society. Anyone who continuously goes against the norms would be considered insane. Most norms are put into place by the government which is why such a substantial amount of people in the society follow them. By definition, insanity does not mean someone who doesn't follow social norms. However, people in society commonly deem stragglers insane because they don't understand them. For example, the Wright brothers believed that one day man would be able to fly. However, there where many who thought of them as insane because it had never been done before and was thought of as impossible. As most people know, the Wright brothers were in fact right and proved the majority of the world wrong. Thus, while some viewed the brothers as insane, they were actually smarter than every one else. They merely thought out of the box.Thus, someone who doesn't agree with society isn't always insane.
Reply
Mrs. Elbakry
10/21/2013 01:55:36 pm
Interesting point, Dan. What does that say about society? Are we close-minded people- we don't believe in something we simply cannot fathom until we see it with our own eyes? Does blindly believing make us insane? What about aliens? Sorry, going on a question tangent. Carry on.
Reply
Natalie P
10/21/2013 03:31:44 pm
Wow Dan, that is a very interesting point. I never thought of it that way. I agree with you that sanity is determined by the norms of the people in a society. You're definitely right when you say one can think against society but not be considered insane. Great example, too!
Reply
Taylor D
10/23/2013 04:02:48 am
I agree that society views people for how well they fit their idea of what people should act or look like so its a very bias opinion that is hard to find a write answer. I also agree that people with different ideas are labeled crazy or insane because people don't want to accept different opinions. insanity I think is a hard way to identify someone because people just say that someone is insane as an insult when insanity is a very serious topic when someone is a actually insane.
Matthew Dogali
10/22/2013 12:18:42 pm
I agree with the fact that government plays a huge part in the norm. With all the different news channels there is so much influence on what is normal. And with so much influence the one person that breaks the chain has to be insane. I also believe that this is why the government is able to do so many underhanded things with out us knowing. When there is a tragedy so many people buy into and when someone questions it the government calls them crazy.And everyone else follows.
Reply
Nick K
10/23/2013 02:31:59 pm
this is a really good argument. i particularly like that you believe people judge people simply because they do not understand them. i definitely agree with that statement.
Reply
Sarah W
10/23/2013 02:43:25 pm
I agree with you Dan when you say sanity is determined by the norms of the people in a society. Even if someone is doing a casual activity that seems sane, the rest of society will think they are insane since no one else is doing it. I like how your example perfectly further proves your point.
Reply
Natalie P
10/21/2013 03:28:13 pm
Sanity is certainly molded by actions and thoughts that are socially accepted by society. If one does an outrageous act, specifically to hurt others or themselves, he is said to be insane. Society leads to believe that those who are mentally unstable are indeed insane. In contrast, those who go about the norms and live a normal, ordinary lifestyle are considered sane. For example, the criminal behind the tragedy at Sandy Hook was absolutely insane because he performed an act that is truly scarring and unthinkable to every other human on the planet. Because he committed such a horrendous crime that no one else in society would ever agree upon, he was insane. When one believes an idea that is totally opposite to that of the entire society, I think it's only obvious that he are insane. Think about it, 1 mind against 1 billion others... clearly if the idea is not thought upon by the rest of society, there must be a huge counterargument. Hitler serves as a prime example. He believed all Jews were terrible people that served no purpose in life. Therefore, deciding to banish them all, he mass murdered hundreds of Jewish people through concentration camps and other devious tactics to attempt to completely abolish the Jewish people. The society as a whole clearly did not agree with Hitler's outrageous reasoning, deeming him insane. If it is society against an individual, that individual can not be considered sane because they are not on track with the rest of society.
Reply
Taylor Saja
10/22/2013 07:03:32 am
Natalie, I fully agree with you on your point when it comes to people who go about the norms and how they are considered sane. When individuals conform to the rest of society, no questions are asked. But when citizens do things out of the norm, they are quickly deemed insane just for thinking or doing something differently. Hitler was a prime example to use like you stated, society was against him, therefore, he was considered insane.
Reply
Hannah B
10/22/2013 12:01:07 pm
Great example about Hitler Natalie! He is most definitely insane and deserves to be labeled as insane. I believe that going against a norm could potentially be a good thing in some cases. For example I believe that going against the norm of wearing a certain type of clothing or shoes can be good for society. Wearing different clothes allows you to express your emotions and describes you as a person. Does society class someone who goes against the norm of clothing and fashion insane? To me to necessarily. They might be looked at differently but are most definitely not insane.
Reply
Kevin L
10/24/2013 01:12:51 pm
Natalie, i really liked your comment about the "1 mind against 1 billion". It is very true that if only few people believe in a cause then, the majority against it will win with a large belief that their wrong. A group of people have to correlate with the rest of society or else they stand out and become the deemed insane group.
Reply
Kayla B
10/22/2013 04:40:35 am
Sane behavior is determined based upon what everyone else is doing, for instance (it truly pains me for bringing this up) twerking. Five years ago, thrusting your buttocks back and forth in an extremely quick fashion would have not been acceptable and you may have been deemed insane for doing so, however, since everybody today is twerking, or at least knows what it is, it is totally acceptable to do it, no matter how stupid you may look. Catch my drift? Sane behavior is also determined through ethical or not ethical behavior. Like, killing someone is totally unethical and therefor it is insane to do so. Or, on the sane side of things, reading to blind or sick people is a wonderfully ethical thing to do, deeming it a sane action. I personally, do not believe that just because a person thinks or believes differently from the whole of a society means they are sane, contrary however society does think so and sometimes ostracizes them. Take Socrates for example, a huge figure in western philosophy, sentenced to death for thinking differently from whomever was in power at the time. So the moral of the story is: conform or you're insane.
Reply
Mrs. Elbakry
10/22/2013 11:34:24 am
Well said, Kayla. Poignant response.
Reply
Taylor Saja
10/22/2013 06:57:53 am
Society determines what is sane or insane by noticing certain behaviors and considering them to be the norm. If someone were to not conform to regular behavior, they are quickly judged and considered insane by the people in society. Appropriate behavior is what usually occurs, whereas deviant behavior can be unusual behavior or even crimes. Just because one person proposes an idea that is completely opposite to that of the rest of society, does not mean they are insane. It just means they are not conforming to the ideas of everyone else and have the ability to formulate their own opinions. Many people just go along with the majority because that is easier than standing up for what they personally believe in. For example, many years ago, when blacks and whites were separated, that was normal. Not a lot of people from either race questioned it. But one day, Rosa Parks decided to do something about it with extreme bravery. She refused to surrender her seat on the bus to a white passenger. She was considered insane for her action not to abide by the law at the time. Just because she was going against society's norms, she was crazy.
Reply
Jess H
10/23/2013 11:03:29 am
Taylor, I agree with you on your point that our society is quick to judge us and label us as insane. Although, I disagree with you when you said, "Just because one person proposes an idea that is completely opposite to that of the rest of society, does not mean they are insane." I think that society does consider that person insane. Like you said in your example of Rosa Parks, if someone goes against the views of society then they are discriminated against and considered insane, even if they are later considered heroic for their actions.
Reply
Kerstin E
10/23/2013 01:15:35 pm
I agree that if a person does not follow society's norm that they will be quickly judged. I also agree that most people go along with the majority and I think that it's because they just want to fit in. I like that you brought up Rosa Parks. She is a good example of a person that went against the beliefs of society and stood up for what she believed in.
Reply
Sara Ponce
10/24/2013 12:53:10 pm
Taylor is right, by going against society's norms it is enough to considered someone insane. This is so wrong, society has always been very judgmental making people not want to stand up for what they believe in. Instead they go with society and the norms, even if they aren't comfortable, just to avoid being "different" or "insane".
Reply
Clara M
10/22/2013 09:08:49 am
Our society determines things either sane or insane based mostly on laws, although there are norms in society that aren't written down on paper as illegal. People who commit serious crimes are often talked about with the phrases "they're insane" or "that's crazy". Their behaviors are based more off of the norms of society. If someone does something completely out of the ordinary they can be called crazy just because people aren't used to seeing these things on a daily basis. At the time he was alive, Martin Luther King Jr was considered crazy by the majority of white people in the country. Most of the political leaders did not understand his reasoning and this caused a huge problem in the racial issues at the time. Today we see him as a hero, standing up for what's right. I think that our view of insanity depends on perception. Something as small as a time period could affect most of society's norms. We each think very differently than other people so our views don't always match up.
Reply
Zach Pranger
10/23/2013 12:59:54 am
I completly agree with your point Clara. Society's view on insanity is definetly a matter of perception. Countless great minds, like Martin Luther King, who you stated, were considered insane in their time. But they were merely reformers far ahead intellectually than most others. Sometimes it takes the rest of society a long time to realize an idea wasn't so crazy after all.
Reply
Zach Pranger
10/23/2013 01:25:36 am
Traditionally you're considered insane when you're medically diagnosed so by a professional. Society usually determines appropriate behavior with the laws and justice system that determines right from wrong. If you break a law, you're going against what society believes is morally right. But many reforms throughout history could not have happened if those involved were considered sane and law abiding. If somebody has an idea thats radically different from everyone else's they may be considered a bit off. But the acceptance of ideas changes over time. A person believing an idea may be considered insane by society at the time and it may take ten or fifty or hundreds of years for society to change it's mind. When a small but pushy and outspoken group of individuals wanted to break their New World colonies away from Britain, most of the rest of the world probably thought them to be crazy. Many people in the colonies even thought them insane. But they went ahead and went through with their "insane" idea anyway. Now look how our great country, The United States of America, is doing now. (Pretty crappy but hopefully you get the point.) Sometimes people are considered insane by society but in reality, it just takes everyone else a little while longer to get on their level. Then of course some people like Hitler, #Kony2012, and Kim Jong Il actually were insane and considered so by society both during and after their escapades but radical reformers of society were almost always considered insane during their time.
Reply
Kaleigh B
10/24/2013 10:34:31 am
agreeing with Clara, society can be very judgmental and declaring people, like Martin Luther insane for having a dream. Notice how after he accomplished his dream and collectively ended segregation he is one of our nation's heroes. Now present day do we have people like Martin Luther who want to make our nation stronger and do we as society judge and proclaim insanity on them as well? Maybe its society that is insane for not supporting or believing.
Reply
Kevin King
10/24/2013 01:57:24 pm
I agree. Anything that happens on a daily basis no matter how insane it is will be and continue to be interpreted as a logical and sane act. Humans as a whole have been living with conformity towards the trends for their existence. I think it is human nature to want to fit in,to need comfort as to not be sought out for the way the look or way way they dress,and the be able to understand others feelings around them by being able to relate to them in some way.
Reply
Hannah B
10/22/2013 11:52:59 am
Society determines what is sane or insane by anyone who goes against the norm. If you have someone who goes against society, they are labeled as insane because their beliefs are different from ours. Different beliefs should not be frowned upon, but should be questioned and examined upon. Why do those people go against society in the first place? What makes them want to think differently and could the government be missing out on something that hasn't been thought of before? Although I believe that some people that go against the norm are sane, in most cases such as the Stanford Prison experiment where Philip G. Zimbardo advertised for people to sign up for this experiment to play prisoners and guards for the night. This experiment turned into chaos and had people in the experiment wanting to leave but couldn't, as told by Zimbardo himself. Zimbardo only advertised for an overnight experiment but it ended up lasting a few days. Zimbardo was trying to find out how fast people would conform to the prisoner and guard roles. The people of the U.S. (once heard about the brutality and torture of this experiment) frowned upon Zimbardo. The people classed Zimbardo as insane for going against the rules of experimentation. He was insane by even wanting to experiment using human beings. Although the participants volunteered to be in this experiment, they were told they would only have to be there for one day but ended up staying for a few days. The prisoners got treated like they were dirt, as they should be If they are playing a prisoner right? Zimbardo told the guards to not give in to the prisoners and if any rebellion against them were to happen, do not give up on the role as a guard or else the experiment would result in failure. This experiment was greatly frowned upon the people of the United States and labeled Philip G. Zimbardo as insane. In this case he went against the norm in a manner that was inhumane.
Reply
Matthew Dogali
10/22/2013 12:11:58 pm
Insanity is when someone is mentally unstable. Most people think that if someone thinks or acts differently they are insane. There is a huge difference between insanity and weird. Being weird and doing things differently doesn’t make you insane. Insane people have an illness and can potentially harm themselves or someone else. Unfortunately the word has been used to describe someone with different views. People who have different thoughts and opinions from everyone else are being tagged as insane, when they just believe something different. Society just doesn’t want to put the time to understand these different views so they outcast them. Call them crazy and discredit them. But without these “insane” people, many of the things we know today wouldn’t have been discovered. Columbus was pegged as insane when he said that the world was round. They believed it was round, and that was good enough. Then Columbus proved that it was round. But by going against popular belief he was mocked and called insane. It seems now a days that if you don’t conform your automatically insane.
Reply
Delaney
10/24/2013 03:05:04 am
I agree that yes, insanity is when someone is mentally unstable and that a lot of the time people will say that someone is crazy or insane just because they are going against social standards and norms. I also agree that there is an enormous difference between someone just being off and acting weirdly and being clinically insane. However, I disagree that Columbus proved the world was round because Ferdinand Magellan sailed around the ocean many years prior and it was widely accepted that the world was round before Columbus was even born, but I digress.
Reply
Kyle C
10/24/2013 06:15:58 am
I agree with you Matt when you say some insanely viewed people such as Columbus have molded our history. The people of his time thought he was crazy, but he proved that the world was round. Society views the outcasts as insane when they may actually make a historical impact on life even if they are seen as insane.
Reply
Steven P
10/24/2013 06:42:30 am
I agree Matt, people should not be tagged insane for believing something different than the majority. Sometimes the 'insane' people are the only ones who know the truth, such as Columbus.
Reply
Brianna Guilherme
10/24/2013 09:35:10 am
Matt I totally agree on how there is a difference between insanity and weird. If being "weird" meant that you were insane then that would mean everyone is insane because everyone is weird in their own way. Being actually insane though is when someone is mentally unstable. These people are the ones who need actual need help because they are the real insane ones.
Reply
Tommy B
10/24/2013 11:18:50 am
I agree with you when you say people who are "insane" are the people who change the world. Anyone who invented something that is important to life now was once called insane because they went against popular believe or ideas. Like you said about Columbus, without "insane" people, many things today would be different.
Reply
Victoria C
10/22/2013 12:17:43 pm
Sanity or insanity is determined by society based on how an individual conducts themselves. The "insane" people are usually outsiders who are different from the majority. This may or may not (it always depends) include those who are very loud, or very intelligent, or even so lazy. If a group of people are loud and very outgoing, they may see the one person who sits alone at lunch with a book as insane; they'll think something like "Why doesn't she just have fun? She's insane!" That person, of course, really isn't insane. She (or he) is just not like the majority. If a person has different views than that of society, that person is not always insane. Most people just go with the flow; they choose to believe what everyone else believes because it's easier than saying something different. However, not everyone accepts these views and does, in fact, challenge them. But because everybody else thinks the same thing, and it's a different thing, that person will be considered insane. But we should listen to what they have to say; they may be exceptional critical thinkers and may have interesting points we've never thought of. Those people should not be judged so quickly. But there are cases, that we have seen, in which one person or a group has dangerous opposing views that could, actually, deem them insane. Mental illness also almost always deems a person as insane. In some cases, that isn't fair. But in others, it makes us aware: for example, a lot of school shooters in the past have had mental illnesses. They were deemed insane by their actions.
Reply
Jeff H
10/23/2013 02:29:13 am
Our society determines whether or not a person is insane or sane based on if what they are doing is the social norm. Obviously people who dress in all black or gothic or who act out are treated as insane because it isn't what the majority do. Likewise people that follow the rules, obey the law, and don't stray from the norm of society are viewed as sane because their actions are considered normal by the masses. I believe that if one person has a totally abstract opinion towards something they are insane until proven sane. How they feel about a certain topic or idea may seem crazy to everyone else because the "Insane" person may have real and supportive reasoning for feeling this way. Take Hitler's Germany for example. Adolf Hitler and majority of the German people were very poor after the end of the first World War. Their country was stricken with poverty and forced to pay war reparations which crippled the country's economy and spirit. Adolf Hitler, like most of the German people of that time, searched for a scapegoat and found one in the Jews. They saw the Jews as people who believed themselves to be better than the Germans because of their wealth and success through this time of hardship for the German people. While Hitler gained power in Germany he believed that the major problem with his country was a result of the Jews, therefore prompting him to solve this problem. So, as the rest of the world looked at what Adolf Hitler did as absolute insanity and craziness, both himself and the rest of the German people who had suffered for so long had an actual reason to believe that they were justified in their actions taken towards Jewish people, however cruel and terrible they were.
Reply
Marcus Esteves
10/24/2013 03:09:24 am
I agree with Jeff in that the majority decision sways the beliefs of what is insane or sane. The group opinion is more powerful than the single man's but that does not always mean that is it the right one.
Reply
Ryan P
10/24/2013 07:03:25 am
I agree with Jeff's statement when he says that people are treated as insane when they do something outside of what the majority does. Just because someone isn't the embodiment of an average citizen, they are sadly judged upon and in most cases seen as insane, though they may be perfectly fine.
Reply
Dilsara
10/27/2013 03:51:00 am
I agree with Jeff because people are looked upon as insane when they do something outside of what the majority does. This is the main problem with dealing with a persons sanity..just because a person has different beliefs they shouldn't be so quickly judged by the majority of people who have their own opinions.
Reply
Jeff H
10/23/2013 02:33:04 am
I agree with Clara when she says that people are deemed sane or insane based on whether they abide by the laws of their society. The act of deliberately disobeying a law or breaking a rule in society shows that even though you know the possible consequence of your actions you still commit the act tells society that you are not in your right state of mind. Normal people, knowing that something bad may happen to them, will not break the law in fear of those consequences. However, insane individuals know those same consequences as sane people do, and disregard them.
Reply
Megan Curran
10/23/2013 06:27:01 am
Sane and insane are just like saying someone is normal. Unless they one are diagnosed with being insane there is no reason to use that word. What is being sane? Until a medical professionally deems someone insane they are not. The term is so loosely used now that calling someone insane does not necessarily mean they are mentally ill. There are many different areas or reason may be deemed insane (not medically). Risk takers, dreamers, anyone who does not agree with the majority of society. In society the idea of going against the norm would unfortunately deem someone insane. Until the idea that is brought brought to the table, it will always be considered insanity on that person’s part. Trendsetters may be considered insane for their choices of clothing such as Lady Gaga. She has revolutionized fashion in the way people see it. At first people said that he outfits were insane soon as more adapted to her ideas became less insane. She is not insane but because people are not use to her style, they are not open to risks. Until proven insane no one should be categorized as insane or not normal, due to the psychological impact that may result from the categorization.
Reply
Meaghan O
10/24/2013 12:42:21 pm
I agree with Megan that the term insane is loosely used. For good or bad reasons, I feel like everyone has been called insane at sme point in their life. It could be a good reason like if someone is really good at something, they might be called insane. That would be a compliment. Or there is a bad kind of insane. For example, the Charles Mansons and Jeffery Dahmers of the world who are actually medically insane. They are the bad types of insane.
Reply
Jess H
10/23/2013 10:51:46 am
People are deemed insane by society when they do not conform to their society’s norms. Therefore, if you follow the norms of society then you are considered sane. I don’t believe that our society should be this way, but sadly it is. We are used to seeing and expecting the same things every day. Therefore, when someone does something out of the ordinary or something we don’t understand we automatically label them as “crazy” or “insane”. If one person believes an idea that is the complete opposite of the rest of society then that person is deemed deviant. For example, Martin Luther King Jr. was seen as insane because he believed that blacks should have the same rights as whites. MLK’s ideas were new, radical, and completely different from what American’s were used to. At that time, it was normal for blacks to be treated harshly and unfairly, so people couldn’t imagine a society where blacks were not below whites. Although, today the circumstances are quite the opposite; everyone has equal rights.
Reply
Kerstin E
10/23/2013 01:09:16 pm
In our society, everyone strives to fit in. If an individual doesn’t fit in they are considered “insane.” Our society has developed into a place where it is not normal to be different and stand out. We live in a nation full of followers. People judge each other based off of appearance and behavior. If one does not conform to society’s way they are not accepted. For example, there has been a huge uproar over Miley Cyrus’s recent change of behavior. Some people believe she is insane for going against society’s norms. Others think it’s just her personal way of expressing herself. Either way she decided to be a leader and not a follower unlike the rest of society.
Reply
Sara Ponce
10/24/2013 12:50:55 pm
I agree with Kerstin that everybody tries to fit in, they try to fit in so that they won't be considered weird or insane. If they have different believes than society, society often views them in a poor manner. People don't want all odds against them, so they try to fit in.
Reply
Sarah W
10/23/2013 02:15:19 pm
Society is what defines sane or insanity and it is done fairly easily. Throughout society's existence, morals and values have been established. These may not have been established by one single group or person, but they are things learned by all people who are a part of modern, urban society. These may be rules of respect, a form of altruism, or anything people see as "normal". If you follow these unwritten guidelines, I believe society would see you as sane. Meaning, you are with the program and comprehend what your atmosphere has provided. If you don't follow these morals and lessons, you can easily be seen as insane. Those who are defined as insane are people who go against society and do as they please. An example of this would be Steve Jobs. He was one of the first creators of Apple products and changed technology as we see it today. No one would have every believe a man could create something with such advancement. A person who first introduces an idea might be insane, but once that idea has been adapted, people will see it as sanity.
Reply
Casey S.
10/24/2013 10:55:01 am
I completely agree with you Sarah. People in the 1800s if someone was to go up to them and say there was going to be a communicator that you can use with your fingers and is portable they would probably think that person is insane. However, in today's society people are adapted to believe any type of technology is possible.
Reply
Nick K
10/23/2013 02:30:25 pm
determining sanity comes from the ability of a community to judge ones behavior. society sees people and compares them to the norm, or normal, expected, average citizen. insanity is judged by whether a person fits the norm of society. differing from the social norm does indeed make an individual insane. to further expand on that: there are two kinds of insane. there is the amazing, spectacular, above average "WOW, that's so insane man!" and the demeaning, outcast "that kid is completely insane, i would never associate with that." kind of insane. so its socially acceptable to be one of those two. one is idealized by those who are the "social norm," and there is the one that everybody spends there who lives trying to avoid. generally throughout the history of society is has been deemed by the citizens to determine the acceptable behaviors of peers.
Reply
Aaron Bullivant
10/23/2013 04:09:25 pm
Society decides what is sane and what is insane by popular opinion most of the time. It seems to me that society takes it upon itself to decide what is abnormal to them and make sure to make other people think the same way. As you look through the news of today the model of insanity seems to change daily due to the fact that we often associate insanity with people that we fear. We like to think that people, who would be out to hurt us, as a group, would all be insane. But often times we are throwing in a lot of normal and sane humans along in with that group. A historical reference to this thought would be the Iraqis people that we have been at war with for a long time. As a glance a lot of people like to think that everyone in the general Iraq area is insane but to be honest there are people like you and me living there everyday lives and just so happen to have some people in their society that do bad things. That is the same with any other society as well. There have been people in America that have set a “standard” for the image for the rest of the world to have of us. If we were to take a look into the American society from an outsiders point of view what would we see? We would have our own definition of insane and the America that we would be looking at, with the recent events of our government, would most likely fit that description. We also still look at people and use the actions of few to discern what the rest of the society must do. As you see the people in our society that go out and do something crazy such as the actions that Adam Lanza took on that fate full day, we then started to associate all people that play video games to people that go crazy. We associate the actions of few to the masses because that is how we like to associate people. It is easy for our society so find something that they may not have liked in the first place and latch on to it and claims that anyone that partakes in this action is insane. Our society has all ways found it very easy to find ways to find ways to associate the actions of few to the mass of society and discern who is sane and who is insane.
Reply
Mackenzie M
10/24/2013 01:00:20 pm
I agree that society sometimes bases insanity off of the people it fears. In the eyes of most societies, If enemies think differently then they must be wrong, and therefore insane. Therefore, an entire group of people can be deemed insane by one society simply because they have different ideas.
Reply
Marcus Esteves
10/24/2013 03:07:05 am
Our society determines what is sane by the opinions of the majority of the society. People will tend to follow the beliefs of a group of people rather than just one single person. The group belief is usually what is seen as the sane act and the single effort that is put forth and could be a little out there, is seen as the insane act and people cannot believe it. Usually if one person believes something opposite of the entire society then they are seen as insane. This may not be right always but people are just so used to this conformity that everyone else is on the same side and then this one person comes and has a different belief or way of looking at it and they automatically assume that they have issues or they are insane. Abraham Lincoln was the pioneer for freeing the slaves from working on plantations. He was probably seen as an insane person because this is what people were used to the blacks had to work as slaves and he was just going to let them free. This was the correct thing to do looking at it now, but then all of the white plantation owners and whites in general probably saw this like Lincoln was a crazy guy and he had something wrong with him.
Reply
Kyle C
10/24/2013 06:12:55 am
Sane people are the ones that are viewed by society as acceptable. The insane ones are the ones that have an idea and back up that idea, however it is viewed as something outrageous by society. The perspective a person takes on a topic is what really makes the difference. To Americans, the incidents of 9/11 are ones that we have ruled as a terrorist attack and an insane act, but however to the people of his family, country, and religion, those are the most courageous acts someone can do. The people that flew those planes into the twin towers are viewed as heroes in the eyes of his family and religion, but to us those people are insane. The way we are taught growing up is too differentiate between sane things and insane things. However, those views are seen different by people in their eyes. Jim Crowe was also another person who can be viewed insane. He tortured and killed black people just because of their skin, and people all followed what he stood for. If no one supported him at that time, he may have been killed for his crazy thought. But society is really the opinion that determines if someone or something is insane. Sure there are basic morals that people are supposed to follow but emotions and beliefs alter the way people think and can change their view of sanity or insanity.
Reply
Chris V
10/24/2013 11:39:38 am
I agree with Kyle in saying that it all depends what perspective is chosen whether something is insane or sane. To one person committing an act of terror is sane but to others is it insane or crazy. It is very difficult to label something sane or insane because of the possible views people may have.
Reply
Josh T
10/24/2013 12:14:41 pm
I agree with this it is crazy to look at both sides of some of these events, but it is true. Everyone seems to just follow what is the common belief, and don't really know the background of what is also going on on the other side of things.
Reply
Eric J
10/24/2013 12:33:53 pm
I agree with Kyle that sanity is viewed differently by different societies. Kyle's statement about the terrorists attack is sadly true how they are considered heroes.
Reply
Steven P
10/24/2013 06:39:12 am
In order to be sane in today's society you must conform. If you go against what is normal then you are crazy, you become an outcast of society. The 'norm' is first set by the government, they set the rules and laws in which society must follow. The majority of people follow these, making them 'sane'. Unfortunately in this society if someone believes something that not everyone else believes, they are insane. This should not be the case however, I believe that everybody should express themselves and what they believe in. They should not be considered insane for believe something, every should have the right to their own opinions without being condemned for it. Hitler was hated by people all over the world for what he believed, what he believed was actually insane but he did have many followers as well. He spoke out and did what he believed in whether other people thought it was crazy or not.
Reply
Michael D
10/24/2013 02:51:02 pm
I like your use of Hitler as your example stevie. However, I am dissapointed in the fact that I called this example in class. How dare you sir. Anyway, I agree with the fact that insanity does depend on the type of people viewing the person. Hitler's followers sure did not think he was insane, but I know we all did.
Reply
Ryan P
10/24/2013 06:59:00 am
Society determines what is sane or insane or appropriate by identifying and comparing individuals to the overall trend or social norm of the rest of society. The sane people are generally the ones who follow the guidelines or principles of the norms of societies. Basically, they are the people who "follow the crowd" and don't necessarily stand out tremendously. The insane people are the opposite of the sane, as they are deemed as the different people. They are usually the ones who have unusual or uncommon beliefs, that cause them to deviate from what is normal. This generally causes them to be labeled as distinct, since their beliefs aren't accepted as widely as other beliefs. For example, Benito Mussolini, the dictator of Italy during WWII, succumbed to the pressure from Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party to sign an allied pact. Despite the disapproval of a great majority of Europe and the rest of the world, Mussolini signed the pact and became allied with Nazi Germany. He was coined as insane by citizens across the world as well as many Italians, as he became "friends" with an uncontrollable, power hungry, immoral dictator. Anyone who commits that kind of act is sure to be viewed as incredibly insane, as even the thought of it is miles away from anything that can be considered rational.
Reply
Brianna Guilherme
10/24/2013 09:29:02 am
Society determines what is sane and what is not by using what their own opinion. If one person believes that something is completely normal and in someone else's eyes it is completely insane then they are looked at to be crazy. Especially if the person is famous, once they think that something is crazy or insane then their fan base will follow them and believe that the idea is insane as well. I do not believe that if a person's idea is opposite of the entire society they are insane. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but up to a certain extent. Yes, everyone is able to have an opinion on all thing involving them such as clothing, education, cars, food, etc. but as soon as the idea involves other people, preferably the pain to other then I believe they are insane or crazy or plain mean. Teenagers and young children always have their own opinions on what is "cool" or "fun", but once someone disagrees then they begin to be bullied by these children because they think they are crazy for not thinking what they want them to think. Bully someone for not having the same idea can make yourself look insane for picking on someone for no reason. All the history with North Korea reminds me of what people believe is sane and what is not. The world knows that they are insane, but inside the Korean boarders it's a whole different story. Many in North Korea love their country, they think that North Korea is the best and all other countries are the "devil" when in reality it is the other way around. The people there don't realize how bad they are really treated and how insane their ruler is, they just follow his beliefs since he brainwashes them to believe what he says. Being insane/ crazy is different for everyone and everyone can have their own opinion, no matter how wrong or how right the opinion is.
Reply
Aaron Bullivant
10/24/2013 09:33:55 am
I agree with claras opinion. Society likes to decide what is sane and insane by the actions of few. society likes to classify their own actions as normal while other peoples actions are automatically classified as crazy or insane. people feel safe behind the conceptions of sane and insane.
Reply
Kevin King
10/24/2013 01:51:17 pm
All of what you have here is absolutely true fact and I agree with you completely. I think society chooses who is sane and who is insane. A person may think their idea is completely rational and sane while another group of people dispute it. Korea feels they are simply keeping their people in line and making it easier to control their people while we view is as the manipulation of the masses. People view it as different and that's what makes it insane. Korea most likely thinks that the United States gives it's people too much freedom. It is entirely the perspective of an individual or society that changes their perspective and decides whether something is sane or insane.
Reply
Kaleigh B
10/24/2013 10:26:34 am
Typing in Google, “insanity,” the first five links that appear is the insanity work out DVDs; truly those DVD’s are insane, because of the physical and internal changes that occur within an amount of time and effort. Now asking Google for the lists of definitions to insanity are countless because over time insanity has been proven to become geniuses. Thomas Edison, a genius for creating light and electricity, was criticized by society back in his day, when there was no electricity, and the thought of word, “electricity,” was crazy talk; therefore Thomas Edison was pronounced insane, but then again he was idolized for being a genius and creating electricity after he had made it. Maybe the thought isn’t what insanity is, but what makes a genius?
Reply
Joe V
10/24/2013 12:47:29 pm
Good job with your response. Looking up the word and definition of insanity was extremely creative and added a new aspect to the conversation that no one else mentioned.
Reply
Becky G
10/24/2013 10:28:01 am
In our society, if you are not conforming to everyone else, then people view you as if you are insane. This is because you appear different from everyone else. When you don't blend in with the crowd, you stand out, and when you stand out you're viewed differently, and when you're viewed differently, you appear to be insane. Someone can stand out from being extremely shy to extremely peppy and loud, and because they're not 'normal' people will think of them as crazy or insane. Also, when it comes to thoughts and opinions, people are supposed to be entitled to their own opinion, but when they express their opinion, they may get harassed or bullied or even worse, if people thinks thy have a 'wrong' opinion. Take Reverend James Reeb for example. This man was middle aged white man who supported the Civil Rights Movement in the year 1965. He was walking in the Selma March, with a quite large group of white activists. As he was walking down Selma street, a group of white males beat him to death. Just because a man supported equal rights for all human beings while the norm was to disapprove of black rights, he was beaten to death. This just goes to show how if you're not conformed to the society, mentally and physically, then you're insane.
Reply
Dan B
10/24/2013 12:51:29 pm
I agree that if someone is different from what society is believed to be normal they are dubbed insane. In society's eyes insane is everything from too smart all the way to mentally insane. Society treats "insane" people too harshly as they are beaten to death, as in the case of Reverend James Reeb, or even tried to be treated through the idea of electric shock therapy.
Reply
Casey S
10/24/2013 10:53:19 am
The level of a person's sanity if is based off of how well that person fits into the social norm. If a person goes about their day demonstrating "normal" and everyday behaviors, then their actions would be overlooked. However, if a person exhibits opposing behaviors and preaches ideas different from the universal ideas of other, then they are considered insane. I believe people fear the difference that some people may possess. They fear that their ideas and opinions may be influenced by someone else. For example, the West Baptist Church is viewed by many as insane. They believe that God hates all homosexuals therefore they should not be considered equal and "cure" of their homosexuality. The social norm is to believe that everyone is equal no matter their race, gender, or sexual preferences, and for everyone to live and safe and happy life. However, in the eyes of the Westburo Baptist Church despising homosexual is their normal. That's what they believe in. So does believing in something make you insane? Although, in my personal view I do not agree with the Westburo Baptist Church at all, but some people may. If that's the case then anyone who believes in something individually then they are insane.
Reply
Tommy B
10/24/2013 11:27:14 am
Everybody is called insane, crazy, or ridiculous at one point in their life. They will say something that many people disagree with and those people will automatically discredit their opinion. The people who go against the norm are the "insane" people in our world. If you do not agree with what is said to be normal, you are not normal. Yet, without these people who think outside the box, we would live in a stone-aged, boring life. There would be no variety in clothing, new inventions, different styles of artwork or literature, and everyone would be the same person. People's houses would look identical because only the "insane" people built mansions or designed something out of the ordinary. Anyone who does something out of the norm is considered insane and looked down upon; until that person is idolized for thinking outside the box and changing the world.
Reply
Sedyra
10/24/2013 12:53:06 pm
I agree with Tommy B. He said that people that go against the norm are considered insane. This is true but I don't think it should be like this. Like he said, if we didn't have so called crazy people than we would have no advances in anything. Without the help of 'insane' scientists we wouldn't know anything more than what we knew in the cave ages. The ideas that are consider insane are the advances that help make our society what it is today. Many people do not understand this concept and do not realize this. If people were discouraged by the idea of being called insane we would be no where. If everyone thought the same than everything would still be the same and we would all live in cave with no language and no civility. In this day in age I think a lot of the time being called insane is not a bad thing and the word innovative should be used more than shutting people's ideas down. If we haven't learned this with people like Einstein I don't know when we as a society will learn.
Reply
Chris V
10/24/2013 11:33:48 am
Unfortunately our society has a narrow mind whether something is sane or insane. Anything out of the ordinary or against the majority is viewed as insane. Insanity is a word that is often thrown around a lot to people who have these brilliant ideas that no one at the time has thought of and are immediately deemed as insane. In history Abraham Lincoln received a great deal of hate from the people of the South because he had this rash idea that all people should be free and equal. Lincoln was viewed as crazy because he wanted to free the slaves in all parts of the country. The "sane" people at the time strongly believed that the blacks are inferior to the whites and giving them rights and freedom is unheard of. Sometimes heroes are labeled as insane like this situation. Just because an idea is out of the trend at the time does not make the person insane. These are the people that most likely get remembered in history because they were brave enough, not insane, to stand up and speak out against the popular views. Instead of striking out against the "insane" we as a society should embrace them because they may change the way life is lived in a positive way. Society should really evaluate the situation before saying it is insane. You never know what you will get when you are confronted with an idea or thought that is different, it may be crazy or it may be astonishing.
Reply
Josh T
10/24/2013 12:08:28 pm
Usually in our society things that are "sane" are determined by a majority's belief. it may not actually be sane in the eyes of others, but it is purely based on their belief. This is commonly seen when comparing other cultures. For example, Americans find it "insane" for people in France to eat snails purely based off the fact that it isn't common to do so here. There have been many cases throughout history of behavior that we may find insane, but to them it was completely normal. In Sparta, many people were brought up to be brute warriors bred to be merciless killers. To us that is crazy, but to them it was the common belief that they all shared. To them it would be insane if you weren't a cold blooded killer. The idea of what is sane and insane is skewed by what the majority's opinion is. Just because someone doesn't share a similar belief with you doesn't mean they are insane. At least it shouldn't be. If someone doesn't believe in something they aren't wrong, in my opinion it is insane to judge someone on what they believe.
Reply
Meaghan O
10/24/2013 12:37:05 pm
Society uses its view of what is normal to determine whether someone is insane or not. When someone is called insane it is usually because they have done something or are doing something that is out of the ordinary. Especially if what someone is doing is not normal and illegal, they might be considered insane. For someone to truely be insane, they would be diagnosed by a doctor. Someone could be deemed insane if they had an idea that goes against the majority. However, I think that depends on what the idea is. For example, when the idea of the telephone was first brought up, society probably thought that person was insane. Now the idea of life without a telephone is insane.
Reply
Sedyra
10/24/2013 12:42:53 pm
I think society believes anything that is not the same as anyone else is insane. The so called normal people look out on people with differences from themselves and automatically assume that they are insane. I believe the same is applied to defiant and appropriate behavior. This is like Albert Einstein. He was called insane by many people and was believed to be crazy but he was one if the smartest people to this day. He made many advances in the science world. Many scientist with new beliefs were labeled crazy and a lot of the people were right about their new discoveries. I believe that insanity is decided by the majority. They decide what is abnormal and if someone thinks outside of the box they are labeled weird and if you hear the same thing over and over again about yourself that person is going to believe it. This might drive a person into insanity like Einstein. He had to see a therapist because of the problems caused with the fact that no one really understood him or his intelligence.
Reply
Joe Venturini
10/24/2013 12:43:09 pm
The label "insane" has been applied throughout history to individuals who are different. Those who are not "normal" and do not have the same beliefs as others are immediately judged for their differences and called things such as weird and insane. This term is applied in any context, from people with mental disorders to people who simply do not conform to society's norms and beliefs. A good example from the early United States is Abe Lincoln. Whites viewed him as insane for fighting against the popular belief. Now that slavery has been abolished and the matter is behind us, Lincoln is viewed as a hero and those who fought against him are perceived as the insane ones. Overall, the term insane is used to describe someone who refuses to resort to conformity and stays true to their beliefs.
Reply
Dan B
10/24/2013 12:44:45 pm
Our society determines what is sane or insane by what is generally different from the rest of the population. Einstein was considered insane just because of his superior intelligence. If one person goes against the ideas of the majority there are two ways society defines them. Revolutionary or insane. However, their idea would only be considered revolutionary if afterwards the idea proves to be beneficial. Majority of the time the person is considered insane due to the fact that they go against the standard way of life. Kim Jung Un was considered insane because his ideas of how to live weren't beneficial to the masses, A.K.A. the rest of the world. To his people though Kim Jung Un would've been considered a revolutionary figure only because they didn't know any better. We consider his ideas insane because the way the North Koreans live is brutal. They have very little rights and are placed under the strictest of dictatorships, not even allowed to know what goes on outside their country. Due to their ignorance, they consider Kim Jung Un a revolutionary figure because the find their life style quite lavish and spectacular.
Reply
Sara Ponce
10/24/2013 12:49:11 pm
A person is considered insane or sane depending on the majority of the people and what they believe in. In other words, if a person doesn't agree with the norms of society then they are considered insane. If a person goes along with the crowd, they are considered sane. So basically in our society if you have your own thoughts and opinions different to most, you are ridiculed and thought of as insane. If one goes against the norms of society by dressing differently, acting differently, or thinking differently, it is considered deviant behavior. Appropriate behavior is doing what everyone else does because it is already accepted. Although our society says "to be yourself" people aren't afraid to be themselves, because sometimes when they are they are considered the wrong kind of "different". For example, Steve Jobs was considered weird because he thought differently than most. He strongly believed in his apple product while other businesses would shut him down and say it would never worked. Businesses would laugh in his face and call him weird because he had an idea different than most, an idea looking to the future. Because of him facetiming, imessing, etc is all possible. Back then women who believed that they deserved equal rights were considered insane. It was considered wrong for them to want the right to vote and work. However, if the women back then had not pushed for their rights and accepted being ridiculed for them, women wouldn't be considered just as equal as men today. Sometimes all it takes is for one person to strongly believe in their different opinion, enough to take a stand and make difference.
Reply
Mackenzie M
10/24/2013 12:49:59 pm
Our society decides who is sane and insane based on the majority beliefs at the time. If someone has an idea other than what the majority his society believes, that person is then considered insane by his society. This is true whether he is correct in his beliefs or not. The idea of perceptive reality has been seen in examples throughout history. Reality is only what people believe to be true, not always what is actually true. It used to be a fact that the sun went around the earth because that was what people of the time believed because of the work of Aristotle. When Galileo promoted the idea that the earth went around the sun, he was persecuted by the Catholic Church and placed under house arrest. Many others who dared to go against their society’s beliefs were considered heretics and sometimes even killed for it. Appropriate behavior is also determined by society and its beliefs at the time. Society today often looks back on events in history with contempt because our views have changed. For example, owning hundreds of people as slaves used to be considered acceptable and was even something to strive for. In our time, making anyone a servant without his or her consent is cause for imprisonment. The opposite is also true. The language, clothing, and behavior of modern times would not be deemed as acceptable in a society from the past. Views on what is sane and what is acceptable behavior will always change because beliefs of societies will always change.
Reply
Kevin L
10/24/2013 01:07:01 pm
Society controls the fads and basically what is deemed normal just by majority's opinion as to what is circulating through society as the "cool new thing". Many new fads are criticized as they are becoming more popular because only a small group deems it not insane or okay regardless what society says. For example, the "yolo" fad that was circulating like a disease. At first i thought it couldn't get any more dumb than an acronym that stands for "you only live once" that was said in a rap song. But before you knew it i started saying it without even thinking because it started to surround me and become an everyday word. In the beginning, the small group who thought it was cool and didn't care if they were called insane stuck with it and soon became popular. So by society judging someone for being insane because they are doing something that differs from the crowd, in a few weeks they might be following in that once insane persons footsteps. This was evident throughout society with new and upcoming inventions that no one believed would work. For example, the wright brothers couldn't get anymore criticism for their idea at first. People would call them crazy for even thinking about soaring hundreds of feet in the air with a plane. But they stuck to it and believed their own cause and created one of the most important vehicles that is used by millions today. So in conclusion, at first an idea or fad might be deemed insane and that person could undergo criticism, but who knows, you might be following that insane person soon enough.
Reply
Becca H
10/24/2013 01:27:45 pm
Insanity is completely stereotypical. When a person describes someone who is insane, they might say that that person is in a straight jacket in a mental hospital for hearing voices. People can also view "insanity" as going against what is considered normal. In our society today, anyone who does something against what is considered normal, is sunned and deemed insane. Just because someone's beliefs are different than that of someone elses, our society ostracizes them. In history, there have been cases where people are seen as insane because their beliefs are different. For example, Hitler (even thought he really was quite crazy) had different views on what the world should be like and because of that, we now think of him as a crazy man who once tried to take over the world. Our society is so against anything that isn't normal to the point where even the smallest things bother us. Someone who dresses in black all the time is stereotyped as being "goth" or "emo". The same thing applies to people. If you have a different idea from what the rest of the world believes, you're considered "crazy"
Reply
Kevin King
10/24/2013 01:45:46 pm
Society determines an individual’s insanity by relating their own standard versus the standards of those around them. If an individual sees an event as normal or a casual occurrence, then it is insane to think it is normal otherwise. The thought has already been put in their mind that it exists and is a common phenomenon and it cannot be insane. If it was insane, then not close to the amount of people who do it would do it. For instance, today’s society has changed their perspective on a faithful and true marriage. Celebrities and movie stars are constantly getting divorced a short amount of time after they get married in the first place. In the 1800s, when a person gets married at any age to a man or woman they love, whether that love lasted or diminished over the years, they did not leave their husband or wife. They did not split till death as they agree to marry each other under the vow when they originally got married. Now, the meaning of saying “I do” has dramatically changed. It is a common occurrence and people see this everywhere they go. Searching on Yahoo, a search engine used by a numerous amount of people, several articles feature celebrity couples like Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries, whose marriage lasted for a total of 72 days and was featured on every news channel available. This sets an example to the people who see this and know them through media or heard by word that it’s traditional and accepted to do these things that once 200 years ago would have been considered evil and complete ludicrous. This is completely insane how someone can vow one idea and follow another, but society views it as regular, but fascinating. It is important to remember that one person can begin a trend and be crazy or insane, but once people follow their trend, they are no longer insane, but normal.
Reply
Michael D
10/24/2013 02:49:06 pm
I believe that society will view someone to be insane if thier actions or ideas are completely different from what thier society is accustomed to. Although everyone is unique, I see an insane person as one who takes this uniqueness to a whole new level in which by no means could their actions be understood. I do not believe that a person is insane if they have different believes than an entire society. I am just saying that there must be some sort of justification to thier actions. I believe that an insane person is usually causing mahem, almost like a mad scientist. For an historical example, I would classify Hitler as insane due to his beliefs. He killed millions of jews just becuase he saw them as inferior and not worthy of life. This act of evil is seen as insane in the eyes of everyone except the Nazi's. When I think of insane, I usually link it to an individual who has taken an obsession or idea to an extreme height and can be potentially causing harm to themselves or others. An insane person is not a unique person.
Reply
Dilsara
10/27/2013 03:50:28 am
A person's sanity in our society is definitely based off of them following the norms. Someone can be looked down upon and be called insane if they do something that isn't socially acceptable. Yes, in some cases such as the Sandy Hook incident, the shooter who went against the norm is considered insane and a psychopath. But having different beliefs shouldn't always be frowned upon. If all people had the same beliefs we would not be where we are today with equality and even science and technology. Back when the blacks were frowned upon in white society, Martin Luther King went against the social norms of the time and stood up for what he believed was right. Even though he was looked as insane by the white people of the his time, he is now such an influential figure who shaped the equal society we have today. I think our society is way too quick to judge people who have different beliefs than the majority. We need to take time to separate the insane people who are actually sick in the mind and people who are different that just have different opinions and ideas.
Reply
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
English 12 HPlease respond to the question in at least 10 sentences AND comment on another classmate's response. You can certainly disagree, but BE RESPECTFUL of the opinions/feelings of your classmates. Archives
June 2014
Categories |