posted 04-23-2006 01:59 PM               

And now that's dealt with... [pardon the capitals].

*runs around howling*

I HAVE AN AUDITION FOR DRAMA SCHOOL TOMORROW AND IT'S GOING TO BE COMPLETELY AWFUL, CALL IT INTUITION!

ARRRRRRRRRRGGGGHHHH!

*breaks down into uncontrollable sobbing*

posted 04-23-2006 02:27 PM               

some people think that since Canada in part of North America, we speak "American English". Well, we do not! Sometimes I get frustrated that Microsoft Word is set to the American spelling of things. It a pain to have to "ignore all" a thousand times during spell check.

posted 04-23-2006 04:56 PM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by ElphabaOfOz:
You're all insane. I stay away from this thread because it frightens me.

---

posted 04-24-2006 04:18 PM               

Kathryn Purvis
Essay # 2
Philosophy 1000-106
April 24, 2006

In Dispute of R. E. Kendell’s Claim That Homosexuality Exists as Proof of Mental Illness.

In society today it is nearly impossible for anyone to grow up not having accepted the existence of mental illness. For the most part people, even children, not only believe in mental illness but are convinced that they have some form or another, even despite the lack of diagnosis. Though in this day and age people seem ready to accept anything not taking the time to question, this has not always been the case. Due to a wave of philosophical writings arguing the non existence of mental illness, R. E. Kendell wrote an essay “The Concept of Disease and its Implications for Psychiatry” in which through absurd terms he argues that such illness is a real problem. Through analysis of the writings of Thomas S. Szasz and careful consideration of qualifications in the DSM-IV (Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders fourth edition) it is easily discerned that it is not Kendell’s method carries enough absurdity that his very argument becomes groundless.

Kendell begins his paper laying out all of the arguments against the existence of mental illness, conceding that they have points. However from the start he refuses to consider Schizophrenia saying that he believed in time it would be proven to have an organic basis. He goes on to say that the best way to decided if mental illness, or mental disease, exists is to come up with a suitable definition for disease. “A logician would have started by defining what he meant by disease.” (Paragraph 6.) He then goes on to quote a 1967 theorist by the name of Scadding who defines disease as something that has “clear implications for the corresponding global concept.” (Paragraph 13). He further goes on to say that using that definition he says that homosexuality is proof of mental disease, as homosexuality has negative implications on fertility and thus a global concept. Since homosexuality can thus be defined as a disease, yet has no physical err causing it, it thus qualifies as proof of mental illness or disease. “Although there have been few formal studies of the fertility of male or female homosexuals, it can hardly be doubted that it is drastically reduced in both.” (Paragraph 21). In the same paragraph he continues to say: “In simple biological terms their lack of interest in forms of sexual activity capable in resulting in conception puts homosexuals, at quite a daunting negative selection disadvantage.”

The DSM-IV is the manual of all mental disorders and their symptoms and though homosexuality was included in the second edition, revisions have left it out? If the psychiatric community is content in the agreement that it is not a mental disorder, why should Kendell use it as proof of all mental disorders? It seems that he took this idea and ran with it without actually thinking through the argument. Homosexuality was removed from the DSM because it does not meet the criteria for a mental disorder. There is no evidence that has been gained from any study that would suggest homosexuality is a mental or physical disorder. Thus, this claim is for naught. It is groundless and basically a waste of the time it took Kendell to write it. If homosexuality is not a mental disorder in the least, there is no possible way it can behave as proof of any other mental disorder. The argument that homosexuality is a disease because it does not promote fertility is like saying that a person who decides not to have children has a disease. That anyone who chooses not to reproduce should be committed to some sort of hospital for further investigation because it is not conducive to the global good. That is almost a communistic slant on things. It would be interesting to hear Kendell’s response to the thought that a prepubescent girl is diseased because she is infertile, or that a man that has to commission the use of Viagra is diseased because he no longer has the sexual drive that he did in his prime. The ridiculousness of this argument provides proof enough that Kendell was writing with bias, however Thomas Szasz has plenty of arguments as well, that serve to prove the nonexistence of mental illness.

Szasz argued that the very concept of looking at mental illness as a brain disease was flawed from the beginning. In his essay “The Myth of Mental Illness” he further outlines his claim. The claim that mental illness is a brain disease falls short because of the simple fact that it implies a neurological defect and not a problem of living. Kendell himself argues the difference between the two types of illness at length in his own essay. If it were indeed a neurological defect, it would be a medical matter otherwise not suitable for a psychologist to treat. Something a neurologist would be better equipped to tackle, and thus is not a problem in the mind but in the very chemicals of the brain. According to Szasz “People cannot have troubles—expressed in what they are now called ‘mental illnesses’—because of differences in personal needs, opinions, social aspirations, values, and so on. All problems in living are attributed to physicochemical processes which in due time will be discovered by medical research.” Thus fundamentally changing the categorization of the illness. You have to come up with a different categorization for mental illness, qualifying it not as disease but something more substantial. Szasz then discredits the other main claim that mental illness is a deformity of the personality. The main argument in favor of this label is that mental illness behaves as a cause of human disharmony. This implies that interaction on a social level is harmonious which it clearly is not. This would be as to state that all “social disharmony” is due to mental illness in the majority of the population. This obviously cannot be due to the fact that if mental illness was prevalent in the majority of the population it would be considered a “norm” and thus not considered as anything of any real consequence. In trying to prove the existence of mental illness we either transform it into a physical illness or make it become oxymoronic canceling its self out, either way there is no substantiated proof of its existence.

It is easy to discern that Kendell’s argument that homosexuality exists as the proof of mental illness is a groundless claim. One merely has to look at his claim in detail and understand the methods of his argument, which drastically contradicts itself in its second half. He starts his essay with as many arguments as he can find to prove the non existence of such things as mental illness, and only when he has the reader convinced of this take does he begin trying to completely change the reader’s mind. Most people aren’t as easily swayed and this was not a very commendable approach to such a task. Even if Kendell’s arguments hadn’t disproved themselves sufficiently one could look into information in the DSM, which is the worlds leading guide on mental illness, homosexuality’s absence from this book pretty much exempts it from all other areas of this classification. Kendell’s whole argument hinges on the very prospect that “sexual deviance” is a mental disorder, when there is absolutely no proof of this. Quite the contrary there is so little proof that homosexuality is a mental disorder that those who supported its classification as thus were forced to withdraw the claim. Lastly Szasz’s arguments sufficiently support their claim in the same instances where Kendell’s fall short. Again proving the lack of sufficient information supporting the claim that mental illness is an existing phenomenon. It is a shame that such claims have ever been made, at least they are completely groundless and absurd and easily proven as thus. It would be detrimental to liberal society if such fallacious thoughts were ever given true heed and one can rest wary that those like Kendell will one day command some sort of authority in the philosophical world.

posted 04-24-2006 05:49 PM               

That essay had me fuming. Not because it wasn't good but because I so vehemently disagree with the beliefs of the people that were stated in it.

For one, the fact that all "mental disorders" are the result of a physicochemical malfunction. Wow. Just, wow. It is obviously proven that psychological disorders are caused from trauma, most notably Schizophrenia being one of them.

And labelling homosexuality as a mental disorder makes me even more angry. Just because of differences and a lack of ability to understand, people feel the need to categorize and group people together for a feeling of superiority and to restore their broken ego. Wow... I'm too passionate about things. But, seriously, those guys up there ^^^ make me mad, and I hope that I never meet them.

posted 04-24-2006 06:17 PM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by lostladyknight:
well you'll never have to meet them, they're dead.

---

posted 04-24-2006 08:40 PM            

ahem...

at work last week, I was doing my usual work-type-stuff when I closed out a window to open another one. Lo and behold, some weird pop-up shows up. I thought nothing of it, closed it out, and continued to work. 5 minutes later, another pop-up. And then, an additional toolbar that wasn't there before.

Now I'm pissed, because it's obvious that I have a virus. I tried to get rid of it, a coworker ran some anti-virus software, and nothing worked. The next day I tried to fix it and my computer was acting like a little b*tch. It was freezing everything up, and pop-ups were flying out of nowhere. Tech support had to come and take my computer away and reconfigure the whole thing.

posted 04-24-2006 08:47 PM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by OvertheMoonforIM:
This one time, at band camp...

*the word "camp" echos around the thread, reappearing once in a while to spook people out*

---

I absolutely adore that movie! Te quiero mucho! (Haha! I have Quizzed you all on spanish! What does that mean!? Whoever tells me first gets a big glass of water! (Gawd Popular_Elphie I wish you were home!)

And Now for something totally secret and random...I'm not wearing any underwear! Hahaha! Just kidding! But no...I think I am in love...with a stripper! Hahaha! Just kidding! But really...HI!

Wow...How fun, I like this board!

posted 04-24-2006 09:03 PM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wicked = Life:

I absolutely adore that movie! Te quiero mucho! (Haha! I have Quizzed you all on spanish! What does that mean!? Whoever tells me first gets a big glass of water!)

---

Waha! I beat EoO!

posted 04-24-2006 09:37 PM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wicked = Life:
*Hands Yero my Hero a glass of water with a lemon on it along with a big smile* Good Job Now here is another one... Tia ... First one to guess gets a big glass of flavored water...Oooh....And for giggles, this is soooooooo funny~ http://ilovebillcosby.ytmnd.com/ Im still laughing!

---

posted 04-24-2006 10:22 PM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by Plant a Note:
So since this is the general thread, I just wanted to say that I'm going to see Wicked tomorrow night! I'm very excited.

---

oOo LUCKY!! Which one?...have fun!

posted 04-24-2006 10:57 PM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by NessawiththeRose:
oOo LUCKY!! Which one?...have fun!

---

posted 04-24-2006 11:52 PM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by Plant a Note:
Boston, a little hesitant, because I've heard and seen Julia and I'm not too keen on her, but I'm excited to see Kendra, she cracks me up.

---

I've seen Julia live and I have to say she kills "No good deed" it was AMAZING. Anyways defying gravity wasn't wonderful. Anyways I was really excited to see Kendra but missed her and ended up seeing her understudy and she was AMAZING She was so cute and bubbly and lively and I was really glad to have seen her.

Anyway the moral of that post was... hope you have a blast and since I'm seeing Julia again and Kendra a first time anyways post back and lemme know what you think.

posted 04-24-2006 11:54 PM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by lostladyknight:
I've seen Julia live and I have to say she kills "No good deed" it was AMAZING. Anyways defying gravity wasn't wonderful. Anyways I was really excited to see Kendra but missed her and ended up seeing her understudy and she was AMAZING She was so cute and bubbly and lively and I was really glad to have seen her.

---

posted 04-25-2006 05:58 AM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by Acey:
Australian, on the whole, is a cartoonlike broad Cockney with just a dab of South African. NZ isn't quite as strong as the Austrailian accent and has the tiniest tiniest speck of Dutch.

---

posted 04-25-2006 12:47 PM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wicked = Life:
Te quiero mucho!

---

posted 04-25-2006 01:57 PM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by lostladyknight:
I've seen Julia live and I have to say she kills "No good deed" it was AMAZING. Anyways defying gravity wasn't wonderful. Anyways I was really excited to see Kendra but missed her and ended up seeing her understudy and she was AMAZING She was so cute and bubbly and lively and I was really glad to have seen her.

Anyway the moral of that post was... hope you have a blast and since I'm seeing Julia again and Kendra a first time anyways post back and lemme know what you think.

[This message has been edited by lostladyknight (edited 04-24-2006).]

---

posted 04-25-2006 02:00 PM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by PlantANote:
She sounds very bass-ey...

---

Is that bass-ey or Bassey?

*throws on boa*

GoOoOOooOOooOOoOOoOooOooOOOoOooOOOldfingarrarrRarrrRARRRRARRrrrrrr!

Also, i want this house:
http://www.compasspointrealestate.com/rm/listings/l0088.html

I've always wanted to live in Maine, and property there is SOOOO cheap compared to Britain.

posted 04-25-2006 02:52 PM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by Acey:
Is that bass-ey or Bassey?

*throws on boa*

GoOoOOooOOooOOoOOoOooOooOOOoOooOOOldfingarrarrRarrrRARRRRARRrrrrrr!

Also, i want this house:
http://www.compasspointrealestate.com/rm/listings/l0088.html

I've always wanted to live in Maine, and property there is SOOOO cheap compared to Britain.

[This message has been edited by Acey (edited 04-25-2006).]

---

Haha, I have to tell you I didn't know who Bassey was so I had to look her up, now I get it.

posted 04-25-2006 03:15 PM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by Acey:
I like tulips.

---

Me too! *points to your lips*

One, Two!

posted 04-25-2006 03:23 PM            

Hahaha, that's what I said before! Three-way kisses are hard enough! Heads just don't fit together that way! Maybe we'll just have to take turns. I'm all for that too! Like I said, little log cabin in the middle of the woods? We could get away with anything.

posted 04-25-2006 03:25 PM               

I shalt dubb him Dante, Dante the Irregular Tooth.