Mental illness or bad people?

Specifically in the realm of addictions, pedophilia, and the last one that has never been called a mental illness to my knowledge but I believe it must be one - racism.

Addicts cannot control their actions and they do things detrimental to their lives and the lives of others (sometimes) to get their addiction satiated. Jailing these people does not rehabilitate them, they should be in centres for mental illness and addictions and treat the root of the problem not the action. They can get better if they try really hard.

Pedophiles have something wrong in their brain, I believe. Something is broken in them. Although I feel punishment for their actions in jail is important, again it doesn't treat the issue. I feel these people, once released, should have mandatory mental health meetings and check ins weekly. This is not something that just goes away and they can be a danger to society and the most innocent of its members. I think in many cases this can also be controlled, they can get better.

But racism, I don't know how to explain it. I don't understand how someone can hear of one person doing one bad thing; and then extrapolate that to ALL people of a given group. How does their brain do that? How can they think that if one person murders; all do. If one person beats their wife; all do. How can they think that patterns in behaviour of a certain group have anything to do with skin colour or a belief structure; and not mitigating factors. Money plays a large part in the world. Poor people are desperate and often do desperate things. There's a socio-economic pattern for sure. But what does that have to do with someone's skin tone?

I don't understand racism or how to cure it. I believe it's a mental illness and I hope they can get help. Other mental illnesses people do not choose to have, is it the same with racism? I want to think these people can change.

Anyone ever heard of a racist waking the fuck up and realizing their hateful mistakes?

It's a learned trait started by fear, of the unknown. Fear is introduced by uneducated adults. jmo.

Grandpapy said:

It's a learned trait started by fear, of the unknown. Fear is introduced by uneducated adults. jmo.

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Agreed.

But with pedophillia and addictions they are also often learned behaviours. The children of abuse or addicts are much more likely to become those themselves than the general population. The same is true for racism.

If you are brought up beleiving a certain thing or taught to hate, that can stay with you. But some people have racist upbringings and they rise above it.

Should there be a mental health diagnoses for racism and bigotry? Or is it all choice?

Choice, as long we believe a persons success is based on material items other then the ability to understand others.
UN-Apologetically, I can only speak to addictions.

Grandpapy said:

Choice, as long we believe a persons success is based on material items other then the ability to understand others.
UN-Apologetically, I can only speak to addictions.

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It certainly seems like a choice. I myself am not racist though. and though I understand that some people hate; it's the blame that baffles me.

They hate their lives and the things they cannot control. But instead of hating a corrupt system or slacking government officials in the realm of social programs; they hate a whole group of people. "THEY are the reason I'm unhappy".

I think it's sick. I think that mindset is and will continue to ruin the world. Until it can be cured.

HAF2 said:

Agreed.

But with pedophillia and addictions they are also often learned behaviours. The children of abuse or addicts are much more likely to become those themselves than the general population. The same is true for racism.

If you are brought up beleiving a certain thing or taught to hate, that can stay with you. But some people have racist upbringings and they rise above it.

Should there be a mental health diagnoses for racism and bigotry? Or is it all choice?

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Not learned; hereditary.

If there were consequences to action for everyone the world would be a better place.

The wealthy get away with a lot and it's not just because they can afford the legal.

schuylaar said:

Not learned; hereditary.

If there were consequences to action for everyone the world would be a better place.

The wealthy get away with a lot and it's not just because they can afford the legal.

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Plenty of racist backwoods parents that have progressive non racist children.

There are defining factors of racism that seem to be across the board.
- hate
- inability to understand another group of people.
- narrow minded views
- often unapologetic for these views
- riteous indignation towards personal shortcomings
- external locus of control
- lack of empathy

Those in power in the current government that are profiting off that hate, are they really racist? Or are they using racism as a way to control a population of people to get their self-serving new laws passed? They are profiting off racism.

The Everyman racist only benifits from their beliefs so that they don't have to accept the consequenses of their own actions or shortcomings.

HAF2 said:

It certainly seems like a choice. I myself am not racist though. and though I understand that some people hate; it's the blame that baffles me.

They hate their lives and the things they cannot control. But instead of hating a corrupt system or slacking government officials in the realm of social programs; they hate a whole group of people. "THEY are the reason I'm unhappy".

I think it's sick. I think that mindset is and will continue to ruin the world. Until it can be cured.

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Yep, and it requires education, understanding and cooperation, all not yet tangible items.

We have a generation coming up raised by media not families, instilling "media" ideals and values.

I'm a product of my environment, why is my Iphone more important then the guy next door whose name I don't even know?

Bad (or sick) guy!

Big_Lou said:

Bad (or sick) guy!

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But some of them, I suppose, are good people .

I mean, it's just a mindset right? It can be changed.

HAF2 said:

Plenty of racist backwoods parents that have progressive non racist children.

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Thank you very much, internet & satellite television.

HAF2 said:

I mean, it's just a mindset right? It can be changed.

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Pedophilia or addiction? Addiction, sometimes. Pedophilia? Nope, sorry, irreparably damaged/void goods.

Big_Lou said:

Pedophilia or addiction? Addiction, sometimes. Pedophilia? Nope, sorry, irreparably damaged/void goods.

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Although I vehemently agree that actions like that are inexcusable; there are plenty of pedos that do not engage in those actions. It is a mental illness. Just like being a sociopath is.
Some for sure are beyond reproach. But I have to believe that some can be cured.

HAF2 said:

Although I vehemently agree that actions like that are inexcusable; there are plenty of pedos that do not engage in those actions. It is a mental illness. Just like being a sociopath is.
Some for sure are beyond reproach. But I have to believe that some can be cured.

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Chemical castration is an option considered by many to be a "humane option".

It quite literally completely removes those urges.

It sounds extreme but when you consider for example someone with a disfunctional gall bladder...it has to be removed...

HAF2 said:

Anyone ever heard of a racist waking the fuck up and realizing their hateful mistakes?

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It's quite common actually once they're expose to what they think they hate and learn for themselves. I've met a few people that aren't as racist after meeting my family. It's a strange feeling talking to someone and realizing they think the way they do just because you look different. Mostly ignorance.

HAF2 said:

It certainly seems like a choice. I myself am not racist though. and though I understand that some people hate; it's the blame that baffles me.

They hate their lives and the things they cannot control. But instead of hating a corrupt system or slacking government officials in the realm of social programs; they hate a whole group of people. "THEY are the reason I'm unhappy".

I think it's sick. I think that mindset is and will continue to ruin the world. Until it can be cured.

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The most valued lesson of my childhood was sitting in the front yard with my best friend Mike when I used information learned from outside sources and called him a ni**er. Being bigger it didn't take long for him to pin me, just then dad opens the front door and yells "What the hell is going on out here?!!" mike says, "he called me a nigger" dad's loud and clear reply, "carry on!" and closes the door. I still chuckle over that. Later he told me "There's no place for racism on the Battlefield or in Life". (He was a veteran of 2 tours in Korea and 2 in Vietnam and later a Drill Instructor during my youth) Something told me he knew what he was talking about.

420God said:

It's quite common actually once they're expose to what they think they hate and learn for themselves. I've met a few people that aren't as racist after meeting my family. It's a strange feeling talking to someone and realizing they think the way they do just because you look different. Mostly ignorance.

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That's very nice to hear. Gives hope. Because the last couple years the level of expressed hatred I've seen has really rocked me.
I didn't think there was so many of them left.

HAF2 said:

Although I vehemently agree that actions like that are inexcusable; there are plenty of pedos that do not engage in those actions. It is a mental illness. Just like being a sociopath is.

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Yeah yeah, 'thought vs. action', but I'd still rather not have them living nearby.

HAF2 said:

Some for sure are beyond reproach. But I have to believe that some can be cured.

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Oh, the cure has existed since the beginning of humankind!

420God said:

It's quite common actually once they're expose to what they think they hate and learn for themselves. I've met a few people that aren't as racist after meeting my family. It's a strange feeling talking to someone and realizing they think the way they do just because you look different. Mostly ignorance.

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Agreed, racism is generally the ignorant response to someone "different".

If you get out of this country and get to know people you realise everyone is the same, different cultures and beliefs but when you get down to the individual level we're all just apes riding a wet blue rock through space.

Grandpapy said:

"There's no place for racism on the Battlefield or in Life"

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SneekyNinja said:

we're all just apes riding a wet blue rock through space.

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