What Does it Mean to be Crazy?
Let me be clear, my intention is not to praise nor scorn anyone’s cause, but only to provoke examination into a controversial topic. Having said that, the modern day definition of “crazy” is used as an umbrella term for anything out of the ordinary that is not considered normal. Many scholars and laymen agree with this summation, but not everyone knows that with cultural insight the concept of normalcy and insanity is found to be relative to its context. So this is to say that what is categorized as sane versus crazy is all in perception of the perceiver; aka “eye of the beholder”. For example, a handshake when greeting others in the Western Hemisphere are deemed polite and appropriate. While in Asian nations physical contact is deplorable and bowing is more acceptable. I want to explain that in evaluating these two opposite ends of the perceived behavioral spectrum, the observer should include all relevant data no matter how ambiguous. Not taking in the whole picture from a situation can lead to clouded judgment; like prejudice, bias, and bigotry.
When a person is misunderstood by others based on different livelihoods, this is called ethnocentrism. It means judging another’s life based on the values of your own. This is misguided and should be avoided through approaching a foreign encounter with a clean slate. For our minds to be opened one must make a conscious decision to not close ourselves off from new things. We have to concede the fact that we will never know everything and can always learn more. If we presume to know enough about a topic, then we cannot grow. The quality that I believe prevents this the most is hubris, but humility clears a path for us. Let us not aggrandize our egos, but rather be at peace with our own strengths and weaknesses.
The two ubiquitous labels, “normal”, and “crazy”, put behavior in either favorable or derogatory categories, with the former being inclusive and the latter feeling shameful. With this I mean that one brings people together while the other tears them apart. It is not fun to be ostracized from a collective, that you previously were a part of or wanted to be accepted in. My guess is that the average Joe would conceal their ignorance on an act through labeling it as “crazy”. Peer pressure has a critical part to play in this as nobody I know wants to publicly appear dim-witted. Since incomprehension is an awkward mental state and gives off vulnerability, it is thought as more convenient to place a characterization. All of this is done in order to mitigate discomfort and maintain the status quo.
Everything I have put forth in this paper should not be judged as people are weak-willed, but only that they prefer to avoid conflict and have things be copacetic. Confrontation is stern, black-or-white, not necessarily effective, and always brings up pain. I have reached the notion that terms, “normal” and “crazy”, were made as archetypes with one goal in mind; to ensure survival by avoiding disorientation through eliminating misinterpretation. As you have pored over my paper though, I hope you have not found my prose to be long-winded or pedantic, for I am just trying to explain my purpose adequately. I meant to delve deeper into this area of stigma and add some clarity to it. It is not enough for only myself to retain this knowledge, but I must spread it as far as I can as well. For as former Vice-President Al Gore once declared, “If we want to go far we must go together”. Even though his cause was different his message still rings true, for we must start thinking differently if we are going to move forward. If I have succeeded, then maybe I have given a little solace to the anguished, and made my readers a bit more enlightened.
Doug Harris is in his fifth year at CSUSM, and is pursuing his bachelor’s degree in literature and writing studies. He loves reading and writing as a way of expressing himself, and exploring life, all at once. He is a proud twenty-eight-year-old introverted and highly sensitive young man, with a mild case of autism as well perseveres through several mental health issues. Overall, he is thankful, fortunate and glad to have the opportunity to thrive at this wonderful school, and pave the way for me to have a worthwhile life going forward.