>IMO the Yahoo guy needs professional help.
Gottfried,
I think so too. I was reluctant to mention that option, but I'm glad you did.
Your comment reminded me of an article I read just last night in the June 29 issue of "Newsweek" magazine in the "My Turn" section, page15, by Timothy C. Brennan, Jr. who is superintendent of Parsippany-Troy Hills Public Schools in New Jersey.
It seems that one student made a list of other students and some teachers who "bothered him" and that he wanted "to be gone or die". Some might describe that as exercising free speech, I suppose. But the school principal said the boy could not return to the school until he had been examined by a psychiatrist, and he was also put under "house arrest" by court order.
IMO, it was an excellent, no-nonsense essay by the superintendent. But the interesting thing to me is this...what can reasonably be called "free speech", or "freedom of expression", an "opinion" or whatever, by some people can also be reasonably called "sick", "in need of medical help", or "needs a psychiatrist" by others.
Perhaps both are right, and the two concepts aren't necessarily mutually exclusive. In other words, Kooks have a right to free speech and opinions just like everyone else, but some Kooks definitely need psychiatric help too. Or at least an initial visit with a medical professional such as a psychiatrist.
What I got out of the essay was this: perhaps it's time for people to start speaking up more forcefully [as you just did, and I failed to do] when they think someone is in need of psychiatric help. I agree with your observation.
Ice |
