4 ms·

Delusions are a sign of mental illness - if a person honestly believes this stuff they are delusional.

fit2rule 10y ago
Even if they were, why is it socially acceptable to just write a person off as "mentally ill" when they could just be very poorly educated? Or, are those two things equivalent in your opinion?
- alkonaut 10y ago
  Believing it when you first hear it is one thing. That could be related to education. Persisting in the belief while fending off any criticism as conspiracy, that is delusional. (I.e. refusing to be educated must either be delusion or stupidity or both)
- abritinthebay 10y ago
  Who said anything about writing them off? Mental illness is a real thing with real treatment options. There's no need to write anyone off - we should endeavor to help them.
  - fit2rule 10y ago
    Perhaps there is something of value to their point of view. Would you be more or less inclined to investigate this possibility, with the pretense that they are "mentally ill" in place? I posit that this "mentally ill" label is as heinous as casual racism, in that it serves to remove interest in the target.
seanp2k2 10y ago
Interesting to take this definition and apply it to various religious beliefs in the context of mental health.
- vidarh 10y ago
  I do consider a lot of religious people delusional. But then too it is a very important distinction we need to keep in mind: Do they let their beliefs - delusional or not - control their actions? The problem is not having beliefs that are not backed by facts, but when you let those beliefs control you to the point of making you act in ways that are actively detrimental to your own well-being.
- abritinthebay 10y ago
  It is, yes, but there is also a difference between "I believe what I've been told and raised with" vs "I saw God, he spoke to me personally, and Angels are real." Obviously there is grey in between. Susceptibility and gullibility are NOT the same as delusions. This also applies to the low end of the Sovereign Citizen movement too - not all are delusional, some are just naive or easily misled.

Even if they were, why is it socially acceptable to just write a person off as "mentally ill" when they could just be very poorly educated? Or, are those two things equivalent in your opinion?

alkonaut 10y ago
Believing it when you first hear it is one thing. That could be related to education. Persisting in the belief while fending off any criticism as conspiracy, that is delusional. (I.e. refusing to be educated must either be delusion or stupidity or both)
abritinthebay 10y ago
Who said anything about writing them off? Mental illness is a real thing with real treatment options. There's no need to write anyone off - we should endeavor to help them.
- fit2rule 10y ago
  Perhaps there is something of value to their point of view. Would you be more or less inclined to investigate this possibility, with the pretense that they are "mentally ill" in place? I posit that this "mentally ill" label is as heinous as casual racism, in that it serves to remove interest in the target.

seanp2k2 10y ago

Interesting to take this definition and apply it to various religious beliefs in the context of mental health.

vidarh 10y ago
I do consider a lot of religious people delusional. But then too it is a very important distinction we need to keep in mind: Do they let their beliefs - delusional or not - control their actions? The problem is not having beliefs that are not backed by facts, but when you let those beliefs control you to the point of making you act in ways that are actively detrimental to your own well-being.
abritinthebay 10y ago
It is, yes, but there is also a difference between "I believe what I've been told and raised with" vs "I saw God, he spoke to me personally, and Angels are real." Obviously there is grey in between. Susceptibility and gullibility are NOT the same as delusions. This also applies to the low end of the Sovereign Citizen movement too - not all are delusional, some are just naive or easily misled.