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The full title (for me at least) reads "As a psychiatrist, I diagnose mental illness. Also, I help spot demonic possession." The HN title reads "As a psychiatr
by benkuykendall 10y ago
The full title (for me at least) reads "As a psychiatrist, I diagnose mental illness. Also, I help spot demonic possession."
The HN title reads "As a psychiatrist, I diagnose mental illness. And sometimes, demonic possession." This suggests (via linguistic ellipsis) that the psychiatrist diagnoses demonic possession. However, he explicitly does not.
> I technically do not make my own “diagnosis” of possession but inform the clergy that the symptoms in question have no conceivable medical cause.
This is an interesting distinction. Of course it would be ridiculous, backwards, and unscientific for a medical professional to 'diagnose' someone with demonic possession. But to admit that the symptoms are outside the scope of modern psychiatry seems a more reasonable reaction.
- titanomachy 10y ago> ...to admit that the symptoms are outside the scope of modern society seems a more reasonable reaction. I agree, although his decision to then turn those people over to the care of a Catholic cleric seems rather arbitrary.
- dang 10y agoWe changed the title to reflect the article. (It's possible that WaPo itself changed it.) Still a bit baity, but with a topic like that...
- schneidmaster 10y agoFWIW, WaPo itself also changed it. My original title was the original WaPo title (check the URL) and then they changed it, and then y'all changed the HN side to something a little different :)
- dang 10y agoI had a hunch that was the case, which is why I added the parenthetical bit. It's a weakness of the title-submitting rules here that when the OP changes their title it leaves the law-abiding HN submitter high and dry. Sorry!