4 ms·

My mentally ill, currently homeless in Orange County, brother-in-law would rather be homeless than live somewhere that isn't of his choosing (which is why he's

My mentally ill, currently homeless in Orange County, brother-in-law would rather be homeless than live somewhere that isn't of his choosing (which is why he's homeless to begin with -- he's more than welcome to stay with us in our home, again, provided he follows some very simple rules, but he refuses to play ball with any solution that isn't his own). The fact of the matter is that he and folks like him are adults who are responsible for themselves. Many of them are actively choosing this lifestyle. They are choosing not to acknowledge and address their illnesses. And there's not much that anyone can honestly or earnestly do about that in our society, as long as they don't break the right laws (I'm referring to the fact that, for him, a 5150 is, sadly, _always_ the start of a better period in his life for some time).

crooked-v 9y ago
> mentally ill > responsible Broadly speaking: choose one, but not both.
- scruple 9y ago
  Pardon me? I have no choice to make here. This is the way our society is currently structured. He is a ~30 year old man with an illness. I can't force him to take his medication and, under normal circumstances, neither can the state. Hence, he is responsible for himself.
  - mofosyne 9y ago
    Mental illness does not sound like a normal state. I don't think he was talking to you personally. I agree in terms of individuals, we should not be expected to hold the burden themselves of others. The same doesn't apply to society and the governance of it however.
    - scruple 9y ago
      > Mental illness does not sound like a normal state. No, it doesn't sound like a normal state, but that doesn't mean it isn't a normal state for some people. > I don't think he was talking to you personally. I'm not sure who they were talking to. Myself, others in positions like mine, HNers, society at large, or the ether. Regardless, believing that the mentally ill can't be, or aren't in some fashion currently, responsible for themselves is ridiculous. They absolutely are in the eyes of both our society and the state. > I agree in terms of individuals, we should not be expected to hold the burden themselves of others. I agree. > The same doesn't apply to society and the governance of it however. I'd love to hear politically viable solutions that can cross-cut through the myriad issues faced by this specific community of people (the subset of homeless who are diagnosed and known to be mentally ill). I don't think SORs are going even get in the ballpark for them. If I tried to tell a delusional, manic, paranoid person that they need to go live in a room that the state says they are to now live in they'd balk and disappear within minutes. But, I really don't have anything to offer, either, and I think about it more than I probably ought to.

crooked-v 9y ago

> mentally ill > responsible Broadly speaking: choose one, but not both.

scruple 9y ago
Pardon me? I have no choice to make here. This is the way our society is currently structured. He is a ~30 year old man with an illness. I can't force him to take his medication and, under normal circumstances, neither can the state. Hence, he is responsible for himself.
- mofosyne 9y ago
  Mental illness does not sound like a normal state. I don't think he was talking to you personally. I agree in terms of individuals, we should not be expected to hold the burden themselves of others. The same doesn't apply to society and the governance of it however.
  - scruple 9y ago
    > Mental illness does not sound like a normal state. No, it doesn't sound like a normal state, but that doesn't mean it isn't a normal state for some people. > I don't think he was talking to you personally. I'm not sure who they were talking to. Myself, others in positions like mine, HNers, society at large, or the ether. Regardless, believing that the mentally ill can't be, or aren't in some fashion currently, responsible for themselves is ridiculous. They absolutely are in the eyes of both our society and the state. > I agree in terms of individuals, we should not be expected to hold the burden themselves of others. I agree. > The same doesn't apply to society and the governance of it however. I'd love to hear politically viable solutions that can cross-cut through the myriad issues faced by this specific community of people (the subset of homeless who are diagnosed and known to be mentally ill). I don't think SORs are going even get in the ballpark for them. If I tried to tell a delusional, manic, paranoid person that they need to go live in a room that the state says they are to now live in they'd balk and disappear within minutes. But, I really don't have anything to offer, either, and I think about it more than I probably ought to.