Define Insanity

[Buck Knives I Like]

I don't want any crazy answers, this is a philosophical question.

[Rangodash]

The act of repeating an action over and over and expecting a different result. What was that message you sent on 5-15-2013 at 6:45 A.M.?

[jeep45238]

I'll agree with the above.


That said, are you talking to yourself? Are you answering your own questions?

Then probably ;-)

[xceptnl]

Context anyone?

[Bladekeeper]

The inability to distinguish reality from fantasy/dillusion .
I know a period of dilusion of 6 months accompanied by hallucinations .
Is usually the minimum before schizophrenia is diagnosed .
Talking to yourself is not a sign of losing mental control and is actually a stimulus for the brain.
Many people view insanity in varying degree , eg I know of soldiers that have suffered PTSD .
The after effects have had huge impact on mental health issues .
But that is not insanity .
For me being unable to make cognitive logical thought , without brain injury .
Having no structure to thought pattern coupled with complete loss of social awareness and no inhibitions would be summary .

However there is conclusive evidence of there being a thin line between genius/insane.
A lot of artists are an example but in one instance van gough.
Was thought to have gone mad and cut off his ear but its not often quoted.
That when he did this he was consuming vast amounts of the hallucinogen absinthe .
I suppose its subjective there is no definitive this one issue equals a diagnosis of insanity .
Maybe the inability to control ones conscious thoughts ?.

[Buck Knives I Like]

The inability to distinguish reality from fantasy/dillusion .
I know a period of dilusion of 6 months accompanied by hallucinations .
Is usually the minimum before schizophrenia is diagnosed .
Talking to yourself is not a sign of losing mental control and is actually a stimulus for the brain.
Many people view insanity in varying degree , eg I know of soldiers that have suffered PTSD .
The after effects have had huge impact on mental health issues .
But that is not insanity .
For me being unable to make cognitive logical thought , without brain injury .
Having no structure to thought pattern coupled with complete loss of social awareness and no inhibitions would be summary .

However there is conclusive evidence of there being a thin line between genius/insane.
A lot of artists are an example but in one instance van gough.
Was thought to have gone mad and cut off his ear but its not often quoted.
That when he did this he was consuming vast amounts of the hallucinogen absinthe .
I suppose its subjective there is no definitive this one issue equals a diagnosis of insanity .
Maybe the inability to control ones conscious thoughts ?.

I enjoyed reading this answer. I would also like to add to everyone else who reads this that I kept the question vague on purpose to simply try to inspire different and unique answers and I am happy the thread was not closed. If anyone has any input no matter how stupid you think it sounds I assure you it is not. This topic can never be answered only debated and speculated.

in·san·i·ty
/inˈsanitē/
Noun

such unsoundness of mind or lack of understanding as prevents one from having the mental capacity required by law to enter into a particular relationship, status, or transaction or as removes one from criminal or civil responsibility

The term insane is outdated parlance in the mental health community. No legitimate medical or clinical professional would be caught dead saying it in public. It's a legal term. A defendant may be found not guilty by reason of insanity if his or her lawyer can provide clear and convincing evidence that he/she was suffering from severe mental illness (i.e., psychotic disorders like schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, or organic brain illness) which prevented him/her from knowing that the crime committed was, in fact, an illegal act. Because it is a legal distinction, and not a medical one, although forensic psychologists may offer clinical opinions about the mental health of a defendant, only a judge or jury can make determinations about a defendant's insanity.

I wanted to add these two bits of text also.

[Buck Knives I Like]

Ok so in my head, I would connect insanity with the non legal term crazy right? Well crazy would be the word i would choose as a simile to insanity, crazy by definition means madness, madness means : The state of being mentally ill esp. severely., mentally ill by definition means of unsound mind... So who the **** is getting to make that call? And now we are back to the legal terminology. I suppose if we took the meaning out of the words then this conversation would mean nothing. And maybe then crazy would be something you could know but not word.

[phillipsted]

Insanity is expecting a no-name Wally World discount folder to perform like an S90v Para 2.

TedP

[Buck Knives I Like]

Ted just blew my mind.

[Bladekeeper]

Wally World reminds me of Chevy chase in lampoons .
A good example of insanity especially the zipadee do dah speech.

[Jeremy_A_Neel]

I like to view the practice of talking to oneself a form of mental stimulus. It just isn't something to do in public places such as bus shelters, if you don't want weird looks. I've been trying to define insanity for a while, and I'm sure there are varying degrees of insanity, but definitely having absolutely no empathy for others is a start.

[Jeremy_A_Neel]

I like to view the practice of talking to oneself a form of mental stimulus. It just isn't something to do in public places such as bus shelters, if you don't want weird looks. I've been trying to define insanity for a while, and I'm sure there are varying degrees of insanity, but definitely having absolutely no empathy for others is a start.

[Reject]

I like to view the practice of talking to oneself a form of mental stimulus. It just isn't something to do in public places such as bus shelters, if you don't want weird looks. I've been trying to define insanity for a while, and I'm sure there are varying degrees of insanity, but definitely having absolutely no empathy for others is a start.

I view talking to myself in the same way; as a mental stimulus.

But, it just that; :o some of the answers I get, do worry me somewhat.

[enduraguy]

Good one here. I talk to myself outloud and often. It helps me think. Then again, I have my own small business built around a device I'm going to patent soon. I apparently have several personality traits that sociopaths have, but that's according to online "polls" however accurate those are. "Insane" is a matter of perception. Is it insane to go along with the sheep, or be a goat?

[minna]

Insanity is expecting a no-name Wally World discount folder to perform like an S90v Para 2.

TedP

I second this.

[Buck Knives I Like]

I like to view the practice of talking to oneself a form of mental stimulus.

And all this time I thought I was full blown crazy.

[GronK]

Insanity is when three out of four of the voices in my head tell me to go home and sharpen my knives.

[BAL]

I think you're crazy if you talk to yourself.
Really…. you think that I am crazy.
I wasn't talkin' to you, I was talkin' to the guys here on the forum.
oh sure the forum guys, you like them better than me.
well why wouldn’t I, you're always on my as
stop right there, you said that you’d quit with that foul mouth
Shut the f
alright alright, that's enough
you might be right, sorry
it's ok man, let's go pick out a new knife
I have been eyeing the Matriarch wave
now you’re talkin', you're not crazy at all.

[Buck Knives I Like]

I think you're crazy if you talk to yourself.
Really…. you think that I am crazy.
I wasn't talkin' to you, I was talkin' to the guys here on the forum.
oh sure the forum guys, you like them better than me.
well why wouldn’t I, you're always on my as
stop right there, you said that you’d quit with that foul mouth
Shut the f
alright alright, that's enough
you might be right, sorry
it's ok man, let's go pick out a new knife
I have been eyeing the Matriarch wave
now you’re talkin', you're not crazy at all.

I just wanted to make it clear that I actually do speak to myself on occasion and that quite a few " sane " others do as well. For example I don't respond to myself or have another entity inside my head that interjects, but if you heard me from afar you probably wouldn't want to hang out. I know what you wrote was a joke. I just wanted to clarify the obvious differences between an under stimulated brain and one of chemical imbalance.

[BAL]

I actually do talk to myself.
I know.