Internet diagnosis of mental illness, the first refuge of the incompetent.

Off-topic but interesting (to me).

Isaac Asimov wrote in Foundation, that "violence was the last refuge of the incompetent" which the wiki says:

“Violence,” came the retort, “is the last refuge of the incompetent.”
Part II, The Encyclopedists, section 5 (This also appears three times in "Bridle and Saddle" which is titled "The Mayors" within Foundation. It is derived from the famous phrase by Samuel Johnson: "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel" and is usually quoted as simply "Violence … is the last refuge of the incompetent.")

So I figure if violence is the last refuge of the incompetent, their first refuge is an Internet diagnosis of mental illness, sounds reasonable, right?

Except the Internet has it all wrong, there are apparently huge numbers of people that think Asimov wrote "violence is the first refuge of the incompetent"

http://i.imgur.com/2XKvqQv.jpg

Thank you internet, thank you for the lulz.

On "The Simpsons," when Bart had spent his weekend amusing himself rather than studying for an exam at school, he prayed that the next day would be a snow day to give him one more chance to study for the test.

Lisa Simpson observed Bart in prayer and noted dryly, "Prayer. The last refuge of a scoundrel."

I have a feeling Amy will like that version.

Personally, I prefer the Samuel Johnson version: "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel." Look at Glenn Beck.

As Jerry noted, "Forget to take your meds" is a suggestion that one could be suffering with any sort of mental illness, not just borderline personality disorder.

It's just unfortunate that this snarky phrase carries the suggestion that the mentally ill are bad people.

A better alternative would be "Switch to decaf!" At least that suggests that a person has some control over their irrational behavior.

How, exactly, does "aggrandizing one's self" work? Attitude is free, and I value it accordingly. You are engaging in a rational debate with religious fanatics. By definition it cannot work.

Psychology Today published your piece just over three years ago. You're getting people who just now decided to have a conniption about it?

Personally, I like the poster of the eagle, swooping down on the little mouse, who is facing the eagle with his middle finger extended, and the caption reads:

"The last great act of defiance"

As far as annoying phrases, anytime someone says to me, after tripping, "walk much?" or after I miss a sip, "drink much?" are two that come to mind. But I am guilty as well, when observing some asshat who almost runs someone down in the crosswalk, of saying "drive much?", so there's that.

"Personally, I prefer the Samuel Johnson version: "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel." Look at Glenn Beck."

I hope that your definition of "patriot" doesn't depend on mistaken observations like that. I suspect it's a negative, though.

Ah, rule 27: Don't be afraid to be the first to resort to violence.

Source: Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries

LOL. Had a barmaid diagnose me as "clinically depressed" when I said I hadn't slept well the night before. Next thing I knew, she was in the mental ward at a local hospital. Yeah she know all about that stuff.

If you want a chill, especially considering the recent post about the fellow who was repeatedly searched anally "for drugs", consider that a diagnosis of mental illness is difficult to challenge, and can put you in a cell from which habeus corpus may not get you out.

Have a habit somebody in authority doesn't like?

You'll be committed. Enjoy your stay. You will be expected to think that padded cells, being locked in your room and the possibility of being drugged against your will is all just dandy - measures to "heal" you. And all of this will be administered by someone who cannot be fired for acting cautiously, by extending your stay. Your job will be gone, your family taken from you, and if you comment on this you may be labeled "paranoid" - if you do not, "disaffected".

I'm betting (as well as the rest of male humanity) that the ladies writing you hate mail aren't exactly photogenic.