Thanks to my friends and supporters for everything, but I too think it's time to walk away from DU.

[Jim Lane]

34. Thanks for pointing this out.

You refer to "the 1% that seems to live to do evil in the world." On that point I disagree with you. Most of what you've described isn't malevolence, but ignorance and carelessness.

It can't be denied that some people with mental illnesses are at increased risk for becoming violent and posing a danger to themselves or others. Under the shock of an event like Newtown, it's regrettable but understandable that many reactions would focus exclusively on that subgroup. The result is comments that use the term "mentally ill" in ways that are properly applicable to only a minority of the people who meet that description. People in your situation are like American Muslims after 9/11.

Your post is a very effective rebuttal of this error. It won't help with regard to people who actually "live to do evil," but I believe that to be a small number. I myself haven't posted anything along the lines of what you've described, but I have sometimes thought about "mentally ill" in this overly broad way, and I'll keep your post in mind as a useful correction. I'm sure I'm not the only one.

The accident of timing led to a bad experience for you, but it might mean that, in the long run, your "coming out" was even more beneficial than it otherwise would have been.

Like everyone else, I look forward to your return. Until then, happy holidays!