Article published August 29, 2010 Writer's use of 'schizophrenic store' was a mistake
Words are powerful things. Their meaning often changes with the way they are used, and they often mean different things in different contexts and to different people. Which sometimes gets us in trouble. Larry Vellequette, a Blade business writer, found this out this month when he wrote a story about two brothers who opened a store devoted to selling University of Michigan and Ohio State merchandise, a shop he called a "proudly schizophrenic store." That did not sit well with Jim Bayer, who wrote a passionate letter to the reporter, begging him to refrain from "the rude, crude misuse of schizophrenic" as a pop culture term. "Please refrain from adding to the stigma that defines those afflicted with mental illness in our society, " Mr. Bayer wrote, adding, "At least learn the proper definition of the affliction." This is not academic to Mr. Bayer, whose "bright, classy, stunning, and very intelligent" daughter's life was changed forever four years ago when she was diagnosed with severe schizophrenia. The reporter defended himself by arguing that using the term to describe "two or more diametrically opposed objects or forces sharing the same space" has been common for many years. That didn't please Mr. Bayer, who still found it "disrespectful and hurtful" and suggested the reporter find a better word. Your ombudsman agrees with the reader. Christine Cooper, the executive director of FAME, the Family Association for Mental Health Everywhere, said to use schizophrenic as an adjective is not only tasteless, "it reinforces the perception that schizophrenia is some sort of personality quirk, not serious mental illness." "I guess we've got a long way to go," she said. The reporter should have found a better word, and his editors should have changed the one he used. Mental illness still carries a stigma in this society, and as a society, we still are sometimes insufficiently insensitive. Yes, we use "schizo" all the time. But putting it in print was wrong. Being creative doesn't have to mean being insensitive. http://toledoblade.com/article/20100829/COLUMNIST17/8280389/-1/NEWS10 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Mental Health Advocacy (News 'N Views) India" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/MhaNewsViewsIndia?hl=en ------------- Affiliated Groups : MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY INDIA [email protected] Discussions on mental health law / policy / plan monitoring / human rights etc [email protected] India-specific news and views related to mental health [email protected] Information and support to carers of people with mental health issues [email protected] Mutual support and sharing of experiential knowledge, skills and social learning amongst peers
