I don't mind either label. You bring up a valid point, that "manic depressive" could help people learn more about what it means to be Bipolar in an accurate way. I hate people throwing around the term Bipolar without knowing what it means!! I'm so sick of it. Sometimes when I catch someone doing that, I ask them if they know what mania is, and they look at me like I have two heads, lol. The disadvantage to the manic depressive label: it isn't broad enough and does not account for the whole spectrum of Bipolar Disorder, so either term has its flaws.