[Icare dixit]

Do you think people can be more or less BP-like (or psychotic), do you think people in general, or society, can be and do you think people are in general becoming more BP-like?

The popular revolutions in politics in some influential countries with conservative political systems might be an example (Brexit, Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump, Jeremy Corbyn), in that the ideas people have are more based on emotion, intuition and experience and less on rationality.

The Internet has negatively impacted the quality of professional journalism and has allowed people to organise themselves and rationalise their intuitions, with arguably mixed results. The media has become far more monomanic and more easily influenced and quick to react due to reduced revenues and increased competition. There's less analysis, reflection and critical thinking.

Do you think these developments are good or bad in general? And for us?

[HALLIEBETH87]

I don't have an answer sorry. Perhaps it's the haldol I took but I tried reading this and it made no sense to me.

Hope Someone answers soon.

[raspberrytorte]

I've been reading this over and over again trying to understand it.

Are you saying people are becoming more bp-like because they're following their emotions now more than anything?

[~Christina]

BP like ?

I also don't really understand what your asking or even if your trying to make a point.

Sorry, can you explain a bit more ?

[Icare dixit]

Originally Posted by raspberrytorte

I've been reading this over and over again trying to understand it.

Are you saying people are becoming more bp-like because they're following their emotions now more than anything?

Yes, I do. Or I just wonder whether anyone would agree with that, rather. I'm not exactly sure whether that would be a good analysis.

Things have changed quite a bit. Society has changed. I wonder whether something considered delusional to some (small) degree is now more acceptable than it used to be.

The assumption is that many would mean by delusional is only different in degree from real or more severe delusions. BP could be an example of a high degree of delusional thinking, but in itself, already less severe than some forms of psychosis. So an even lesser degree would be BP-like, if there can be different degrees of the (exact) same thing (or essentially).

[Crazy Hitch]

No I totally don't get this thread

*slaps own forehead*

[Ripose]

Yes people are more BP-like in general nowadays.

No the Internet has not affected quality journalism in a negative way in fact it is just the opposite. Corporate media (mainstream media) has little to do with truth now, the only way to find the truth about the world is via independent (alternate) media on the Net.

[mossanimal]

This may be related. I read in one of the BP books that there has been a higher disposition to BP in our country (USA) due to 'sampling error' of those who have colonized our country in general. The idea is that the BP type person, with the risky hypomania... would be more likely to pick up and move to the frontier. Now I like the idea of this... and it seems plausible. But I don't know. There were so many reasons people came here.

If it IS true and we do have a higher number of BP folks then there could be some mechanism by which they are increasing in a relative proportion. We do like sex. ;-)

[Gs550]

Originally Posted by Icare dixit

Yes, I do. Or I just wonder whether anyone would agree with that, rather. I'm not exactly sure whether that would be a good analysis.

Things have changed quite a bit. Society has changed. I wonder whether something considered delusional to some (small) degree is now more acceptable than it used to be.

The assumption is that many would mean by delusional is only different in degree from real or more severe delusions. BP could be an example of a high degree of delusional thinking, but in itself, already less severe than some forms of psychosis. So an even lesser degree would be BP-like, if there can be different degrees of the (exact) same thing (or essentially).

I disagree with the assumption that following one's emotions is BP-like. Humans are emotional creatures. They've always followed their emotions. I think the emotional instability is what really characterizes BP.

I also don't think the majority of BP thoughts/ behavior really count as delusional, unless you're talking severe mania and you feel invincible or immortal or something like that. Cognitive distortions, definitely, but everyone's prone to those. Every teenage girl who's ever thought she was fat or ugly (that's basically all of them) would be delusional by your standards. I don't know if that insecurity is solely a result of modern media, but I doubt it. Two centuries ago when a woman had little chance of supporting herself and needed a husband, the insecurities about her looks might have even been greater than today.

[bioChE]

This discussion brings to light the fact that the leading research rarely utilizes the term bipolar. There's another term they use, but it slips my mind. Basically, the approach to disorders is characterized as a mood spectrum, and they're getting away from the specific labels. It is more common to identify where someone is on the mood spectrum.

If I had my druthers, we'd still be characterized as manic-depressive. I feel it does much better at describing the disorder.

[Gs550]

Emotional lability?

[bioChE]

Originally Posted by Gs550

Emotional lability?

No, that's a specific disorder that presents to frequent crying episodes and things like that:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudobulbar_affect

[pirilin]

Nowadays they (medical community) have attributed many situations an actions as bipolar.
Why?, because it's easy. When you act a little different, you have bipolar. Also openness.
There are no more homosexuals today than fifty years ago. It's just more open.
Ignorance too. Like when you're sick and they don't know what the hell you have, you have a virus or an allergy.

[venusss]

I don't think bipolar has anything to do with dumb decisions. I am bipolar but would never Brexit, vote populists and let myself be swayed in the important decisions.

Sure, I let the emotions to be part of my decision making... but they don't sway me towards dumb...

[venusss]

Plus many of the current political decisions... they are eerily reminiscent of the 1930s. And hatred does NOT come from bipolar.

[Icare dixit]

Originally Posted by venusss

I don't think bipolar has anything to do with dumb decisions. I am bipolar but would never Brexit, vote populists and let myself be swayed in the important decisions.

Sure, I let the emotions to be part of my decision making... but they don't sway me towards dumb...

You think those are bad decisions while they're not, so you'd make dumb decisions without knowing it. That's textbook BP.

[Icare dixit]

Originally Posted by venusss

Plus many of the current political decisions... they are eerily reminiscent of the 1930s. And hatred does NOT come from bipolar.

What was it like in the 1930s? Sorry I wasn't born yet.

[venusss]

Originally Posted by Icare dixit

You think those are bad decisions while they're not, so you'd make dumb decisions without knowing it. That's textbook BP.

No. Bipolar does not compromise my IQ. I can tell propaganda from truth. I make bad personal decision, maybe (like "fuchsia leopard pattern top is appropriate" or "let's pick really complex topic for my master's thesis") but never in my episodes i became racist or started stereotyping or hating people based on their religion, sexual orientation or color of skin

[venusss]

Originally Posted by Icare dixit

What was it like in the 1930s? Sorry I wasn't born yet.

History. It's relevant. Now more than ever.

Some guy with funny mustache rose to power in Europe on hateful rhetorics. No biggie.

[Icare dixit]

Originally Posted by venusss

History. It's relevant. Now more than ever.

Some guy with funny mustache rose to power in Europe on hateful rhetorics. No biggie.

Loved by all of Europe. A celebrated blessing for the economies of Europe.

Rose to power by sticking it to European creditors. No one else dared to do what's right. People had no option other than to support a rascist.

All of Europe was anti-Semitic (and not just Europe).