FYI: Be careful what you ask for

[mia]

An unscientific poll of posters at a Democratic Underground discussion board yields a result that maybe isn’t so surprising: 72% of those responding say they are “dealing with severe mental illness in their home.” Based on the URL, this appears to be genuine, not a spoof.

Whether DU posters are reporting on themselves or close relatives remains an open question.

Of course, Sheldon Drobny of Air America probably thinks that Karl Rove is the sinister force behind Democratic Underground.

Hat tip: Larwyn




http://www.americanthinker.com/comments.php?comments_id=5670

[rfranklin]

1. These are DU posters dealing with Republican family members...

and others who happened to watch more than five minutes of Fox News.

[Baselinereality]

2. Actually, There Are A LOT of "open" Questions

The first one I have is, what do you mean by "be careful what you ask for?" Does that have to do with a previous thread? I am confused.

Why wouldn't you find it surprising that 72% of ANY group suffers from "severe mental illness?" I mean, if you buy into the poll results you should at least offer up some surprise at that extremely high number.

I'm not crazy, but I have a president who plays one on TV.

[mia]

7. "be careful what you ask for?" is their title.

I remembered the thread and found that it was very informative. I found it even more interesting that another website found it noteworthy - Thus the "FYI". The statistics are only reflective of those who chose to participate in the poll, not the general population of DU.

I'm not paranoid, "they" really are watching us.

[Pharaoh]

3. To suffer from deep Depression

In this world we live in should be the norm, If your not depressed your not paying attention.

[Demit]

4. "There is no limit to the topics appearing on The American Thinker."

Except they appear to be a tad right-wingy. I'd say, be careful of whom you're quoting, LOL!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. I believe your premise is a bit faulty

Since the poll only reflects the answers from those who chose to respond to the poll. I would say that someone dealing with mental illness in their home was more likely to reply to the poll than someone who was not dealing with that problem.

[EFerrari]

6. Well, what do you expect in a country run by Herb?

And it isn't an open question unless you can't read English. No one at "americanthinker" with that skill set? Oh, never mind.

lol

[mogster]

8. A clarification to the 'thinker' in question

The poll has 82 votes saying 'I deal with severe mental illness in my home.'

The current number of DU'ers are 92,646. One per cent is then 926, 82 will be about 0.01 per cent.

Now, if you check society at large, I'm sure you find the average number 'dealing with severe mental illness at home' much higher.

Subsequently, we can turn the argument around and say that DU'ers and their families are much saner than the outside world.

[tanyev]

9. Plus, 72% OF THOSE RESPONDING.

People who deal with mental illness in their homes would probably be more likely to respond to that thread than those who don't.

[H2O Man]

10. Good point.

It's also worth noting that some who responded said they have people in their extended family, rather than their home, with serious mental health issues. It would be nice if we came to a point in our society where there was not some unnecessary sense of shame associated with mental illness. It is a part of the human condition, and a valid though often difficult experience. I can say without hesitation that many of the people I had the pleasure of working with are among the most honest, caring, and decent human beings I have ever met.

[mogster]

11. Even better point

A timely reminder.

[EFerrari]

13. "americanthinker" misses the larger point which is, we all

deal with serious mental illness in some way, whether we are aware of it or not. And our awareness is definitely a factor in what kind of care we all of us can access when it's needed.

Statistically (iirc) the number of homes directly involved is closer to 60%. I didn't have a slot for extended family or for circles of friends, for that matter. So, what the DU poll showed was a sense of community which is flexible and enfolding rather than rigid and distancing, no? Something else that is probably lost on freeps. :P

[EFerrari]

14. mogster, don't confuse them with facts.

:)

[sweetheart]

12. 64% of DU'ers need dental work

It would be somewhat predictable that in an economy that has privatized medical care
and discounted it's necessity, that dental, mental health and vision care are all optional
luxuries, or thinkgs people learn to get by with by utilizing all they got left, their
extended family/church.

In future, churches will have free dentist practices, but you'll have to give them your soul...

So why would it defy expectations that poorer persons (who inevitably lean more leftwards),
are those who can't afford fringe healthcare? How is that a rovian conspiracy?