Comments on: Why Hollywood Loves Mentally Challenged Characters

By: Tempscire

Tempscire — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:21:45 +0000

It’s almost like stability and normalcy are boring and not entertaining…

By: Rudy

Rudy — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 21:25:15 +0000

The Tropic Thunder quote was the most memorable for me too.

By: Michael Rayner

Michael Rayner — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 04:33:36 +0000

“(I wanted to write “crazy people”, but realized that’s not PC)”

It may not be PC (which is a synonym for being respectful) but it certainly isn’t accurate. “Mentally Challenged” isn’t an improvement. There’s a huge range of humanity that have psychiatric disorders and developmental disorders. “Crazy” doesn’t describe anyone with autism (not savant syndrome), or Down’s Syndrome. “Derangement” is not a diagnosis (Robin Williams’ character in “the Fisher King” has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

People with acute psychiatric disorders are ill. People who have disabilities have disabilities. People who have mental retardation (a medical term describing a low IQ) aren’t necessarily suffering.

What really bugs me about this post is that most (if not all) characters portrayed by actors who have won Academy Awards have some sort of pathology. Edith Piaf and Daniel Plainview (There Will Be Blood) were pretty ill also. We’re all on the continuum.

Rather than worrying about being “PC” or not, ask yourself if your description of people are accurate or respectful.

By: Alex

Alex — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 01:31:36 +0000

*slaps forehead* Yes, 1988! Thanks SpaceCow4!

By: ted

ted — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:12:09 +0000

*slaps forehead*

Alex, Alex, Alex. Tell me you didn’t say that…

By: SpaceCow4

SpaceCow4 — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:00:18 +0000

Wasn’t Rain man 1988? Not 1998?

By: I C Kook

I C Kook — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 22:46:02 +0000

That’s Kooky. Totally Kooky, I tell ya!

By: DonS

DonS — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 21:08:30 +0000

Here’s hoping that Robert Downey Jr. wins just because of that plot point!

By: chrome

chrome — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 21:05:39 +0000

just dont go full retard, no one goes full retard..

sorry if it wasn’t me some one else would have