From: Bradley Felton (zim@pobox.com)
Date: Sat Jul 11 1998 - 10:38:17 MDT
At 11:45 AM 7/10/98 -0500, Scott Badger wrote:
>Ben Hill <ben@opnsys.com> asked:
>> Just out of curiosity, what do you consider common APDs?
>
>The DSM-IV describes it thusly:
>
>A pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others
>occurring since age 15 years, as indicated by three or more of the
>following:
>
>(1) failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as
>indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest.
In a nation with more laws on the books than every other country in the
world combined (the US), this gets everyone their first strike.
>(2) deceitfulness, as indicated by repeated lying, use of aliases, or
>conning others for personal profit or pleasure.
Use an alias online, or flatter someone with white lies: that's two strikes.
>(3) impulsivity or failure to plan ahead
Subjective enough to tar anyone: "What, you didn't anticipate being hauled
in for a mental health inspection? Poor planning--strike three.
>(4) irritability and aggressiveness as indicated by repeated physical fights
>or assaults
No one gets out of high school without earning this strike (you don't need
to be the one doing the assualting, or starting the fights).
>(5) reckless disregard for safety of self or others
Subjective. To that little-old-lady down the street, anyone who drives
faster than 20 mph meets this description. Curiously, the opinions of
bureaucrats are often indistinguishable from those of little-old-ladies....
>(6) consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain
>consistent work behavior or honor financial obligations
Subjective. Come to work with a hangover a few times in a decade, get a
strike.
>(7) lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing
>having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another.
Oh damn, I compared bureaucrats to little-old-ladys, in the process hurting
the feelings of all the little-old-ladys who read my words. And I don't
give a damn.... Still another strike.
Using this list, the government could brand anyone they pleased with the
APD label, and remand them for mandatory "treatment", if we followed your
proposed solution to violence. Time to go out and buy a gun (oops, two
more strikes for expressing that sentiment...).
-Bradley Felton zim@pobox.com
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