When used generally, crazy is a harmless, versatile term. It is used to describe inanimate objects like "crazy hair," or "crazy straw." Or to describe a good time, "that party was crazy." Coincidences are often coined crazy, as in "crazy meeting you here," or "how crazy is this?" These are innocent phrases with no negative connotation or inference. No one thinks that the straw suffers from a mental illness, or that the party was full of unstable people dancing in straightjackets.
Unfortunately, crazy can also be used as an isolating and derogatory term and this line is often indistinct and left to interpretation. For example, when a person is referenced as "crazy," it may indicate mental illness but also may just be an expletive as above. Then there are the more blatant uses like "locked up with the crazies," or "mayor of crazytown," which obviously illustrate the subjects mental state.
I am a chronic "crazy" abuser. Today I have probably used this word well over 200 times. I like crazy, it's comfortable. It's that favorite old t-shirt that has been relegated as a night shirt, because you can't wear it publicly, but you love it and could never throw it out. It's a part of you. I woke up this morning, took my crazy pill, met up with my crazy friend, went to see Amy, where I talked about my crazy life. Then I settled down with my "crazy meal" and coffee to ponder Amy's suggestion to "super-size" my crazy and meet with her twice a week. Double the crazy face time. That is a whole lot of crazy. But, who am I kidding? If the shoe fits...
So why, when my husband jokingly says, "your crazy" do I feel like I have been kicked directly in the stomach? The answer is simple. Unless you are a tax-paying resident in "crazytown," you may not call me crazy. It's like calling black people the n-word. It's acceptable if they refer to each other that way within their community, but you best not say it. It's racist and disrespectful. Just like the word fat. I can call myself fat whenever I want, but you may not. That is just not OK. Again, the reason is simple. When an outsider (for lack of a better term) uses that terminology it feels real and very threatening. When I call myself crazy, I feel like me. When someone else does, I feel crazy. My defenses fly up with control of that term taken away from me, and I want to scream at the top of my lungs,
"Crazy? You ain't seen nothing yet! I got a whole bag a crazy over here with your name on it!"
So don't call me crazy, because honestly, I feel crazy enough without your help. And crazy, though often imbued with comedy and levity is a very scary prospect, even for self-proclaimed residents of "crazytown."
So don't call me crazy, because honestly, I feel crazy enough without your help. And crazy, though often imbued with comedy and levity is a very scary prospect, even for self-proclaimed residents of "crazytown."
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