"I am sane and I have a certificate to prove it." Is the line that hooked me. Can't remember anything else.
"I am sane and I have a certificate to prove it." Is the line that hooked me. Can't remember anything else.
I think that is one of Ernest's stories, but I can not remember which one.
It was on a bumper sticker I had made back in the early 1970s, and I may have used it in a story, but I can't remember after over 150 of them (yeah I got about 40 unfinished ones), but I have definitely used it in the forums at times.
I had the bumper sticker made up after some shrinks I met gave me a certificate because they swore I should've been crazy, but I met all the clinical criteria for being sane. That incident taught me never to get involved with major psych surveys again.
had the bumper sticker made up after some shrinks I met gave me a certificate because they swore I should've been crazy, but I met all the clinical criteria for being sane. That incident taught me never to get involved with major psych surveys again.
Understandable like that psychiatrist who wanted to experiment with drugs on me. I think he came up with the right diagnosis but then he said there were no known tests or treatments that worked. Asked me to allow him to treat me with different drugs to see what the reactions would be. I talked him into letting me think about it for a few days. Then I ran like hell to get out of that state.
Understandable like that psychiatrist who wanted to experiment with drugs on me.
I was luckier in a way. The situation was also different.
My sister was doing a BA, DipEd and part of the course was a set of psych modules. In one of them the Prof had the students conducting surveys of people's attitudes. Now, you have to keep in mind this was the early 1970s during the Vietnam Era and its associated protests. At the time there was a strong peace movement with socialist tendencies moving into the academic world. Green Peace and environmentalism were big things too. A very tumultuous time.
The survey was about peoples' attitudes to war and violence as well as the environment etc. So they were very shocked at the analysis of my survey response. By then I'd developed a clear understanding of being a Militant Pacifist as well as a Developmental Environmentalist, and a Evolutionary Creationist. The psychs found the concepts both disturbing and in conflicting. For them Militant and Pacifist were different ends of the spectrum, also Developmentalist and Environmentalist were different ends of their spectrum, as were being a Creationist and an Evolutionist. Thus, in their eyes I couldn't hold strong beliefs of both ends at once and be sane. Yet their surveys showed I did hold such strong beliefs. The end result was when I had spare time while on campus I spent time with them. I had a lot of that time as my sister had a bung leg and was in a wheelchair while I was out of work, so I was her designated driver and wheelchair pusher. I'd take her to class then either sit in or wander around, so I had a lot of time to talk with them.
After many talks they declared that such conflicting belief should have made me insane, but I was definitely sane, so they gave me a certificate as a joke. I suspect they never recognized how pragmatic I was about life and things then, and that was a big factor in my views. It still is.
I suspect they never recognized how pragmatic I was about life and things then ...
I'm sure they didn't. Their blatant misdiagnosis makes it pretty obvious you fell into the hands of some quacks - probably even socialist quacks.
I'm sure they didn't. Their blatant misdiagnosis makes it pretty obvious you fell into the hands of some quacks - probably even socialist quacks.
I had to laugh hard but you're right on!
I suspect they never recognized how pragmatic I was about life and things then, and that was a big factor in my views. It still is.
Some people will never accept that there are people that think and act just plain strait logical and pragmatic (and honest!). Academics are the worst of them. I've been called "cold" and "harsh" just because of that.
Sanity is overrated. Society decides what's sane or not, and every time I unfold their faces in the paper, I have to ask myself a question. "These are the people judging my sanity?"
As for the story, I've read that line in more than one story. @docholladay
Earnest rings a bell here as well for that line.
https://storiesonline.net/s/49620/second-that-emotion
Series: https://storiesonline.net/series/628/ike-blacktower-stories
By: https://storiesonline.net/a/Latikia
I seem to remember that in a story where two orphans became friends when one killed the foster parent abusing them. They were both insane but also smart enough to fake the tests and join the military. It was something of a joke that everyone knew they were psychopaths but couldn't prove it.
I seem to remember that in a story where two orphans became friends when one killed the foster parent abusing them. They were both insane but also smart enough to fake the tests and join the military. It was something of a joke that everyone knew they were psychopaths but couldn't prove it.
That would be A Masters Ring: https://storiesonline.net/s/41195/a-masters-ring
By ElSol: https://storiesonline.net/a/ElSol/
The great Spike Milligan used to say this when he appeared on chat shows. He had a couple of mental breakdowns during his life and had a certificate when he was released.
" I told you I was ill" is engraved on his gravestone.
Had a US Navy Psych Doc tell me I was homicidal with suicidal tendencies, to which I replied "Duh, Doc. I'm A United States Marine Corps Infantryman!!!". He just gave me the strangest look and sent me on my way. LOL
Had a US Navy Psych Doc tell me I was homicidal with suicidal tendencies, to which I replied "Duh, Doc. I'm A United States Marine Corps Infantryman!!!". He just gave me the strangest look and sent me on my way. LOL
I believe those tendencies are pre-requisites for the job.
Note I'm NOT running you down - I was US Army Chemical Corps. What's a little mass murder between friends? (As in, being able to lay waste to an entire city with a single aerosol can...)
Had a US Navy Psych Doc tell me I was homicidal with suicidal tendencies, to which I replied "Duh, Doc. I'm A United States Marine Corps Infantryman!!!".
Worryingly, that's also the profile of an ISIS suicide bomber :(
AJ
Uncle Sam's Misguided Children are not known for needing emotional support animals unless they are to be used for a BBQ.
Uncle Sam's Misguided Children are not known for needing emotional support animals ...
Of course not. They take an aspirin for PTSD.
Hush your mouth! The Marines take excellent care of their K-9 buddies. Where else can they find something as mean as they are, and is willing to snuggle on the cold nights.
https://storiesonline.net/s/49620/second-that-emotion
"I am certifiably sane, which is probably more than 99% of you can claim. In fact, I actually have the certificate to prove it. Do you?"
Regards G_R
@grandad_rufus
You sir are a prince among men. Thank you. This is the one I was looking for.
No Sir, here I am a man amongst Princes - They write, I can't !
Regards G_R
"I am certifiably sane, which is probably more than 99% of you can claim. In fact, I actually have the certificate to prove it. Do you?"
I would be curious as to the nature of the certificate? Something like that usually relates to one or mix of three things.
1. Background check/clearance.
2. Court/legal case.
3. Release from a mental health institution.
Or a mix of the three.
I've got paper on number one, and two. The latter for an adoption.
So what's your flavor of 'certificate'?