Big difference between psychopathic and psychotic
Oftentimes people are too critical of racism, sexism, anti-Semitism and homophobia.
I am saying this because I have mental-health issues and, contrastingly, citizens are allowed to say whatever stupid thing comes to mind when addressing this issue [“Haq guilty in shooting at Jewish Federation,” NWWednesday, Dec. 16].
People who make these criticisms do not even acknowledge that people like me read these criticisms. Very little is ever written or said that puts mental-health issues in a positive light. There is no other side to the argument — just stupid chatter.
When people are actively psychotic, they are much more likely to commit violent crimes; however, they are much more likely to point a weapon at a policeman in order to commit suicide than they are to murder a policeman.
Murdering policemen is usually psychopathic, not psychotic. There is a very big difference in the motives and perception of reality between the two states.
I believe Maurice Clemmons was just a psychopath. It is much more difficult to keep psychopaths off the streets because a person cannot be locked up for merely being psychopathic. And besides, psychopaths know how to con.
I am a caregiver and a student. I have a degree in psychology. I would like to see the complexity of mental illness portrayed in the media. The vulnerability of the mentally ill to crime and to the lack of due process exceeds our propensity to commit violent acts.
— Dale McCracken, Renton