everyone is so scared to offend each other that if you even tried to reach out you would get accused of all sorts. kinda like you think im going to go radio rental just because i have this illness and then you have to deal with accusations.

categorys as well, people will always split into their tribal groups problem we have to get over is to make these tribes not at odds with each other so we are to busy fighting other tribes to notice the people in the cracks. never going to happen though as we are all to busy fighting each other over politics, religion, football and whos gonna win american idol.

It's really very tricky. No one wants mass conformity to the point where individuality is severely suppressed but what we as a culture do is not really working well either.

Part of the problem is a civil rights issue also. You can be mentally ill, noticeably so, and wander the streets. Do I advocate locking them all up ? No, of course not. These mass killers are not in that category. They seem to appear somewhat normal and then "snap" one day. This man in Colorado had been in medical school, so my guess is he was functioning to some degree. We'll find out as time goes on.

I'm an Anglophile, yet I know the UK has its challenges also.

I see unstable people all the time. But, I don't have any means of getting that person help. And really you can't walk up to random unstable people and say hey here is a card I think these people could help you. I have dealt with meth heads, mouthwash drunks, paranoid schizophrenics(undiagnosed, won't seek a professional), borderline personality types, and megalomaniacs. Some of these people look like functioning people to outsiders. Others are so loopy that it is no secret to anyone that they are in need of help.

Now if you ask me which of these people are a danger to others, I wouldn't be able to tell you. The one with the craziest eyes turned out to be the sweetest lady and now I don't think she would hurt a fly. The megalomaniac ended up becoming homeless, also probably wouldn't hurt anyone. I am worried about the meth head however, very wild mood swings. The paranoid schizophrenic is afraid of other people more than they are of him, but he could snap maybe.

Most of the people I know that are unbalanced are more of a danger to themselves. They only function on a very basic level if that. Most manage to hold down jobs, feed themselves, get dressed, and go about their business. You put a stressor in the mix and it's anyone's guess what will happen.

it seems that everyone judges everyone else whether its on their religion, race, sexuality or whatever, its all about being judged so people dont want to admit to being out of the norm and maybe having problems. Just look at the pile on that happens here on DU if you say you like something that some people dont.

Once we gain more knowledge, what do we do ? I don't know.

As I said above, civil rights comes into the picture rapidly. We can only do so much before we impinge upon civil rights of the mentally ill.