Answering machine at a mental hospital:

Hello, and welcome to the mental health hotline.

If you are obsessive-compulsive, press 1 repeatedly.

If you are co-dependent, please ask someone to press 2 for you.

If you have multiple personalities, press 3, 4, 5, and 6.

If you are paranoid, we know who you are and what you want. Stay on the line so we can trace your call.

If you are delusional, press 7 and your call will be transferred to the mother ship.


If you are schizophrenic, listen carefully and a small voice will tell you
which number to press.

If you are a manic-depressive, it doesn't matter which number you press, no one will answer.

If you have amnesia, press 8 and state your name, address, telephone
number, date of birth, social security number, and your mother's maiden
name.

If you have bi-polar disorder, please leave a message after the beep or
before the beep or after the beep. Please wait for the beep.

If you have short-term memory loss, press 9. If you have short-term memory loss, press 9. If you have short-term memory loss, press 9. If you have short-term memory loss, press 9...

If you have low self-esteem, please hang up. All operators are too busy to talk to you.

If you are menopausal, hang up, turn on the fan, lie down & cry. You won't be crazy forever.

:rofl:

I've seen this before...heh...I'm cursed with more than one of those yet I still find it funny to laugh it away.

Originally posted by Brent88


If you have amnesia, press 8 and state your name, address, telephone
number, date of birth, social security number, and your mother's maiden
name.


:crazy:

mmk, i fail to see the humor.

:rotflmao: I love that.

Originally posted by Brent88
If you are a manic-depressive, it doesn't matter which number you press, no one will answer.

If you have bi-polar disorder, please leave a message after the beep or
before the beep or after the beep. Please wait for the beep.



Manic-depressive illness and bipolar disorder are the same thing. :grr: (I don't get the manic-depressive joke either.)

I...dont see whats so funny :-/

Originally posted by Cashodeen
Manic-depressive illness and bipolar disorder are the same thing. :grr: (I don't get the manic-depressive joke either.)
idiot who wrote that doesn't even know what they're talking about. i'd like to see them develop some of those illnesses and still be able to mock them.

This was un-funny.

What's the big deal? People joke about serious things all the time! Whoever wrote this isn't making fun of mental illnesses...he's just relating their specifics to a phone hotline. I'm starting to get the feeling that anytime somebody mentions anything serious without a " :( " or a " :crying: " after it, people are gonna jump down their throats.

EDITED- never mind...

You people need a sense of humor.

:grr:

Originally posted by david&maddie4ever
What's the big deal? People joke about serious things all the time! Whoever wrote this isn't making fun of mental illnesses...he's just relating their specifics to a phone hotline. I'm starting to get the feeling that anytime somebody mentions anything serious without a " :( " or a " :crying: " after it, people are gonna jump down their throats.
They're not just "relating problems to a phone hotline", they're turning serious problems into comedy. Would a mental hospital really have an answering message that says "If you have low self-esteem, please hang up. All operators are too busy to talk to you"? Several of those problems listed affect me and are controlling my life and my social behavior. i've been to the emergency room and attempted suicide fairly because of them so sorry that i dont find it funny when people mock it. the low self esteem one pissed me off the most.

Originally posted by safety pin
They're not just "relating problems to a phone hotline", they're turning serious problems into comedy. Would a mental hospital really have an answering message that says "If you have low self-esteem, please hang up. All operators are too busy to talk to you"? Several of those problems listed affect me and are controlling my life and my social behavior. i've been to the emergency room and attempted suicide fairly because of them so sorry that i dont find it funny when people mock it. the low self esteem one pissed me off the most.

I agree. Dealing with any of those problems isn't easy. And on top of dealing with it, having someone make fun of it only adds to the problem. The low self-esteem thing bothered me too. And my mother and brother are manic depressives, so I was a bit offended. I mean, I can see why someone would find it funny but when it affects you directly, it loses it's comedy. I'm sure there are people out there with those disorders that can make fun of themselves and not feel bad about it. But in general, it's not all that funny.

Originally posted by consentida
And on top of dealing with it, having someone make fun of it only adds to the problem.
My point exactly. Do you honestly think that mocking people who have low self esteem is gonna make them feel any better? Maybe you grew up in a good environment that influenced you to love yourself but that doesn't mean everyone else did. i cant even explain how much that pisses me off.

Those illnesses are hell to live and deal with, and making fun of them just shows that you dont care or think its a big deal. my OCD symptoms are so terrible i can hardly use a computer anymore. i have to struggle to even visit these boards and make posts. yes i know its so funny to have mental disorders stopping you from doing what you love most. i started having these problems when i was about 6 and theyve just been getting worse and more controlling through the years, hell by the time i'm 20 i doubt i'll be able to leave my house.

Originally posted by Brent88
You people need a sense of humor.


Amen

You guys are right in saying that I don't quite understand what it's like to live with these problems, but I still stand by what I said before. I truly don't believe that those jokes were making fun of the people with the disorders, but simply the disorders themselves.

And no, Sarah...mental hospitals wouldn't have that kind of hotline message. That's why it's a joke.

I know that people with these problems will never find this funny, but that doesn't mean that other people aren't allowed to get some sort of a kick out of it.

edited

i thought it was funny

Originally posted by david&maddie4ever
You guys are right in saying that I don't quite understand what it's like to live with these problems, but I still stand by what I said before. I truly don't believe that those jokes were making fun of the people with the disorders, but simply the disorders themselves.

And no, Sarah...mental hospitals wouldn't have that kind of hotline message. That's why it's a joke.

I know that people with these problems will never find this funny, but that doesn't mean that other people aren't allowed to get some sort of a kick out of it.
I found it to be pretty offensive, it's not that it was just unfunny. It would make sense that people without any of those illnesses are more likely to find it funny but that doesnt mean they should made a public thread about it for literally the entire world to see. You would not think its funny if you suffered through any of them. Last christmas someone posted some stupid "christmas carols for the psychiatrically challenged" which was worse than this but after i saw this it pissed me off that there's more of them.

Why don't we make a list of messages for an answering machine at some place for the mentally ********? or a school for homosexuals? everyones eyes would bleed and fall out over that.

Originally posted by david&maddie4ever
You guys are right in saying that I don't quite understand what it's like to live with these problems, but I still stand by what I said before. I truly don't believe that those jokes were making fun of the people with the disorders, but simply the disorders themselves.

And no, Sarah...mental hospitals wouldn't have that kind of hotline message. That's why it's a joke.

I know that people with these problems will never find this funny, but that doesn't mean that other people aren't allowed to get some sort of a kick out of it.

But to me making fun of the disorder is just as bad as making fun of the person with the disorder.

just my thoughts :)

Originally posted by Angela Micelli
But to me making fun of the disorder is just as bad as making fun of the person with the disorder.

just my thoughts :)

It's a freakin joke!!!!

Originally posted by Brent88
It's a freakin joke!!!!

I think everyone understands that it's not an actual answering message. But that's not the point. When you poke fun at diseases and disorders, there are bound to be people that don't like it.

Originally posted by Angela Micelli
But to me making fun of the disorder is just as bad as making fun of the person with the disorder.

just my thoughts :) Hardly.

I have many of those mentioned and I feel making fun of the problem eases the sitation and take no offense...but then, I'm not easily offended.

Originally posted by Brent88
It's a freakin joke!!!!

:rolleyes:

oh yeah "cancer" :rofl:

what the heck is so freaking funny about cancer? the fact that it kills people every year?

Originally posted by Angela Micelli
:rolleyes:

oh yeah "cancer" :rofl:

what the heck is so freaking funny about cancer? the fact that it kills people every year?
If you are terminally ill, don't bother calling because you're going to die soon anyway.

OMG ROFLOL :lol: :rofl: :rotflmao: PURE HILARITEE!!!!!!!1

Originally posted by safety pin
If you are terminally ill, don't bother calling because you're going to die soon anyway.

OMG ROFLOL :lol: :rofl: :rotflmao: PURE HILARITEE!!!!!!!1

I know, I forgot that cancer, and all these mental disorders and such were so funny. I mean they only ruin people lives, and/or kill them :rolleyes:

You know what's funny? A lot of people are taking mockery of illnesses and disorders lightly but couldn't couldnt handle the picture of the dead cat. that is just so sad.

Originally posted by safety pin
I found it to be pretty offensive, it's not that it was just unfunny. It would make sense that people without any of those illnesses are more likely to find it funny but that doesnt mean they should made a public thread about it for literally the entire world to see.

Okay, I agree with that. Sorry if I sounded unsympathetic, but when I read posts like the last one that Ashlee made, it makes me think that everybody with these disorders wouldn't have a problem with this.

I'm like Ashlee...not sensitive about these kind of things, so it's hard for me to differentiate between those who care and those who don't.

Originally posted by safety pin
You know what's funny? A lot of people are taking mockery of illnesses and disorders lightly but couldn't couldnt handle the picture of the dead cat. that is just so sad.

I thought the dead cat was funny, too.

Originally posted by Angela Micelli
I know, I forgot that cancer, and all these mental disorders and such were so funny. I mean they only ruin people lives, and/or kill them :rolleyes:
If you are gay, don't bother calling because no one here is attracted to your gender.

OH EM GEE. EL EM AY OH.

Originally posted by david&maddie4ever
Okay, I agree with that. Sorry if I sounded unsympathetic, but when I read posts like the last one that Ashlee made, it makes me think that everybody with these disorders wouldn't have a problem with this.

I'm like Ashlee...not sensitive about these kind of things, so it's hard for me to differentiate between those who care and those who don't.
it's ok then.

If you're a nymphomaniac. Press 69 :lol:

the thing that makes me mad is "it's just a joke" or "you guys have no sense of humor" :rolleyes:

I lost my mom to hepatitis, and in no way would I go around making fun of a disease or a disorder, especially one that can kill people. like I said, what's funny about a disease that can kill? then again I have no sense of humor I guess :rolleyes:

Originally posted by Angela Micelli
the thing that makes me mad is "it's just a joke" or "you guys have no sense of humor" :rolleyes:

I lost my mom to hepatitis, and in no way would I go around making fun of a disease or a disorder, especially one that can kill people. like I said, what's funny about a disease that can kill? then again I have no sense of humor I guess :rolleyes:
Exactly. Some people dont understand that mental illnesses are just as bad, if not worse, than physical ones. If there was a list like this about terminal illnesses everyone would probably be freaking out.

Oh good grief folks. :rolleyes:

Originally posted by Brent88
Oh good grief folks. :rolleyes:


Come on, don't be like that. What Sarah and others are saying is that some people do find these things offensive. We're not saying that you meant this post to be offensive but just to think about peoples' feelings before you post things like this. There have been many people that have posted offensive things and certain things just affect people more than others. There are so many different kinds of people on this board that you almost always have to be careful with what you post because you'll never know what with rub a person the wrong way.

pumpkin:

Originally posted by safety pin
idiot who wrote that doesn't even know what they're talking about. i'd like to see them develop some of those illnesses and still be able to mock them. That's what I was thinking.

Originally posted by *A TV People*
Hardly.

I have many of those mentioned and I feel making fun of the problem eases the sitation and take no offense...but then, I'm not easily offended.

Same here. I guess I feel if I can't laugh at it a little, it will just control me. I wish I could have laughed at depression and anxiety when I was at rock bottom.

Just my 2 cents. No one has to agree.

I just thought of something. How is this joke any different than someone creating a whole TV show around a guy with OCD? (i'm referring to Monk). That show is very popular and well-received, yet to me, it seems worse than just some stupid internet joke. Should that show be off the air for being insensitive?

I'm not siding, I just think it's a darn interesting point.

This is an oldjoke,this was made even be fore some of you were born.It's just a joke,we need some humor in the world right now.

Old joke or not, it was a lame one. It was also inaccurate for a joke. Manic Depressive Disorder is the same as Bipolar Disorder. Bipolar Disorder is just the more accurate term for lots of reasons.

I could've swore I posted in this thread.

I just don't quite understand how someone could post a joke like that and think that a lot of people WOULDN'T take offense to it.

I'm known for my sick sense of humor. Having said that though, I can see why people would take offense to this "joke".

Originally posted by dawsongirl
I just thought of something. How is this joke any different than someone creating a whole TV show around a guy with OCD? (i'm referring to Monk). That show is very popular and well-received, yet to me, it seems worse than just some stupid internet joke. Should that show be off the air for being insensitive?

I'm not siding, I just think it's a darn interesting point.
I don't know what monk is, but if they make a show about a guy with OCD that's fine. And it's ok if they have one or two characters giving him **** for it, but if the show itself tries to then it would be offensive.

I agree with Angela and Sarah..lets see if youd be laughing if you had some of those diseases :rolleyes:

Very mean, but kind of funny I guess. :o

Originally posted by I am Him
If you're a nymphomaniac. Press 69 :lol:

OMG :rofl:

I found it somewhat amusing. I wasnt busting a gut over it, but I was slightly entertained. I didnt take offense to it, but I knew others would since it is kind of a sketchy topic.

Originally posted by Brent88
Oh good grief folks. :rolleyes:

C'mon now let them have their opinions, alot of people liked the joke too Brent. :)

Okay, here's what I think. While this was making fun of the problem and not the people with them, it still may come across offensive to those with the problem and jokes like this should be avoided. My friends like to get on the ground and pretend they are having seizures and mental problems. While they are just having fun and mean it as no harm it could come across offensive to those who have seizures. People make fun of things they don't understand and nobody with those problems would make fun of them, but those who do don't realize how it feels to actually go through life with those problems they are mocking.

Originally posted by RurryMicelli
I agree with Angela and Sarah..lets see if youd be laughing if you had some of those diseases :rolleyes:

They are not "diseases." They're disorders. Why anyone would equate depression with cancer is beyond me. You can't take chemo or radiation and depression disappears. You can't take a biopsy and see OCD. Yes, they can be chemical imbalances, but they are not diseases and should in no way be equated with them.

If people die from those, many times it's at their own hands, not some redical cells in their lungs.

Originally posted by Avril's Sk8er Boi
People make fun of things they don't understand and nobody with those problems would make fun of them

And it is my experience that NO ONE that doesn't not suffer from mental problems understands it. NO ONE.

I do because I have anxiety, I have depression. And I can see the humor in the joke. No, it's not the world's best joke. But then it's no different from all these stand up commedians who poke fun at this race, or that nationality, or people with that religion.

It's not like any of them bring a person on stage and say all this stuff to their face and make fun of them. It's just a generalization. As is this. It's not aimed at any one person, so it shouldn't be taken personally.

If you want, use this as a means of awarness...a way to teach people who have no clue exactly what it's like to suffer with depression, anxiety, OCD, Bipolar...

dawsongirl, you make a lot of sense. At least to me.

PC is taking over everybody. Sure, some political correctness is good, but it gets really annoying when people have to find excuses as to why they laughed at something. I laughed, but I don't think that makes me an insensitive person. I think what's funny about the joke is not the disorders but the irony of a mental hospital of all places making fun of them. It's the same in Frasier - it's funny when the know-it-all psychiatrist makes a mistake and accidentally tells an insomniac to "sleep on it." Think about it. It would be very different if this were a joke about a guy making fun of his girlfriend's OCD or something. That would be a horrible joke. And there I go trying to ease my own conscience by explaining why I laughed....

I believe we had the same discussion back when Omega made that montage about a mental hospital. Anybody remember?


I agree with this debate, though. All of these things should be said.

Originally posted by Chambers
dawsongirl, you make a lot of sense. At least to me.

PC is taking over everybody. Sure, some political correctness is good, but it gets really annoying when people have to find excuses as to why they laughed at something. I laughed, but I don't think that makes me an insensitive person. I think what's funny about the joke is not the disorders but the irony of a mental hospital of all places making fun of them. It's the same in Frasier - it's funny when the know-it-all psychiatrist makes a mistake and accidentally tells an insomniac to "sleep on it." Think about it. It would be very different if this were a joke about a guy making fun of his girlfriend's OCD or something. That would be a horrible joke. And there I go trying to ease my own conscience by explaining why I laughed....

I believe we had the same discussion back when Omega made that montage about a mental hospital. Anybody remember?


I agree with this debate, though. All of these things should be said.

Thanks. I like what you said too.

I thought it was okay. Then I agree with Safety Pin 100% that self esteem one is really bad. I had bad self esteem for a long time. I don't think they should joke about it or those other problems either.

Originally posted by dawsongirl
And it is my experience that NO ONE that doesn't not suffer from mental problems understands it. NO ONE.

I do because I have anxiety, I have depression. And I can see the humor in the joke. No, it's not the world's best joke. But then it's no different from all these stand up commedians who poke fun at this race, or that nationality, or people with that religion.

It's not like any of them bring a person on stage and say all this stuff to their face and make fun of them. It's just a generalization. As is this. It's not aimed at any one person, so it shouldn't be taken personally.

If you want, use this as a means of awarness...a way to teach people who have no clue exactly what it's like to suffer with depression, anxiety, OCD, Bipolar... :nod:

And I agree 100% with Chambers too.

Originally posted by dawsongirl
They are not "diseases." They're disorders. Why anyone would equate depression with cancer is beyond me. You can't take chemo or radiation and depression disappears. You can't take a biopsy and see OCD. Yes, they can be chemical imbalances, but they are not diseases and should in no way be equated with them.

If people die from those, many times it's at their own hands, not some redical cells in their lungs. Sorry

Originally posted by RurryMicelli
Sorry

No reason to apologize. Just tellin everyone.

I know what it's like to suffer from depression and anxiety, and I find this joke funny. People need to lighten up a little. This world has become so PC that you can hardly say anything anymore without worrying about offending someone.

Originally posted by Sideshow Kristen
I know what it's like to suffer from depression and anxiety, and I find this joke funny. People need to lighten up a little. This world has become so PC that you can hardly say anything anymore without worrying about offending someone.
it didn't "hardly say anything". i dont care if people make a few minor jokes about them but whoever wrote that seems ignorant and should have known it was gonna offend someone.

Originally posted by safety pin
Would a mental hospital really have an answering message that says "If you have low self-esteem, please hang up. All operators are too busy to talk to you"?

no. that's probably why it's called a joke. look it up

Originally posted by safety pin
it didn't "hardly say anything". i dont care if people make a few minor jokes about them but whoever wrote that seems ignorant and should have known it was gonna offend someone.

They're taking a chance that someone will get offended when writing stuff like that.

~Edited~

Originally posted by safety pin
Exactly. Some people dont understand that mental illnesses are just as bad, if not worse, than physical ones. If there was a list like this about terminal illnesses everyone would probably be freaking out. I know a baby with a mental illness and its really sad. She'll be 2 and she cant even crawl yet. Lets make a joke out of it! :rolleyes:

Originally posted by RurryMicelli
I know a baby with a mental illness and its really sad. She'll be 2 and she cant even crawl yet. Lets make a joke out of it! :rolleyes:

:( That's terrible:(

The Sitcoms Online motto should be "I AM OFFENDED."

I'm offended that many people get so offended. :lol:

Originally posted by Janice
I'm offended that many people get so offended. :lol:

Ya I know. It's funny watching people battle this out. I'm highly amused.

Originally posted by Chambers
The Sitcoms Online motto should be "I AM OFFENDED."


THANK YOU. I didn't think the joke was very nice, but, it's not like Brent88 meant to insult anybody directly. There are jokes about stuff like that everyday. Everyone should just let it go already.

Originally posted by JoJoJoJoJoJoJoJoJo
no. that's probably why it's called a joke. look it up
no ****. that was my point.