We've gone too far in trying to destigmatize everything.
By @paigeagain · Hot Takes
Not every character flaw is 'trauma' and not every bad habit is a 'mental health issue.' Some people are just inconsiderate, lazy, or rude, and we need to be able to say that without getting a lecture.
The full story
I'm so tired of the internet therapy-speak that has infected every conversation. You can't call out any negative behavior anymore without someone diagnosing the person with some condition or explaining it away as a 'trauma response.' It's like we've completely lost the concept of personal accountability. If my friend is consistently 45 minutes late to everything, it’s not because they have 'time blindness,' it's because they're disrespectful of other people's time. If a coworker never does their share of the work, they aren't 'avoiding a trigger,' they're lazy and making everyone else pick up their slack. Calling it what it is—laziness—isn't an insult; it's an observation of their behavior and its impact. This constant need to pathologize every single human flaw is actually counterproductive. It gives people a free pass to continue being inconsiderate because they can hide behind a label. It prevents them from ever having to confront their own shortcomings and actually work on them. Instead of saying 'I need to be more organized and respectful of others,' they can just say 'Oh, it's my ADHD.' As someone who actually has diagnosed ADHD, I find it incredibly frustrating to see it used as a get-out-of-jail-free card for just being a slob or forgetting your commitments to people. The same goes for calling every ex who was a jerk a 'narcissist' or every argument 'gaslighting.' These are real clinical terms with specific meanings that are now so diluted they've become meaningless. It's not helping anyone to mislabel everyday selfishness or disagreements as severe psychological abuse. Sometimes people are just wrong. Sometimes they're just jerks. And it's okay, even necessary, to just say that.
How people voted
- Valid Take — 52% (11 votes)
- I’m Torn — 38% (8 votes)
- Bad Take — 10% (2 votes)
Readers say “Valid Take” (52%) — 21 votes and 5 comments so far.
What people are saying
@gabeforsure — Next time my friend is 45 minutes late I'm just leaving after 10. They can have dinner by themselves.
@reallytho — So you're saying my 'doom-scrolling addiction' is just me being on my phone too much. interesting.
@owenkk — Are we sure the behavior isn't actually rooted in something deeper, though?
@kindaover — Weaponized incompetence has become an epidemic and it's time we called it what it is: laziness.
@quinnmaybe — A firm handshake and a little personal responsibility would solve half these problems.
Keep reading
- Hot take: The original 'You've Got Mail!' AIM notification sound was the peak of online communication.
- Why does every single recipe I find online now have a 10-page life story before the ingredients?
- Hot sauce does not belong in the fridge.
- Hot takes are just a weird way to start an argument.
- We're trying to figure out the most disrespectful way to eat a Kit Kat.