A clarification for the privileged

[noracharles]

An emotion is not an opinion. We can not agree or disagree with an emotion, but we can sympathize (feel the same) or empathize (understand or care about the person's emotions).

An experience is not an opinion. We can not agree or disagree with it, but we can believe or disbelieve, or understand the experience being relayed.

An opinion is an opinion, and we can agree or disagree with it, or argue for or against it.

Someone who has a mental health issue and reacts in an unusual way emotionally may have emotions we can't sympathize with. But that doesn't mean we have to disbelieve their experiences, or disagree with their opinions.

Irrational is a not a synonym for wrong, or "thing I disbelieve" or "thing I disagree with."

Sane is not a synonym for right, or "thing I believe" or "thing I agree with."

And a pertinent example:

"Because of my social anxiety, I don't like having my fic archived on public archives, including the AO3" is not the same as "I have political or philosophical objections to the AO3".

When you use mental health to judge who are right and who are wrong in a disagreement, you are not just arguing for your opinion, you are also contributing to the oppression of all people with mental health issues (including those who agree with you about the matter at hand).

Comments

[tacky-tramp.livejournal.com]

I like this post a lot. It's applicable to non-mentally-ill people, as well, since strong emotional responses are often dismissed and denigrated. "You're being irrational" is usually a criticism and a dismissal. Many of us have internalized this, too. On the relationship-advice communities I read, people will often describe a situation that prompted strong emotions in them, and then ask, "Am I being irrational?" meaning "Should I not be feeling this way?" No, no, no, no, no. All emotions are irrational, but that doesn't mean they're wrong!

[noracharles]

Exactly :-D