Are Voting and Marriage Mental Illnesses? The Taboo of Irrational Choice
A provocative argument likens voting and marriage to mental illnesses when measuring conscious harm. The taboo of collective irrationality in Spain.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Are Voting and Marriage Mental Illnesses?
A controversial line of reasoning has peine the debate about the thin line between stupidity and mental illness. The proposal is as simple as it is provocative: mental illness should be defined by the conscious harm a choice causes, and under that criterion, voting and having a spouse in Spain would be pathological behaviors because, supposedly, they make the life of whoever chooses them worse.
The line no one dares to draw
The argument starts from a comparison: while a schizophrenic talking about pink bogeymen does not consciously choose his delusion, a citizen who votes or gets married does, and the data (though none are cited) would suggest that both decisions, in the current Spanish context, are objectively harmful. The conclusion is that most people act like sheep against their own interests, and that society as a whole is so affected that it fails to recognize its collective irrationality.
The reactions: between mockery and reflection
The proposal has drawn everything from accusations of Dunning-Kruger effect to ironic defenses. Some point out that voting in Spain is really about delegating the decision to a representative, so conscious responsibility is diluted. Others note that the same line of argument could be applied to any choice involving a sacrifice in exchange for an uncertain benefit, such as having children or working.
The heart of the matter
Beyond the provocation, the debate reveals a deep discomfort with freedom of choice in a society that prides itself on rationality. To what extent are our most vital decisions really based on a rational calculation of costs and benefits? The question remains open, without an answer or consensus.
Related debates in the forum
A controversial line of reasoning has peine the debate about the thin line between stupidity and mental illness. The proposal is as simple as it is provocative: mental illness should be defined by the conscious harm a choice causes, and under that criterion, voting and having a spouse in Spain would be pathological behaviors because, supposedly, they make the life of whoever chooses them worse.
The line no one dares to draw
The argument starts from a comparison: while a schizophrenic talking about pink bogeymen does not consciously choose his delusion, a citizen who votes or gets married does, and the data (though none are cited) would suggest that both decisions, in the current Spanish context, are objectively harmful. The conclusion is that most people act like sheep against their own interests, and that society as a whole is so affected that it fails to recognize its collective irrationality.
The reactions: between mockery and reflection
The proposal has drawn everything from accusations of Dunning-Kruger effect to ironic defenses. Some point out that voting in Spain is really about delegating the decision to a representative, so conscious responsibility is diluted. Others note that the same line of argument could be applied to any choice involving a sacrifice in exchange for an uncertain benefit, such as having children or working.
The heart of the matter
Beyond the provocation, the debate reveals a deep discomfort with freedom of choice in a society that prides itself on rationality. To what extent are our most vital decisions really based on a rational calculation of costs and benefits? The question remains open, without an answer or consensus.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (34 replies).
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