# Would you be offended if a friend called "authorities" on you for illogical beliefs? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 12, 2012, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-offended-if-a-friend-called-authorities-on-you-for-illogical-beliefs/627993 "2012-07-12T12:46:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-offended-if-a-friend-called-authorities-on-you-for-illogical-beliefs/627993/1 "2012-07-12T12:46:07Z")
Lets say threats of violence or worse to other or yourself is off the table, none of that which yes you should report period. How would you feel if you confessed illogical beliefs to your friend and they turned around and called health services or police etc? Or informed your mutual friends and employer and family? Your friend asks you what do you think happens after you die and you say you believe human souls are reincarnated on the true earth, this realm is just the training room. :eek:šŸ˜• Would you be angry if they reported you for that? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-offended-if-a-friend-called-authorities-on-you-for-illogical-beliefs/627993/2 "2012-07-12T13:02:19Z")
Who do they call, the thought police? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-offended-if-a-friend-called-authorities-on-you-for-illogical-beliefs/627993/3 "2012-07-12T13:04:30Z")
I presume this is a response to [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=658258). There is a world of difference between illogical and delusional. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-offended-if-a-friend-called-authorities-on-you-for-illogical-beliefs/627993/4 "2012-07-12T13:06:29Z")
If somebody called the HPD about the belief quoted in the OP, theyā€™d do nothing. Well, whoever answered the phone might laughā€“or get annoyed by having their time wasted. **grude** , what did you _really_ say? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-offended-if-a-friend-called-authorities-on-you-for-illogical-beliefs/627993/5 "2012-07-12T13:08:02Z")
What are ā€œauthoritiesā€? ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-offended-if-a-friend-called-authorities-on-you-for-illogical-beliefs/627993/6 "2012-07-12T13:09:52Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > I presume this is a response to [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=658258). > > There is a world of difference between illogical and delusional. It is indeed, I didnā€™t want to derail a thread for advice with discussion that is irrelevant at best. Hell add delusional, irrational, crazy, insane, koo koo, whatever as long as no violence is implied. There was a show called Wife Swap where a woman believed every tree was inhabited by fairies she could talk to, does that meet the delusional standard? ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-offended-if-a-friend-called-authorities-on-you-for-illogical-beliefs/627993/7 "2012-07-12T13:11:47Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > If somebody called the HPD about the belief quoted in the OP, theyā€™d do nothing. Well, whoever answered the phone might laughā€“or get annoyed by having their time wasted. > > **grude** , what did you _really_ say? It wasnā€™t me actually, it was in the thread linked to where Strangebird said: > [@](#): > > Contact your local mental health service and tell them what you just told us. What youā€™ve described are psychotic delusions, and he needs treatment. ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-offended-if-a-friend-called-authorities-on-you-for-illogical-beliefs/627993/8 "2012-07-12T13:20:43Z")
The difficulty **grude** , is that over time, and unchecked, delusional behaviour has a tendency to escalate. It is not uncommon for those suffering from it to become aggressive, then self-destructive or violent. Believing in fairies is a little different to believing you are a prophet with some kind of world affecting powers. Unless of course, you are four years old. Then itā€™s completely normal. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-offended-if-a-friend-called-authorities-on-you-for-illogical-beliefs/627993/9 "2012-07-12T13:21:18Z")
The measure of what I would feel if I was reported to the authorities for saying insane things is not the proper standard of judgment for whether my friends acted properly or not. The measure is closer to what a reasonable, disinterested person would think of reporting someone for expressing the beliefs in question. For example, if I said that I think I could fly and I was getting ready to take a leap off the Empire State Building, and my friend had the authorities take me in for a psychological evaluation, Iā€™d probably be mad at my friend for destroying my plan. But my friend still acted justifiably. If I told my friend that I thought astrology was a reliable science, and my friend attempted to have be institutionalized for that, I would be mad, too. But I also think a reasonable person would say that the friend was in the wrong to report me for a harmless belief. In the case of the other thread, I think thereā€™s a good basis to alert authorities to what seems like a very serious mental health issue, regardless of whether the Prophet thinks he has been betrayed by Judas. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-offended-if-a-friend-called-authorities-on-you-for-illogical-beliefs/627993/10 "2012-07-12T13:25:04Z")
How does the friendā€™s delusions rise above the grandiose ramblings of Charlie Sheen, a rockstar prophet forced to live among mortal men with tigar blood in his veins? And about the leap off the building, like I said violence or suicidal ideation was out of the question. ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-offended-if-a-friend-called-authorities-on-you-for-illogical-beliefs/627993/11 "2012-07-12T13:33:05Z")
They donā€™t. And you canā€™t just take violence or suicide out of the equation. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-offended-if-a-friend-called-authorities-on-you-for-illogical-beliefs/627993/12 "2012-07-12T13:45:41Z")
> [@grude](#): > > There was a show called Wife Swap where a woman believed every tree was inhabited by fairies she could talk to, does that meet the delusional standard? I think it comes down to whether or not the delusion is leading to dangerous or bizarre behavior. Does the women sit in the yard for hours talking to the fairies in the trees? Does she yell at people trimming trees that theyā€™re hurting the fairies? The problem isnā€™t what she believes, itā€™s what those beliefs lead her to do. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-offended-if-a-friend-called-authorities-on-you-for-illogical-beliefs/627993/13 "2012-07-12T13:51:13Z")
> [@grude](#): > > How does the friendā€™s delusions rise above the grandiose ramblings of Charlie Sheen, a rockstar prophet forced to live among mortal men with tigar blood in his veins? Good point. The OP could suggest that his friend contact Mr. Sheen to see if heā€™s interested in mentoring his ascendancy into omnipotence. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-offended-if-a-friend-called-authorities-on-you-for-illogical-beliefs/627993/14 "2012-07-12T13:54:37Z")
Iā€™m having a hard time believing weā€™ve gotten this far without anyone saying the obvious. Of COURSE theyā€™re going to be angry, theyā€™re delusional and they believe that this is true. There is no way other than a treatment program actually working that you could do this and not negatively impact your friendship. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-offended-if-a-friend-called-authorities-on-you-for-illogical-beliefs/627993/15 "2012-07-12T13:59:16Z")
This thread makes me want to seriously fuck with the more stick-up-their-ass know it alls by claiming to believe all sorts of wild shit. You know, good old fashioned real life trolling. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-offended-if-a-friend-called-authorities-on-you-for-illogical-beliefs/627993/16 "2012-07-12T14:02:54Z")
> [@grude](#): > > It is indeed, I didnā€™t want to derail a thread for advice with discussion that is irrelevant at best. > > Hell add delusional, irrational, crazy, insane, koo koo, whatever as long as no violence is implied. > > There was a show called Wife Swap where a woman believed every tree was inhabited by fairies she could talk to, does that meet the delusional standard? Eh, thatā€™s just my ex-wife. Who may well be delusionalā€“sheā€™s certainly taken a header since we broke upā€“but thatā€™s someone elseā€™s problem now. ---
**Author:** ![Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4bbf92/32.png) [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-offended-if-a-friend-called-authorities-on-you-for-illogical-beliefs/627993/17 "2012-07-12T14:08:58Z")
Well, for starters, Charlie Sheen is not raving about tiger blood any more, because he got (and is still getting, Iā€™m sure) help for his problems. But it wasnā€™t just because of his delusions that he needed help; he was a danger to himself and others. The thing is, people generally donā€™t just start believing something totally bizarre out of the blue without also having other problems. If **Bozuitā€™s** friend had _always_ believed he was a prophet, or had developed this philosophy gradually over time, and was otherwise able to function perfectly fine in life, then most people - including me - would just say, ā€œWell, whatever.ā€ But this sudden ā€œrevelationā€ indicates something more problematic, like a psychotic break, or, as you yourself suggested in the other thread, a manic episode, or some other condition that impairs the friendā€™s ability to function. And sure enough: > [@My friend believes he is a prophet](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-friend-believes-he-is-a-prophet/627972/14): > > Oh and heā€™s 24. Some of the other symptoms like lack of motivation and reclusion have been showing for a while, but I thought it was a combination of mild OCD, Asperger syndrome, depression and laziness. Until about a week ago he was taking a fairly high dose of citalopram and due to his unwillingness to go out he didnā€™t go to get more when he ran out. Heā€™s been losing motivation, becoming reclusive, and failing in basic self-care, like taking medication. Thatā€™s going nowhere good. And whatever is causing that, plus delusions now, _thatā€™s_ the problem, not the delusions themselves. But everyone jumped on the delusions because the fact that they suddenly showed up out of nowhere was a big bright red flag, as was the fact that theyā€™re specific to this individual, and not something shared by others, like a religion. I mean, if this friend had suddenly ā€œfound Jesusā€ or some other prophet, it would have certainly been worrying, given the context. But thinking he _is_ a prophet? Yeah. Thereā€™s no way thatā€™s not a symptom of something much, much worse. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-offended-if-a-friend-called-authorities-on-you-for-illogical-beliefs/627993/18 "2012-07-12T14:11:54Z")
> [@grude](#): > > How does the friendā€™s delusions rise above the grandiose ramblings of Charlie Sheen, a rockstar prophet forced to live among mortal men with tigar blood in his veins? I think Charlieā€™s in need of some help too. As far as Iā€™m concerned, as long as my friend is only talking about beliefs, itā€™s not a big deal. If he started getting paranoid or aggressive or told me about things he was going to do to others or to himself for reasons only he understands, then I would probably, at the very least, seek \*advice \*from a mental health professional. I wouldnā€™t be calling the cops of trying to have them committed, but Iā€™d look into the symptoms and ask an expert whether thereā€™s cause for concern. Iā€™d hope my friends would do the same for me. Thereā€™s a big difference between: 1. There are fairies in the trees, I like to sing to them. 2. Donā€™t you see those fairies? Talk to them, theyā€™ll help you feel happier. 3. The fairies are coming into my room at night and moving things around. Iā€™m cutting down all the trees to get rid of them. 4. The fairies want me to sacrifice my dog to them. I donā€™t think thereā€™s much to worry about until someone gets to 3 or 4 or worse. 1 and 2 are no better or worse than many a ā€œmainstreamā€ religion or belief system, and arenā€™t cause for alarm, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-offended-if-a-friend-called-authorities-on-you-for-illogical-beliefs/627993/19 "2012-07-12T14:15:35Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Who do they call, the thought police? Nah; for delusions theyā€™d call the Dream Police. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-offended-if-a-friend-called-authorities-on-you-for-illogical-beliefs/627993/20 "2012-07-12T15:03:47Z")
> [@grude](#): > > How does the friendā€™s delusions rise above the grandiose ramblings of Charlie Sheen, a rockstar prophet forced to live among mortal men with tigar blood in his veins? Are you assuming that I think that Charlie Sheen was not in need of medical intervention? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-offended-if-a-friend-called-authorities-on-you-for-illogical-beliefs/627993.md?page=2)