"OCD" on MacRumors (Rant!)

Discussion in 'Community Discussion' started by Brian Y, Dec 9, 2013.

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  1. Brian Y, Dec 9, 2013

    Brian Y macrumors 68040

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    #1
    First off - Mods, I apologise if this is in the wrong section. I wasn't too sure where to put it.

    Am I the only person getting a bit sick of every post about scratches being labelled "Sorry, I have OCD"? I know OCD has become apparent in popular culture in recent years as the "cool" thing to have, but it's really not - and I find that people who say things like that are just insulting people who really do suffer with the condition.

    So you've found a small scratch on your iPhone, and it bugs you when you see it. What part of that is obsessive or compulsive. If you had thoughts about that scratch killing somebody, that would be an obsession. If you then had to do something completely irrational, such as walking around the garden 50 times, in order to remove the thoughts of the scratch killing somebody, that's a compulsive behaviour.

    Also, the key part of OCD is that the obsessive part has to be irrational. Worrying that you've scratched your £500 device is perfectly rational. As is worrying when you park your car that somebody might key it. You spent a lot of money on it, damaging it is a perfectly valid worry.

    Sorry for the rant, but I'm becoming a bit bored with people on here belittling it, and often making it out to be a kind of a joke/excuse for things. At the end of the day, anybody who did genuinely suffer with OCD would NOT use it in the context that everyone on here does.
     
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  2. AustinIllini, Dec 9, 2013

    AustinIllini macrumors demi-god

    AustinIllini

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    #2
    Thank you for posting this. OCD is a real, sad disorder that makes life more difficult. Caring too much for your phone is not an obsession anymore than trying not to scratch your car is an obsession.
     
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  3. Shrink, Dec 9, 2013

    Shrink macrumors G3

    Shrink

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    #3
    While I agree with you basic premise, it should be pointed out the (mis)use of psych diagnostic terminology is part of the vernacular now.

    I don't particularly like it, either...it trivializes the extreme discomfort, or suffering, of those for whom the terms are accurately descriptive.

    When I see "OCD", or "paranoid", or "schizo" casually misused...it gets my hackles up, too...but it's my observation that the users don't particularly care (or are ignorant of) the impact it can have.

    There are usually responses to complaints such as yours along the lines of..."don't make such a big deal out of it".

    I can only suggest that the use of the terminology not be taken in any way literally, but rather as an annoying, inaccurate, casual shorthand.
     
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  4. rdowns, Dec 9, 2013

    rdowns macrumors Penryn

    rdowns

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    #4
    Can't we just call them what they really are? Anal retentive. :D
     
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  5. chown33, Dec 9, 2013

    chown33 macrumors 604

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    #5
    I wonder if this thread should be merged with the "What ANNOYS you the Most" thread:
    http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1661470

    I'm OCD about threads with the word "rant" in the title. That, and Capitalized words in Capitals that Shouldn't be capitalized. Oh, and redundancy.
     
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  6. roadbloc, Dec 9, 2013

    roadbloc macrumors G3

    roadbloc

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    #6
    I'm OCD about OCDs.
     
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  7. LIVEFRMNYC, Dec 9, 2013

    LIVEFRMNYC macrumors 603

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    #7
    I have OCI (Obsessive Compulsive Indulgence).
     
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  8. Brian Y, Dec 9, 2013

    Brian Y thread starter macrumors 68040

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    #8

    I guess I should've expected this thread to bring out the best in MR. :rolleyes:
     
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  9. EM2013, Dec 9, 2013

    EM2013 macrumors 65816

    EM2013

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    #9
    I completely agree with you and I feel the same way with people who say they have insomnia just because they can't sleep on a particular night.
     
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  10. kolax, Dec 9, 2013

    kolax macrumors G3

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    #10
    As mentioned already, I think people confuse OCD with being anal.

    I'm happily to admit I'm really anal about displays. It'd only really become OCD if I couldn't work with a display that wasn't up to my standards.
     
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