User blog comment:PullingoffMasks/Mental Health and the Mythos/@comment-24399271-20140128215221/@comment-9340689-20140128235621

I don't think that's how Arcane Spork meant it...

Yes, insane is a legal term, but it can be used to describe someone who possibly could be considered "insane" in a court of law. If you look at the definition of "insane" it is not exclusively used in legal terms.

I understand your point, but it ussually is not associated with "not normal" people...it is ussually used to associate with people who may have a dangerous state of mind.

I agree, the terms are misused (although I'd never heard "bats***" before) however, instead of ranting, how about suggesting more appropriate terms.

For example:

Eccentric is a very polite way of saying "strange" or "odd", but generally is not considered demeaning, as it is not associated with being dangerous, unlike words such as "insane." However, this, too can be misused.

Similiarly, "Unusual" can be either good or bad, depending on the way it is used.

But don't use "special" as that has become a very demeaning word in recent years.