I would say that your comments were not wasted. Maybe I’m the only person who had never heard it framed as a battle over what can legitimately be called a mental illness, but at least one person has new insight into the issue.
Because describing it that way is a dog whistle. As another has pointed out, if it was really about mental illness why does an untrained/non-medical parent have any input on the policy?
if it was really about mental illness why does an untrained/non-medical parent have any input on the policy?
We live in a democracy, so said parents are required to give their input if they are to excise their democratic obligation, just like everyone else. I expect what you really mean is: Why is their input not being shaped by experts?
Perhaps they have not ever considered consulting an expert? Nobody is talking about the issue[1], so it is not like they are going to have someone say: “Hey, you know, you should talk to so-and-so who is an expert in this”. What might seem obvious to you is not necessarily obvious to everyone.
[1] Correction: One person left a single comment about the issue, but as an off-topic reply in a forum thread where it has no relevance, leaving it to not be ever seen by anyone who needs to hear it. Nobody is talking about the issue where the so-called debate is actually taking place.
Not everything is a dog whistle and not every policy input needs to be restricted to those with specific expertise. I have no mental health training, so I shouldn’t be making frontline decisions, but that doesn’t change the fact that I want appropriate expertise in place. If that is not policy input, what is it?
I would say that your comments were not wasted. Maybe I’m the only person who had never heard it framed as a battle over what can legitimately be called a mental illness, but at least one person has new insight into the issue.
Because describing it that way is a dog whistle. As another has pointed out, if it was really about mental illness why does an untrained/non-medical parent have any input on the policy?
We live in a democracy, so said parents are required to give their input if they are to excise their democratic obligation, just like everyone else. I expect what you really mean is: Why is their input not being shaped by experts?
Perhaps they have not ever considered consulting an expert? Nobody is talking about the issue[1], so it is not like they are going to have someone say: “Hey, you know, you should talk to so-and-so who is an expert in this”. What might seem obvious to you is not necessarily obvious to everyone.
[1] Correction: One person left a single comment about the issue, but as an off-topic reply in a forum thread where it has no relevance, leaving it to not be ever seen by anyone who needs to hear it. Nobody is talking about the issue where the so-called debate is actually taking place.
Not everything is a dog whistle and not every policy input needs to be restricted to those with specific expertise. I have no mental health training, so I shouldn’t be making frontline decisions, but that doesn’t change the fact that I want appropriate expertise in place. If that is not policy input, what is it?