This Ted Talk was given by a bipolar man by the name of Joshua Walters, who has struggled throughout his life with his condition. He has had violent and sometimes frequent manic episodes, but he also sees his condition as an advantage. He is an entertainer, and sees his ability to be crazy on stage to be an advantage to him; to be something which sets him apart and helps him become great within his field. Yet, no matter how well he uses his mental condition, there is a constant societal pressure to medicate and become normal.
This is the American Society trying to crush an outlier. It does not want this man to achieve greatness by being unusual, it suggest the easier alternative to him of just being normal. He suggests that one must ride the line, one must be somewhere between crazy and normal to succeed, but certainly the fact that any man made great by his mind would feel pressured to dampen his thoughts is evidence of a society which objects to those who are different. Society tries to crush this man, because he is different. Because his mind works in a different way he is prescribed medications, and he is seen as unsafe by some if he doesn't use them. This is society, in a small way, trying to stop individuals from being different and distinguishing themselves.
But, while Walters is still alive today, one can look at earlier Americans and see the same thing, that American society doesn't want people to act differently and distinguish themselves, and America has institutions to make sure that people stay in line.
This is the American Society trying to crush an outlier. It does not want this man to achieve greatness by being unusual, it suggest the easier alternative to him of just being normal. He suggests that one must ride the line, one must be somewhere between crazy and normal to succeed, but certainly the fact that any man made great by his mind would feel pressured to dampen his thoughts is evidence of a society which objects to those who are different. Society tries to crush this man, because he is different. Because his mind works in a different way he is prescribed medications, and he is seen as unsafe by some if he doesn't use them. This is society, in a small way, trying to stop individuals from being different and distinguishing themselves.
But, while Walters is still alive today, one can look at earlier Americans and see the same thing, that American society doesn't want people to act differently and distinguish themselves, and America has institutions to make sure that people stay in line.