Board Thread:Writer's Workshop/@comment-24378883-20140411073403/@comment-5946174-20140411094535

Please describe what is meant by "some sort of mental illness." If you're referring to paranoid schizophrenia, then it's worth noting that schizophrenics rarely ever become violent, and if they do, they've met multiple of the following conditions:

1) Have not taken their medication for a prolonged period of time.

2) Are not aware they are mentally ill.

3) Are taking drugs and alcohol.

David seems to have met the first condition. He clearly hasn't exhibited the second, as the words "you can't just stop [taking your medication]" indicate David is aware one way or another that he hasn't been taking his medication. As for the third, glass of wine really isn't enough to elicit this kind of response.

While it's true that when a schizophrenic behaves violently towards other people it is most often directed towards family members, violence committed by a schizophrenic is inflicted on the self in the vast majority of cases, not other people. The fact of the matter is that David's behavior does not logically follow.