Clinically Jerky

There’s been a lot of stuff after the Mel Tapes about trying to pinpoint where exactly he went wrong. Is Mel Gibson bipolar, a malignant narcissist, an addict, or, really, just a jerk? Here’s my dividing line: a clinical diagnosis is only helpful when the problem is fixable. As in, there is an established protocol that will bring verifiable improvement in behavior, AND the subject is willing to undergo treatment. Until they cross that line, they’re just a jerk.

Because, for the rest of us, what’s the difference between the damage that borderline personality disorder and an addiction to Oxycodone can cause in our lives? Either way, they’re going to make you feel like dirt, ruin your credit and undermine your other relationships. Either way, the only way to make sure they actually change is to limit contact, refuse to help them engage in destructive behavior (don’t give them money, don’t stand around and let them mistreat you, don’t bail them out when they have mistreated others) and urge them to get qualified professional help. And any time you show any sympathy for their designated illness, it’s only going to be seen as a weakness to be exploited. But you don’t have sympathy for a jerk. Jerks are jerks because they won’t admit their behavior is wrong, and is hurting others. “I’m wrong and I need help” are magic words. They make words like “bipolar” or “addict” real. They suddenly make an awful person a sick person, and you do everything you can to help them get healthy.

But I’m starting to doubt that Mel will ever admit that his behavior is out of line. He’ll always come up with some excuse that justifies screaming profanities and racist filth at another human being. But until he admits there’s something wrong with himself, he’s never going to be able to accept the help he obviously and desperately needs. And until then, he’s just a jerk.