We Should Define Insanity

[FinePoint]

Basically, Madness Manipulation is defined as the "ability to affect the sanity of other beings, usually in a manner that causes them to become insane".
(I mean, first of all, what does it mean usually? If it doesn't drive them insane why is it not just Mind Manipulation?)

This ability then has multiple types, numerous characters and applications, but all hinging on this central theme of making someone 'insane'.

The problem is that the word 'insane' has many different meanings, varying wildly depending on which source you ask, and even in any particular source is without clarification essentially up to interpretation. I propose that we pick a specific definition, and clarify it on the page so that we have a clear standard as to what qualifies as 'insanity' as opposed to other types of Mind Manipulation. Below are several options, but of course you can propose your own definition and/or wording as well.

Option 1, Legal: Being unable to fully comprehend their own actions and/or their consequences.

Option 2, Psychosis: Being unable to distinguish between reality and some delusion or hallucination.

Option 3, Derangement: Being unable to think clearly or control their behavior.

Option 4, Clinical: Suffering from some variety of severe mental disorder.

Option 5, Colloquial: Acting extremely foolishly or unreasonably.

Option 6, All of the Above: Being unable to comprehend their own actions, unable to tell what is real or not, unable to think clearly, suffering from some severe mental disorder, or otherwise acting extremely unreasonably.

Option 7, Undefined: Just continue to call it 'insane' and refuse to specify further.
Option 8, Vaas: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting something to change.

Edit: I personally think six is best. It leaves us open to many different interpretations but still specifies enough that people can understand the page and who qualifies without just guessing.

 

[Planck69]

Probably 6 or 7. Fiction varies very wildly with whats actual insanity, from the above types to just being catatonic, so I'd rather just keep it broad or flexible than stick to a single fixed label.

 

[FinePoint]

Probably 6 or 7. Fiction varies very wildly with whats actual insanity, from the above types to just being catatonic, so I'd rather just keep it broad or flexible than stick to a single fixed label.

Say that first part again...
Yeah, I was thinking six is probably best. It leaves us open to many different interpretations but still specifies enough that people can understand the page and who qualifies without just guessing.

I would say being completely catatonic would almost always fall under Option 2 or 3.

 

[Mr. Bambu]

Realistically the power covers all of these. If a verse defines madness as a legal thing, we would probably accept that. I think the broadest definitions would fall within 3 and 4 but, really, we would probably accept all of these.