Psyc in Literature: The Blog

There is an away message (Which is basically an answering machine recording for online chat) that reads as follows: “I am not currently available right now. However, if you would like to be transferred to another correspondent, please press the number that best fits your personality:

-If you are obsessive compulsive, please press “1″ repeatedly. -If you are codependant, please ask someone to press “2″.

-If you have multiple personalities, please press “3″, “4″, and “5″.

-If you are paranoid delusional, we know who you are and what you want. Just stay on the line so we can trace your call.

-If you are schizophrenic, listen carefully and the little voice will tell you which number to press.

-If you are manic-depressive, it doesn’t matter what number you press, no one will answer.”

This away message was probably created by a common person (possibly one who spends way too much time online, like myself). It has clearly been created as a form of entertainment, a humerous tidbit of text floating around on the Internet. The language used in this message, however, turns something serious-psychological disorders-into something funny. Although it makes for a good laugh, this away message should not be taken seriously. The entire concept of the message is to take psychological disorders and stigmatizing them. This away message probably does not affect the viewers’ way of seeing psychological disorders too much, seeing as it is clearly meant to be a joke. Hopefully people know not to take things like this too seriously. Even a joke such as this, however, can have a subliminal effect on the viewer’s mind.