You must be sick in the head

Don't worry, it's not your fault.

If you've did something wrong this week (and let's face it, you probably did), then chill. Don't worry. It's not your fault.

In fact, these days, nothing is your fault. How cool is that? No personal responsibility any more. Phew.

Humans have always been good at messing up.

We lie, cheat, sneak a little too much cake at the office party, or we forget to take the bins out. Historically, such failings were laid squarely at our feet. Personal accountability was the order of the day. But now? It seems every poor choice or bad action has a label—preferably a medical one.

Drunk driving? Smashing police vans? Turns out, you're not just irresponsible — you might have a personality disorder.

Lawyers love this one. It’s a defence gaining traction in courtrooms, and it’s not reserved for minor cases.

Drug smugglers, crack dealers, and even armed robbers are getting the same spin: “It’s not their fault; it’s their condition.”

The Rise of Diagnoses

Personality disorders are fascinating. According to government stats, around 15% of us have one. Or maybe it’s 5%, says another source. If even the experts can’t agree on how widespread these conditions are, it raises questions.

Is this a genuine epidemic or just the latest way to rebrand bad behaviour?

One diagnosis in the spotlight is antisocial personality disorder, which sounds terrifying until you realise its symptoms—manipulation, lack of empathy, exploiting others—used to be summed up as “being a arsehole.”

Now, the arsehole is a patient. And patients deserve treatment, not blame.

It’s a neat trick, isn’t it? The line between villain and victim gets blurrier by the day.

The Problem with “Medicalising” Misconduct

Here’s where things get tricky. Some people genuinely suffer from debilitating mental illnesses, and these need to be taken seriously. Conditions like depression or schizophrenia aren’t excuses—they’re battles fought daily, often silently. Lumping in genuine illnesses with poor life choices or yobbish selfishness does a disservice to those struggling with real mental health issues.

Think about it. When a sex predator blames “sex addiction” for his string of assaults, it’s not just offensive; it’s manipulative. It’s an attempt to cloak his actions in the guise of an illness, sidestepping moral accountability.

Are We All Sick, Then?

This trend of medicalising human frailty isn’t confined to the justice system. Consider obesity. Is it a disease? The World Health Organization says yes. So does the U.S. government. The NHS, to its credit, takes a more balanced view, calling it a “serious health condition.”

But let’s be honest—obesity often boils down to simple physics: consume more calories than you burn, and you gain weight.

Sure, modern life doesn’t make it easy. Junk food is cheap, stress is abundant, and the temptation to reach for another doughnut is real. Yet calling it a disease sidesteps an uncomfortable truth: many of us could make better choices.

Why This Matters

What happens when we start seeing every failing as a condition?

For starters, it chips away at personal accountability. If every smoker, over-eater, or procrastinator is “sick,” where does that leave the concept of self-control? Worse, it risks trivialising genuine illnesses, turning them into punchlines or easy outs for bad behaviour.

And this isn’t just a theoretical worry. When we medicalise every poor choice, we also shift the blame elsewhere—society, biology, the junk food industry. Sure, these factors play a role. But pretending we’re powerless doesn’t help anyone. It’s an abdication of responsibility at precisely the moment we need to own up.

Can Society Help Without Excuses?

Here’s the good news: recognising personal responsibility doesn’t mean ignoring the broader systems at play. Let’s tax junk food giants and subsidise healthier options. Let’s slap graphic warnings on unhealthy products like we did with cigarettes. Let’s provide support—vaping, counseling, whatever works—to help people make better choices.

But let’s not pretend those choices aren’t theirs to make.

Time to Take Out the Bins

On a personal note, this all reminds me of my own battles with responsibility. My overflowing bins are the subject of much marital friction. Do I take them out in the freezing early hours? Or do I leave them and feign ignorance later?

As it happens, I recently learned about a proposed diagnosis called “responsibility deficit disorder.” Symptoms include procrastination and avoidance. Finally, an explanation for my behaviour!

But let’s be real—I know my wife won’t buy it. And maybe that’s a good thing. Because sometimes, the only cure for being a bit rubbish is to get up and do the thing.

Final Thoughts

Here’s my challenge for all of us: next time you find yourself tempted to dodge responsibility, take a pause. Whether it’s a small task or a big mistake, own it. Make the tough choice. Because in a world full of excuses, accountability is the real superpower.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some bins to take out.

Stay honest,

Jon "Bin Man" Kaye

P.S. My latest track on Spotify is called "Unspoken" and it's getting some love (9,400 streams in the 3 weeks) so for all of you who have already checked it out, thank you so much.

P.P.S Thanks to Stephen Bleach for inspiring this week's email.