7 Ways Not to React to Amanda Bynes News

Amanda Bynes announced on Monday in an interview with In Touch Weekly that she was engaged to her 19-year old boyfriend, Caleb. This comes not even a week after news that Amanda Bynes was arrested for a DUI. Of course, the news of her engagement was the shot heard 'round the internet, because Bynes has become a favorite Joke. Because she's totally crazy, right?

The In Touch Weekly article that includes Bynes' interview mercilessly mocks her, but they aren't alone in making Bynes the butt of their jokes. In fact, much of the reporting on Bynes lately is tinged with subtle or not-so-subtle tones of mockery, focussing on and attributing all of her missteps and actions to her mental health. The New York Daily News said that she was "off the rails again." With everyone, even media outlets, being so flip about Bynes and her mental state and poking fun at her very highly publicized issues, it seems like the public has totally forgotten about her humanity.

There are many glib, superior and condescending ways to respond to Bynes' engagement, as Twitter has proven; something about Bynes just brings out the ugly in people. Here are seven ways NOT to respond to the news of Bynes' engagement:

"SHE'S INSANE"

Because she's marrying someone so much younger than her? Or because she gave a sort of weird quote to In Touch? Everything Bynes does now is unfortunately filtered through the lens of her mental illness issues, and using ablest language like "she's insane" only perpetuates the stigma of mental illness, like it's something to be ashamed of.

"SHE SHOULD NOT HAVE KIDS"

Really? Are you the King of deciding who's fit to parent? Should all people with mental health issues refrain from having children?

"BUT SHE LOOKED SO NORMAL RECENTLY"

Mental health issues very, very rarely are "detectable" from physical appearance. And "normal" is relative — since when does what someone looks like equate 100 percent with their mental state?

"THAT IS SOOOOO SAD"

Ahhh, yes, classic: the feigned concern. Do you really think her situation is sad, or do you secretly enjoy her struggles because it makes you feel better about yourself?

"DOES SHE NOT WANT TO GET BETTER?"

This is truly one of the worst things you can say to or about a mentally ill person; it makes light of their struggles and implies they are just lazy. It's like saying someone whose foot fell off should just grow it back.

"LOL, I LOVE AMANDA BYNES NEWS"

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