Where is the line between fetish and mental illness??? Why is it that if someone wants to cut off their own healthy limbs, we are calling this a fetish rather than saying what it is, a mental illness. No rationale human being would want this done. And before people state that there are many fetishes and that people have the right to have them, if any of you had a friend that wanted this done, you would take them to a professional to get them help, you wouldn't be encouraging them to cut off their legs.

> Why is it that if someone wants to cut off their own healthy limbs, we are calling this a fetish rather than saying what it is, a mental illness.

I do call it a mental illness. If I came across someone that wants to amputate a healthy limb, I'd tell them they're mentally ill and need professional help. Most amputees I know feel the same way. As an amputee (RBKA, due to necrotizing fasciitis and sepsis), -I know a number of amputees and none have "wanted' to be an amputee.

> Where is the line between fetish and mental illness

In general, the DSM V draws the line at hurting yourself or other people.

What do we gain by pathologizing it in newspaper headlines? Fetish is relatively value neutral, just a blank way of conveying the fact of his desiring it (against the current of normalcy).

If, as you imply, most people would stop a friend who did this, then it sounds like society already has the right attitude against it, and underscoring our concern by turning it into explicit disapproval at every mention is just lathering on a layer of censoriousness or shame.

There's the component of suffering for sure, but I think being a functional member of society is the most important. So if you don't annoy anyone with your abnormalities you are more likely to be considered sane.

Probably because they’re not mutually exclusive and one more accurately reflects the component of arousal.