I've unflounced briefly to say that it WASN'T a case of 'Oh, I didn't think', which is why I didn't apologise. It's absolutely a case of being sick and tired of having to avoid half the words in the English sodding language simply because someone might get offended on someone else's behalf.
I am well aware of the dictionary definition of the word. I said that I would never use it in that way, meaning that i would not level the word 'mental' as an insult to someone who was, actually, in reality, mentally ill. I would in fact be very careful not to use any language to someone which would cause offence to them.
My friend, the bra-stuffing one, is not mentally ill - she's just 'mental'. Crazy, bonkers, a loon, inexplicably daft, silly, ridiculous, whatever. She wasn't offended by the term, and anyone with an actual mental illness probably wouldn't be offended by my using it about her. They might, possibly, be offended by my using it about them - which is why I wouldn't.
Political fecking correctness gone mad. I really am, now flouncing, forever - because the 'do-rights' on MN are so far up their own feckin' arses that it drives me MENTAL.