NOW I ask you: Who is the more appropriate candidate for a finding of mental illness?
The 74-year-old woman ("Angry, MGH heart patient challenged process," City & Region, Jan. 13) who was involuntarily ordered to a nursing home after a judge spent two minutes and 10 seconds before finding her mentally ill because she could not understand nor discuss her medical problems?
Or the pantless T-riders featured on the same page ("Neighborhood of the traveling pantless," City & Region), who rode the subway so they could "create a scene of chaos and joy"?
I am a 70-year-old with short-term memory difficulties, and I rely on my doctor to make medical care decisions because I want to spend my time running a small nonprofit and doing volunteer work instead of memorizing medical data. So, I am very concerned about my future. I am therefore proposing an annual "No Pants for Seniors Day." Then the Globe can print a favorable story and picture of me and my colleagues riding the T wearing our support hose and droopy drawers, thereby validating my sanity and freeing me from worry about involuntary commitment.
CAROL STREIFF
Boston
