I think your argument has a lot of merit; I personally sympathize with the person above who feels that the word is less offensive when it's used to refer to ridiculous or erratic behavior rather than a person with an actual mental illness, but that's probably due to my frothing pet hatred of faux-sympathetic internet psychiatrists.

So, with all respect, I ask: what other words are you referring to that mean the same thing but aren't as-much-or-more associated with actual mental illnesses? This has come up in other contexts of late and I'm having trouble thinking of any, especially ones that aren't also some kind of obscure nerd reference that even I barely get.

Sorry for jumping in at a weird spot.