Alexander Davidis: Another "Puzzling" Psychopathy Expert?

[truth seeker]

It's not just childish, it's damning to any ideas he has of working on himself and being of any real service to others. Let's be clear: Alexander came to this group because he had a LOT of problems. A lot of energy from many, many people were given to trying to help him solve those problems. Dealing with him was like dealing with a kid who required a lot of explaining and input. I've got a whole folder full of LOOOOONG emails of personal assistance to him. And then, once he gets rid of the rich wife, gets what he wants, bamboozles the U.S. government to keep his green card (which was something we didn't know about!) so he isn't deported, and all of a sudden he is NOW able to make his own decisions. He actually thinks he can think with the way he thinks.

Indeed, and it's very sad to see someone whom you considered a brother/friend make such detrimental decisions.

It seems to be incredibly difficult for some to refrain from chasing after the illusion that money and prestige 'promise'. I suppose that many confuse it for love and acceptance. What's saddest of all, I think, is that Alexander was given love and acceptance in spades and didn't value it because it didn't come on his terms or in a way that he can receive it.

As the quickening progresses, those who have embraced lies will be forced to make a final decision to choose truth. When it finally comes apart at the seams (and from everything that's been happening so far, we're already in the midst of it), those who have been chasing what amounts to little more than a ghost will find themselves worse than lost. In their shutting out of life, they become a 'dream of the past'.

I can understand why some of you attempt to give the benefit of the doubt. If he's been around for 8 years as he's says, then it's been 8 years of many people doing the same thing. I myself have wrestled with this issue last year as well as the better part of this year. It's what most people do - try to understand, to make sense of something when they don't understand. Add to that blaming of the self which I also did.

The thing that I think hurt the most was in seeing over and over again just how little A seemed to care about anyone. I couldn't and still can't completely wrap my head around that and exercised myself trying to desperately find a reason for this that would make sense. At the end of the day, I have to satisfy myself with the notion that there is no good reason and that I'll never completely understand.

Regarding the turn of events surrounding the documentary, I found myself in the unique and uncomfortable position of being one of the few people who could speak out in some small way about my experience with A and so when the opportunity once again presented itself, I did. Although I had little doubt that there would be another chance as the Truth will always find a way, I'm thankful to Robin for being the unwitting messenger in this latest scenario.

The reason I chose to speak out was because I could see for myself just how long others get away with what they do when no one says anything. I could also see that some were attempting to do what had already been done for 8 years - give the benefit of the doubt. The lie needed to be given the Truth it deserves. I was tired of the unceasing lies. The manipulation. The justifications. All of it. Whenever we remain silent in the face of such, we are giving our unexpressed permission for it to continue. We become the lie.

 

[seek10]

In essence, he's trying to take a short cut by trying to help out or "help others" by his efforts in order to make "good", i.e. "I helped put out the message, I did good, I'm OK!"

Well, maybe I'm missing something but I don't see FW "trying to help out in order to make good" or anything like that. If he had helped out, even if only to make him look/feel good, it would have been better because objectively, he had done something for the network. However, that has not happened for a long time as far as I can see (although there are many behind-the-scene projects that I don't know about). What I see is his piggyback on the network to gain the reputation as a psychopathy expert and then going alone out there to get an audience to serve his narcissistic needs. By going alone that way, he becomes a "sitting duck", a tool in the hands of COINTELPRO agents to bring disinformation to the field of psychopathy. Even if he's not a conscious disinfo agent, the end result would be the same had it not been stopped/exposed.

FWIW.

Azur,
Having known him in person for many years, I have to ask, What is the basis of your assumption ( high lighted )?. Laura assessment is right on target.

 

[Azur]

Azur,
Having known him in person for many years, I have to ask, What is the basis of your assumption ( high lighted )?. Laura assessment is right on target.

Seek10,

It is an assumption that I made there. It comes from personal experience that may or may not be the case with Alex.

The personal experience that I speak of comes from two family members (cousins from different families) who were very big narcissists. In their particular behavior (as observed), it's as if they were trying to fill up a "goodwill" bank by helping out (it was obvious they weren't doing it out of the goodness of their heart) and by doing so, they thought that somehow buffered them against when they behaved badly at others' expense.


One of them was completely transparent in this regard. They didn't fool anybody. The other looked like they were driven by some remorse, maybe even shame, which was the primal driving force. Again, not doing it for the right reason.

I don't know if this applies to Alex or not: I was putting it out there for consideration as a possibility (since I've seen this first hand).

 

[aragorn]

Azur,
Having known him in person for many years, I have to ask, What is the basis of your assumption ( high lighted )?. Laura assessment is right on target.

Seek10,

It is an assumption that I made there. It comes from personal experience that may or may not be the case with Alex.

The personal experience that I speak of comes from two family members (cousins from different families) who were very big narcissists. In their particular behavior (as observed), it's as if they were trying to fill up a "goodwill" bank by helping out (it was obvious they weren't doing it out of the goodness of their heart) and by doing so, they thought that somehow buffered them against when they behaved badly at others' expense.


One of them was completely transparent in this regard. They didn't fool anybody. The other looked like they were driven by some remorse, maybe even shame, which was the primal driving force. Again, not doing it for the right reason.

I don't know if this applies to Alex or not: I was putting it out there for consideration as a possibility (since I've seen this first hand).

I would say, that narcissists are being "helpful" if there's something in it for them, if they can gain something from the said behaviour. My MIL is what one would consider a garden variety narcissist. What gets her going, and doing "nice things" for others, is if there's a opportunity to show how clever or useful she is, and thus get admiration from others. If there's nothing in it for her, she will not participate.

 

[Azur]

What I see is his piggyback on the network to gain the reputation as a psychopathy expert and then going alone out there to get an audience to serve his narcissistic needs.

Well, I'm not sure yet that this is what is happening. If the group's hot topic at the time was to make, say, a documentary on Cathedrals, he likely would have offered his services, being in the business of filming and all. If that had failed or been shelved, I think the result would have been the same.

He gathered information, data and built up a file. He put some work in it. Nobody likes to throw away work and research. Especially not on something that has been shown to be very, very important to share.

The difference between those two scenarios, of course, is the acknowledgment that psychopathy is a much more "clear and present" danger.

By going alone that way, he becomes a "sitting duck", a tool in the hands of COINTELPRO agents to bring disinformation to the field of psychopathy. Even if he's not a conscious disinfo agent, the end result would be the same had it not been stopped/exposed.

FWIW.

Agreed 100%. IF that's what he's doing.


I have to say, though, that I've been worried that this is turning into a character assassination thread. Which shouldn't be taken as such.


Alex will do what's in him to do. That goes for all of us.

Let's just wait and see.

 

[aragorn]

What I see is his piggyback on the network to gain the reputation as a psychopathy expert and then going alone out there to get an audience to serve his narcissistic needs.

Well, I'm not sure yet that this is what is happening. If the group's hot topic at the time was to make, say, a documentary on Cathedrals, he likely would have offered his services, being in the business of filming and all. If that had failed or been shelved, I think the result would have been the same.

He gathered information, data and built up a file. He put some work in it. Nobody likes to throw away work and research. Especially not on something that has been shown to be very, very important to share.

The difference between those two scenarios, of course, is the acknowledgment that psychopathy is a much more "clear and present" danger.

By going alone that way, he becomes a "sitting duck", a tool in the hands of COINTELPRO agents to bring disinformation to the field of psychopathy. Even if he's not a conscious disinfo agent, the end result would be the same had it not been stopped/exposed.

FWIW.

Agreed 100%. IF that's what he's doing.


I have to say, though, that I've been worried that this is turning into a character assassination thread. Which shouldn't be taken as such.


Alex will do what's in him to do. That goes for all of us.

Let's just wait and see.

Azur, I'll have to say that I'm amazed how you keep rationalizing away FW:s behavior. As others have asked before, is there a reason why you keep identifying with him? Playing the 'there's my truth, and there's your truth' - game isn't productive, or helping to approach a objective understanding of the situation, osit.

 

[Azur]

Despite what I've just said I will correct this though.
'Her' and 'she' :D

Apologies, I had no way to know. I use the default of the English language when gender is unknown. I used to use "they" when I didn't know, however it always seemed cold and distant to do so.

I think I might starting using 'she' as a default. Might be fun to see who complains. ;D

 

[Azur]

Azur, I'll have to say that I'm amazed how you keep rationalizing away FW:s behavior. As others have asked before, is there a reason why you keep identifying with him? Playing the 'there's my truth, and there's your truth' - game isn't productive, or helping to approach a objective understanding of the situation, osit.

I'm not rationalizing his behaviour at all. He does what he does. He chooses with the faculties available to him.

"You shall know the tree by his fruits" as the old saying goes.

Is that not enough of an "objective understanding"?


He's not a plant. So I maintain hope in a fellow human being. Be it understood, however, that my hope isn't blind, either.

 

[obyvatel]

I'm not rationalizing his behaviour at all. He does what he does. He chooses with the faculties available to him.

"You shall know the tree by his fruits" as the old saying goes.

Is that not enough of an "objective understanding"?

Azur, you are displaying little objective understanding in this thread. As you wrote a few posts before

[quote author=Azur]
It is an assumption that I made there. It comes from personal experience that may or may not be the case with Alex.
..............
I don't know if this applies to Alex or not: I was putting it out there for consideration as a possibility (since I've seen this first hand).
[/quote]

You are making assumptions and projecting into a situation about which quite a few members here have first hand knowledge.


[quote author=Azur]
I have to say, though, that I've been worried that this is turning into a character assassination thread.
[/quote]

I think your concern is quite unfounded and based on assumptions and projections with little understanding of reality in this context.

 

[truth seeker]

What I see is his piggyback on the network to gain the reputation as a psychopathy expert and then going alone out there to get an audience to serve his narcissistic needs.

Well, I'm not sure yet that this is what is happening. If the group's hot topic at the time was to make, say, a documentary on Cathedrals, he likely would have offered his services, being in the business of filming and all. If that had failed or been shelved, I think the result would have been the same.

The thing is, he didn't offer his services the second time around (I'm not sure about the first time). That came about as a result of shooting footage at OWS at which time, he decided to take up the project again. My understanding is that the new footage would have been edited in with the older footage. The problem as I see it lay not in starting the project again, but rather not including the very group that not only helped fund and support the research and shooting of the initial footage but also were directly responsible for any understanding he had of psychopathy at all.

He gathered information, data and built up a file. He put some work in it. Nobody likes to throw away work and research. Especially not on something that has been shown to be very, very important to share.

You forget that it wasn't only his work but the work of others as well. This is an important point to keep in mind.

His 'research', his knowledge base was gathered from the years long, painstaking research of others. Had that not been available, A wouldn't have had much, if any information to begin such a project in the first place. It seems he didn't want to give credit where credit was due.

I have to say, though, that I've been worried that this is turning into a character assassination thread. Which shouldn't be taken as such.

The reason this subject continues is because A's actions don't match his words. If, in my opinion, he had taken down all sites relating to the project and went out and shot his own footage that didn't include the work of others (who assumed at the time that this would be a shared project with this group) but rather did it based on his own understanding of the subject, that would've been one thing. It's quite another to gain knowledge about something and not at the very least include the individual(s) (if only by asking permission) who were crucial to one's initial understanding of the subject to begin with.

Very few people have the skills, time and resources to put together relevant pieces of the puzzle the way that Laura's and respected others in the field have. At the very least, she should have been notified of it. At the most, A should have and should be more discerning about whom he chooses to consort with. That lack of discernment itself speaks to the fact that his 'research' isn't sound.

It wouldn't be surprising for me to find out that he's indeed in contact with TS. If A lacks the ability and willingness to network, has difficulty communicating with others without attempting to exert control in most, if not every situation and attempts to direct the lives of others because he doesn't want to be bothered with grunt work (which usually goes hand in hand with serious research), then it makes perfect sense to me that he would need others to fulfill that role.

If TS has those same qualities and they are indeed working together, it will be more than interesting to see what comes of their collaboration.

To be clear Azur, this thread is about exposing the truth - seeing reality as it is. A's actions have 'assassinated' his own character. It seems something about this makes you uncomfortable and you may want to look a bit closer to find out exactly why this is.

Alex will do what's in him to do. That goes for all of us.

Let's just wait and see.

I waited for quite a while and to be honest, it was akin to waiting for Godot. While it'd be great if to see a change from the usual, I currently believe that as with the play, Godot ain't coming.

 

[anart]

I have to say, though, that I've been worried that this is turning into a character assassination thread. Which shouldn't be taken as such.

What sort of backhanded insult is that to this forum? You honestly think that this forum would allow a character assassination thread? Honestly, Azur - it is not clear at all to me why you frequent this forum when your consistent behavior and thought processes so clearly betray and contradict what is done here. Putting the sentence fragment "which shouldn't be taken as such" after your accusation of character assassination is just idiotic and does not at all blunt your real point.

You've made it quite clear that you lack any understanding at all of the true dynamics at play here yet you continue to persist in espousing your twisted understanding as if it is truth. It is not the truth. In short - and as always - you have no idea how to question your own thinking and you consistently subject those around you to the rather tortuous experience of having to listen to it as if you are an expert on anything at all. Before you begin pontificating on why we all have horribly misunderstood you and why you are correct, just stop and really try to understand the idea that you are completely and totally clueless.

 

[Foxx]

It wouldn't be surprising for me to find out that he's indeed in contact with TS.

I remembered another thing that I saw on Thomas Sheridan's FB page a while ago that makes me think that they really were in contact much more than Alexander has let on. I recall that Sheridan posted a status update that he had a someone on board (I think he used the word Hollywood and may have also said director or producer, but I don't remember exactly) to make a film about psychopathy that would be a DVD release. If I recall correctly, he was soliciting feedback from his audience and considering taking "pre-orders" to fund it.

To me, there remains a definite stench about the whole situation that hasn't resolved yet, but I don't know any details beyond this and what I shared earlier about Alexander, when he was saying that Sheridan was "whole heartedly endorsing" (direct quote) the project.

FWIW.

 

[Gertrudes]

It wouldn't be surprising for me to find out that he's indeed in contact with TS.

I remembered another thing that I saw on Thomas Sheridan's FB page a while ago that makes me think that they really were in contact much more than Alexander has let on. I recall that Sheridan posted a status update that he had a someone on board (I think he used the word Hollywood and may have also said director or producer, but I don't remember exactly) to make a film about psychopathy that would be a DVD release. If I recall correctly, he was soliciting feedback from his audience and considering taking "pre-orders" to fund it.

To me, there remains a definite stench about the whole situation that hasn't resolved yet, but I don't know any details beyond this and what I shared earlier about Alexander, when he was saying that Sheridan was "whole heartedly endorsing" (direct quote) the project.

FWIW.

Alexander denied involvement with Sheridan in doing such film on Sheridan's thread. Also, here is Guardian's post about it from earlier in this thread.
Whether that's true or not is another story.

 

[truth seeker]

Alexander denied involvement with Sheridan in doing such film on Sheridan's thread. Also, here is Guardian's post about it from earlier in this thread.
Whether that's true or not is another story.

While it's true that we don't know for sure, keep in mind that A has a long history of saying one thing and doing another.

edit: corrected bolding

 

[Gertrudes]

While it's true that we don't know for sure, keep in mind that A has a long history of saying one thing and doing another.

You know, I was just wondering whether he only evaluates things on the surface choosing to be oblivious to his deeper motivations, or whether he's fully aware of them and chooses to consciously sidetrack from the real issues when questioned.

I have to say, though, that I've been worried that this is turning into a character assassination thread. Which shouldn't be taken as such.

What if instead of character assassination, what's really happening is character and situation dissection, character and situation brought under the lens of a microscope in order to be seen?