Is not joining Facebook a sign you're a psychopath?
- Thread starter Gonzo
- Start date
Coming so soon after this story made the rounds about using Twitter to 'spot psychopaths' makes it pretty clear that they're out to misinform people about what psychopaths are really like by trivialising and obscuring the issue:
Using Twitter To Identify Psychopaths
Then there's this:
Revealed: US spy operation that manipulates social media by creating online sockpuppets to spread propaganda
This is an information war, so if they gauge that the psychopath awareness train has left the station, they will be working around the clock to load it with nuclear capabilities and derail it. That would explain the proliferation of junk science that claims you can tell a psychopath by its eccentric music collection, its "lyin' eyes" and its Facebook page (or the lack thereof).
We cannot underscore enough that some of the most pathological people we have come across have the most normal mask of sanity you can conceive of... and were only found out when some otherwise mundane incident prompted recapitulation of YEARS of observation. Even then, sure-fire diagnoses are risky.
Beware of anyone stating with absolute certainty that psychopaths can be 'spotted'. Pathological symptoms and behaviours can be seen and called out for what they are, but they may yet be superficial adaptations of a normal person who has been induced into believing that it is the only way to survive growing up in a pathological world.
Using Twitter To Identify Psychopaths
Then there's this:
Revealed: US spy operation that manipulates social media by creating online sockpuppets to spread propaganda
This is an information war, so if they gauge that the psychopath awareness train has left the station, they will be working around the clock to load it with nuclear capabilities and derail it. That would explain the proliferation of junk science that claims you can tell a psychopath by its eccentric music collection, its "lyin' eyes" and its Facebook page (or the lack thereof).
We cannot underscore enough that some of the most pathological people we have come across have the most normal mask of sanity you can conceive of... and were only found out when some otherwise mundane incident prompted recapitulation of YEARS of observation. Even then, sure-fire diagnoses are risky.
Beware of anyone stating with absolute certainty that psychopaths can be 'spotted'. Pathological symptoms and behaviours can be seen and called out for what they are, but they may yet be superficial adaptations of a normal person who has been induced into believing that it is the only way to survive growing up in a pathological world.
Gonzo
The Living Force
Well, perhaps one thing they may have miscalculated is the fact that they've conditioned people so much to ignore traditional news and focus on entertainment trivia, that fewer people will even read this that ten years ago. It might take a while for a meme like this to form and it is competing against the truth, which also seems to have a small audience, but perhaps has a head start.
Gonzo
Gonzo
As Richard said, this creates a Catch-22 situation.
This is really great stuff.
If you're on Facebook, it makes it easier to track you and find "suspicious" things about you.
If you're not on Facebook, then you are suspicious by default and need to be investigated.
What a wonderful way to intimidate people into reporting on themselves and others.
This is really great stuff.
If you're on Facebook, it makes it easier to track you and find "suspicious" things about you.
If you're not on Facebook, then you are suspicious by default and need to be investigated.
What a wonderful way to intimidate people into reporting on themselves and others.
herrnimrod
Padawan Learner
Gonzo said:
When it gets shared on facebook it would be read by quite a lot. Especially considering the subject is familiar to the users and the message seductive enough in itself. It's one of those headlines I'd expect every facebook user would read if they saw it.
Muxel
Dagobah Resident
Could we also include the ambiguously ambiguous Jon Ronson writing that equally ambiguous book on psychopathy?Kniall said:
Remember Bizarro's one in the same vein, only it was cell phones? The Rulers of the Matrix want us to "connect," but on their terms.whitecoast said:Beware!
galleon
The Force is Strong With This One
Several people on this thread have suggested what kinds of things will happen as a result of this type of propaganda; namely, that people will become suspicious of each other, and/or suspect the wrong kinds of people. In terms of 'how' this can take place, one need only look up the terms, easily found in dictionaries and the internet.
Psychopath:
1. a mental disorder in which an individual manifests amoral and antisocial behavior, lack of ability to love or establish meaningful personal relationships, extreme egocentricity, failure to learn from experience, etc.
2. any mental disease.
Psychopath:
A person afflicted with a personality disorder characterized by a tendency to commit antisocial and sometimes violent acts and a failure to feel guilt for such acts. Also called: sociopath
Sociopath:
A person affected with an antisocial personality disorder.
Antisocial:
Avoiding the company of other people; unsociable. Contrary or injurious to the interests of society in general.
If a person were to follow this string of information, they could easily come to the conclusion that anyone who avoids the company of other people is a psychopath. For those who search for the easiest way to label something, this will be among their criteria for 'spotting a psycho'.
Imagine how slippery this slope can get when a person can defend this idea with official references. The only thing to credibly challenge this would be definitions and views straight from the field of psychology, which then calls for expert interpretation, and so on. No end to the polemics which could follow.
Note: the above definitions come from Dictionary.com and Collinsdictionary.com
Psychopath:
1. a mental disorder in which an individual manifests amoral and antisocial behavior, lack of ability to love or establish meaningful personal relationships, extreme egocentricity, failure to learn from experience, etc.
2. any mental disease.
Psychopath:
A person afflicted with a personality disorder characterized by a tendency to commit antisocial and sometimes violent acts and a failure to feel guilt for such acts. Also called: sociopath
Sociopath:
A person affected with an antisocial personality disorder.
Antisocial:
Avoiding the company of other people; unsociable. Contrary or injurious to the interests of society in general.
If a person were to follow this string of information, they could easily come to the conclusion that anyone who avoids the company of other people is a psychopath. For those who search for the easiest way to label something, this will be among their criteria for 'spotting a psycho'.
Imagine how slippery this slope can get when a person can defend this idea with official references. The only thing to credibly challenge this would be definitions and views straight from the field of psychology, which then calls for expert interpretation, and so on. No end to the polemics which could follow.
Note: the above definitions come from Dictionary.com and Collinsdictionary.com
galleon said:
Unfortunately, you cannot just "spot a psycho". They have very convincing masks. They have studied normal people all through their lives and have learned how to mimic their facial expressions and emotions. The good psychopaths are very hard to spot.
There is also the fact that there are a lot of narcissistically wounded and ponerized individuals who act psychopathic but are not.
Have you read any of the threads here on psychopathy? There is a whole lot of information on this forum about it. We also have books that are recommended about psychopathy in our recommended books section.
And, lastly, how many people are going to even take the time to look up references of what a psychopath are in this day and age?
galleon
The Force is Strong With This One
Nienna Eluch said:
I have no issue with what psychopaths actually are, I'm well aware of such facts and the scenarios of their behavior. My reply was concerning the effect that articles like the OP have on regular people, and how unlikely it is for them to obtain a realistic view of what a psychopath is. I'd be repeating myself in any attempt to be more clear.
Incidentally - I've noticed that practically every reply to each post I have made here has been from a moderator or administrator, with the assumption that I haven't read anything, don't know anything about the subjects at hand, or am simply incompetent. Why is that?
truth seeker
The Living Force
Because your posts come across as someone who is trying to teach which can be a bit off-putting. This is a forum for people who are open to learning from each other.galleon said:
There's no need for you to try and impress anyone. If you could relax a bit, I think you'll start to see a change in the responses.
galleon
The Force is Strong With This One
truth seeker said:
This sounds contradictory - if people are open to learning from each other, why would something I have to offer be off-putting? I have learned some very interesting things from people who have posted here already, and I don't feel put off.
truth seeker said:
I have been jumped on by no less than 5 moderator/admins since I came to the forum. Who is not being relaxed here? :)
truth seeker
The Living Force
Perhaps you don't 'feel put off' but your responses seem to indicate that you're not pleased with the way the conversations are going. The thing about learning on this forum is, and this applies to everyone here, is that we don't always get what we desire but rather what we need. This can be understandably upsetting for some.galleon said:
No one's 'jumping on you' but rather things are being pointed out to you. A world of difference. I'm not sure if you've had the opportunity to read the forum guidelines yet, but if you haven't it may clarify the purpose of this forum.galleon said:
I'm genuinely curious, do you find that you get similar responses from people in real life?
Gonzo
The Living Force
Hi galleon,
Perhaps you are assuming that, because someone is a moderator, they must be talking to you as a moderator as opposed to a senior member. Moderators are members who have not only been here a long while, but who have demonstrated certain characteristics and qualities that lend themselves well to ensuring the forum is run well, that guidelines are respected and that members are protected from the myriad wackos and trolls that often join to distract or harm.
But they remain active participants in discussions as well. There is no hierarchy here, but there are roles and responsibilities. As well, although this forum provides a home for many of us, we have to remember that it is Laura's house, which she opened to us that we may, as house guests, network together with purpose, respect and safety.
Since you never indicated in your introduction what books you have read, or to what degree you are familiar with all of the material researched and discussed here, what assumptions do you think would be fair to make about your knowledge?
It might be interesting for you to look inside and see what assumptions you are making about the general knowledge (or lack thereof) that we might have about psychopaths. You might be surprised to know the topic is actually a bit of a specialty here.
If you manage to stick around long enough you will see that one of the purposes of this forum is networking with the purpose of receiving feedback from each other, so that we may develop a better understanding of how we seem to others. It is well established that we all have a distorted view of ourselves. Since we each are committed to discovering objective reality, be it the reality of ourselves or our surroundings, we require the reflection offered by others to fill in the gaps created by our blind spots.
You might appreciate reading the Comprehensive Guide for the Serious Reader in the Newbies section (http://cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php/topic,16460.0.html). As an extended welcome post, it really helps describe some of the key areas to consider. The second post in that thread is equally important, since it provides one of my favorite quotes, The 'First Initiation' written by Mme Jeanne de Salzmann.
Gonzo
Perhaps you are assuming that, because someone is a moderator, they must be talking to you as a moderator as opposed to a senior member. Moderators are members who have not only been here a long while, but who have demonstrated certain characteristics and qualities that lend themselves well to ensuring the forum is run well, that guidelines are respected and that members are protected from the myriad wackos and trolls that often join to distract or harm.
But they remain active participants in discussions as well. There is no hierarchy here, but there are roles and responsibilities. As well, although this forum provides a home for many of us, we have to remember that it is Laura's house, which she opened to us that we may, as house guests, network together with purpose, respect and safety.
Since you never indicated in your introduction what books you have read, or to what degree you are familiar with all of the material researched and discussed here, what assumptions do you think would be fair to make about your knowledge?
It might be interesting for you to look inside and see what assumptions you are making about the general knowledge (or lack thereof) that we might have about psychopaths. You might be surprised to know the topic is actually a bit of a specialty here.
If you manage to stick around long enough you will see that one of the purposes of this forum is networking with the purpose of receiving feedback from each other, so that we may develop a better understanding of how we seem to others. It is well established that we all have a distorted view of ourselves. Since we each are committed to discovering objective reality, be it the reality of ourselves or our surroundings, we require the reflection offered by others to fill in the gaps created by our blind spots.
You might appreciate reading the Comprehensive Guide for the Serious Reader in the Newbies section (http://cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php/topic,16460.0.html). As an extended welcome post, it really helps describe some of the key areas to consider. The second post in that thread is equally important, since it provides one of my favorite quotes, The 'First Initiation' written by Mme Jeanne de Salzmann.
Gonzo
SoCurious
Jedi Master
galleon said:
I found this to be a relevant post - it describes part of the process that serves to confuse on the issue of psychopathy and could be used as justification for the marginilization of anyone who finds themselves at odds with the PTB. Definitions such as the above could serve the real psychopaths as a tool to get rid of their opponents especially when used in conjunction with the meme that not being on Facebook is antisocial and therefore probably psychopathic.
There may be cause elsewhere to highlight errors but in this post it seems to me that galleon is making a valid point that may lead to greater insight in future. It will be very interesting to watch the press and courts for examples of the use of these definitions.
