The Following

[Tomek]

If you're into TV shows, you should consider Profit. This show was cancelled after 6 episodes only, but it's worth watching. The "protagonist" is a much starker depiction of what a psychopath is, despise the traditionnal hollywoodian bias which try to explain that the sole cause of psychopathy is child abuse.

 

[history]

If you're into TV shows, you should consider Profit. This show was cancelled after 6 episodes only, but it's worth watching. The "protagonist" is a much starker depiction of what a psychopath is, despise the traditionnal hollywoodian bias which try to explain that the sole cause of psychopathy is child abuse.

Thanks, Tomek.

I'm not into TV shows except a couple of Showtime shows and now The Following and really I'm into The Following because I'm into Purefoy but I will see if I can find Profit. Whenever I read crime reports or criminal bios, I'm always digging for the info on the parents/ family dynamics, which is usually missing or extremely limited.

Thanks. :)

 

[history]

And if they do dare call them what they are, LOOK OUT for those around them that will try to take you down for telling it like it is. The apologists for paths can be as dangerous as the paths!

Agreed. That's why strategic enclosure is important.

I've gotten into all kinds of trouble with that on topics far and wide, I'm afraid.

But when you're inside, you look around, what do you see? Businessmen, teachers, lawyers, carpenters. The very minds of the people we are trying to save. But until we do, these people are still a part of that system, and that makes them our enemy. You have to understand, most of these people are not ready to be unplugged. And many of them are so inured, so hopelessly dependent on the system, that they will fight to protect it.

Yes, and dependent on their own beliefs that others are basically good or redeemable. That that belief system was so entrenched for some was a really hard and painful lesson for me to learn.

Which is why I like Purefoy's character. He's the handsome, smart, "normal" guy next door hiding dark secrets, not a complete caricature like the ones you mention.

Well, in that case, it might be worth watching at least the pilot, just to see how he does it. I'm interested.

Please don't let me mislead you. His character is now "out" so there are caricaturistic traits in Purefoy's portrail but overall he is a lot more normal than the ones you mentioned.

And to be clear, my bias is that Purefoy is my favorite actor. I doubt I would be watching this if it weren't for him but I am now interested to see where they take the characters development.

 

[Tigersoap]

It's not remotely accurate concerning psychopathy although the idea behind the show could have been really interesting.
It's not only misleading but it's also a bad tv show disguised as something more profound than what it really is.
In short, not worth "following" :D

 

[history]

It's not remotely accurate concerning psychopathy although the idea behind the show could have been really interesting.
It's not only misleading but it's also a bad tv show disguised as something more profound than what it really is.
In short, not worth "following" :D

That's fine, Tigersoap.

I stated at least twice that I am following it for Purefoy and I was just curious if anyone else had watched it and what they thought.

Oh, and it is a hit, picked up for a second season, and therefore at least a few people are watching it and, therefore, getting their information about psychopathy from it and for that reason, I think it's worth knowing what it portrays.

:)

 

[Mrs.Tigersoap]

Oh, and it is a hit, picked up for a second season, and therefore at least a few people are watching it and, therefore, getting their information about psychopathy from it and for that reason, I think it's worth knowing what it portrays.

I personally hope that people won't get their information about psychopathy from that show. It paints a pretty poor portrait of psychopaths. It just repeats for the umpteenth time what Hollywood wants people to believe about psychopaths:

1. They are dangerous killers
2. They are evil masterminds, true geniuses
3. They have a fetish or a fixation, according to which they kill (usually to relieve a sexual tension they otherwise cannot get rid of)
4. They can manipulate anyone into doing anything even at a distance
5. Anyone can be turned into a perfect killing machine or an essential psychopath

All of which is not true in the vast majority (all?) of cases. The Mask of Sanity is great at showing all these cases where you see how they usually are barely functioning, living the lives of parasites and never thinking once about consequences to the point that it usually quickly blows up in their faces.
That's why that sort of show get on my nerves: once again, people are going to think that every psychopath is a Hannibal Lecter when in fact their banker, their boss or their wives could be. How does that help people? In no way whatsoever.

In the show (I've stopped watching as the plot is not interesting and the facts all wrong), Purefoy's character is supposedly this evil genius and yet he is behind bars! One might think that true evil and intelligent (as has been said, a very rare combo in psychopathy) psychopaths don't get caught. I especially find interesting the fact that they chose Edgar Allan Poe as the psychopath's fetish: many teenagers with a goth or a 'romantic' tendency get interested in Poe and his 'darkness' and maybe they hope to gain a few fans this way? Maybe they hope this will make the psychopathic protagonist look cool to this crowd? I think it just makes the whole thing slightly ridiculous.

 

[anart]

Oh, and it is a hit, picked up for a second season, and therefore at least a few people are watching it and, therefore, getting their information about psychopathy from it and for that reason, I think it's worth knowing what it portrays.

:)

Sounds like it portrays the same thing all television shows do - lies, illusion, fantasy and a control system set and reinforced by television programming. Not sure why anyone wastes their time with it.

 

[paralleloscope]

I stated at least twice that I am following it for Purefoy and I was just curious if anyone else had watched it and what they thought.

Oh, and it is a hit, picked up for a second season, and therefore at least a few people are watching it and, therefore, getting their information about psychopathy from it and for that reason, I think it's worth knowing what it portrays.

Hi history,
While watching perhaps you could explore the real reasons for watching, not just the immediate narrative. Sure it could be an infatuation or 'a thing' for Purefoy, but what is that really all about? As others have mentioned this series is following the usual distortions and coolmaking of psychopathic reality that have been happening for a long time. Unless one wanted to do a detailed exposé on how this particular series distorts reality, I personally couldn't see any real reason to follow it other than an excuse for entertainment. But that's just me and I could be wrong, but I am sure that we have strong drives in us to make up stories which support small neuro-chemical holidays.

There's a really interesting thread on positive dissociation, which investigates the need to dissociate or detach from reality, and the importance of making these 'excursions' positive.

 

[history]

I personally hope that people won't get their information about psychopathy from that show. It paints a pretty poor portrait of psychopaths. It just repeats for the umpteenth time what Hollywood wants people to believe about psychopaths:

1. They are dangerous killers
Not all, certainly, no

2. They are evil masterminds, true geniuses
Not all, certainly, no

3. They have a fetish or a fixation, according to which they kill (usually to relieve a sexual tension they otherwise cannot get rid of)
Some

4. They can manipulate anyone into doing anything even at a distance
Charles Manson comes to mind but it wasn't anyone, it's only his followers or wannabe followers. He's still doing it. They just caught him with another contraband cell phone will an international contact list.

5. Anyone can be turned into a perfect killing machine or an essential psychopath
The Holocaust, yes?


That's why that sort of show get on my nerves: once again, people are going to think that every psychopath is a Hannibal Lecter when in fact their banker, their boss or their wives could be. How does that help people?

I never said the show was going to help anyone except maybe us in knowing/understanding what the general public is watching and enabling us to target our counter message/argument more efficiently. In any public relations campaign I've ever participated in, we always looked to the counter arguments, opposing literature, research, etc., before deciding on our direction.

In the show (I've stopped watching as the plot is not interesting and the facts all wrong), Purefoy's character is supposedly this evil genius and yet he is behind bars! One might think that true evil and intelligent (as has been said, a very rare combo in psychopathy) psychopaths don't get caught.

If you had kept watching you'd see that he has now escaped twice! :P

I especially find interesting the fact that they chose Edgar Allan Poe as the psychopath's fetish: many teenagers with a goth or a 'romantic' tendency get interested in Poe and his 'darkness' and maybe they hope to gain a few fans this way? Maybe they hope this will make the psychopathic protagonist look cool to this crowd? I think it just makes the whole thing slightly ridiculous.

I hear you, Mrs. Tigersoap. I never said the show was high art. I started watching for Purefoy because I watch everything he's in and I thought it worth a small mention here. All television is meant to garner ratings and, therefore, generate revenues for the respective networks. The show is clearly playing to romanticized notions that have been in our consciousness since motion pictures were invented (and probably before).

 

[history]

Hi history,
While watching perhaps you could explore the real reasons for watching, not just the immediate narrative. Sure it could be an infatuation or 'a thing' for Purefoy, but what is that really all about? As others have mentioned this series is following the usual distortions and coolmaking of psychopathic reality that have been happening for a long time. Unless one wanted to do a detailed exposé on how this particular series distorts reality, I personally couldn't see any real reason to follow it other than an excuse for entertainment. But that's just me and I could be wrong, but I am sure that we have strong drives in us to make up stories which support small neuro-chemical holidays.

Hi parallel,

"Small neuro-chemical holidays"! I love it!

I will try to be as externally considerate here for reasons that should be clear to those in the Swamp. I have a thing for Purefoy. I watch everything he is in. He's a decent human being from all reports. His politics are good. He's good to his girlfriend, his former partners, his son and small animals. I like him. Although, of course, I realize that I really have no idea what he is like other than what his publicists puts out about him, etc., etc., etc. So in other words, I like his face and I like watching him and that's my excuse.

I haven't had a television for anything other than Netflix in several years. My television remains off for weeks, if not months at a time. I do not watch television other than this show and a couple of things on Showtime (which are on for short seasons), as I said, and I agree they are mindless "entertainment" at best and a decent into quicksand at worst.

I will read your recommended thread. It already has me intrigued. Thank you.

I'm curious also about if some here would be bothered with me (or anyone) watching a TV show if it wasn't about a topic so near to us that we all agree got it wrong?

 

[Renaissance]

I'm curious also about if some here would be bothered with me (or anyone) watching a TV show if it wasn't about a topic so near to us that we all agree got it wrong?

I don't see where anyone is bothered by you watching this show. Maybe you could point that out? All I saw was forum members trying to objectively assess it.

 

[Alana]

Hi history,
While watching perhaps you could explore the real reasons for watching, not just the immediate narrative. Sure it could be an infatuation or 'a thing' for Purefoy, but what is that really all about? As others have mentioned this series is following the usual distortions and coolmaking of psychopathic reality that have been happening for a long time. Unless one wanted to do a detailed exposé on how this particular series distorts reality, I personally couldn't see any real reason to follow it other than an excuse for entertainment. But that's just me and I could be wrong, but I am sure that we have strong drives in us to make up stories which support small neuro-chemical holidays.

Hi parallel,

"Small neuro-chemical holidays"! I love it!

I will try to be as externally considerate here for reasons that should be clear to those in the Swamp. I have a thing for Purefoy. I watch everything he is in. He's a decent human being from all reports. His politics are good. He's good to his girlfriend, his former partners, his son and small animals. I like him. Although, of course, I realize that I really have no idea what he is like other than what his publicists puts out about him, etc., etc., etc. So in other words, I like his face and I like watching him and that's my excuse.

I don't understand what you mean by the bolded above and how it relates to the question by parallel.

 

[paralleloscope]

I have a thing for Purefoy. [...] So in other words, I like his face and I like watching him and that's my excuse.

I'm sorry I should have mentioned it wasn't necessarily something you should answer, just something to perhaps consider or observe if you were inclined to look behind motivations.

I'm curious also about if some here would be bothered with me (or anyone) watching a TV show if it wasn't about a topic so near to us that we all agree got it wrong?

I wouldn't think so. I think most here respect others right to choose for themselves concerning their own life. And briefly checking out what MSM are up to, I think quite a few do around here, from time to time.

 

[Windmill knight]

I will try to be as externally considerate here for reasons that should be clear to those in the Swamp. I have a thing for Purefoy. I watch everything he is in. He's a decent human being from all reports. His politics are good. He's good to his girlfriend, his former partners, his son and small animals. I like him. Although, of course, I realize that I really have no idea what he is like other than what his publicists puts out about him, etc., etc., etc. So in other words, I like his face and I like watching him and that's my excuse.

I don't understand what you mean by the bolded above and how it relates to the question by parallel.

Indeed, especially because it is not externally considerate at all to make this sort of covert references to other people and your issues with them, which is something you tend to do a lot lately.

 

[history]

I will try to be as externally considerate here for reasons that should be clear to those in the Swamp. I have a thing for Purefoy. I watch everything he is in. He's a decent human being from all reports. His politics are good. He's good to his girlfriend, his former partners, his son and small animals. I like him. Although, of course, I realize that I really have no idea what he is like other than what his publicists puts out about him, etc., etc., etc. So in other words, I like his face and I like watching him and that's my excuse.

I don't understand what you mean by the bolded above and how it relates to the question by parallel.

Indeed, especially because it is not externally considerate at all to make this sort of covert references to other people and your issues with them, which is something you tend to do a lot lately.

There is nothing covert about it. I stated it outright. I have explained more than once why I like the show and I have stated it as best as I could. I like Purefoy. There is nothing more to it, no hidden really that I am aware of, which of course, I understand that I could have a hidden really and I am just unaware of what it is.