Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Writing fictional sociopaths

This was an interesting New Yorker article about the difficulty of writing fiction with elderly characters, and how infrequently authors get it right and why not. About the problem of old people being depicted incorrectly:

But when I asked her about the ethical responsibility younger authors have to depict old age realistically, she responded, “As a writer, you have to think—am I capable of this quantum leap of the imagination? If the answer is dubious—then don’t do it. Stereotyping is a kind of fictional abuse.”

As for what she thinks she got wrong when she was creating elderly characters as a younger writer, she says she wasn’t quite able, back then, to imagine the less dramatic physical aspects of being old: the constant pain from various forms of arthritis, the slow impairment of sight and hearing, and a “kind of instability,” a loss of balance “that would be unnerving if it came on suddenly, but, because it is gradual, you adapt.” With the elderly protagonist Claudia, in “Moon Tiger” (written when Lively was in her early fifties), she says, “I ducked the problem … by making her a mind rather than a body—she is dying in hospital, but not much is made of that, what you know of her are her thoughts and her memories.” What she believes she got right, however, is that Claudia’s mindset in old age is much the same as when she was young; this, she says, has been true to her own experience of getting older.

I thought of all the fictional depictions of sociopaths, and how surprising it is when they actually get certain aspects right, and how that rightness is so hard to maintain consistently throughout a story or several seasons of a show (I'm looking at you Dexter). It reminded me of the post on the Dr. Who character who gets redeemed in a way that basically seems to just make her an empath convert. But I have gotten better in the past couple years about things like not manipulating people or objectifying them all of the time or being more in touch with my emotions, but I'm not suddenly just like an empath. And for some reason I keep thinking that if there is such thing as enlightenment, a heightened plane of existence, it's going to be something much more like meeting in the middle between empath and sociopath than all sociopaths, autistics, personality disordered, bipolar, etc. etc. etc. just all suddenly become like your average empath. Does that hurt your feelings, empaths? That I don't feel compelled to convert to your cause, despite no longer being 100% sold on the sociopathic lifestyle?

85 comments:

  1. I read lots of blogs about the writing services but honestly speaking i found your blog very interesting and informative.

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  2. "Does that hurt your feelings, empaths?"

    Not at all. I for one don't want to live surrounded by clones of myself (like the scene where John Malkovich enters his own portal and discovers endless versions of himself. The horror, the horror!)

    Secondly, I have 'absorbed' the ability to detach from many negative attachments because of my experience with a couple highly malignant individuals. Converting to their mindset doesn't interest me, but that's not to say I can't learn from them and become a better person using less emotion in certain circumstances. In fact, damping my emotions has been highly liberating, which is not to say I've thrown ethics out the window.

    I certainly do hope that MY enlightenment, should I ever be so fortunate, embodies a full spectrum consciousness.

    Mr. Hyde

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    1. Do you "find" yourself setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of people, Mr. Hyde? You see, freedom is contagious.

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    2. Most definitely!

      Freedom is definitively contagious.

      Happily.

      Mr. Hyde.

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  3. "Those who flow as life flows know they need no other force." ~ Lao Tzu, Dao De Jing
    Enlightenment is openness and flow.

    "At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want." ~ Lao Tzu, Dao De Jing
    On what basis can any style of existence be considered more valid than another?


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  4. About Daoism: An Asian woman told me that most people with a
    "Western" mindset would have difficulity grasping Daoism.
    I think the problem with most "Eastern" religions is that you have to be
    "materially" set before you can follow them. The originators of Buddhism
    and Daosim were wealthy for their time and place. The Buddha probably knew
    there was a warm bed he could return to if his plans flopped. If a person is
    threatened by man, beast, or starvation he has no time for such lofty thoughts.
    There was a time when the East was the wealthy region of the Earth.
    I don't think the Western world can have much of a grasp of the virtues of
    Avanda Hinduism, Suffi Islam, Zen, "New Thought" and Daosim when it is
    so obsessed with comfort, carnal pleasures, fame and "snickerdoodles."

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    1. Let's examine Anon's "lofty thoughts." (in their actuality, that is). There is always room for shedding light on things.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hG0ipvloFZs

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvFYBkesqGU

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  5. Most mystic traditions, even Christian / Western ones, emphasise non-attachment. Sure, this stands in opposition to lust for material accumulation. But this of itself doesn't close the door to Western raised minds.

    The idea is that putting too much stock in pleasure or acquisition or people or places leads to suffering - either because you fail to get your desire or because you eventually lose it.

    (This personally doesn't concern me so much).

    Of perhaps greater difference is an ethical understanding not based on rules (which are essentially based on some 'authority'), but on the course of nature, the Dao ('use the Force, Luke'). Ethics meaning a way of answering the questions of 'what do I do?' And 'how do I live my life?'

    Letting things come, letting things go. This, at least from my viewpoint, has been a singularly useful concept.

    I'm happy to engage with these ideas and practices from the place I am at and immerse in them how I best see fit. I don't ever subscribe holus-bolus to another's conception of the world or any dogmatic model.

    I'm curious about the other roadblocks you see or reservations you have. Why do you think the thoughts lofty? 'Zen wants the student to bite his apple and not discuss it.'

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  6. How vite? Vite vite?

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  7. I came across the poem "Desiderata" by Max Ehrmann as a young teen, and purchased a plaque of the writing, when I came across it. Thoughts?

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  8. P.S. Mr. Hyde-I am glad you are back, and no longer side-tracked by "The Matrix". I enjoy reading your posts...

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    1. Thank you, Anon. Nice knowing I can be of service. :)

      Mr. Hyde

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  9. You are welcome, Mr. Hyde. Thank you for being "of service".:)

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    1. My pleasure, Anon. I aim to please. XP))

      Mr. Hyde.

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    2. I like your attitude, Mr. Hyde.:)

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    3. I'm sure you do.

      Right back at ya.

      Dark angels with twisted wings got soul.

      Mr. Hyde

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  10. "As a writer, you have to think-am I capable of this quantum leap of the imagination?"

    "I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free." M.

    Or the devil... ;)

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    1. As a writer, I'm capable of imagining just about anything. Including loving molecules. Weather. :)

      We're all bi-lingual angels/devils. I'll never believe different. Some of us choose to act on dark impulses. Some not. Weather response.

      Do you arm yourself with gumboots and an umbrella against the rain or use a gun? Up to you.

      The devil in us wants a gun. Angels want . . . whoknows? What the hell do I know? Never spoke with angels or devils. Only earthly creatures.

      So. I'm winging it.

      Mr. Hyde

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    2. A good imagination is a valuable asset.:) I agree, that we are all bi-lingual angels/devils. When you said that, it immediately reminded me of the song "Thorn In My Pride", by The Black Crowes!!! Are you familiar???

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    3. It also reminded me of another song by The Black Crowes, titled "She Talks To Angels"!!! One of my favorite songs!!! I enjoy your writing, style, and sense of humor, Mr. Hyde.:)

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    4. Thank you Anon. You flatter me. XP

      I'm not familiar with the Black Crowes. I appreciate the recommendation more than you can know. ;) Really.

      A good imagination is like a good lover. :) Always stimulating, life promoting. Always there one way or another.

      Mr. Hyde

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    5. Your welcome, Mr. Hyde.:) I speak my truth!!! If you listen to them, let me know what you think of "The Crowes".:) I believe music, amongst other arts, connects us all!!! A good imagination is like, and can make, a good lover.:)

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    6. I believe that, too. Imagination is divine, the greatest of lovers and crosses all barriers. All space and time, all cultures and species.

      Who knows what a crow, raven, wolf, lynx or any other creatures dreams of in the dead of night? Only those who dare to enter the mind of beasts. The fleshy reality of all sentient beings.

      I'm working on it. Albeit slowly.

      Mr. Hyde

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    7. Anon, I listened to and enjoyed the songs you suggested. Especially liked "She talks to Angels."

      Music moves all creatures, even plants -- it's the most universal of all the arts.

      Mr. Hyde

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    8. I'm glad you listened to and enjoyed the songs I suggested-you flatter me.:) Music is definitely a "Universal Language".:) Two other albums came to mind yesterday, when you mentioned "clay". The band is "Creed" and the albums I recommend are "My Own Prison" and "Human Clay"...

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    9. I'm interested in knowing which style of music you prefer.:)

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    10. “Do you arm yourself with gumboots and an umbrella against the rain or use a gun?”

      I suppose that it depends on the type of rainy flare-up, Mr. Hyde. ;)

      “I believe that, too. Imagination is divine, the greatest of lovers and crosses all barriers. All space and time, all cultures and species.

      Who knows what a crow, raven, wolf, lynx or any other creatures dreams of in the dead of night? Only those who dare to enter the mind of beasts. The fleshy reality of all sentient beings.”

      Can you always reason with your imagination, Mr. Hyde?

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    11. " Who knows what a crow, raven, wolf, lynx or any other creatures dreams of in the dead of night? Only those who dare to enter the mind of beasts. "

      sounds like a cheesy 80s movie

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    12. Musical Anon, I enjoy a lot of different kinds of music. Mostly listen to sufi, celtic, various world-alternative stuff.

      Parnasse, I can reason with my imagination when I manage to catch my imagination in the act of getting carried away. ;) As you can tell, I have mystical side, am somewhat romantic. Mary Shelly and I would have been terrific buds . . . .

      Mr. Hyde

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    13. So, while being Mary Shelley's terrific bud, would you have co-authored a book of this same genre with her? If so, you would have really had to let your imagination soar, Mr. Hyde.

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    14. Yup. The same genre. I have no problem letting my imagination soar -- it's reigning it in that I find challenging. When your brain seeks and finds patterns everywhere, the problem is knowing when to halt mental meanderings.

      Mr. Hyde

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    15. I, too, find it challenging to reign in my imagination, Mr. Hyde, but why reign it in to begin with? I have asked myself this question on a couple of occasions. Mine was made to soar, which feels so natural. Also, I can see your point about patterns.The mind can be an intricate labyrinth, which is why I am attracted to games and puzzles, such as the game of Senet (I mentioned it in my previous reply). Come to think of it, writing my thoughts to you feels as though I am in the House of Three Truths.

      Mental meanderings should not be halted. How else would we be able to rise as high as we would like in our daily pursuits or endeavors?

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    16. My imagination needs reigning in when I contemplate The horror. The unnecessary suffering. Fear and loathing against the horror and suffering are not conducive to my quest. :)

      The mind is indeed a labyrinth. Without a glimmering thread, one becomes lost. One must be aware that correlation occurs without causation when looking at patterns, that subjectivity and projection are active agents in perception. Hence the placebo effect, which is often even more effective than big pharma. The placebo effect is one of my fascinations.

      Seeing should not be equated with believing. People think they see all kinds of stuff. Ask any detective interviewing an eye witness . . . I think believing (the placebo effect) greatly impacts seeing. What you believe is what you see. So I believe anything is possible. Including past lives and an afterlife. Tibetan Buddhists once told me that the neurological state of a person dying, i.e., what they chose to focus on, defines where consciousness goes next. I like that and think that's as likely as any other afterlife scenario. :)

      I'll join you in the House of Three Truths after googling it. ;)

      Mr. Hyde

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    17. I understand your point about the horror and unnecessary suffering. It can change the course of one's quest, especially when being so uncommon.

      The placebo effect is part of the labyrinthine allure. What you believe "is" what you see, Mr. Hyde. An afterlife is an evolving possibility.

      Where does consciousness go next? What do you focus on the most, Mr. Hyde? ;)

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  11. On the topic of writing fictional sociopaths -

    Shakespeare is often praised for accurate psychological representations. What think ye of Iago? (Kenneth Branagh, Othello Act 2 Scene 3)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3De429jdIE

    And what’s he then that says I play the villain?
    When this advice is free I give and honest,
    Probal to thinking and indeed the course
    To win the Moor again? For ’tis most easy
    Th' inclining Desdemona to subdue
    In any honest suit. She’s framed as fruitful
    As the free elements. And then for her
    To win the Moor, were to renounce his baptism,
    All seals and symbols of redeemèd sin,
    His soul is so enfettered to her love,
    That she may make, unmake, do what she list,
    Even as her appetite shall play the god
    With his weak function. How am I then a villain
    To counsel Cassio to this parallel course,
    Directly to his good? Divinity of hell!
    When devils will the blackest sins put on
    They do suggest at first with heavenly shows
    As I do now. For whiles this honest fool
    Plies Desdemona to repair his fortune
    And she for him pleads strongly to the Moor,
    I’ll pour this pestilence into his ear:
    That she repeals him for her body’s lust.
    And by how much she strives to do him good
    She shall undo her credit with the Moor.
    So will I turn her virtue into pitch
    And out of her own goodness make the net
    That shall enmesh them all."


    Also:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeU6jpmiF4I

    "Thus do I ever make my fool my purse.
    For I mine own gained knowledge should profane
    If I would time expend with such a snipe
    But for my sport and profit."

    I was intrigued by this character from the first viewing some 15 years ago. He makes some very astute observations.

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    1. "And by how much she strives to do him good
      She shall undo her credit with the Moor.
      So will I turn her virtue into pitch
      And out of her own goodness make the net
      That shall enmesh them all."

      Perhaps in the plays of Shakespeare and in real life.

      But, there are those who choose differently. Will not allow their goodness to be turned to pitch.

      Unless the pitch harmonizes the Net.

      Just saying. We have choice as to how we respond.

      "If I would time expend with such a snipe
      But for my sport and profit."

      Predictable. My purse is over-full, speaking personally. I will never profane my own self-knowledge. If I can't value my own sacrifice to the welfare of others, who will?

      It's not worth devaluing my small efforts to foster life. Ain't much but it's all I got to give.

      I'm intrigued by Iago's astute observations, but not mesmerized. He's brilliant at observing weakness in others. But nevertheless fails to see their worth. The value of their attempts at goodness. Even when goodness is flawed it still contributes to the whole of life.

      Mr. Hyde

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    2. Mr. Hyde-we must be telepathically linked!!! After reading them, I wrote those exact 5 lines down, that you referenced above.:) I need to see Othello.:) There are definitely those who choose not to let their goodness be turned to pitch, and you are absolutely correct-pitch can harmonize the net. We should value the sacrifices we make, to the welfare of others. What is small to one person, can mean the world to another...

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    3. Beautifully put, Anon. I could not agree more.

      Worlds are built on the good labor of those willing, those who choose to work on the clay they were given to shape, according to their will, consciousness and desire.

      We all need to choose well. We are what we desire, what we eat and think.

      Mr. Hyde

      PS Perhaps we are psychically linked. The good and bad, the ugly and beautiful, the shallow and profound. I like to think so. One world inhabits us all.

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    4. What does this have to do with the destination of the rocket?

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    5. Oh, those scenes were chosen to highlight his psychopathy... and the dastardly plan he executes. She is good, yet dies at her husband's hand. I'm keen to know how accurate a study Iago makes.

      As for astute comments:
      "It is in ourselves that we are thus or thus"
      "There are many events in the womb of time which shall be delivered."
      etc. there's lots more

      "He's brilliant at observing weakness in others. But nevertheless fails to see their worth."
      Indeed. Their worth is only as instrumental to his ends.

      "Even when goodness is flawed it still contributes to the whole of life."
      I like this. Thankyou.

      "It's not worth devaluing my small efforts to foster life. Ain't much but it's all I got to give."
      "If I can't value my own sacrifice to the welfare of others, who will?"

      We all love to receive light, Mr Hyde :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX25PDBb708

      "In this world there is room for everyone and the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful... You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure."

      I see the contrast between Iago and Charlie and the spectrum in between. The variety within our species and ... can only think we need to develop a new understanding.


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    6. Are you a writer by vocation, Mr. Hyde? Sentient is a new word for me.:) I very much enjoy discovering and using words, that are new to me. They make for much more interesting communication.:)

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    7. I completely agree, Mr. Hyde. What we think, is what we desire, and we all need to choose well. We all inhabit one world, and one world inhabits us all. That just made me think of the "One World" clothing line, that I like.:)

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    8. North, The good earth does provide and does understand. Better than I ever will. So I choose to surrender to wise Gaia, first and foremost. ;) Sounds like you do, too, in your own way. You have a big mind.

      Anon @ 9:09 pm, I've scribbled here and there. Sentient simply means a being that is aware, feeling and conscious. Words are marvelous portals to those who speak -- to me at least. Glad you find it so, too.

      Anon # 9:28 pm, One World clothing line?! Dressed to kill?

      As you know, Mr. Hyde in the story may dress well . . . but his attire is all hand-me-down clothes appropriated from Dr. Jekyll. So I have no idea of the One World clothing line.

      Live large and well in my stead.

      Mr. Hyde

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    9. Mr. Hyde-You and I are both lovers of words.:) If you listen to The Black Crowes, "Remedy" is another great song.:) We all need our "remedies" in this life, don't we?

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    10. "We all need to choose well. We are what we desire, what we eat and think."

      Powerful words, Mr Hyde. Powerful words.

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    11. Thank you, North. :)

      Mr. Hyde

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  12. It can be easy to identify the weaknesses in others, and more difficult to see the worth, however I do believe everyone has value. Are you familiar with the poem "Desiderata" by Max Ehrmann, that I previously referenced? I do not believe attempts at goodness can be flawed. They definitely contribute to the wholeness of life...

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    1. My goodness has manifested in flawed ways, Anon. Don't know about yours. Nonetheless, I do believe my good intentions were noted by the universe in some corner of spacetime. (I have to believe that or I couldn't continue in my foolish quest; like North said, all beings who walk the earth need to occasionally bath in sunlight.)

      I'm not familiar with the poem, "Desiderata." But I will look it up. Thank you for suggesting it. I'm a reader.

      Mr. Hyde

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    2. Mr. Hyde-Your quest is not foolish.:) Let me know, what you think of the poem. It resonated with me.:)

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    3. A lovely poem, Anon. It resonates with me, too. Thank you for sharing it. It's good to remind oneself that we are children of the universe.

      Some people feel tiny and insignificant when they contemplate the vastness of the cosmos. Others feel themselves expand, becoming enlarged.

      Funny how that works. ;)

      Mr. Hyde

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    4. I'm glad you liked the poem, and that it resonates with you, as well.:) You are welcome.:) I agree with you, that it is funny how we can see ourselves as smaller or larger when looking at the vastness of the cosmos, depending on our perception...

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  13. Nope, doesn't hurt my feelings at all. All bridges have a middle point.

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  14. I don't know if there's such a thing as enlightenment. My suspicion is that what we would each find enlightening is itself largely a function of our peculiar neurological needs and limitations.

    My personal ideal would be to put all temperamental factors on a dimmer switch, so that we can take control of our minds and choose our neurovariance. Given that neural combovers can presently make an empath into a temporary psychopath, I think it's reasonable to assume the science for this is in the pipeline and purely a matter of time.

    When this technology does come online, I find it hard to believe that there's any way to keep significant numbers of people within elite classes from switching selective character traits in psychopathic directions. And, once some people do it, there will be pressure on everyone else to do the same to keep up. The resulting neurological arms race will get... interesting.

    If I only get one setting, I'd choose to be some kind of hybrid. I seem to be doing something like this to myself now. I feel little to no natural affective empathy, but I'm fully reactive to MDMA. I've taken it three times: the first experience was the first time in my life the senseless altruistic motives of the vast majority of humanity started to make sense.

    The second two times, in the last year, were experiments in self~understanding. I tripped in a controlled environment with my most trusted friends. The point was testing myself by contrast with forced empathy, but it had the unexpected effect of establishing a (weak) empathic bond with two and only people in my life. And I've found this has been good for me, if for no other reason than new emotional flavours provide relief from what otherwise often feels like an emotional background of neverending boredom. Caring for other people is generally inefficient, but it is enjoyable. That is after all why empaths throw so many cards away to experience it.

    That said, I would never want to experience general uncontrolled empathy for people in general. I like my freedom and my rationality. I find most emotions I do get very unwelcome impediments to practical calculation and as a general rule do not want more.

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    1. I enjoyed reading this.

      "My personal ideal would be to put all temperamental factors on a dimmer switch, so that we can take control of our minds and choose our neurovariance."

      A useful approach. We may have been born with x propensities, and been raised in y environment and thus we have z patterns. But let's add an a, b or c to the left side of that equation.

      We are part of a species, whose surviving / thriving success emerges from the complexity of all our interactions. While we each play a role, are we really responsible?

      What I like about your post is that you are exploring and choosing to create for yourself an existence that is pleasant and that works for you.

      This is also what M.E. is doing: "That I don't feel compelled to convert to your cause, despite no longer being 100% sold on the sociopathic lifestyle?"

      I say let species survival take care of itself. It will anyway. We have emerged; let us now - in our natural and preferred state, in an enjoyable, vast and wondrous existence - influence species survival by choosing that which works for us. And this will include a flux on the empathy scale over our individual life lines.

      I am fascinated by your MDMA experiences. Thanks for sharing your narrative, Anon. I particularly relished this insight: "Caring for other people is generally inefficient, but it is enjoyable."

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    2. You're quite welcome, sweetie. And please let me say, in turn, that I appreciate intelligent attention. I do, of course, watch everything I appreciate carefully. Any desire for something to be invites a desire for something to be other than it is.

      And, yes, I've been following M.E.'s evolution in self-understanding with interest. I believe that knowing oneself and changing one's life to optimise happiness are good things.

      I'll myself be doing further MDMA explorations as supplies permit. I have money set aside to jump if any pure stuff comes to my attention on the local market, and I hope to cycle through as many flavours of emotion as possible. So far I've had one brief experience of the love of nature (that was amazing) and the only hour-long episode of remorse in my life. Remorse felt like nausea inside my upper chest, which my empathic trip guide says is what it feels like for her. There really was this sense of a weight of karma, like feeling the suffocating depth pressure of being a specific degree of hopelessly morally underwater. All these feelings disappeared completely after the trip, and for the record I feel completely confirmed in considering guilt an entirely useless emotion. Since that time I've been systematically testing myself with various conventionally immoral acts, and never felt any significant further response.

      I'm very open to suggestions for further emotional experiments. As far as I can tell, one MDMA trip will give me a few hours to experience an extreme version of any emotion an empath would "normally" receive in a given setting. I do seem to be having difficulty imagining what other emotions are "out there" to look for.

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    3. As for the human species, in all honesty I don't personally care about its continuation. I've no desire to reproduce. I kind of like children, actually, but it would feel perfectly natural to commit infanticide rather than allow my freedom to be compromised by a child. I don't feel connected to my species and I'm mostly serious when I tell my friends I don't consider myself human. When I die, the world ends.

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    4. Hello Anon, Your experiments with MDMA are interesting. I wonder what would happen if you carried through with feeling the full spectrum of emotions. Neuroscience has confirmed the brain's plasticity -- do you think your circuits might undergo a permanent alteration?

      "So far I've had one brief experience of the love of nature (that was amazing) and the only hour-long episode of remorse in my life. Remorse felt like nausea inside my upper chest, which my empathic trip guide says is what it feels like for her. There really was this sense of a weight of karma, like feeling the suffocating depth pressure of being a specific degree of hopelessly morally underwater."

      Being a nature lover myself, I was startled to read this, having never felt remorse whilst in the grip of loving nature. Quite the opposite. Why, do you think, you felt remorse? I'm genuinely curious.

      As for imagining "what other emotions are out there," there are many of course. For sadness, try tripping at a zoo (that works for me sober) or attending to a person who's dying. For joy, plant yourself in a setting filled with beauty and/or kindness. For spiritual bliss, try listening to uplifting music whilst gazing into the eyes of someone you find fascinating (I myself prefer gazing into the eyes of animals with whom I have special relationship and the silent communication that comes with it.)

      Of course, none of the above may bestow on you an emotive spark. I've tripped many many times on various substances and have noticed that it's very different for everyone. Have you ever considered trying ayahuasca, the soul vine? There's a Canadian doctor, Mate?, that uses it to help addicts. I spoke with one of his patients, and she claims that her brain chemistry rewired itself. She seems to have totally cleaned up and is now living a productive life. In her case, the unhealthy guilt throttling her ability to think switched off.

      Hope to hear more of your trippy stories.

      Mr. Hyde

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  15. Does that hurt your feelings, empaths? That I don't feel compelled to convert to your cause, despite no longer being 100% sold on the sociopathic lifestyle?

    Not at all.
    Many empaths aren´t "100% sold" on the "empath lifestyle".
    However "no longer being 100% sold on the sociopathic lifestyle" doesn´t change anything... Nobody gives a crap about that. It doesn´t really matter if you´re lying to others or to yourself.
    IMO even with honest ambition you fail in that regard as surely as "empaths" would fail being sociopathic for prolonged time.
    I think you can´t (for a prolonged time) resist to exploit trust and friendship. That makes you a sociopath. ergo you can´t be trusted, and that makes friendships impossible.
    The sad thing is that with sociopaths one is either exploited, or at war, or nothing at all.
    however kudos for trying and please proove me wrong ;-)

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  16. Being able to feel empathy, the last sentence made me laugh more in a "what the fuck way" than being hurt. Just because someone is capable of feeling empathy doesn't mean they are upset about everything lol.

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  17. just actually *read* this post when this little gem leaped out at me:

    "But when I asked her about the ethical responsibility younger authors have to depict old age realistically, she responded, “As a writer, you have to think—am I capable of this quantum leap of the imagination? If the answer is dubious—then don’t do it. Stereotyping is a kind of fictional abuse.”

    "Fictional abuse"? Wtf? Lol.

    Be they good or bad, there is a reason that certain works of literature are labelled FICTION: namely, that they are the product of someone's imagination. Are we going to start holding fiction writers "ethically responsible" for the cardinal sins of one-dimensional character development, predictable plot twists, and shallow themes, as well? :P

    If so, we had best promptly throw E.L. James and "Danielle Steel" into solitary confinement and thow away the keys. XD



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  18. Greetings My Dear Friends,

    90% of Doctors, Prophets, Spell caster and Professors advertising on the internet are FRAUDS, do not send them money, because i have been scammed alot, block them, they have no powers, all they can do is harass you for money, do not give in. If you have any problem contact chief nwaluta, he is the only true spell caster. My name is Szalay Jessie from South Africa, My heart was crushed in early February this year 2015 and my marriage and Love life was completely muddled and broken down. I was so heart broken and i needed to put an end to the imbroglio that has affected my marriage for the past nine months because i and my kids needed my husband to be back home this Christmas. I knew fully well that I must learn to love myself before anything else and i knew he was meant for me with no doubt, because when we first met till after 14 years of our marriage, he was there for me. After our divorce, without a shadow of a doubt I do feel completely off balance and i was living each day with no direction and very little actual presence of myself, I felt like I was on auto pilot and I was wasting day after day all in pains.. And as of February 3rd, he started bringing in all the lies, the other women, etc. I knew I married for bigger reasons so I hope its just the fog of our issues that brought in the uncertainty. I always liked to keep an open mind, because ultimately, I just wanted everything to be ok with the 3 of us (my son my husband and myself) And Its has not been easy after all the times he's left. I just didn't want to keep falling deeper into the wrong direction. My divorce totally went into default in FEBRUARY. I was totally frustrated and i needed help from an online spell caster which Chief Nwaluta rendered to me completely. Finally I am writing this testimony to offer my thanks and deep gratitude to you Chief Nwaluta for keeping to your words and your promises in bringing him back to me in just 24 hours of your powerful spell casting, and for using your gifted and great powers to bring him back today the 2nd of November 2015. Its an Amazing experience i had with Chief Nwaluta . His Email: Nwalutaspelltemple@gmail.com .. His Website:http://lovespellmallam.yolasite.com/. you can also call him on his Telephone: +234 80723 70762. If you have any problem contact him i give you 100% guarantee that he will help you, he is the only true spell caster.

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  19. Are you having problems with your husband, wife, girl friend, boy friend or anyone and you really need such person to come back to you and to love you more than never before, Please read this amazing testimony on how i got back my husband back, My name is Helene Wilson from London,UK, I'm happily married to a lovely and caring husband with two kids. A very big problem occurred in my family seven months ago,between me and my husband .so terrible that he took the case to court for a divorce.he said that he never wanted to stay with me again,and that he didn't love me anymore.So he packed out of the house and made me and my children passed through severe pain. I tried all my possible means to get him back,after much begging,but all to no avail.and he confirmed it that he has made his decision,and he never wanted to see me again. So on one evening,as i was coming back from work,i met an old friend of mine who asked of my husband .So i explained every thing to him,so he told me that the only way i can get my husband back,is to visit a spell caster,because it has really worked for him too.So i never believed in spell,but i had no other choice,than to follow his advice. Then he gave me the email address of the spell caster whom he visited.{Templeofloveandprosperity@gmail.com}. So the next morning,i sent a mail to the address he gave to me,and the spell caster assured me that i will get my husband back the next day.What an amazing statement!! I never believed,so he spoke with me,and told me everything that i need to do. Then the next morning, So surprisingly, my husband who didn't call me for the past 9 months,gave me a call to inform me that he was coming back.So Amazing!! So that was how he came back that same day,with lots of love and joy,and he apologized for his mistake,and for the pain he caused me and my children. Then from that day,our relationship was now stronger than how it were before,by the help of a spell caster. So, If you have any problem contact him, I give you 100% guarantee that he will help you, Thanks to Dr Frank Ojo for bringing back my husband ,and brought great joy to my family once again, SO HERE HIS EMAIL ADDRESS { Templeofloveandprosperity@gmail.com } , Thanks you Dr Frank Ojo, i Jessie will always be testifying about your good work.

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  20. I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more.

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  21. Thanks for magnificent info I was looking for this info for my mission.

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  22. Good blog post. I want to thank you for interesting and helpful information and I like your point of view. Thank you!

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  23. I wanted to thank you for this excellent read!! I definitely loved every little bit of it.

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