Tuesday, January 17, 2017

The Virtues of Cold Blood

Sam Harris interviews famous anti-empathy researcher and author of the book "Against Empathy" Paul Bloom in his podcast. They start with the basic premise of Bloom's book, that most people see the benefits of empathy as being too obvious to even warrant any sort of justification, although the perceived value of empathy is highly suspect, and get into several other related areas.


The first hour or so goes into the limitations of empathy and our understanding of empathy. Bloom says that he is very careful to refer to what is essentially affective empathy, that is feeling the way someone else feels. He is also careful to distinguish between this and a general theory of mind (or the ability to imagine the feelings of others and why they would feel that way) and other sort of warm and fuzzy concepts like compassion, selflessness, social adroitness, sensitivity to the needs of others, etc. It turns out that when you isolate empathy as a concept and a personal characteristic, it actually doesn't do much at all. In fact, Bloom mentions at the end of the podcast that there have been meta analyses of studies done in which there is no apparent correlation between someone's degree of empathy and how nice or good of a person they are. In fact, they specifically mention someone's capacity for empathy and research done regarding the validity of the PCL-R which indicates that empathy does not really predict any sort of behavior, either good or bad behavior. Instead, other traits like past behavior and low or high impulse control do.

What empathy does accomplish is to make people susceptible to certain cognitive biases that lead them astray in their moral reasoning. This is discussed in probably the most relevant (and best) part of the discussion in the last 27 minutes or so, where Bloom addresses the question that many have raised to him -- ok, maybe empathy isn't the panacea that some claim it to be, but there's nothing wrong with it, is there? He mentions a few ways in which it can be very harmful. For instance, he argues that empathy is the reason why people will get so riled up over certain atrocities to the point where they want to commit other atrocities, e.g. a costly and violent war. Empathy is also the thing that will make those same people argue against the war that they voted as they hear stories of the collateral damage the war is causing. So essentially, high empathy people are just easily pushed from one extreme to the other with carefully selected personal stories that are designed to tug at heartstrings.

Empathy can also be highly irrational. For instance, he argues that in certain countries like India, the child beggars are almost all associated with huge criminal enterprises that exploit and even sometimes intentionally maim the children for financial gain. When people give money to these children, they're facilitating these efforts. Bloom tells the story of relating this to someone on a radio show, to which the woman responded essentially "but I like giving to children -- it makes me feel good. I feel connected to them". His rejoinder -- it depends on what you want, if you want these children's lives to be better, then don't give to them.

The first and last parts of the podcast are good. In the middle, they go off on this really random tangent in which Bloom seems to be contradicting his own argument. Specifically, Bloom argues that he wouldn't want to feel an expansive universal love, the type to which many buddhist meditation practitioners (such as Sam Harris) seek to achieve. Bloom explains that although love may not have limits, everyone has limited time and resources to spend, and if Bloom loved everyone, maybe he wouldn't spend as much time and effort on his own family. The argument is so odd because he is essentially arguing that the feelings of preferential love are necessary for him to behave in this way that he has prioritized for himself, i.e. preferential treatment of his family over starving orphans in Africa. But this is almost exactly the argument that empathy proponents make about empathy -- that it is a useful or necessary emotional tool in getting to a desired outcome of good behavior. Bloom's position is that empathy is not necessary or even that helpful because rational behavioral constructs and choices are much more efficient at achieving the desired outcome of moral behavior. But if one can just think their way to moral behavior, how couldn't one think their way to giving preferential treatment to their family, despite loving the whole of humanity equally? Oddly he doesn't seem to see any contradiction there. Am I just imagining one? Another odd thing, he basically kills his own argument by arguing that rational thinking (e.g., in this situation, utilitarianism) could easily come up with his desired outcome of preferential treatment to his family because it is more efficient for him to feed his own children than orphans in Africa. Still, he doesn't budge on his position. Does anyone have any insight into this? It truly makes me think less of him and his arguments and academia in general, so if someone has a better explanation for what he is trying to say, I'd love to hear it.

168 comments:

  1. I like the idea of you suspecting academia. explore that more.

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    1. Once again... another attempt at deception- trying to humanize the sociopath. Remember- a snake is a snake and will ALWAYS be a snake!

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    2. It's fair enough to say that people rarely change.

      But I think we are all wild animals trying to survive. We each have fangs.

      The difference, in my experience and analysis, is the sociopath/psychopath is more acutely aware of social risk. They choose to handle themselves without assistance and they intuitively and immediately transfer risk to another party. Games are risk transfer or revenge.

      They are social animals too but as A once wrote, they are very, very careful about giving their hearts away.

      I can say, at the very least, that adopting this perspective has removed most of the stress of dealing with a psychopath on a regular basis. It helps me respond effectively, although not always in real time (I.e. Prediction is not yet intuitive to me.) Most important of all, though he sometimes frustrates me immensely, my energy is my own and I am peaceful. I can share good things with him and don't have unrealistic expectations. This strangest of creatures awoke the most tender part of my being and because of that I am able to nourish myself and grow.

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  2. So there really isn't a difference between the big bad sociopath and a person capable of experiencing the magical feeling of empathy.

    Both types of people are equally idiotic and delusional.

    Great article.

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    1. "magical feeling" - well, exactly. It's not magical, it's just projection of how we imagine we'd experience that situation. What else could it realistically be?

      It's much harder to have empathy with someone we consider foreign/other or don't understand. That actually takes some effort.

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    2. I agree with North on this, it is a lot easier to have empathy with people who are close or friends or even neighbors, than it is to empathize with an unknown/not familiar with.

      Especially in cultural cases! Look at how women are treated in the middle east, its not hard to empathize (Sympathize?) with how they are treated.But, to truly step into their culture and see what it is all about it may change your opinion completely. Its crazy over there! If they find out you have "dishonored" your family by having sex with a man before marriage in some of those places the whole village will get together and stone the woman to death or some other horrible fate these are known as "Honor Killings" and these people rarely if ever go to jail. Its commonplace in certain regions of certain countries.

      If we empathize with the woman but still have the "western" type of empathy, it would feel different if we lived there among their rules and regulations and we may feel completely differently about the situation and have no empathy for that same woman who violated the cultural and social norms.

      Personally, I couldnt stone an woman to death for "dishonoring her family" but if a society that you have lived in your whole life has been doing that and that is considered an "okay" and even the "just" thing to do I may feel very differently about it.

      Empathy is a strange thing

      :)

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  3. Hey, M.E.!!!

    I LOVE THIS POST!!!

    I wish I had more time to talk, but my car just got broken into, so I have to go deal with that.:(

    ~Vegas

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  4. "but I like giving to children -- it makes me feel good. I feel connected to them"

    Her empathy sounds like her acting selfish. Empathy can take many forms.

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    1. This is not empathy what makes this woman to act like this, yes this is selfishness.

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    2. Because this isn't empathy! This is selfishness.

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  5. I'm so glad I listened to this-well most of it until my phone messed up. This is very close to what has been rattling around in my head. Feeling compassion for others helps to take away the icky feeling we have picked up from others . This is not easy. It doesn't exactly come natural but it's beneficial.and why is it easier to feel for the one child than 100 random people. Maybe because we are the one child. Its something to do with being alone in the world.

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  6. From the second half of the last paragraph, the conclusion I'm getting is that empathy dosen't matter and can (should?) be ignored.

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    1. Having regard for another's experience is more important for building fruitful relationships.

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    2. I think it is more like: Empathy does matter, but its like a blowfish, you need to know how to cook it, otherwise the poison will kill you.

      But if you CAN cook it, its a delicacy.

      I never tried blowfish tho...

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    3. Damn, after reading this I want to neat a blowfish ( or any good seafood) I never have tried it either though would love to fry one of them up now! (Or research or it should be cooked and do it that way lol)

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    4. They cut out the parts of the blowfish that will kill you. They are supposed to be the parts that taste the best. The trick is to leave just enough in to get the flavor but not kill you.

      Maybe empathy is like that. You only want it up to a point.

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    5. Very true there Damaged, people who are more empathic and have an "overdeveloped" conscience, are linked to things like Anxiety disorders, OCD, just the opposite of the psychopaths calm/cool demeanor. Having an overdeveloped conscience can and does cause people to have all different kinds of neurotic disorders.

      I think part of my Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia is due to neurosis from an overdeveloped conscience mixed with my life experiences.

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  7. I also feel it's more of a process that involves understanding. Compassion is what eventually has the power to free you.

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  8. Re preferential behaviour

    M.E. you wrote somewhere about "empathy circles" - I can't remember the details but I very much liked the concept. Only I don't think it's empathy that drives preferential treatment. It's preference for our own gene pool.

    Resource allocation behaviour in preference of our own families makes much more sense in this light.

    I'm finding anthropology / primatology / human evolution to be more verdant with explanatory power than psychology or philosophy, which, in my opinion start from a base of our current understanding of the human condition. Since that base doesn't adequately account for psychopathy, it's essentially starting from flawed premises. Anthropology suffers less from this constraint because the premises are rather different I.e. That we are an evolved species like any other. Psychology is catching up, perhaps, but is still rather hampered by current cultural context.

    Re: Empathy and behaviour
    "they specifically mention someone's capacity for empathy and research done regarding the validity of the PCL-R which indicates that empathy does not really predict any sort of behavior, either good or bad behavior. Instead, other traits like past behavior and low or high impulse control do."

    This is worth exploring. M.E. what are your thoughts on it?

    Gavin de Becker in The Gift of Fear proposes an exercise in which you imagine the worst, most torturous act you can think of. He does this to flatten the question people have when confronted with atrocity. What we can imagine, we can do - given motive, opportunity, lack of recourse to non-violent options... etc, he has a bunch of factors.

    I have done a few things I wouldn't have dreamed of doing because my goal had always been "moral behaviour." That goal no longer makes any sense to me whatsoever. I didn't do these things with the goal of "being immoral" - I did them because I was desperate, threatened, afraid and seemingly lacked recourse to better options.

    An interesting question for everyone here: when you've done something considered "morally wrong", can you describe why you did it? Was there an opportunity to gain? Were you diminishing a threat? Did it give you a sense of mastery or power over your environment? More certainty, more agency? How did you feel when you had done it?

    From my experiences I see behaviour as intimately coupled to our perception of the environment; specifically linking our individual operating capabilities to the threats and opportunities we perceive.

    This is why I say we ought to have mercy on one another. Regardless of our capabilities, we all face the same sorts of challenges any social organism faces. We have different patterns for meeting them.

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  10. Psychology Today article on healing childhood trauma

    Relevant article which raises a few questions for me.

    It talks about how trauma (and emotion generally) is felt in the body and describes how connecting with bodily sensations gives insight into how we are feeling.

    Sociopaths / psychopaths: what sort of relationship do you have with your body? Do you notice this sort of synergy? Or are there discrepancies?

    I get the best clues about what's going on with **-* from his body and what he's physically doing.

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  11. Replies
    1. Rich the Uber Empath-

      Do you mind, if I call you "Rich"???

      "Welcome to Trump Nation everybody :)"

      My mom called me earlier, to share the same sentiment.:)

      ~Vegas

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    2. LOL your mom knows the deal Vegas! Sure you can call me Rich, Richie, Richard, Dick (lolol), or whatever, Iam not very particular about it, but thanks for asking, it was a kind thing to do :)

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  12. Iam watching Donald trump right now and he looks so happy next to his wife. He is getting the ultimate narcissists dream, to become president of the USA!!!!!!!! INSANE NPD Supply!!!!!

    I would be thinking " I cannot wait to get my hot fucking wife Melonia up into our new bed in the white house and bang the shit out of her!!!!!!

    Go Donald! Go for the Gold my President!

    :)

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    1. Rich-

      You crack me up!!!

      "I would be thinking " I cannot wait to get my hot fucking wife Melonia up into our new bed in the white house and bang the shit out of her!!!!!!"

      That's what I'd be thinking!!!

      The new bed, needs to be "broken-in".:)

      ~Vegas

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    2. LMAO! Thats what Iam saying Vegas! Id have crazy "First time fucking in the White House" type of sex! Lean Melonia all over place! She is the hottest presidential wife so far I think ;)

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    3. I would also want a nice, spit lubed up, blowjob right inside of the oval office! Clinton style except Trump is married and Melonia is fine as hell!

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    4. I'm visiting Circular Quay. Skywriters are writing "TRUMP" over the Sydney sky. The dude is jizzing all over the world right now.

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    5. LOL North you are hilarious!!!! That must have been quite a sight!!!! GO TRUMP!!!!!!

      :)

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    6. Melania is going to get sore from all the winning.

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  13. I think M.E. should run for President!!!

    :):):)

    ~Vegas

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  14. I love this quote:

    "Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point."

    -C.S. Lewis

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  15. Greetings folks. I hope ya'll are doing well.

    In the end it all boils down to if there is purpose in the world. In a purposeless world - Bloom's arguments would hold some weight. Blind empathy would be harmful - at least to you and those closest to you - because you would be driven by emotion and not reason.

    If, however, you assume a higher purpose to the whole human project and realize that individual behavior is being monitored by a higher authority, you should realize the benefits of empathy. Logically speaking, blind empathy - that is devoid of any rational thinking - would still be dangerous IF it is let loose unchecked. God, however, would know where / when best to utilize those with high levels of empathy and where / when not to. The same would apply to those most extreme psychopaths - God would able to channel them in a way that is least destructive to humanity as a whole (and even result in a net benefit!).



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    1. I've heard it said here before that some of the greatest heroes of the Bible were either psychopaths or displayed many psychopathic traits. I disagree with this but I don't think it's completely off the track. I think it's possible that God selected the individuals who inherited predispositions to extremely high levels of psychopathy AND high levels of empathy - and then taught them and channeled them in such a way that changed civilization for the better.

      If one parent is an off the chart empath and another a psychopath, the kid can get the "best of both worlds." This way they can - provided their own intentions are right - become the greatest leaders. I'm starting to think this is how it was. God knows best.

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    2. Moses didn't have a lot of empathy. His anger issues kept him out of the promised land.

      David wasn't exactly renowned for his empathy, either. He plotted in cold blood to have a man killed, merely so he could possess his wife, and presented King Saul with 100 Philistine foreskins, upon request.

      These were great leaders who doubtless possessed many psychopathic traits-- without a complete lack of remorse or humanity. They were strong, but not heartless.

      Your "prophet" wasn't empathetic at all. But unlike those two great leaders, Muhammed was intentionally and particularly cruel.

      Whereas David, as a young soldier, was compelled by his ambition to follow the terrible decree of a King possessed by an evil spirit, Muhammed directed an army of men to behead, dismember, and crucify his opponents.

      Whereas Moses killed an Egyptian for lording it over his fellow Israelites, Muhammed presided over the slaughter of many Jews, and conducted raids in which he would steal the property of his victims, and kill those who defended it.

      David and Moses fell short of God's standard of perfection, as revealed through Jesus Christ, but they were earnest. Muhammed, on the other hand, was just plain evil.

      Are you still Muslim, Jonaid, or are you starting to see what what a great deception you're under?

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    3. As it happens, the Quran vindicates the prophets from the false charges their later followers placed on them - which ultimately ended up in the Bible. These were the best people who ever lived and while they weren't perfect (only God is) they were far from capable of doing some of the things the bible accuses them of.

      In the name of God, The Compassionate, The Merciful:

      "And he (Moses) entered the city at a time of inattention by its people and found therein two men fighting: one from his faction and one from among his enemy. And the one from his faction called for help to him against the one from his enemy, so Moses struck him and [unintentionally] killed him. [Moses] said, "This is from the work of Satan. Indeed, he is a manifest, misleading enemy."

      He said, "My Lord, indeed I have wronged myself, so forgive me," and He forgave him. Indeed, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.

      He said, "My Lord, for the favor You bestowed upon me, I will never be an assistant to the criminals."

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    4. The reference for the above verses: 28:15-17

      The Bible accuses David of adultery and murder. The Quran seems to suggest that while he may have come close to doing something wrong (vis-a-vis Bethsheeba) that God saved him for erring.

      In the name of God, The Compassionate, The Merciful:

      "Be patient over what they say and remember Our servant, David, the possessor of strength; indeed, he was one who repeatedly turned back [to God].

      Indeed, We subjected the mountains [to praise] with him, exalting [God] in the [late] afternoon and [after] sunrise.

      And the birds were assembled, all with him repeating [praises].

      And We strengthened his kingdom and gave him wisdom and discernment in speech.

      And has there come to you the news of the adversaries, when they climbed over the wall of [his] prayer chamber -

      When they entered upon David and he was alarmed by them? They said, "Fear not. [We are] two adversaries, one of whom has wronged the other, so judge between us with truth and do not exceed [it] and guide us to the sound path.

      Indeed this, my brother, has ninety-nine ewes, and I have one ewe; so he said, 'Entrust her to me,' and he overpowered me in speech."

      [David] said, "He has certainly wronged you in demanding your ewe [in addition] to his ewes. And indeed, many associates oppress one another, except for those who believe and do righteous deeds - and few are they." And David became certain that We had tried him, and he asked forgiveness of his Lord and fell down bowing and turned in repentance [to God].

      So We forgave him that; and indeed, for him is nearness to Us and a good place of return.

      "O David, indeed We have made you a successor upon the earth, so judge between the people in truth and do not follow [your own] desire, as it will lead you astray from the way of God." Indeed, those who go astray from the way of God will have a severe punishment for having forgotten the Day of Account.

      And We did not create the heaven and the earth and that between them aimlessly. That is the assumption of those who disbelieve, so woe to those who disbelieve from the Fire."

      Quran 38:17-27

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    5. As regards Jesus: Islamic belief affirms that he lived a sinless life - perhaps the only human ever to do so. That, however, was by the permission of God and NOT because he was divine. Jesus was a unique creation obviously given that he was fatherless.

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    6. The Bible records the stories of these great heroes and does not seek to cover up their humanity or flaws. Jesus was not like them. He was sinless, and the Bible calls him divine.

      Unlike the Bible, the Qu'ran does not possess a rich treasury of manuscript evidence to substantiate its authenticity. There are more extant copies of the New Testament than any other document from antiquity, each attesting to the accuracy and care with which it was transcribed. The Dead Sea Scrolls have revealed beyond the shadow of a doubt that Old Testament Books were also copied very accurately. The Great Isaiah Scroll, which contains incredibly specific prophecies concerning Jesus written hundreds of years before his birth, is identical to the version of Isaiah found in today's Bible- and it has been carbon-dated to at least the second century B.C. Contrast this with the Qu'ran, which is filled with abrogations, contradictions and lies.

      Your so-called "prophet" condoned rape and pedophilia, as well as the brutal dismemberment of anyone who disagreed with him. These are the features of megalomaniacal tyrant, not a God-fearing man.

      I mean, the guy was so hapless, clueless and ineffective as a "prophet" that he couldn't even identify the poison in a meal served to him by a woman whose entire family he had just slaughtered. You'd have to be a gullible fool to trust a single word he said- let alone entrust him with your eternal destiny.

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    7. Thank you for sharing your opinions at 10:12 PM and 10:19 PM, Jonaid.

      While I may disagree with your viewpoint, and don't find it personally plausible, I appreciate that you put in the effort, and that you have expressed yourself civilly.

      Your thoughts are appreciated, even if I personally find them just a tad bit irrational.

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    8. You're welcome.

      If I were reading these posts of mine only 2 years ago I would found them to a lot more than just "tad bit irrational." I would have thought I was deluded out of my head. Yet here I am! God is brilliant!

      All the best.

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    9. No problem.

      It is nice to hear that you have found your own unique way in the world that works well for you.

      All the best.

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  16. Hey, M.E.!!!

    The "Song of the Day", is for you!!!

    From the movie soundtrack "A Lot Like Love"...

    Aqualung

    BrighterThanSunshine

    :):):)

    ~Vegas

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  17. Hi, i discovered i'm a sociopath like five days ago. I also discovered that a close friend of mine is a sociopath. Right now i'm in a journey of self exploration to know who i am behind the mask i show to everyone around me and your book and blog have been really halpful. I sincerely appreciate that. Thank you. (Also, i'm 13)

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    1. Not so fast young man!!!!! You cant be a sociopath at 13! To even get the diagnoses you have to be 18 and have evidence of a conduct disorder before the age of 15. You are still 13! Slow down, have fun, be a kid!

      When juvenile "Conduct Disorder" blossoms into adult "Antisocial Personality Disorder" (and it dosent always) it seems that the only "help" for them to minimize their destructive behaviors is to incarcerate them, not all sociopaths are criminals but why at 13 years of age do you think you are a sociopath?

      Your brain is not even fully developed until you are in your mid 20's.

      Also, do you think you were born this way or made this way?

      Do you engage in illegal/criminal activities?

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    2. I agree with Rich on this. 13 seems way to young to reach a definite conclusion and label yourself as a "sociopath".

      So, I would suggest you to do as Rich suggests, and have some fun, live your life, and don't think about it - it's just a label, it isn't really "you".

      When the time is right, and your brain finishes maturing, then you'll have your answer. Until then, though, I would suggest you to just, as they say, "be yourself".

      Don't worry about if you're a "sociopath", as I said, it's only a label. The answers will come to you in due time.

      Oh, and welcome to SociopathWorld! It's been nice meetin' ya!

      We hope you'll stick around and contribute your opinions and viewpoints (and perhaps, even do some battling)! :)

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    3. Very interesting comment Anon! I do hope ya stick around for more talk but mkae a name please lol we have way too many people named anonymous,it gets confusing, or pull a Vegas and just put your name at the end of the comment so we can know who you are.

      I really just dont want this kid to go through one of those "Self fullfilling prophesy's" where he thinks he is a sociopath but may not really be but will be trying to fit that label because it is a label you have given yourself. You might feel like you have to "live up to it" and destroy your whole life in the process.

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    4. You have a really kind way with words Richie! :)
      Sure thing man, picking a name sounds good! Wouldn't wanna contribute to the clutter lol!

      What do you think of the name? :D

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    5. Thank you very much for the kind compliment, Name!!!

      I think your name, Name, is great! Keeping it nice and simple while still being able identify you works for me! Thumbs up!

      :)

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    6. No problem, Richie! :D

      It's settled, then! My name is - Name! :)

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    7. Iam very happy with that and am anxious to talk more in the future, Name.

      :)

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    8. Well, I guess I value my own self-preservation more than winning this game.

      In the interest of my own self-preservation, I would ask anyone who reads this comment to disregard whichever comment I wrote under the handle "Anonymous" that defends sociopaths, and under the handle "Name". It is not actually real, it is a lie.

      If M.E. really wants to proceed with this course of action, she'll have to do it without me. It was nice while it lasted, though.

      I have gained quite a lot of skills, which was all that I really wanted.

      It was really fun playing while it lasted. But, I guess all good things must come to an end. :)

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    9. ^^^ What happened?!?!?!?!?!

      IAM SO CONFUSED!!!!!!

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    10. I have decided to forfeit, and not to live up to the label.

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    11. There's nothing wrong with that! You should feel happy and relieved and stay here to protect yourself against the true predators out there (and they are all over)!!!! I have no problem mingling with people that have serious personality disorders online, but I cannot have them in my close proximity, pour my personalty out and mix it up with a sociopathic personality and we are not very good company for one another, to say the very least.

      :)

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    12. :)

      I guess I'll just have to concede and agree with you - we are simply horrible company for each other. It's time to finally bring this to an end (and for real this time - pinky swear)!

      It has been fun, though. ;)

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    13. As I said i dont mind mingling on the internet and I like the perspectives of other people!I will midd you if you leave :(

      Please Stay :)

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    14. I meant I will be Mad and Sad if ya leave I like to hear all perspectives!!!!

      Share yours!!!!!

      :)

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    15. You have already made a "Name" for yourself!!!!!! Might as well hang out with the rest of us :)

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    16. The Mexicans are payin' for, like, their own jail or somethin'! Lol paying to be in jail!!! How hilarious is that!!!

      Trump FTW! LOL!!!

      :)

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    17. Okay. I guess I'll share my perspective. Sure, why not. Let's see what happens.

      I see everything as a chess game, or perhaps a war-game. Everything is a move - if something seems like a coincidence, or doesn't make sense, then it just means that it's a move you don't understand yet.

      The world is full of moves and counter-moves, and people are always playing, irrespective of their awareness of playing. Every move is a transfer of power, and sometimes losing power in the short-term means you gain it in the long-term.

      I always make moves that get me closer to my overall goal. Winning the war is better than winning battles. Unless, of course, the war is too costly - then I simply take what I can get and cut my losses.

      :)

      P. S.

      Screw the perspectives! ;)

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    18. P. P. S.

      Just kidding. ;)

      I also like to hear every perspective - every perspective is unique in its own way, and it's always nice to hear what somebody has to say.

      It's a really good way to pass the time, I guess. :)

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    19. Isint that very tiring for you though?

      I kinda just "go with the flow" and dont want or require "power" over or from anyone. Of course there are certain situations when having the upper-hand is helps to reach your goals.

      I just cant see wanting power over someone who I have never met. Some sociopaths seem to have very transactional type of personality and style of relating/socializing with any other person.

      Even in the beginning of a new friendship "power" (or what I would consider as power) just never enters into my mind at all.

      Even if I did have power over someone I wouldnt treat them like a dick because that has been done to me, by a person who used to have power over me and my medical treatment and it dosent feel good.

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    20. Nah, it's actually quite enjoyable - thinking of new and unique ways to win, and consequently improve, is what I live for.

      Without a goal, an enemy, and so on, it gets very tiring and exhausting (paradoxical, I know).

      Fighting is my way of relating to somebody, I guess. But, it doesn't mean I destroy them or anything like that - think of it as practice, where both me and the "enemy" improve. And besides, I always attempt to leave the "enemy" better off after it's done - no need to burn bridges or anything like that.

      My goal is not to have power over somebody or anything like that, I just like to try to win, that's all. Even so, it doesn't matter if I win or not; as they say, "the chase is better than the catch". :)

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    21. Well, there's definitely some interesting days ahead of us!

      I imagine there should be quite a lot of protests and all that. I wonder how high the wall will be, and if the immigrants will find a way around it? I guess, there might even be some terrorists trying to blow up the wall.

      2017 started out exciting, that's for sure! :)

      Delete
    22. Well, everybody likes winning! Especially Charlie Sheen!!!!! LOL! He is winning over here, he is winning over there, he is Bi-winning!!!!! lol that inverview was great when he said "I was banging 7 gram rocks in one hit (of rock cocaine) because thats just how I roll!!!!" LMAO total Mania and Cocaine induced psychosis!

      Losing is never fun but it will happen here and there, especially if you view everything in life as a contest you would like to win.

      Leaving one better off than when you found them is a very good and admirable trait! Who dosent like their life to be enriched after meeting someone?

      You love the game, winning is just a bonus!

      ;)

      Delete
    23. Lololo hookas and blow!! Watch out, Sheeny's rockin' out!! :)

      Yup, everybody loses once in a while (god knows how many times I lost), but, ironically, that's the fastest way to win!!

      EnRiched, lol! :)

      Oh, and while we're on the subject...
      Prepare yourself for a...
      Theme song!!!

      ;)

      Delete
    24. LOL @ EnRiched! I like that!!!!

      Wow you do Theme Songs for people?

      This one guy/girl used to put up a song for didderent members daily back when I posted here in the beginning.

      Are you that same person?

      :)

      Delete
    25. Hellyeah!! I like that ya like that!!

      Who me? Am I that same person??? Nonono Im not that same person, becuz I gotta Name you know!! You know its different person cause its a different Name!!!

      :)

      Delete
    26. Well Interesting! Two people who like giving theme songs! What are the odds?!?!?!? LOL

      I enjoy them though! I used to get some funny songs!!!!

      Delete
    27. Lolyeah who woulda guessed two people lol!

      Songs are always awesome!!! :)

      Delete
  18. On emotional development in children (empathy as a secondary emotional development)

    Also, this:

    "Rachel Wilson: There is lots of evidence now that in fact the emotional system is a highly influential system in the first six years of life. So this old part of the brain, the limbic system, which is right in the interior of the brain, is very, very influential in how we develop the cortex or the thinking parts of our brain. And emotional systems do a lot in terms of regulating development in the cortex of the brain. So I think we've reached the point where we actually need to conceive of emotional development as being at the heart and driving a lot of the other developmental domains.

    Lynne Malcolm: Dr Rachel Wilson from the University of Sydney, and co-author with her father, Robert Lewis Wilson, of the book Understanding Emotional Development.

    Rachel Wilson: We basically have two types of emotions. We have what we call primary emotions, which are the instinctual and innate ones; fear, satisfaction, anger and some others. And then we have a series of emotions which develop throughout the first few years of life, and these are called the secondary emotions or the social emotions, and they include things like empathy, guilt, shame. Love is one of the first secondary emotions that develops."

    http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/allinthemind/children-and-their-emotions/6616428#transcript

    Striking, isn't it. Sociopaths seem to have the primary but less of the secondary emotions. And, probably far fewer learned fears.

    What do you guys think?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rachel Wilson: We basically have two types of emotions. We have what we call primary emotions, which are the instinctual and innate ones; fear, satisfaction, anger and some others. And then we have a series of emotions which develop throughout the first few years of life, and these are called the secondary emotions or the social emotions, and they include things like empathy, guilt, shame. Love is one of the first secondary emotions that develops."

      Hm. Yeah. Interesting.

      I can love- although this does not always effectively modulate my behaviour. But I don't experience empathy, guilt, or shame the way most people do. These are only very fleeting, if I experience them at all.

      Delete
    2. Of the primal emotions, fear is a weird one for me. I don't think I experience it like most people. I have actually associated some forms of it with pleasure.

      Delete
    3. Thanks A.

      Fear and pleasure - is that maybe a way of mastering it?

      I think even I do things like that; maybe not as you would but after my own fashion. I think I did it yesterday, lol.

      A, is love connected to your body, to your senses? Do smells, for example, bring to mind vivid memories and emotions?

      **-* is a very sensuous person; in fact, I think that's how he reached that tender part of me that was otherwise locked away.

      Delete
    4. "A, is love connected to your body, to your senses? Do smells, for example, bring to mind vivid memories and emotions?"

      I can't say that for sure, but it would be pretty crazy if not. Our olfactory pathway is directly linked to our hippocampus. Thats why we can easily link smells to certain memories and otherwise remember them very fast if we are scenting them again.

      Delete
    5. Is love connected to my body?

      I'm not sure. Lust is, but I don't know about love. I experience the two separately and distinctly.

      Sometimes I feel a surge of warmth towards immediate family members, or affection for individuals whose company I value. The emotion itself is short-lived, however. I just know that I care. But to be honest, that is more of a cognitive knowledge than it is an emotional experience. Frankly, the only people whose absence I would truly miss are family members. My husband and kids are a part of me. Losing them would hurt a lot. But I could walk away from anyone else without it being especially traumatic.

      Smells don't really bring to mind emotions. They may cause me to remember things, but only in a visceral way, the way smelling a good meal might give rise to anticipation, for instance, or how the smell of my lake might cause me to want to strap on a waterski.

      I don't experience emotions related to memories. I only recently discovered that most people, in fact, possess something I have since learned is called "emotional recall". I can talk about even the most "traumatic" experience, and not feel anything at all when discussing it in great and minute detail. I understand that this does not hold true for the majority. But I find it weird and foreign that people actually relive emotions in relation to their memories.

      As for fear being associated with pleasure: it's all about the rush. I'm a huge adrenaline junkie. That you can probably relate to.

      Delete
    6. That was a really interesting perspective, A! Definitely, an enjoyable read! :)

      Thank you for the share! :)

      Delete
    7. Hey, thanks eingew and A.

      Simon Sinek linked to a video about the relationships between the sense of smell, emotion and memory. Emotion is also strongly linked to memory.

      **-* is very interested in scents and taste. And I'm curious about the differences in memory that people with flatter affect might experience.

      eingew - did you have any further thoughts?

      "But I find it weird and foreign that people actually relive emotions in relation to their memories."
      Indeed. And for me, I have reached a place where I am not so much searching for answers as allowing completely repressed emotions to surface. I have no memories, only lost childhood grief that bubbles up occasionally.

      The strangest thing is that this part of me came to life with **-*. Even now, he is the only person that part of me trusts and can rest with. It's something pre-verbal, something recognised in him from the mammalian part of my brain.

      I think this is what has driven my thirst to understand and to reconnect with him. That part of me wants to come to life. Now I recognise this, I can nourish that part of me: but having repressed it for so long, well, it's slow going.

      A, and others, did you ever get strangely emotional after exercising to exhaustion? This has always happened to me. I'd cry after a major tournament or a seriously intense training session. No understanding of why. But now I know, I recognise it as the same part of me that **-* inadvertently awoke. My body gets to a point it cannot physically repress the emotion any longer.

      I hope to find other ways for that part of me to grow.

      "As for fear being associated with pleasure: it's all about the rush. I'm a huge adrenaline junkie. That you can probably relate to. "
      That I do relate to. And pain, to an extent. I mean the pain of crashing or from playing rugby. There's some sort of physical connection I can make to myself that hasn't really been available emotionally.

      I think that's why mountain biking has been so amazing for me. It's new, something I found and chose (rather than something I did from a young age to please my father.) It's so physical and full of risk. Something I'm good at. There's a pleasure of mastery over risk and pain.

      Maybe you experience the pleasure differently.

      But to be honest, that is more of a cognitive knowledge than it is an emotional experience. Frankly, the only people whose absence I would truly miss are family members.

      You write this in a way I can comprehend, I think.

      Delete
  19. Hey, M.E.!!!

    Have I told you lately, how much I LOVE YOUR "CRYSTAL MIND"???

    I DO!!!

    :):):)

    ~Vegas

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hey, M.E.!!!

    Whenever I see "The Dr. Phil Show", I think of you!!!

    :):):)

    ~Vegas

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL I love Dr.Phil!!!!! I watch him on the daily!!!!!!

      :)

      Delete
    2. Today he is interviewing the "Girl in the box" as a 5-10 year follow-up.

      Delete
  21. It looks lIke empaths and sociopaths are prone to the same weakness. Cognitive Bias! I don't know a single one that doesn't display a horrible propensity, sociopaths especially, to fight the most for the things that only benefit them! I get your gist, M.E., but please stop acting like you don't hear what you want to hear and think what you want and act accordingly. In fact, as a personality disordered person, you are way more prone to creating your own make-believe. And unlike empaths, there is not a single fucking person, fact, or reality that is different than you prefer that will shake your opinion.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We all have weaknessess, both sociopaths and empaths. After all, nobody's perfect, we're all just human.

      Every one of us has a place in the world, and every one of us contributes to the world in some way, and even the most selfish person gives back in the most strange and unexpected ways - you'd be surprised!

      I could go on and on, but I can see that you are completely and fanatically dedicated to your opinion.

      There is nothing I could say, nor is there a single person, a fact, or a reality, that is different than you prefer that will shake your opinion.

      Therefore, I will leave you to think whatever you want, as it is your choice and your right to think whatever you want, and to have an opinion.

      I wish you all the best.

      :)

      Delete
  22. Indeed, Bloom seems irrational to me. I don't think he's very detached about his own feelings - he just seems to accept that they mean what they seem to mean to him.

    It is disappointing that he's not that objective about things, but I'm glad he's doing what he's doing, because other people generally act more or less like irrational cat ladies.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for your concise and objective opinion. :)

      I can see the effort, and it is appreciated. :)

      Delete
  23. Hey, M.E.!!!

    What are your thoughts, regarding Trump's Executive Orders regarding the US-Mexico border, and illegal immigration???

    ~Vegas

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Methinks M.E. thinks that a certain agenda has...

      Trumped!! :)

      Delete
    2. Trump is THE MAN! If it is possible to do, The Donald can and will get it done! But maybe I think that just because I like Trump! (Shrugs)

      Delete
    3. Oh hell yeah!!!

      I also think that if anyone can build that wall, it's Trump! Trump is DA MAN! GO TRUMP!!! He will BUILD THAT WALL, and it's gonna be the GREATEST WALL IN THE HISTORY OF WALLS!!! :)

      Delete
    4. LOL and he is gonna get Mexico to reimburse him too! lol


      You go President Trump!!!!!!

      :)

      Delete
    5. Ha! The Mexicans are, like, payin' for their own jail or somethin'! Paying to be in jail... Now how hilarious is that!!!

      Trump FTW!!! LOL!!!

      :)

      Delete
    6. I wonder when the building of the wall will start? I wanna see the finished product! That should be quite a sight!

      Delete
    7. Oops, wrong place! Ahem...

      Well, there's definitely some interesting days ahead of us!

      I imagine there should be quite a lot of protests and all that. I wonder how high the wall will be, and if the immigrants will find a way around it? I guess, there might even be some terrorists trying to blow up the wall.

      2017 started out exciting, that's for sure! :)

      Delete
    8. Yes, and it only seems to be getting better! I love to watch those fools protest Trump! HE IS IN OFFICE AS PRESIDENT OF THE USA!!!!!! Nothing is going to stop him!

      You think The Donald gives a crap about a few protesters? LMAO You protesters got another thing coming if you think anything you do will make Trump change, in fact by his very personality it will be even harder to accomplish what you want because he will never forget that you are slighting him and looking pointless in the process!!!!!

      You will get NOTHING from Trump! Except maybe a charleyhorse from all that needless and ridiculous protesting that makes no difference? LOL! Hope they hurt in the morning!

      I saw that loser movie star that thinks he is gonna protest Trump for 4 years on live camera, they kept repeating the same thing over and over! It was SUPER CREEPY and could turn cult and any second!!!! LMAO!

      (Drops mic)

      (Smiles)

      :)

      Delete
    9. Lol yeah! Screw the protesters, they gon' get trumped like... Protesters that get trumped!!!

      Nothing? Nothing??? They'll get... Deported lol!!

      Lolol what a loser!! NPD protesting an NPD!! HILARIOUS!!! MUTUAL SLIGHTING!!!

      :)

      Delete
    10. Exactly!!!!!! He is SO SO NARCISSISTIC and thinks he is very "profound" and that he is going to start a movement!

      I think his movement should consist of us building the wall and right when its finished. we can launch them over like stunt men and see how much they enjoy living in Mexico!!!!!

      Hope ya dont like air conditioning!!!!!! But will be wanting to come back to the USA like a little HO because you cannot handle Mexican living!

      Nobody is gonna want these losers in places that are popular like Cancun because it will impede on their businesses. They are there to get drunk, they dont give a fuck about your new cult buddy!

      Delete
    11. Right on!!! What a profoundly bitchy bag of air!!! Ive seen cows that fart less than this guy!

      They can protest as much as they want... On the other side of the wall!!!

      They'll find out that Mexico is a really shitty place to live... 'Cuz of all shitting 'cuz of all the spicy food...

      Then they'll wanna come back and then they gonna get close to the wall 'till they have their balls to the wall and then they gonna find out they can't come back 'cause they've been... Trumped!!! :)

      Delete
    12. HELL YES!!!!!! I love that attitude!!!!

      Iam an Empath but FUCK THEM!!!!!!!!

      Remember how many losers were saying if Trump won that they would move out of the USA?!?!?!!? WELL DONT LET THE IMMIGRATION DOOR HIT YOU IN THE ASS!!!!!!!

      Also, As far as I know NONE OF THEM lived up to what they said they would do! Especially those 2 clowns Samuel L Jackson and Amy Schmuer!!!!!

      They never thought Trump had a chance so they did their public GRANDSTANDING and when he won they cower like little BITCHES even though they can afford to move wherever they would like they continue to live in the USA.

      EMPTY ASS THREATS!!!!!! If you want empty threats date a fucking borderline but leave my president alone!!!!!


      Trump is the MAN and they all suck!

      I agree that they should be put on the other side of the wall when it is built and they will be crying to come home besides the celebrities who can afoord to live there but hardly any of their supporters will follow! Guaranteed!

      Delete
    13. Oh hell yeah!!!

      Whata bunch of pussies! They consider themselves as fair movement or sumthin' but they didn't move!!! At all!! They stayed!!!!!!! It was all empty threats and they didn't deliver - they've been walled in!! Ha!

      Losers!! All of them!!!! They complain and complain and complain its like a broken gramophone!!!

      You dont like it?? Well why didnt ya run for president then?? Its so much complaining it's bordering on HILLARYous!

      FUCK THEM!! FUCK ALL OF THEM!!! Leave Trump alone already!!!


      Yup, that would be quite a sight to see! I wonder how long it would take them to start crying to come home, though...
      I'm guessin'... About four days or so.

      Delete
    14. LMAO Name!!!! Iam loving this!!!!!!

      Exactly, they are all tough and thinking Hillary would won so they talked all this smack and bullshit against Trump and when he won it backfired and shit the right in the face!

      They would NEVER last in Mexico! LMAO they would suck duck to come back to the USA if they has to (Laughing mad hard at them)

      They are pathetic and have no bearing on anything except for annoying the great Donald Trump!

      Delete
    15. Damn iam drunk but i almost got most of my words right you can make out the wrong ones iam sure!


      LMAO!!!!

      :)

      Delete
    16. Hey Name-

      "Whata bunch of pussies!"

      You meant to say "pansies", right???

      'Cuz PUSSIES ARE POWERFUL!!!

      :):):)

      ~Vegas

      Delete
    17. Youre damn right it backfired!!!

      Where's your Hillary now, ya bunch of complaining complainers?? Oh yeah, thats right, she lost!!! Boom, bitchezz!! Y'all got served like sushi at a japanese restaurant!!

      All hail his greatness™, da Trump!!! He got 'em all right by the pussy lol!!

      But Vegas, they are not real pussies!!! They are fake pussies!! Only real pussies are powerful, because they are real pussies and not fake pussies! Its like real power and fake power, or something like that. :)

      Delete
    18. Hey Vegas -

      P. S.

      Hi.

      :):)))

      Delete
    19. Hey Name-

      "But Vegas, they are not real pussies!!! They are fake pussies!! Only real pussies are powerful, because they are real pussies and not fake pussies! Its like real power and fake power, or something like that. :)"

      I agree.:)

      Fake Pussies=Pansies

      :):):)

      P.S.

      Hi.

      :):)))

      ~Vegas

      Delete
    20. Hen Vegas -

      Hellz yea!! Fuck those fakes!! They are acting like total pussies!!! :)

      Delete
    21. morons eh

      Delete
    22. Haillo bittah!!! Always niec to meet new people! :)

      Lol morons because trzmp or wat??? Trump is da man biaatch!!! Go trump!!! :)

      Delete
    23. morons because trzmp and wat

      Delete
    24. trzmp because morons

      Delete
    25. Oh hell yeah!! Trzmp ftw!!! :)

      Delete
    26. so it goes

      Delete
    27. with morons

      Delete
    28. and trzmps

      Delete
    29. bitter and cranky-

      Are you "bitter and cranky", since M.E. hasn't done any "funny tweets", for awhile???

      ~Vegas

      Delete
    30. bitter and cranky-

      PS-If so, I understand.

      Life isn't the same, without M.E.'s "funny tweets".:(

      ~Vegas

      Delete
    31. Hey Richie Rich-

      "Yes" to my previous question, to life isn't the same without M.E.'s funny tweets, or both???

      :):):)

      ~Vegas

      Delete
    32. Hey Vegas -

      PS -

      I'm not Rich. I just wanted to answer your question.

      Delete
    33. Whoa that was weird! I do not remember posting that! It coulda been the pills and alcohol last night or someone got to my account!

      Very odd!

      About me, I miss her blogging more, she used to be on here every day with a new one like she said "It is like her daily porridge", well I enjoyed that porridge too!!!!!!

      Delete
    34. Hey Name-

      I know-thank you, for answering my question...

      :):):)

      ~Vegas

      Delete
    35. LOL instead of about me I meant about M.E. ^^^

      Delete
    36. Lolyeah, shits crazy man!!! Weird posts lately!!!!

      Its like blogs gone crazy yo!! Ghost posts!!! Or somethin liek that...

      Delete
    37. Lolno problem vegas jus making sure yeah :)

      Delete
    38. Yes I think it was a Ghost post! Good term for that!

      :)

      Delete
    39. Yea catchy term glad you liek it

      :)

      Delete
  24. When I was at the grocery store, I saw some fortune cookies!!!

    :):):)

    ~Vegas

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. On my way home from the store, I saw this quote on a sign, for a chiropractic business:

      "You Need To Be Odd To Be #1"

      :):):)

      ~Vegas

      Delete
    2. Hey, M.E.!!!

      I heard Coldplay's "Adventure of a Lifetime" again today!!!

      "Turn Your Magic On"...

      :):):)

      ~Vegas

      Delete
    3. I heard this song, after "Adventure of a Lifetime"...

      Signs...

      :):):)

      Vance Joy

      Riptide

      ~Vegas

      Delete
    4. PS-

      I love the lyrics!!!

      :):):)

      ~Vegas

      Delete
  25. I just read the following excerpt that someone wrote about a psychopath who changed his life around- a person who was jailed at the age of 18 for attempted murder.

    You should read this, Jihadi.

    ""'s moral sense was damaged but not beyond repair. The grace of God and the use of his other faculties (like that of reason) enabled him to understand that he did indeed have moral obligations after all.

    So perhaps the feelings that psychopaths lack are not necessary in order to recognize the reality and authority of morality.

    A psychopath is a person who doesn’t feel appropriately about his actions, but reason still leads to moral law. So psychopaths are not incapable of recognizing the moral law, they just lack the right emotional responses to it. Thus they are disadvantaged, but not in a way that precludes knowledge of the moral law.

    It may be operating on a mistake to assume that to be morally responsible, one has to have the right moral feelings. Perhaps having moral feelings is not a necessary condition for being morally accountable and that having these feelings is just a gift from God to aid in the moral life.

    We may be treating conscience in an overly narrow sense if we think of conscience as morally appropriate feelings that guide us to right action. Why not include among the faculties of conscience the deliverances of reason? In which case, if our feelings fail us, we are not without a conscience, but just without some of the faculties a healthy conscience would have.

    "" realizes now that true freedom is deliverance from his earlier desire to turn against his Creator. Echoing C. S. Lewis, he says he now believes in Christianity as he believes in the Sun—because by it he can see everything else. "" perhaps didn’t have the advantage of most: a well-functioning conscience and active capacity for empathy, which God can indeed and often does use to draw people to himself.

    .... despite his deficiency "" was still able to apprehend the truth, recognize the possibility he was wrong, throw himself on God’s mercy, and emerge from the darkness into the light.

    And for a person who underwent such radical transformation, these words from Ezekiel 36:26 seem poignantly apt: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hey, A!!!

    Do you want to get baptized with me in the Sea of Galilee, someday???

    :):):)

    ~Vegas

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No.

      :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

      Delete
    2. Hey, A-

      Ok, I won't ask you anymore...

      ~Vegas

      Delete
    3. Lol Vegas I think A was just trying to be funny, that's all!!

      Thus the hundreds of smileys!!!!

      :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

      Delete
    4. My tone was wry, but I meant what I said.

      Why do you think that is, Vegas?

      Delete
    5. Hi A,

      I enjoyed your post and agree with the line of thinking, although I am an atheist.

      "A psychopath is a person who doesn’t feel appropriately about his actions, but reason still leads to moral law. So psychopaths are not incapable of recognizing the moral law, they just lack the right emotional responses to it. Thus they are disadvantaged, but not in a way that precludes knowledge of the moral law.

      It may be operating on a mistake to assume that to be morally responsible, one has to have the right moral feelings. Perhaps having moral feelings is not a necessary condition for being morally accountable and that having these feelings is just a gift from God to aid in the moral life.


      I won't bomb your thread with my own hypotheses but I do want to say that several psychopaths - here, elsewhere, IRL - invested time in a way that helped me understand my experience. It's deeply appreciated.

      And **-* has a tenderness and understanding of values that I completely lack. You may think it ridiculous. He's tender with his son. Says "he is a child, he didn't ask for this." Sometimes, when I struggle with my own sons I remember that and it gives me courage to persist with them, to not give up on them in their pain.

      Incidentally, have you read C.S. Lewis' The Abolition of Man? It's an excellent exposition of Natural Law that had me convinced for most of my adult life. I wrote an essay on it at university. I still find his arguments strong, although he starts from a premise I could never accept: that our hunger for purpose implies the existence of purpose (something to satisfy the hunger, just as physical hunger can be satisfied with food.)

      Delete
  27. It is the Chinese New Year, and 2017 is the "Year of the Rooster".

    This song came to mind:

    Alice In Chains

    Rooster

    ~Vegas

    ReplyDelete
  28. I jus found perfect theme song for A!! Hope yall enjoy! :)

    ReplyDelete
  29. thanks for giving that post and the more skills to develop after refer that post.our giving articles really impressed for me,because of all information so nice.


    Best Dental Clinic in Tambaram

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. whaaaa? wadafack is this shit i mean tambaram what a stupid name its like a retarded chinese instrument or sometin!
      lets play the tambaram woohoo!!!

      Delete
  30. I love the movie "Top Gun", and think M.E. would make an AWESOME FIGHTER PILOT, like "Iceman" in the movie!!!

    M.E. can be "Iceman", and I'll be "Maverick".:)

    SongoftheDay

    ~Vegas

    ReplyDelete
  31. I think for some, some ppl may like me, may experience emapthy as: pain, sadness, why would i want to feel as sad as you or as sad as the person that brought the empathy to you; the others the empaths, some suffer from it, i think most do
    but you asked what are the benefits; i think there are ppl who enjoy pretending to the person their empathizing for. i think ppl enjoy helping others/whereas I'm against it unless it is asked for. and even then sometimes but whatever the reason, some ppl may experience joy from practicing empathy, and if they do, more power to them.

    ReplyDelete
  32. I've been noticing, that I'm officially "Anonymous".:)

    ReplyDelete
  33. But rational is the logicsization of empathetic perceptions... When hot heart and cold facts become allies. ¬_¬

    ReplyDelete

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