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I always knew I was different, I didn't know I was a sociopath

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Re: I always knew I was different, I didn't know I was a sociopath

#181
post #33

Super interesting. I can recognize this behavior with people playing multiplayer games. When there are no stakes, and everything is a game, people mess around – especially when they’re bored. If it’s just a game, who cares? People with extremely low “emotional reactivity” appear unlikely to share with others (why would they, most of us share stuff for empathy - and they may not see the point - or lose out socially).…

Astronauts in the last 50 years spending a lot of time together in a small group in an aluminium can, on the ISS for six month, sometimes for a year. Assuming the ideas of longer Moon and Mars mission will happen, that reality will be far more longer. Split-second decisions may be a thing, but mostly rare. For long term small groups who won’t drive each other insane, I'd rather select for agreeableness and conscienti…

Sounds right. It was just an example, and it probably should go off the list.

Re: I always knew I was different, I didn't know I was a sociopath

#182

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So what is your proposed solution? I'd rather have a sociopath that is upfront about being one to me than figuring that fact out by myself. Shunning those people from society seems like not an option to me, they are people after all. I think normalizing sociopathic behaviour is something to be worried about, but I personally don't see that happening anywhere so I am unsure what your point is.

Let's genetically profile for it, and if there's a link, screen for embryos that don't have it. This would require a bit more technological advancement of course. But imagine, a world without sociopaths! It would be the biggest generational improvement in the world in history.

Funny joke! I get it!

Re: I always knew I was different, I didn't know I was a sociopath

#183
post #33

Super interesting. I can recognize this behavior with people playing multiplayer games. When there are no stakes, and everything is a game, people mess around – especially when they’re bored. If it’s just a game, who cares? People with extremely low “emotional reactivity” appear unlikely to share with others (why would they, most of us share stuff for empathy - and they may not see the point - or lose out socially).…

[flagged]

Re: I always knew I was different, I didn't know I was a sociopath

#184

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The idea that consent is both necessary AND sufficient needs to be laid to rest. Consent may be necessary (there can be discussions when and where it is necessary and what that means, for example "consenting" to taxes, etc) but it is not sufficient in all cases.

Yeah its a bit of dangerous idea to act like its okay to do anything to people if they ostensibly "consent".

And there are, in fact, laws surrounding that concept. You cannot legally consent to slavery, for example, or even to work for less than minimum wage.

Re: I always knew I was different, I didn't know I was a sociopath

#185
post #67

> After years of study, intensive therapy and earning a Ph.D. in psychology, I can say that sociopaths aren’t “bad” or “evil” or “crazy.” We simply have ... Holy moral vacuum, Batman. That is not true, at all. First, psychology doesn't do ethics. It tries (not very well, I may add) to find causes for behavior, emotions, feelings, and social and cognitive processes. But it doesn't justify nor condemn those. Second, st…

What I get from that comment is sociopaths are not motivated by evil behaviors. And so the comment aims to differentiate sociopaths from those who are out to kill and destroy.

I'm not really sure what you're trying to say. First, behavior is not motivation. Second, if someone is evil is a moral judgement of behavior and intentions, not a clinical diagnosis. Third, there may be different "levels" of sociopathology, a spectrum if you will, but that doesn't excuse all of them.

Re: I always knew I was different, I didn't know I was a sociopath

#186

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah its a bit of dangerous idea to act like its okay to do anything to people if they ostensibly "consent".

Do anything? Doping has been a "problem" in cycling since the start of the sport. It's not like Lance Armstrong was the first or last person to cheat like that. He was just the best and I find it admirable.

Bro what are you on about. I'm talking about forcing people to do things not someone doping.

Re: I always knew I was different, I didn't know I was a sociopath

#188
I’ve seen this narcissist in the New York Times with a similar article promoting her shitty book. Yawn. Personally I blame the journos for promoting this loser. Not believing any of this until I can sit down with her mother, etc. and see more proof and verify these stories. Though if she lies about a significant part of her life story that may be another sign she’s a sociopath. Still lame.

Re: I always knew I was different, I didn't know I was a sociopath

#189

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Additionally, being asexual is 'wrong' in a life / procreation sense. It's a kind of dead-end personality trait. (I'm specifically not saying 'wrong' for existing in society or having value to offer the world and, actually, if environmental factors make a difference to this sort of thing, then asexuality could well be increasingly common as a response to the state of the world vis-a-vis climate change and resource us…

The issue is asexuality isn’t used as a precise word. Some definitions are self-limiting in that way but not all. I completely lack sexual attraction. That doesn’t mean I can’t have and enjoy sex for other reasons. Sexual attraction isn’t necessary to desire children. And lack of it is not a hinderance if you don’t mind the process. ;)

what is sexual attraction?

is it seeing someone and wanting to have sex with them? it never occurred to me that not wanting to have sex with everyone i find otherwise attractive is something unusual.

if anything i think many problems today come from people wanting to have sex with anyone they feel attracted to, or choosing a partner only because they are sexually attracted.

instead of choosing a partner because they love them and only wanting to have sex with them because of that love.

seems to me that being able to enjoy sex in the way you say is the better and healthier approach.

i think i feel similar to you and i always felt that this is normal and that sexual attraction is a concept sold by media and advertising. i never considered myself asexual because of it. i don't think sexual attraction mattered much in choosing a partner at least until a century ago or so.

Re: I always knew I was different, I didn't know I was a sociopath

#190

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You wouldn't force a girl to date you because you know it's not rational. You wouldn't force kids to play with you because it's not rational either. Simple as that. Just because somebody thinks it is actually rational doesn't make it so. The kid wasn't rational at all, if anything his behavior was completely irrational

Yeah we wouldn't, because we have empathy and understand other people. If you can't conceive that people can even like each other at all then all their behavior just looks like some complex status game to you. There's nothing irrational then, with your limited understanding, about coercing a behaviour that you want, any more than it would be irrational to force an exchange in chess because the Knight didn't "want to"…

There's some irony here of trying to force another HN user to understand that rationality depends on your base understanding of how the world works.
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