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Center of the universe

orangecoast.com

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Re: Center of the universe

#71

Post by Udo »

paxcoder wrote: post #67
Udo wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, the story is about an encounter with a serial killer, so of course there is too much of the killer in it. The comment you responded to is just trolling around, and getting downvoted for it. I still don't see what you mean, sorry.

The story is written as if it were fan fiction of the fan of the killer. Then there is a comment on it saying how "perfectly wonderful" and "absolutely magnificent" the story is. And then there's this guy, who isn't trolling(from a deleted comment I found out he didn't read the entire story), and inquires about the writer's same-sex relations after the encounter. As a bonus, there's also an article elsewhere "Why has…

I know he didn't read the article. I guess technically what cam4er is doing would be called shitposting, but I tend to consolidate these related behaviors under the trolling category. Fact of the matter is, and I think we agree on that, his posts are low enough quality to get him banned.

I found the article itself very interesting, actually. Morbid of course, it's a serial killer story. I didn't get the impression that the killer was idolized though, it was more a description of how far almost-superhuman charisma can go and what it must feel like to be on the receiving end of it.

Re: Center of the universe

#73

Post by kevindication »

tempestn wrote: post #70
JabavuAdams wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Reading about Jeffrey Dahmer left me similarly shaken. One of his victims -- Konerak Sinthasomphone -- managed to escape out onto the street and contact some women who called the police. When the police officers (John Balcerzak and Joseph Gabrish) arrived, Dahmer managed to convince the them that it was a gay lovers' quarrel and the officers let Dahmer take Sinthasomphone home again. Can you imagine the horror of esc…

Holy shit. This victim, who 31 year old Dahmer claimed was his lover, was also 14 years old at the time, and the police returned him (naked and bleeding) despite his protests. (Sinthasomphone was disoriented at the time, having been drugged, but apparently still did protest.) At least the officer was fired: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Balcerzak

He was reinstated apparently upon appeal.

Re: Center of the universe

#74

Post by etjossem »

paxcoder wrote: post #43
cam4er wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So did you ever get to enjoy sex with a guy after that? Seems with the popularity of sites like chatroulette and cam4 more and more guys are either secretly or openingly experimenting with their curious sides. *Why is this getting downvoted are hacker newers homophobic? The author notes how much the encounter excited him and how he thought about how it excited him throughout the years. I don't see this being an unrea…

This gay story, as well as one (especially) of the comments on the actual article, and your comment; something's very wrong with all three. I was about to ask if I'm the only one who sees that, but if you were downvoted, I guess I'm not. I'm glad because seriously: WTH. EDIT: Actually, the reason for the downvotes is probably the fact that it has nothing to do with hacking.

Please give some thought to whether you might be intolerant before blaming your reaction on others. The specific things that "turn your stomach" here are a) men enjoying the admiration of other men, b) some commenters saying (a) was beautifully written, and c) further discussion of sexuality in the HN comments. You can't articulate why those three things bother you, but I am going to guess it's because you're not comfortable with the homosexual themes in "this gay story."

Re: Center of the universe

#75

Post by tempestn »

kevindication wrote: post #73
tempestn wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Holy shit. This victim, who 31 year old Dahmer claimed was his lover, was also 14 years old at the time, and the police returned him (naked and bleeding) despite his protests. (Sinthasomphone was disoriented at the time, having been drugged, but apparently still did protest.) At least the officer was fired: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Balcerzak

He was reinstated apparently upon appeal.

Wow. Missed that part.

Re: Center of the universe

#76

Post by tempestn »

etjossem wrote: post #74
paxcoder wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This gay story, as well as one (especially) of the comments on the actual article, and your comment; something's very wrong with all three. I was about to ask if I'm the only one who sees that, but if you were downvoted, I guess I'm not. I'm glad because seriously: WTH. EDIT: Actually, the reason for the downvotes is probably the fact that it has nothing to do with hacking.

Please give some thought to whether you might be intolerant before blaming your reaction on others. The specific things that "turn your stomach" here are a) men enjoying the admiration of other men, b) some commenters saying (a) was beautifully written, and c) further discussion of sexuality in the HN comments. You can't articulate why those three things bother you, but I am going to guess it's because you're not com…

It's unfortunate that there are essentially two very interesting but almost contradictory elements to this story. One is the incredible charisma and persuasive abilities of this sociopath from the point of view of someone subjected to them. The other is the shift in perspective the writer experienced at the time of the incident, not knowing that the person was a serial killer. He realized that it is possible to have strong feelings for someone of the same sex, to enjoy being admired by them, etc., even while not being interested in a homosexual relationship. It was probably a positive influence on his life. While it makes for an extremely compelling story, it's almost a shame the two are combined, because the original experience and its effect on the writer was in a way completely independent from the fact that the guy turned out to be a killer.

Re: Center of the universe

#77

Post by enneff »

paxcoder wrote: post #67
Udo wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, the story is about an encounter with a serial killer, so of course there is too much of the killer in it. The comment you responded to is just trolling around, and getting downvoted for it. I still don't see what you mean, sorry.

The story is written as if it were fan fiction of the fan of the killer. Then there is a comment on it saying how "perfectly wonderful" and "absolutely magnificent" the story is. And then there's this guy, who isn't trolling(from a deleted comment I found out he didn't read the entire story), and inquires about the writer's same-sex relations after the encounter. As a bonus, there's also an article elsewhere "Why has…

I read the "perfectly wonderful" comment and took it as a compliment on the author's writing ability. IMO he did a great job conveying an unusual social and emotional situation.

Re: Center of the universe

#78

Post by teddyh »

mistercow wrote: post #16

Oh oh! I remember this technique from Cialdini's Influence . During the Korean war, the Chinese used the same technique on American POWs: For instance, prisoners were frequently asked to make statements so mildly anti-American or pro-Communist as to seem inconsequential (“The United States is not perfect.” “In a Communist country, unemployment is not a problem.”). But once these minor requests were complied with, the…

“It only needs one small thing; if he will answer one simple question, the rest will follow. Why did he resign?”

— № 2, The Prisoner, The Chimes of Big Ben

Re: Center of the universe

#79

Post by visakanv »

JunkDNA wrote: post #46
westicle wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some people seem to have an almost super-human level of charisma/ability to influence others (there is probably a D&D reference to be made here). Certainly the trope is common in fiction. See: The Mentalist (both the protagonist and antagonist share this ability) and several Agatha Christie novels with similar storylines. This guy sounds like a real-life Red John; able to subtly re-wire people's thinking so that they…

I complety fell for one of those Israeli cosmetics things in the mall in my early 20's. My dad was in sales so I am accustomed to all the techniques of persuasion. But for some reason that day I bought $20 or so worth of skin care products I had no intention of using. When I got to my car, I was like, "what on EARTH just happened?!" I have never allowed myself to be so manipulated before or since. Creepy to think of…

OH yeah, happened to me too! The only reason I didn't buy was that I was completely, genuinely broke. Heh. She was so pretty and so thoughtful and persuasive and blah blah blah.

Re: Center of the universe

#80

Post by peteforde »

Creepy and fascinating story. Thanks for sharing.

I do have two questions, though:

1. Polaroid wasn't making a black and white integral film in 1980, and FujiFilm didn't make instant film until 1981. Kodak's instant film was color. So how did Kraft produce an instant B+W image?

2. Did you really drink 2-3 beers and then get on a motorbike?

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