It's hard for me to tell exactly what's wrong with someone. I doubt I can tell whether someone's a narcissist or a sociopath, but I could probably narrow it down to that choice. Usually I just narrow it down to asshole and have as little to do with them as possible :)
@thethegreenmachine A big red flag for sociopathy is contradiction...the routinely claim to feel one way about something one minute and the complete opposite way the next, depending on what is convenient, seemingly to manipulate you into doing what they want. Obviously people with genuine emotions don't normally do 180s that way (although mental illness is always a possibility...yes, sociopaths in general aren't the easiest people to indentify).
Narcissists are unstable, they aren't all horrible people, their disorder can even motivate them to do great things and try to be great people, but their egos are sick.
As for sociopaths, ignoring antisocial behaviorist definitions, often when we're perceived as evil we aren't even factoring in notions of right and wrong, and we aren't predatory by default. Our society doesn't teach us how to be moral, we're just expected to feel bad or obey commands, but most of us are mostly harmless - fixed
What if I told you that Sociopaths/psychopaths are running our planet? What if I told you they have enslaved our people all across the globe? What if I told you that they have been able to perpetrate their evil through deception and warmongering, murder and destruction? And that it all boils down to the inability of good people to recognize these very deceptive and very perverted personalities. History shows that the "handbook of totalitarianism" is replete with instructions from psychopaths.
@Snowblindinfinity I would believe you. I would also say that sociopaths/narcissists are allowed to do what they do not only because people are decieved about them/ignorant of them but also because so-called normal people don't act on their own empathy and because they are afraid of what would happen to them if they did, ie, if they took a stand against evil.
Perhaps it is best when labeling these people to label them all as lacking empathy, just by what you say and the comments. I believe Psychopaths are more dangerous because they get a perverse pleasure from the destruction and pain of others, like kids torturing animals and graduating to torturing and murdering humans. History is full of these sick and demented people.
@Snowblindinfinity I see psychopaths as a a sub-set within sociopaths and yes, they are the most dangerous (and them specifically, I would admit are more dangerous than narcissists as a rule)...and yes, I agree that identifying people who lack empathy in order to minimize the harm they cause is important. Thanks for watching and commenting! :)
I have to disagree with you here. I believe Sociopaths are more dangerous because they know what they are and they know what they are doing to people. Narcissist for the most part do not know what they are doing and do not realize how they harm others. For me it is easier to spot Narcissists because they cant hide who they are. They dont see that there is anything wrong or different about them so they dont try to hide it. Psychopaths know what they are and spend thier lives learning how to hide
@darrenritt27 But do you really have to know what you are and what you are doing to people in order to hurt them? Don't you think the lack of awareness in and of itself is dangerous? Maybe narcissists are easier to spot once you are aware of their existence, but having known both, I figured out the sociopath was a sociopath much more quickly ... perhaps that's just me (and perhaps it was because of my prior experience with a narcissist) though, I'm willing to consider that.
@105Mittens Yes the lack of awareness is dangerous. I think the self awarness of Psychopaths is more dangerous because they calculate how to con and manipulate others. Also Psychopaths get enjoyment out of conning and harming others whereas Narcissists dont cause harm out of enjoyment but more because of the pain they feel. For me Narcissist are much easier to deal with when you identify them. When you know how to deal with them they just become annoying.
@darrenritt27 Is it that all sociopaths really "enjoy" conning/harming others (some do, I won't argue with that) or are they just bored? Or is the harm they do frequently just a by-product of skating through life with out taking responsibility for others or themselves like perpetual children? And sociopaths do feel pain as well albeit perhaps a pain that is shallow to you and I by comparison, so you can't say this isn't why they engage in anti-social behavior (at least part of why for some).
@105Mittens I understand what you are trying to say about Narcissists. It is sometimes harder to spot them because of their wider ranger of emotions that are many times genuine. I wouldnt say your outlook is because of your prior experience with a Narcissist but because the Psychopath you encountered wasnt very good at hiding thier true self. Keep in mind some of the worst Psychopaths fool some of the most astute reserachers. Thats just my take on it.
@darrenritt27 I respect what you're saying (and I REALLY appreciate all your great comments btw :), and perhaps you are right about the sociopath I knew. I think some sociopaths want to be known for what they are deep down (and so make themselves more obvious) out of pride or loneliness while others do not...but I would posit the same is true of narcissists. I think some narcissists are quite aware of what they are and do a great job of masking themselves...just depends on the individual.
It's hard for me to tell exactly what's wrong with someone. I doubt I can tell whether someone's a narcissist or a sociopath, but I could probably narrow it down to that choice. Usually I just narrow it down to asshole and have as little to do with them as possible :)
thethegreenmachine 3 months ago
@thethegreenmachine A big red flag for sociopathy is contradiction...the routinely claim to feel one way about something one minute and the complete opposite way the next, depending on what is convenient, seemingly to manipulate you into doing what they want. Obviously people with genuine emotions don't normally do 180s that way (although mental illness is always a possibility...yes, sociopaths in general aren't the easiest people to indentify).
105Mittens 3 months ago
Narcissists are unstable, they aren't all horrible people, their disorder can even motivate them to do great things and try to be great people, but their egos are sick.
As for sociopaths, ignoring antisocial behaviorist definitions, often when we're perceived as evil we aren't even factoring in notions of right and wrong, and we aren't predatory by default. Our society doesn't teach us how to be moral, we're just expected to feel bad or obey commands, but most of us are mostly harmless - fixed
Laughingblades 3 months ago
@Laughingblades Thank you for your comment.
105Mittens 3 months ago
Comment removed
Laughingblades 3 months ago
@theharrison46 I could buy that. Thank you for your comment. :)
105Mittens 3 months ago
What if I told you that Sociopaths/psychopaths are running our planet? What if I told you they have enslaved our people all across the globe? What if I told you that they have been able to perpetrate their evil through deception and warmongering, murder and destruction? And that it all boils down to the inability of good people to recognize these very deceptive and very perverted personalities. History shows that the "handbook of totalitarianism" is replete with instructions from psychopaths.
Snowblindinfinity 3 months ago
@Snowblindinfinity I would believe you. I would also say that sociopaths/narcissists are allowed to do what they do not only because people are decieved about them/ignorant of them but also because so-called normal people don't act on their own empathy and because they are afraid of what would happen to them if they did, ie, if they took a stand against evil.
105Mittens 3 months ago
Perhaps it is best when labeling these people to label them all as lacking empathy, just by what you say and the comments. I believe Psychopaths are more dangerous because they get a perverse pleasure from the destruction and pain of others, like kids torturing animals and graduating to torturing and murdering humans. History is full of these sick and demented people.
Snowblindinfinity 3 months ago
@Snowblindinfinity I see psychopaths as a a sub-set within sociopaths and yes, they are the most dangerous (and them specifically, I would admit are more dangerous than narcissists as a rule)...and yes, I agree that identifying people who lack empathy in order to minimize the harm they cause is important. Thanks for watching and commenting! :)
105Mittens 3 months ago
I have to disagree with you here. I believe Sociopaths are more dangerous because they know what they are and they know what they are doing to people. Narcissist for the most part do not know what they are doing and do not realize how they harm others. For me it is easier to spot Narcissists because they cant hide who they are. They dont see that there is anything wrong or different about them so they dont try to hide it. Psychopaths know what they are and spend thier lives learning how to hide
darrenritt27 3 months ago
@darrenritt27 But do you really have to know what you are and what you are doing to people in order to hurt them? Don't you think the lack of awareness in and of itself is dangerous? Maybe narcissists are easier to spot once you are aware of their existence, but having known both, I figured out the sociopath was a sociopath much more quickly ... perhaps that's just me (and perhaps it was because of my prior experience with a narcissist) though, I'm willing to consider that.
105Mittens 3 months ago
@105Mittens Yes the lack of awareness is dangerous. I think the self awarness of Psychopaths is more dangerous because they calculate how to con and manipulate others. Also Psychopaths get enjoyment out of conning and harming others whereas Narcissists dont cause harm out of enjoyment but more because of the pain they feel. For me Narcissist are much easier to deal with when you identify them. When you know how to deal with them they just become annoying.
darrenritt27 3 months ago
@darrenritt27 Is it that all sociopaths really "enjoy" conning/harming others (some do, I won't argue with that) or are they just bored? Or is the harm they do frequently just a by-product of skating through life with out taking responsibility for others or themselves like perpetual children? And sociopaths do feel pain as well albeit perhaps a pain that is shallow to you and I by comparison, so you can't say this isn't why they engage in anti-social behavior (at least part of why for some).
105Mittens 3 months ago
@105Mittens I understand what you are trying to say about Narcissists. It is sometimes harder to spot them because of their wider ranger of emotions that are many times genuine. I wouldnt say your outlook is because of your prior experience with a Narcissist but because the Psychopath you encountered wasnt very good at hiding thier true self. Keep in mind some of the worst Psychopaths fool some of the most astute reserachers. Thats just my take on it.
darrenritt27 3 months ago
@darrenritt27 I respect what you're saying (and I REALLY appreciate all your great comments btw :), and perhaps you are right about the sociopath I knew. I think some sociopaths want to be known for what they are deep down (and so make themselves more obvious) out of pride or loneliness while others do not...but I would posit the same is true of narcissists. I think some narcissists are quite aware of what they are and do a great job of masking themselves...just depends on the individual.
105Mittens 3 months ago