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2008-04-05 -Short Attention Span Theater-

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Posted by gorb 2008-04-05 01:09|| || Front Page|| [8 views ] Top

#1 "If that is true, then apparently ruthless dictators may be motivated not by out-and-out greed but by a simple lack of social skills, which leaves them unable to sense what's expected of them."

Riiiiiight.

That so explains Hitler, Stalin, Mugabe, Amin, ....

Research some common sense, you idiots.

Posted by Barbara Skolaut">Barbara Skolaut 2008-04-05 09:10|| http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/]">[http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/] 2008-04-05 09:10|| Front Page Top

#2 Calling it "ruthlessness" is a poor choice of words.

A psychopath is incapable of sympathy or empathy because of a neurological condition. A sociopath has been trained to disregard sympathy or empathy. But both of these are long-term conditions of mind, one involuntary and one voluntary. And it should be noted that neither causes negative or destructive behavior on its own. Psychopaths and sociopaths can lead normal lives without harming others.

However, ruthlessness is a temporary state of mind which is a *purposeful* and focused disregard of sympathy and empathy. For example, a surgeon "ruthlessly" cuts into a human body to remove a potentially deadly tumor. They are not being "anti-social" in doing so, but "asocial", performing a damaging and harmful act for a very good reason.

Posted by Anonymoose 2008-04-05 12:39|| 2008-04-05 12:39|| Front Page Top

#3 #1 Riiiiiight. my thoughts exactly. So I guess we should not call them ruthless dictators or sociopaths or outright evil - too damaging to their self-esteem. Let's call them "those lacking in social skills and thus are forced to toruture, rape, mass murder and plunder societies to compensate for the juvenile mistreatment they suffered at the hands of school-yard bullies."

Poor little ~~ruthless dictators~~ misunderstood dorks. If they hadn't suffered at the hands of bullies, then they would have been okay. Perhaps that is the reason we need all of this money spent on the highly publicized Bully Crisis that is being promoted in the national media right. Preventing another Hitler or Stalin is exactly the reason we must change the laws that shelter schools from being sued and allow the lawyers access to the deep pockets of public money that make up the educational system for the good of society as a whole... but then, I digress)

Posted by Woodrow Slusorong7967 2008-04-05 13:28|| 2008-04-05 13:28|| Front Page Top

#4 Agreed about surgeons. Physical therapists, too, although they're nicer about it. Not at all the same as hurting someone out of selfishness or sadism...perhaps. ;-)

Posted by trailing wife ">trailing wife 2008-04-05 15:13|| 2008-04-05 15:13|| Front Page Top

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