Pretty much what happened was someone called me out on manipulating or trying to get something while wearing a "mask", then expected a heart-felt apology. I then was accused of not giving a sensitive enough apology or undoing something, so it got down to a verbal threat. After I apologized later or they calmed down, we always got over it, although there still is some tension but your suggestion certainly is noted .

My best or closest friends aren't too bothered by it, or perhaps they just don't see me as manipulative. One of them I do consider fairly manipulative and he has the same view of me but we've never clashed. The positive element though is even though your close friends view you as manipulative, which many find undesirable, they choose to stay with you because they like you as a person. Although they find you manipulative, this goes back to your first post, as they may not see it as "evil" or psychopathic/politician-like.


I cant help but wonder, with TV shows such as Criminal Minds, House, The Mentalist (main character was "diagnosed" as a psychopath in the show) have an effect because they often label characters who aren't moved by much or don't take things seriously as psychopathic or sociopathic. From personal experience, not taking things seriously can certainly rub people the wrong way when it's expected you would care or take something seriously, which may be viewed as pathological. I figure there must be something else that leads people to conclude manipulative out of all other common pathological behaviour.