Ahhhhh, I remember the first post I read of yours Michael. I couldn't quite know what to think other than that post really triggered me and the tone of it was not very inviting. I never really recall interacting with a psychopath before and the only thing I knew is a general message of the incapacity to feel guilt or empathy as well as being extremely intelligent.

And as I have come to know more about you through your different posts since then, somehow I can understand that first post better. I had to think about what all the expressions of emotional stuckness must have looked to you. And as I thought about that I could see how you could find it quite boring and distasteful. And you had to change your name and your very triggery avatar as well. And you did change your tone and I didn't even know that you were the same person. As a matter of fact that first post to me showed so much disgust for what was being observed that I didn't think there would be anything more but some kind of ridicule of all this outpouring of emotional distress.

I have been thinking about what that truely means. I have seen some very interesting posts since then from you, even some that are somewhat comical. And I have also seen you honestly educate members with your frankness about the capacities of a psychopath and that there are different kinds of psychopaths. So, naturally as I do like to learn, your posts have peaked my interest. And when that happens I do admitt that I consider my sense of resoursefulness, and in that look for how you could be useful.

Considering the replies to your thread thus far, I feel that it is agreed that manipulation is something that all humans practice on different levels.

I wonder what the bottom line is for you Michael. Are you here to learn how to be a more effective manipulator? Or are you truely wondering how you can just fit into a group of human beings that can be very entrapped by their own emotionality?

And I am not trying to out you or get a rise out of you or even be unsupportive. What I am wondering is something a bit different. Again I am considering the usefulness of what you do have, which is sheer intellect and desire for the best survival you can muster. But what does that entail for you? From what I have been able to understand from your posts is that there is only a short span of pleasure for you, which I guess is the down side of not having all this emotionality. What activity presents that short spirt of brief satisfaction for you? This answer would reveal your true search of the answer to your question.

Many people have issues with their emotions ruling or getting in the way of their ability to be productive. One of the things they have to learn is how to intellectualize a pathway that can help them over-ride the crippling effects of stress and anxiety that is often presented by being over emotionally reactive to their environments and life experiences that may have included many negetive signals. Your capacity to intellectualize your way through different events or circumstances can prove helpful.
But what I do question is how you can do that without actually knowing the emotional tie downs? And I actually saw that weakness come out in you and I did try to point it out to you. Unfortunately it was at time when I was both intellecutally and emotionally tapped IRL. So I don't know if I was effective or not in my explaination, you never really got back to me.

This is a very interesting topic Michael because though all human beings do manipulate by design, some posters here have stated that they have been accused of being manipulators and they are not consciously aware of what behavior pattern they expressed the gave that impression. That is a very important signal to investigate. For example, people who have borderline personality disorder are known to manipulate however they often are not exactly aware of how they manipulate (they do admitt this). And often this can be a result of something not provided in early childhood that may have interrupted their ability to reach a real sense of security.

I also had to think about that link you presented to radio flyer about anger management. Expressing anger itself can be a form of manipulation or it can truely have a reason much deeper than manipulation, it can be a deep anger of being manipulated that resulted in a lot of emotional pain. You yourself presented the display may have a motive. Frankly I am still thinking about the suggestion offered in that link, could it serve to teach manipulation, hmm I am still wondering as I said. But it was on track about how emotional people do absorb anger from other emotionals.

I am not so sure that your going to get a quick answer Michael that will satisfy your question.

What have you learned thus far? Do tell if you can.

Open Eyes