What does this say about our culture and how we view manipulative people?

Well, first we are manipulated into watching a weekly series that is ficticious and designed to fill some kind of innate human desire that has been predetermined as something that perks interest in just about all human beings. Then as we are watching that we sit during commericals that try to manipulate us into thinking we must go out and either take the newest remedy to help us deal with all kinds of human ailments, then we hear about the various side effects which include death, oh dont you just love the nice green butterfly that represents a good nights rest, or a swelling throat, morning hangover, and yes even death.

Sigh, I don't write the script for House Michael, I did say a lot of liberties are taken for entertainment purposes. I certainly wont waste my time on over analyzing something that has come from someones imagination, or perhaps tapping on presenting a charector that gets to express different behaviors that many would like to say under their breath to other people IRL but know enough not to.

"I've noticed that too, especially in certain forums. Is it manipulation, or bad in any way, to disagree with someone? To challenge someone? Or simply to offer advice without pressing the button? I think some people confuse disagreement as being unsupportive. But what's more unsupportive to the person than condoning behaviour and supporting thoughts that may be harmful to them?"~quote Michael

I don't think it is bad to disagree with someone Michael. A lot depends on how a disagreement is presented. Here in PC, that can be a challenge because after all, many members struggle with different issues that we may not understand, and we many not even know all their history either that may have been very abusive.

As far as hugs is concerned. I posted in the Sanctuary of Spiritual support because I was addressing something that was very difficult. Outside PC for the most part I was left with a situation and could not address it the way I wanted. And every time I expressed any kind of weariness, being tired, scared, troubled, concerned, etc. IRL I just got jabbed with cold "Just deal" comments that only made me feel worse. So, ok, I am a mush and I take certain responsibilities very seriously. And all I really wanted was hugs, or I hear you, I will listen. Because outside PC I had to be very strong, buck up and with what I have going on in my brain, as hard as I tried it was aggrivating my condition. I hate what I have so much, I can't even put it into words how much I hate it. It gets so one doesn't even know how to think because all the things I did do in my past, bucking it up, just dealing, surviving etc, somehow didn't prevent this condition. Its like added cruelty just for surviving and doing ones best to be strong and buck up etc.

Sure, some people may find those cyber hugs coy or of no real value, even annoying.
But I don't, I somehow just needed to find a way to not be so alone with what I was dealing with. I will appologize if any hugs I have given anyone were not appreciated or were considered offensive. And I don't offer them to be manipulative at all. But I do know intimately what it feels like to really need one. And I also know how nice it is to get one, even a cyber one. But that is just me, I have a lot of empathy for others, and I don't know if that is a virture or a curse.

To be honest I hate to ask for help and somehow I have felt like it is just imposing on others, but that goes way back and it was not a healthy experience. Nope, I am supposed to be the one to just come up with all the solutions and "Just Deal". That is what I thought I did, apparently as I was "Just dealing" my brain wasn't.

"Again, that absolves him of guilt? If anything, he would be more guilty because he should know better."
~quote Michael

No, Michael, trying to hide emotions doesn't always mean someone should know better and thus be guilty.
Often this is done in efforts to conceal the vulnerable side of someone, thus causing an interruption in whatever efforts are being made to intellectualize a resolve. People with emotionality do this all the time.
And that is why House is somewhat attractive, he seems to recognize that the emotionality can become the focus whereas in his atmosphere, one has to keep a cool head so to speak, he is a team leader in that show. People in that field have to maintain composure and learn to over-ride emotions. That can be a very challenging field. I know because my aunt was a nurse and her son is one of the world's top surgeons.

And actually the efforts to dissassociate or find ways to over-ride emotion is a part of other fields as well, veterinarians, all kinds of physicians, emergency workers, and yes, even therapists have to learn how to avoid or even manipulate their own emotianality away from therapy. It is a very demanding job, I am not sure how well they manage that process, most therapist have therapists themselves.

Therapist themselves have to learn how to be very persuasive. And often many patients were so badly manipulated the therapist has to assure the patient that he/she is only helping and wont manipulate.
Open Eyes
"