Does this not worry anyone?


What if you’re mad and don’t know? How can you tell? Well...you can’t, that’s the point

Paula, Maybe we couldn't tell if we were insane, but probably other people could and they would let us know in one way or another. Hhhhmmmm....are you having concerns? LOL
Love,
Joanne

I've been forever fascinated by the thin line between sanity and insanity ... I've known many "eccentric artistically creative" people who -- if they lived someplace else or maybe wore different clothes -- would probably be labeled certifiably insane!

I think a lot of it's perception - sort of like the age-old question "What is normal?"

Or ... why is green GREEN, and not BLUE??

Interesting stuff to ponder on a rainy afternoon ...

Love,
Lura

Wow Paula!

Funny that you should bring this up at this time. I've been reading a few books on psychopaths and sociopaths over the past couple of weeks. These are people who are often very charming, normal looking, often have better than average intelligence and simply have no conscience. They can be found in all walks of life. Most are criminal in one way or another and many are never charged with a crime because they just have not been caught at something they can be charged with. They are, however, destructive to others in one way or another because they do not possess any understanding of what people with conscience feel. They know right from wrong but do not understand why what they do would cause another person distress. They see people with emotions and conscience as weak. They have learned to act as though they have the same feelings as other people because it is useful to them and helps them manipulate the other person. These people do not fit the definition of insane in our courts because they do know what is considered right or wrong. All they care about is not getting caught at what they do to satisfy their own needs.

I also deal with my mother and her dementia every day. I am constantly reminded that she thinks I am the one who is crazy. Maybe? Hahaha!

It's a fascinating subject to me.

With the election around the corner I have to give thought to how many of our politicians fit this description. It's scary.

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__________________
Just Joyfully Participating

~You cannot be happy unless you are serving the truth of your being, however that service looks.~
- Gangaji

Hi Dreamer,
I loved reading what you wrote. I have known people who are exactly like the ones you describe. I don't know if they are technically insane, but i have always thought that these people have deep and serious problems. I think you have explained at least part of this question very well.
Love,
Joanne

Hi patswife,

Legally these people are not insane. I think that makes them
even more dangerous to society. It's very likely that every one
of us has met one of them at some time in our life. Statistics
say they are 4% of the population; one out of twenty-five people.
Where I make the connection with what Paula said is that although
sociopaths know they are somehow different, they cannot know
what it is that makes them different. Their disorder is probably
partially with them at birth and then their life experience deepens
it. They do not have to come from abusive or deprived childhoods.
They can come from wealthy, loving families.

The best way to detect them is frequent plays for pity. Pity leaves
good people emotionally vulnerable. Bad or egregiously inadequate
behavior with frequent plays for your pity is as close to a warning
sign you will ever be given. I know I have met several of these
people during my life.

AD

__________________
Just Joyfully Participating

~You cannot be happy unless you are serving the truth of your being, however that service looks.~
- Gangaji