Here's a good definition of "Narcissist"

[Bonobo]

-Someone who places so much value on themselves that any amount of murder, mayhem, rape and pillaging is excusable if there is even the smallest chance it may marginally improve their own "security".

[Smarmie Doofus]

1. +1. Kick, Rec. n/t

[GP6971]

2. Kick

[awoke_in_2003]

3. Got to keep creating more enemies. nt

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

5. Soon coming to an American neighborhood near you.

[snappyturtle]

4. K&R +1 Thanks. nt

[Heddi]

6. God knows why, but your thread was alerted on.

I was on the jury.

Here are the results.


At Wed Aug 14, 2013, 11:21 PM an alert was sent on the following post:

Here's a good definition of "Narcissist"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023464921

REASON FOR ALERT:

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate. (See <a href="http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=aboutus#communitystandards" target="_blank">Community Standards</a>.)

ALERTER'S COMMENTS:

This is a thinly veiled insult against President Obama and other DUers. It's possible to argue against drones without calling the President and other Democrats narcissists.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Wed Aug 14, 2013, 11:30 PM, and the Jury voted 2-4 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: No explanation given
Juror #2 voted to HIDE IT and said: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: Meh...
Juror #4 voted to HIDE IT and said: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: No explanation given
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: Oh fer chrissake's, alerter. STFU. Dissent is still (for the time being) allowed on DU. Put your big-person pants on and either debate in the thread, or realize there are people who think differently than you do and go about your merry way and find posts that make you happy...perchance a visit to the lounge for some fuzzy bunny picture is more your style?

Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.

[Bonobo]

7. I can't believe that it was almost hidden. Wow. nt

[Electric Monk]

17. Worth noting, your thread also has 26 recs so far, while that 'other' one only has a single rec. nt

[nil desperandum]

52. Jury

I am new here and don't understand this alert and jury business....it would seem to me in a collection of people this large that many of us will have opposing viewpoints and p1ss each other off on a regular basis. It does not mean, to me at least, that we don't both love our country and want to make it better it just means we might have a different vision on how to address that proposition of making this a better nation for all of us.

When I disagree with someone I don't assume you are not a patriot because you don't agree with me, nor do I assume you trying to be a d1ck. It's clear you believe the drone strikes do little actual positive work to create security or a long term sense of cooperation within our foreign allied nations. I tend to agree with you on this, I can't quite understand how your concern could be considered "hurtful, insensitive, or over-the-top".

How can we have a positive debate about the direction our foreign policy should take when you can't criticize the violation of the sovereign airspace of our supposed allies in the GWOT?

I apologize if this reply was unnecessary I am looking for a little guidance so I don't step on my privates in my replies. Thanks.

[David__77]

8. I said "leave it alone."

I think it's pretty silly, the alert. But it's great that there's a democratic assessment of the merit's of each alert.

[Bonobo]

9. I also support the jury system...to a point.

The two who voted to hide... no reason given.

One can fairly assume that it just irritated them that I hit on a sore spot.

[Warren DeMontague]

46. The famed Bonobo fan club, in action.

[Rex]

34. Not a surprise at all, some around here have personal vendettas.

I know, pathetic right?. But like water is wet, certain posters cannot stand certain facts.

[pintobean]

40. water is wet doesn't participate

in the jury/alert system.

[tblue]

38. Damn! WTH?

The alerter must've gotten lost on the internets and landed on the wrong website on the way to patrioticwebsitesofamerica.com.

[WheelWalker]

10. Right on, brother.

[1StrongBlackMan]

11. I have a better definition of ...

the term "Narcissist" ...
Some that posts a post to an anonymous message board to curry a bunch of "Yups."

[laundry_queen]

12. Nope.

The OP's is closer to the actual pathology of narcissism than yours is. Yours isn't wrong or bad, just not as good.

[Bonobo]

18. I have a better one!

Someone that claims to be strong to buoy their own self-confidence in the face of evidence otherwise.

[ronnie624]

28. *

[LanternWaste]

33. Seems all the informal, biased and self-validating definitions presented

Seems all the informal, subjective, biased and self-validating definitions presented in the thread thus far have an equal amount of validity and credibility.




Now is a apt time for a distinction without a difference...

[HangOnKids]

48. Did you just post here?

To curry a bunch of yups? You might want to rethink your premise.

[1StrongBlackMan]

49. Nope ...

I posted here to make the point that every postY, unless it's a link to an article with no comment/opinion,, is likely evidence of narcassism"yups" or not.

So I guess you have a point.

[MisterP]

13. Americans are sacrosanct--almost a species apart (unless they're trying to help Nicaragua or Gaza,

or just afloat on the Liberty)

[DreamGypsy]

14. Cultural narcissim ...

...from Wikipedia:

In The Culture of Narcissism, Christopher Lasch defines a narcissistic culture as one where every activity and relationship is defined by the hedonistic need to acquire the symbols of wealth, this becoming the only expression of rigid, yet covert, social hierarchies. It is a culture where liberalism only exists insofar as it serves a consumer society, and even art, sex and religion lose their liberating power.

In such a society of constant competition, there can be no allies, and little transparency. The threats to acquisitions of social symbols are so numerous, varied and frequently incomprehensible, that defensiveness, as well as competitiveness, becomes a way of life. Any real sense of community is undermined—or even destroyed—to be replaced by virtual equivalents that strive, unsuccessfully, to synthesize a sense of community.

Or perhaps the United States is developing Narcissistic Nationality Disorder (sick...I mean sic):

Narcissistic nationality disorder (NND) is a cultural disorder in which the society is described as being excessively preoccupied with issues of national adequacy, power, prestige and vanity. This condition affects one percent of countries. First formulated in 2016, it was historically called megalomania, and is severe egocentrism.

[Bonobo]

20. Great post and I was not being facetious at all about "narcissism"

I truly think that the US' behavior is a perfect illustration.

[DreamGypsy]

30. I agree (nt)

[mountain grammy]

15. I think the post is both offensive and ridiculous, but would have not voted to hide it.

I've never voted to hide anything, not sure I ever could.

[Bonobo]

19. I am genuinely curious as to what you find offensive about it. nt

[mountain grammy]

27. It's over the top and an exaggeration which is impossible to respond to.

Nothing is so black and white. Of course, the statement on the surface is correct, exaggerations usually are, but reality is something else.
There really are terrorists in the world blowing themselves up on a regular basis and taking a lot of innocents along with them.

[Bonobo]

29. I think it offends because it contains truth. nt

[BainsBane]

47. I find the post lacking insight

It's an effort to project personal traits onto a foreign policy and national security issue. In short, it offers no informed analysis or insight. It essentially has no content or information. But it makes you feel important, and that is what seems to be most important.

[gtar100]

16. Funny how when they say "security" I get this sense of fear and dread instead.

And all those blowhard conservatives who use the word "security" don't have a clue how twisted their meaning is. It's sick how so many people are dying for "our" security when the actions of this military and police state does nothing of the sort for anyone. To me it's proof that all that talk about defending America is nothing but hyperbole at best and outright bullshit in reality. But for the people of Yeman, Afghanistan, Iraq, etc., ad nauseum, our "security" has meant nothing but more funerals for family members and other loved ones. So fuck what the military is doing in our name.

[mrdmk]

45. I remember when the word contractor replaced the word mercenary

That was scary! Since then I have become desensitized to euphemisms...

[sheshe2]

21. You call out, I assume, this government and the President.

I am assuming that's your intent, correct me if I am wrong.

Here's a good definition of "Narcissist"

-Someone who places so much value on themselves that any amount of murder, mayhem, rape and pillaging is excusable

How about calling out the RePukes for the above statement. This is what they are doing to the American People every single day.

They are murdering our citizens when the deny any gun control and when they try to overturn ACA, 40 fricking times. They are murdering the needy, the children in THIS country be denying Sap Benifits. They cause mayhem when they shut down the government for , whine whine whine, partisan hate of this President. They rape and pillage women with their obscene antiquated laws. They deny women BASIC health coverage.

Where is your outrage for this country Bonobo? Where are you posts on that.

You show outrage and hair on fire pictures of war. How about concern and mourning for our dead. For the others the GOP wants to kill.

[Bonobo]

22. I have written hundreds of those over the last 10 years as well.

I have shouted out against the prison industry.
I have shouted out for health care, dental care.
I have shouted out for bailing out homeowners.

Does that count?

[sheshe2]

23. Depends.

Did you shout out the President or the ones that were responsible.

Did you shout out the RePukes?

[Bonobo]

24. I was a massive supporter of Obama and

all posts pre 2008 were, of course, shouting at the ones responsible.

The thing is... I shout at those who are responsible no matter what political party they say they belong to.

That, sheshe2, is what I see as the dividing line between people here.

[tblue]

39. You don't have to defend your position

to a bully like that. Sending you a pm.

[HangOnKids]

43. You Have Star Do A Search

I guess that might hurt your prolific posting but do your own homework.

[RobertEarl]

25. Another instance

Someone who places so much value on themselves that any amount of pollution, environmental degradation, and stealing form their kids future world is excusable if there is even the smallest chance it may marginally improve their electric bill.

[Bonobo]

26. That works too, RobertEarl. nt

[JoeyT]

31. Yep. Sounds like narcissism.

According to the DSM:

Expects to be recognized as superior and special, without superior accomplishments
Expects constant attention, admiration and positive reinforcement from others
Envies others and believes others envy him/her
Is preoccupied with thoughts and fantasies of great success, enormous attractiveness, power, intelligence
Lacks the ability to empathize with the feelings or desires of others
Is arrogant in attitudes and behavior
Has expectations of special treatment that are unrealistic

That engine is firing on all cylinders.

[PorridgeGun]

32. The most disturbing thing I've heard about drones is the declaration by fiat that

all males of "fighting age" within a target zone are legitimate targets simply by virtue of being present. Anwar al-Awlaki's 16 year old son was killed that way in a hellfire strike on a coffee shop if I remember correctly. The only response I've heard from the gov't for that one was to say that the kid wasn't the primary target.

Gee, how comforting.

No wonder some of these drone pilots are coming down with "PTSD." I'd bet in some cases that an ethical conflict between their military oaths, duties, orders etc. and doing things they know down deep they should have no part in is responsible for a great deal of the reported psychological stress.

[Hydra]

41. It's happening to the ones that have a soul buried in there

http://investigations.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/06/06/18787450-former-drone-operator-says-hes-haunted-by-his-part-in-more-than-1600-deaths

"He also remembers being convinced that he had seen a child scurry onto his screen during one mission just before a missile struck, despite assurances from others that the figure he’d seen was really a dog."

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

35. Seeing as how the "war on terror" is all about PR than defeating terrorism, you're right.

The use of drones to kill "terrorists" (and, a lot of civilians) is mostly about "See! We didn't REALLY lose the wars, we're still fighting."

[Donald Ian Rankin]

36. What you say is true, but it's worth noting that your definition does not fit the US government. N.T

[tblue]

37. The self-righteous bully

is how the world sees our govt. Not the America people though. Most of the world still believes we are basically decent folk. So far anyway. But they may attack us to hurt our govt if there's no other way to assert their rights. Doesn't have to be this way. Really does not.

[rug]

42. That's a better definition of sociopaths.

[nadinbrzezinski]

44. I have a better oone for ya

yes, I am a cynic anymore... any politician, regardless of party, especially those in high positions of power. They are above any consequences of their actions.

I warned you about being a cynic...

Of course using these kinds of weapons are the actions of Empire, and Imperial hubris... but you need those personality types to run the empire.

[HereSince1628]

50. Well, an interesting twist, narcissistic behavior is behavior that yields narcissistic supply

It may be behavior that elicits such supply. Narcissistic supply being something of a feeling good feeling that rewards the narcissist.

Usually, that supply is provided by the attention or reactions of -others-, rather than as an internal satisfaction. Generally speaking the negativity felt toward the narcissist is associated with frustration and exhaustion of providing the narcissistic supply.

I suspect the angst of the people of northeast Africa and SW Asia toward this 'narcissist' isn't really a consequence of their provision of narcissistic supply.

But in as much as this perspective takes a concept from personal pathology and applies it to a group, perhaps a nation of hundreds of millions or perhaps a smaller subgroup of that population responsible and supportive of 'the behavior' I don't see any reason to not accept that it includes 'self-satisfaction'.

Of course, such self-stimulatory pathologies would seem to be vulnerable to addictive behaviors that feed a positive feedback vortex.


I do think this post it is another good example of the use of terms of mental illness to disparage political opponents. It's the nature of chauvinism to characterize (usually mis characterize) opponents as having one or more defects or deficits. References to disease are quite useful in this respect: 'We' are mentally well...'THEY' (our opponents) are mentally ill.

Of course, the overuse of such rhetorical ploys tends to create acceptance of the idea within society that the chauvinistic dialectic is actually true. Which has the often unfortunate effect of generalizing the application of negative consequences and creating broad social stigma against persons who, even in minor and unrelated ways may resemble the original target.

It seems to me that this approach is vulnerable to producing ill-defined sets and false intersections.

[WCLinolVir]

51. I disagree as qualifying this as narcism.

I think the gov't. is using drones abroad as a precursor to using them here. They can;t practice on us.

[rakeeb]

53. I think your example is closer to the definition of Objectivism