Europe at War

[Todd]

So do you believe in the existence of sociopaths at all?  Or do you just doubt the ability of other humans to recognize them when they see one?

They exist.  Clinical psychologists and psychiatrists are the only people qualified to make accurate diagnoses.  Everything else is gossip.  Everything online is internet gossip. 

Obviously you can't, but many of us are competent judges of human character.

Incorrect.

[SimonNZ]

Claims of psychopathy, megalomania, and/or other psychological disorders are run of the mill propaganda.  It is precisely like comparing <insert evildoer du jour here> to Hitler or invoking WWII in any way. 

In any way? Ever? I suspect you're finding such analogies not so much false as inconvenient.

There is much about Hitlers rise to power and the wider road to war that we should be on the lookout for constantly and raise the alarm early. Especially at a time when people feel freer in saying openly that the admire them and openly say they are working from their model.

[Florestan]

Clinical psychologists and psychiatrists are the only people qualified to make accurate diagnoses

That's true --- but it doesn't in the least imply that laymen cannot/should not/may not accurately describe this or that person as "psychopath", "sociopath" or "insane".

[Todd]

but it doesn't in the least imply that laymen cannot/should not/may not accurately describe this or that person as "psychopath", "sociopath" or "insane".

Actually, it does. 

[Florestan]

There is much about Hitlers rise to power and the wider road to war that we should be on the lookout for constantly and raise the alarm early. Especially at a time when people feel freer in saying openly that the admire them and openly say they are working from their model.

I have no doubt that Hitler was an insane psychopath-cum-sociopath (pace @Todd )... But so are lots of people around us right now. It takes a very special historical context to enable them. I don't think there is any Hitler right now or in the making.

[Florestan]

Actually, it does.

Incorrect.

[Todd]

Incorrect.

Nope.  You described gossip.  It can be challenging for some people to distinguish between the two.

[SimonNZ]

Actually, it does.

We are required to make lay psychological assessments of the people we encounter every singly day. It's a necessity.

And of politicians, we are required to assess if they are compulsive liars, raging narsists or unhinged or dangerous with some regularity, and without expecting any word from the professional world.

Do you genuinely not?

[Madiel]

You'll find that even ignoring people is smoother on the new forum software.

[Todd]

If for you the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing destruction of Ukraine's civilian infrastructure is gossip, then right on my ignore list you go right now --- this time for good, so help me God and fuck your musical knowledge altogether!

Unqualified non-professionals like you, BasilValentine, and everyone else on this forum who has so far offered any type of a mental health diagnosis of Putin or anyone else are merely gossiping.  Only clinical psychologists and psychiatrists can offer actual mental health diagnoses.

At no time did I assert that the Russo-Ukrainian War is gossip. 

this time for good, so help me God and fuck your musical knowledge altogether!

Oh well. 

Enough is enough, you stinking Putinist troll!

Precisely like references to Hitler, Nazis, WWII, and mental health, rejoinders relying on any variant of Putin/Russian supporter/apologist/troll/bot/whatnot are merely self-selected propaganda statements.

[SimonNZ]

Guess I'm on Todd's ignore list.

"Oh well"

[BasilValentine]

We are required to make lay psychological assessments of the people we encounter every singly day. It's a necessity.

Yes. And people who can't often end up as supporters of and apologists for monsters like Trump and Putin.

[Florestan]

monsters like Trump and Putin

Oh, come on! What aggressive, unprovoked, international-law-defying war did Trump start?

[SimonNZ]

Oh, come on! What aggressive, unprovoked, international-law-defying war did Trump start?

I want to answer "no international wars, just the very brink of civil war", but US politics is verboten.

There's more than one flavor of "monster".

[Madiel]

Oh, come on! What aggressive, unprovoked, international-law-defying war did Trump start?

He was generally more interested in defying domestic law. But it is also worth noting he cuddled up to strong-man leaders like Putin.

EDIT: And now, Trump is explicitly calling for the end of the US Constitution. The man is a total menace.

[BasilValentine]

Unqualified non-professionals like you, BasilValentine, and everyone else on this forum who has so far offered any type of a mental health diagnosis of Putin or anyone else are merely gossiping.  Only clinical psychologists and psychiatrists can offer actual mental health diagnoses.

Your objection is frivolous and uninformed. The term sociopath describes no condition in the DSM-5 and thus its use is not in the purview, exclusive or otherwise, of mental health professionals. In standard usage it isn't a "mental health diagnosis." When I and those I know use it, the term describes those who demonstrate no substantive moral and ethical compunctions restricting their self-interested words and actions, even when those words and actions are criminal and/or cause severe harm to others. As a random hypothetical, if a politician advocated the abrogation of the constitutional rights of 330-million people in a quest for power, made a career of financial fraud and fraudulent inducement, lied compulsively, bragged about committing multiple sexual assaults, repeatedly advocated violence in furtherance of his agenda, appointed public officials with the intention of corrupting governmental institutions, and routinely apologized for racists and anti-semites, the term sociopath would be apt and accurate.

On another note, your hectoring refrain of keep fighting, no negotiations isn't aging well, since Putin has demanded that the territories illegally annexed by Russia be recognized as a condition for negotiations.

[Todd]

Your objection is frivolous and uninformed. The term sociopath describes no condition in the DSM-5 and thus its use is not in the purview, exclusive or otherwise, of mental health professionals. In standard usage it isn't a "mental health diagnosis." When I and those I know use it, the term describes those who demonstrate no substantive moral and ethical compunctions restricting their self-interested words and actions, even when those words and actions are criminal and/or cause severe harm to others. As a random hypothetical, if a politician advocated the abrogation of the constitutional rights of 330-million people in a quest for power, made a career of financial fraud and fraudulent inducement, lied compulsively, bragged about committing multiple sexual assaults, repeatedly advocated violence in furtherance of his agenda, appointed public officials with the intention of corrupting governmental institutions, and routinely apologized for racists and anti-semites, the term sociopath would be apt and accurate.

All mentions of mental health are gossip only.

On another note, your hectoring refrain of keep fighting, no negotiations isn't aging well, since Putin has demanded that the territories illegally annexed by Russia be recognized as a condition for negotiations.

Incorrect.  The US chooses to pursue war, not negotiations.

[BasilValentine]

You are not a mental health professional.  You gossip.

Which, as I demonstrated, is irrelevant.

Of course, your thoughtless repetition of refuted statements is just the least embarrassing way you've found of rolling over. Good doggie.

[Todd]

Which, as I demonstrated, is irrelevant.

All mentions of mental health are gossip only.

[Madiel]

Todd of course has absolutely no qualifications for all of the things that he says on this thread.