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Actually it is an argument as that's one of the defining characteristics of the condition, it's not a great argument because I don't know how he feels, but it's

Actually it is an argument as that's one of the defining characteristics of the condition, it's not a great argument because I don't know how he feels, but it's more than just "I disagree" which is no argument at all. In any case, I'm not the OP, I didn't call him a sociopath, I merely said he deserved the label.

Dylan16807 10y ago
How much empathy do you have for the hundreds of people dying in car crashes each day? Not much, or you'd be crippled. It is ridiculous to look at low empathy for strangers and declare no empathy for anyone. So you don't even reach the prerequisite that would let you start to talk about the manifestations of sociopathy.
- gnaritas 10y ago
  Bernies victims weren't strangers to him, your point is a strawman.
  - Dylan16807 10y ago
    Do you have some info to back that up? A quote like "worked the so-called 'Jewish circuit' of well-heeled Jews he met at country clubs on Long Island and in Palm Beach." doesn't make it sound like these were people he knew well. (And taking a loan from a friend while it was collapsing is a sign of desperation, something anyone could do, so don't quote me that particular interaction.)
    - gnaritas 10y ago
      You're moving the goal post, having empathy for people you've met and conned is in no way comparable to empathizing over countless victims of car crashes of people you've never met; car crash victims are a statistic, his marks were people he met and conned into investing. Google for five minutes, plenty of his victims met him, these weren't statistics, they were people he stole from using his charm. If you want to sit here and try to defend Madoff, be my guest because clearly, you just want to argue, so I'm done listening.
      - Dylan16807 10y ago
        Not every sleezy salesperson in the world is a sociopath. You can meet someone in a business context without caring much about them, while not being a sociopath. It's not 'defending' someone's actions to say that there is no proof of an extreme lack of empathy.
        gnaritas 10y ago
        > Not every sleezy salesperson in the world is a sociopath. Strawman, never said they were. You're arguing with yourself now.

Dylan16807 10y ago

How much empathy do you have for the hundreds of people dying in car crashes each day? Not much, or you'd be crippled. It is ridiculous to look at low empathy for strangers and declare no empathy for anyone. So you don't even reach the prerequisite that would let you start to talk about the manifestations of sociopathy.

gnaritas 10y ago
Bernies victims weren't strangers to him, your point is a strawman.
- Dylan16807 10y ago
  Do you have some info to back that up? A quote like "worked the so-called 'Jewish circuit' of well-heeled Jews he met at country clubs on Long Island and in Palm Beach." doesn't make it sound like these were people he knew well. (And taking a loan from a friend while it was collapsing is a sign of desperation, something anyone could do, so don't quote me that particular interaction.)
  - gnaritas 10y ago
    You're moving the goal post, having empathy for people you've met and conned is in no way comparable to empathizing over countless victims of car crashes of people you've never met; car crash victims are a statistic, his marks were people he met and conned into investing. Google for five minutes, plenty of his victims met him, these weren't statistics, they were people he stole from using his charm. If you want to sit here and try to defend Madoff, be my guest because clearly, you just want to argue, so I'm done listening.
    - Dylan16807 10y ago
      Not every sleezy salesperson in the world is a sociopath. You can meet someone in a business context without caring much about them, while not being a sociopath. It's not 'defending' someone's actions to say that there is no proof of an extreme lack of empathy.
      - gnaritas 10y ago
        > Not every sleezy salesperson in the world is a sociopath. Strawman, never said they were. You're arguing with yourself now.