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The latter, eg the choice to use the word "narcissism" in place of more charitable or reasonable explanations, is more what I was critiquing. Using narcissism f

by kodah 5y ago

The latter, eg the choice to use the word "narcissism" in place of more charitable or reasonable explanations, is more what I was critiquing. Using narcissism frequently with respect to explaining men's behavior rather than exploring reasonable options is something I see more and more lately and needs some soft corrections.

PaulHoule 5y ago
There is the common use of "narcissism" as a synonym for "bad" and I disagree with that. "Narcissism" is "self-love" and it is a part of the psyche like the heart is part of your body. When people have trouble with their heart they could have high blood pressure, heart disease, heart failure, heart attacks, heart defects, arrhythmia, etc. So even disordered narcissism is more than one disease. I just brushed my teeth and that's a healthy expression of narcissism. A physics crackpot imagines that he is an underlooked genius, is "special". The one thing he knows about Al Einstein is that Einstein worked at the patent office, he doesn't know about the many scientists and mathematicians who Einstein worked with. That's unhealthy narcissism. If somebody is thinking about having money for retirement I'd say narcissism is always involved because you have some conjecture/mental picture about yourself that is based on your self-image, hopes and fears. It's good to have realistic and positive self-esteem but boy is it hollow, shallow and ineffective to try to paint it on because somebody told you should.
- slibhb 5y ago
  Much more frighteningly, I think crackpots and Einstein share the trait of narcissism. You need that trait to think "I can solve the mysteries of the universe". What great physicists have that crackpots lack is intelligence and/or diligence. I think it's mostly the latter, plenty of crackpots are smart. They just don't take the time to learn the math or study the centuries of prior art.

by kodah 5y ago

PaulHoule 5y ago

There is the common use of "narcissism" as a synonym for "bad" and I disagree with that. "Narcissism" is "self-love" and it is a part of the psyche like the heart is part of your body. When people have trouble with their heart they could have high blood pressure, heart disease, heart failure, heart attacks, heart defects, arrhythmia, etc. So even disordered narcissism is more than one disease. I just brushed my teeth and that's a healthy expression of narcissism. A physics crackpot imagines that he is an underlooked genius, is "special". The one thing he knows about Al Einstein is that Einstein worked at the patent office, he doesn't know about the many scientists and mathematicians who Einstein worked with. That's unhealthy narcissism. If somebody is thinking about having money for retirement I'd say narcissism is always involved because you have some conjecture/mental picture about yourself that is based on your self-image, hopes and fears. It's good to have realistic and positive self-esteem but boy is it hollow, shallow and ineffective to try to paint it on because somebody told you should.

slibhb 5y ago
Much more frighteningly, I think crackpots and Einstein share the trait of narcissism. You need that trait to think "I can solve the mysteries of the universe". What great physicists have that crackpots lack is intelligence and/or diligence. I think it's mostly the latter, plenty of crackpots are smart. They just don't take the time to learn the math or study the centuries of prior art.