Greetings TTI

[Richard West]

Hey guys, my name is Richard West and I'm a 24 year old bookstore manager and part-time professional Poker player. My Eve character is quite new, being only ten days old but I'm hoping with a serious application of brains and determination that I will be able to carve my own name in this corporation.

I'm a borderline sociopath intellectual that struggles to feel empathy for people that are not part of my "pack". I often struggle to relate to people emotionally and work from an intellectual framework. You guys look like a pack of wolves that eat sheep, I approve.

My in-game Eve character's name is Richard West...yeah...I know...but I don't have a red mo-hawk in real life, I promise.

[redhotrebel]

Welcome to the forums.

[Kushan]

Well, it appears you're unafraid to be honest. However, should you ever be in need of a kidney, I'm going to find the equivalent of a chastity belt for kidneys and always wear it when in your presence.

[redhotrebel]

Well, it appears you're unafraid to be honest. However, should you ever be in need of a kidney, I'm going to find the equivalent of a chastity belt for kidneys and always wear it when in your presence.

Try Cartman's 'kidney blocker 4000'

[Redslay]

welcome to the forums.

I'm a borderline sociopath intellectual that struggles to feel empathy for people that are not part of my "pack". I often struggle to relate to people emotionally and work from an intellectual framework. You guys look like a pack of wolves that eat sheep, I approve.

I'm curious if you think that being a self described psychopath will give you advantages in an objectivist environment. Is that what objectivism is... psychopaths looking out forthemselves and f'n over anyone they can as long as they get ahead?

[JudgeBob]

I'm curious if you think that being a self described psychopath will give you advantages in an objectivist environment. Is that what objectivism is... psychopaths looking out forthemselves and f'n over anyone they can as long as they get ahead?

Where did he say he was a psychopath?

[Redslay]

JB!! so good to see you - I'm glad you are still kicking. Great question - here is your answer

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sociopath

for edumuhkasion purposes only.

[Yeshmiel]

Well there is a fair bit of a difference between psychopaths and sociopaths but, I too am wondering, what aspect of Objectivism enamors a sociopath? I do have the same general questions as Redslay. Though the honesty does bode well it does tend to lend towards distrust due to a lack of commitment to others interest. Now how can I be an Objectivist and consider the other? As an Objectivist I have to watch out for myself and that means being selective about people that I do business with. I trust, that the people I am currently working with, understand that self betterment often times means promoting positive relationships with others so that we have an environment in which we can achieve our own goals without destroying said environment.

"An agent regards quantity of consequent pleasure and pain to himself alone important in choosing between alternatives of action; and seeks always the greatest attainable surplus of pleasure over pain." This can be a confusing principal for someone with sociopathic tendencies as the over fixation on immediate pleasure can result in a degradation of the overall pleasure. If you are unable to see the long term damage done by not using rationale with immediate personal interest then you tend to lack enough environmental stability to have long term stability. In other words if you piss off everyone around you in an attempt to solely seek immediate gratification for self, then you piss people off and then you are either forced on the defensive or offensive and may give control away. That is not to say that you can't piss others off but I hope you are able to weigh long term with the short term. I for one will be curious as to what your interest in Ojectivism is.

[redhotrebel]

According to the American Psychiatric Association:

Psychopath; "Is an antisocial personality disorder. A person who consistently and repeatedly treads on, abuses or violates the rights of others, often causing considerable harm."

Sociopath; "An individual with antisocial personality disorder."

So basically all psychopaths are sociopaths but not all sociopaths are psychopaths.

[Richard West]

Hey guys, some interesting responses and valid concerns.

I think sociopathy gets a fairly bad reputation because all the initial research done on it was done on criminals incarcerated in a prison system. The natural reaction is that a socio is going to kill you for fun, and basically be fairly psychotic.

Firstly, I would openly admit that while I do posses many sociopathic qualities I am not completely sociopathic. I think this in part is why I am open and honest about who and what I am. This is contrary to normal sociopathic behavior that actively tries to mimic other people to fit in and please them. I don't want to deceive you, mostly because I'm a pretty lonely guy, and my only real shot at meaningful friendships is by being honest about who I am. I really do think there are enough smart and engaging people in this corp who could prove to be wonderful intellectual companions. I don't want to ruin that by becoming a mimic.

Emotionally speaking, I am a void. I don't really understand emotions well at all and in general I rely on my logic and reason to function. This is where objectivist philosophies can really appeal to me, I understand and see the bottom line, I also intellectually understand the benefits of loyalty and co-operation. However when my grandmother died, I felt as much as you would breaking a fingernail, not that I wasn't loyal to my grandmother, and didn't have intellectual loyalty to her, because she looked after me, but I just don't feel sad about her loss...that emotion is simply not present.

In terms of the concern about self gratification now, that is something that has never happened to me, I'm actually a remarkably patient person. The fact that I operate on a purely logical non-emotional basis often puts me at an advantage, unless I'm dealing with an emotional response, then I get really confused, because I really don't understand emotions well.

I think if you get to know me, you would find I can be surprisingly loyal and engaging, especially if you interest me, because I really struggle to connect with the average person on the street. Also, I'm very reliable because I never get petty, angry or jealous, I instantly see the maximum profit of a situation. I do naturally exploit and screw over people I don't know for my own profits unless they my friends or allies. This is purely based on logic, if I screw over my friends or allies, I won't end up having friends or allies, and then I'll be screwed.

Ironically, I often end up being more loyal to my teammates and friends than "normal" people are, because for me, I have no other way to maintain a human connection with people. I don't fall in love, I don't feel joy, not in any real way. If I lost that human connection I would go insane. When I apply to this corp I am applying to be part of your team, your organization. Yes I will follow my individualistic interests (just like any of you) but as far as I'm concerned you are my pack. I won't screw you over.

I think a somewhat accurate depiction of my internal monologue would be the show Dexter, minus the need for killing people. In fact I'd be surprised if that show wasn't written by someone similar to me. If you look at Dexter's relationship to Rita and her children, his fierce loyalty to them is wolf pack-like in its nature. Even though he doesn't "love" them in the conventional manner, in the end it doesn't matter, because he would die for them.

edit: Kushan, I want your kidney! *sharpens knife*

[redhotrebel]

Okay- now you're scaring me a little...

[Richard West]

Sorry

[Petyr Baelich]

It's difficult not to like someone with this much integrity. Don't any of you watch Dexter? ;p

* Edit.... holy crap, he actually mentioned Dexter in his last response. I only caught that on 2nd reading, honest!

[Kushan]

I figure if we accept this guy, 50/50 chance he works out just fine, 50/50 chance he kills us and wears our skin.

[redhotrebel]

I figure if we accept this guy, 50/50 chance he works out just fine, 50/50 chance he kills us and wears our skin.

I think the later is more a 90%... but we won't split hairs over a measly 40%...

[Sir Fury]

You can have my old skin*finishes moulting*.

But it'll cost you. As you may know, there's no free lunch.

But its cheap and further discounted (for your & my benefit). I'll trade it for Kushan's kidney. *Insert serious smiley*