Authenticity verses narcissism

Sophia_ · #1 05-17-2007, 08:02 PM

A new member sent me a private message which brings up some important points. I'd like you all to encourage this person to come out and be authentic themselves here at KR, where wit is often mistaken for sarcasm--and vice versa. New members are welcomed here.

Quote:

Are You a Real Person? Are You Authentic?

Hi Sophia,
I just found out about KR yesterday and after perusing a lot of the Spirituality threads, I decided to become a member. I read a lot of the threads you participated in today, my first day of membership. Are there other members out there like you? I am a bit confused as to whether you are a real individual or a composite personality. Does Sophia_ represent a few friends who use the Sophia_ name. The only psychological consistency I could detect in Sophia_ after about 3 hours of reading all the old posts was a common narcissistic theme. You seem so narcissistic, it is almost as though you are trying hard to come off that way. Are you for real. Are you authentic. It would be good for me to know, because quite frankly you are scaring me and keeping me hesitant to participate in the threads. Everyone thinks you are sociopathic and psychotic, but you just seem to be a stereotypical middle class narcissist, plain and simple. I don't think you are dangerous, well maybe you are to your family, but not to we members. Have you considered therapy? If you are a real narcissist and not just pretending to be one, you might benefit with the right therapy, although it is extremely difficult for narcissists to acknowledge they have the condition. You do appear to be in various forms of denial, depending on what personality you are in at the time. Can you enlighten me on this? I contacted Sophia.com college and they are unaware of you and interested in finding out more about you. They advised me they will be monitoring KR to see what you are all about.
Sincerely,
XXXXXX

Lets get real about this topic. Am I authentic? Is anyone here authentic? Should life on KR be literal? What do we gain from authentic self-expression?

VioletPrue · #2 05-17-2007, 08:30 PM

It's funny how someone notices the same things we do in only 3 hours.
And about you being a narcissist:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sophia_

Lets get real about this topic. Am I authentic?

HELLO!

PS:
This may be news to you, but it isn't to most of us.
This isn't political, so you've once again posted in the wrong forum.

Ophiel Ophiuci · #3 05-17-2007, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sophia_

A new member sent me a private message which brings up some important points. I'd like you all to encourage this person to come out and be authentic themselves here at KR, where wit is often mistaken for sarcasm--and vice versa. New members are welcomed here.

Lets get real about this topic. Am I authentic? Is anyone here authentic? Should life on KR be literal? What do we gain from authentic self-expression?

Authenticity is usually invoked by liars or ironicists. Ironicists are more laudable. Once we are aware of our own foibles in terms of truth, we can know ourselves better. We can't be more than ghosts on-line, but we can still learn how to shuffle the furniture, so to speak.

Sophia_ · #4 05-17-2007, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VioletPrue

It's funny how someone notices the same things we do in only 3 hours.
And about you being a narcissist:

HELLO!

PS:
This may be news to you, but it isn't to most of us.
This isn't political, so you've once again posted in the wrong forum.

i was also questioning whether this person was authentic or an alias. Did you not weigh both possibilities before you posted?

I suppose the moderator can move this thread, but I believe this potential newbee is concerned about being attacked for her opinions--of which most likely would be posted in News and Politics. Issues of censorship are usually politically motivated. This person has so far self-censored, which I believe is the most prudent.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ophiel Ophiuci

Authenticity is usually invoked by liars or ironicists. Ironicists are more laudable. Once we are aware of our own foibles in terms of truth, we can know ourselves better. We can't be more than ghosts on-line, but we can still learn how to shuffle the furniture, so to speak.

We usually learn about our hidden shadow material by two conditions: firstly, those people or situations that cause feelings of repulsion; secondly, those people or situations that cause feelings of attraction.

I've learned about myself here more by those who respond, than by anything they label me. I know myself fairly well--my many events of synchronicity would be indicative of this psychic balance, and my conscious awareness of these events--or so many Ph.d's who've written books about this topic have suggested. I defer to their expertice combined with my personal observations. To be human is to have narcissistic traits. To project them on others is part of a hidden condition that this new member is pointing out.

VioletPrue · #5 05-17-2007, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sophia_

i was also questioning whether this person was authentic or an alias. Did you not weigh both possibilities before you posted?

No Paladin, I didn't to be honest.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sophia_

I suppose the moderator can move this thread, but I believe this potential newbee is concerned about being attacked for her opinions--of which most likely would be posted in News and Politics. Issues of censorship are usually politically motivated. This person has so far self-censored, which I believe is the most prudent.

No, this person self censored in the sense that she PMed you instead of posting it.
YOU posted it, YOU posted it in the wrong forum.
Don't make this about censorship and being attacked for opinions.
Seriously.
I merely pointed out it was in the wrong forum, don't have a cow.

Little Fury · #6 05-17-2007, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sophia_

Am I authentic? Is anyone here authentic? Should life on KR be literal? What do we gain from authentic self-expression?

These questions belong in spirituality and philosophy.

Sophia_ · #7 05-17-2007, 11:55 PM

I believe this is worthy of News and Politics. We see issues through our own values and perspectives, therefore what is authentic or newsworthy has much to do with how we filter such issues. So it seems the news is so often "bad news" or sensational. News often represents the issues that cause us to over-react. The narcissism which is repressed in us is often manipulated by the media-- we are shocked by what has manifest into our world, by people we had some unconscious attachment to. We love to read grave stories about people we look up to that fall to tragic events.

I believe narcissism and authenticity are connected to our politics and our interest in news stories. We react to stimuli in the outer world which reflects our repressed and hidden natures.

Sophia_ · #8 05-18-2007, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Hi Sophia_,

Thanks for getting right back to me. I did go talk to a couple of friends about my concerns of wasting my time on KR in a thread with you. You mentioned that you didn't understand why a person should fear talking with a poet in public who is merely expressing himself and not lying. Well, after reading so much of the postings you made as Paladin, Osho, Sophia_, and of course so many of the semi-adjusted quotes from careful carpenter that have a very heavy disingenuos feel to them, as well as checking with Sophia College, you do not have a 100% record in telling the truth. Repeat: you do not have a 100% record in telling the truth. That is as nice as I can put it. The 'Let's Be Specific About Rape' thread is another glaring Narcissitic example. Man, you have some serious women issues! Are you really a rapist, or not? Of course, you'll say it's just a metaphor, but it did bring you much attention and add to your 'infamous' rating, which you must love. We would have to talk to your wife, girlfriend, and children to delve in to the repression category of your personality under that part of narcissism. I would bet much money, that your wife has led quite a repressed life with you. She would have a hard time being able to express herself with you doing all the talking and going for all the attention. Grandiosity, we have tons of for examples. We could talk about Aristotle missing your complex emotional state of love, to begin the grandiosity investigation.
Ahh, the grandiosity of marerophilia!! What's next, scapegoating and blaming. Well, the narcissistic obsession with your artist/handyman identity crisis and rich people not paying you enough or wanting to hire you for your great work. The success/failure paradox. The denial of any narcissistic behaviors. The victim role in how you respond to members. The deep, deep need for attention and praise and respect coupled with the belief you are helping people and teaching them and guiding them toward wisdom, synchronicity, and the divine. Oh my god, you are not in any condition to help anyone, from what I can see in the postings. But, It's all you, baby. You are, indeed, incredible. I imagine you love to hear yourself go on and on and on and on, and are quite skilled at pontificating in public and not giving anyone else much time at the podium. You must spend hours quoting your most recent book ad infinitum. You have the pure boorish quality of a true narcissist in your postings. Why does everyone point that out to you. Sure, they do exagerate some by calling you sociopathic and psychotic. However, there is a strong component of sociopathy in most narcissists, as you know. Your KR identity of Sophia_ is a fundamental lie; your location of Sophia College is a fundamental lie. I am going against your narcissism by sending you this private message. I'm sorry not to contribute to your condition, but knowing quite a few narcissists, it's hard to give you any more attention or infamy than this. I hope I've helped. I actually find you quite interesting Paladin, so thanks for contributing and hanging in there. It will get better, I do believe.
Sincerely,
XXXXXX

Narcissism is usually covert. The image of respectability is a first clue. A narcissist sufferes great pain when they are exposed to public ridicule, often shielding themselves behind a 'wonderful' persona. This relates to what we see in the media--images of desirability, esteem, popularity, perfection, and others. The public is attracted to people who exemplify their repressed positive shadow. It would be social and political suicide to reveal the true whole self. Politicians often meet the profile of malignant narcissism. We, the public, love a good lynching of these types--it relieves us of our own responsibilities for the state of the world. We can slink back into our protected cave of denial and justification. We can blame "them" for all the worlds problems. Find a scapegoat or a whipping boy and we are safely hidden behind the focus.

Narcissism is the finger pointing outward.

Sophia_ · #9 05-18-2007, 01:01 AM

Timely and synchronistic!

Quote:

Thu May 17, 2007 08:31:18 PM PDT

"Sicko" Is Completed and We're Off to Cannes!

May 17, 2007

Friends,

It's a wrap! My new film, "Sicko," is all done and will have its world premiere this Saturday night at the Cannes Film Festival. As with "Bowling for Columbine" and "Fahrenheit 9/11," we are honored to have been chosen by this prestigious festival to screen our work there.

My intention was to keep "Sicko" under wraps and show it to virtually no one before its premiere in Cannes. That is what I have done and, as you may have noticed if you are a recipient of my infrequent Internet letters, I have been very silent about what I've been up to. In part, that's because I was working very hard to complete the film. But my silence was also because I knew that the health care industry -- an industry which makes up more than 15 percent of our GDP -- was not going to like much of what they were going to see in this movie and I thought it best not to upset them any sooner than need be.

Well, going quietly to Cannes, I guess, was not to be. For some strange reason, on May 2nd the Bush administration initiated an action against me over how I obtained some of the content they believe is in my film. As none of them have actually seen the film (or so I hope!), they decided, unlike with "Fahrenheit 9/11," not to wait until the film was out of the gate and too far down the road to begin their attack.

Bush's Treasury Secretary, Henry Paulson, launched an investigation of a trip I took to Cuba to film scenes for the movie. These scenes involve a group of 9/11 rescue workers who are suffering from illnesses obtained from working down at Ground Zero. They have received little or no help with their health care from the government. I do not want to give away what actually happens in the movie because I don't want to spoil it for you (although I'm sure you'll hear much about it after it unspools Saturday). Plus, our lawyers have advised me to say little at this point, as the film goes somewhere far scarier than "Cuba." Rest assured of one thing: no laws were broken. All I've done is violate the modern-day rule of journalism that says, "ask no questions of those in power or your luncheon privileges will be revoked."

This preemptive action taken by the Bush administration on the eve of the "Sicko" premiere in Cannes led our attorneys to fear for the safety of our film, noting that Secretary Paulson may try to claim that the content of the movie was obtained through a violation of the trade embargo that our country has against Cuba and the travel laws that prohibit average citizens of our free country from traveling to Cuba. (The law does not prohibit anyone from exercising their first amendment right of a free press and documentaries are protected works of journalism.)

I was floored when our lawyers told me this. "Are you saying they might actually confiscate our movie?" "Yes," was the answer. "These days, anything is possible. Even if there is just a 20 percent chance the government would seize our movie before Cannes, does anyone want to take that risk?"

Certainly not. So there we were last week, spiriting a duplicate master negative out of the country just so no one from the government would take it from us. (Seriously, I can't believe I just typed those words! Did I mention that I'm an American, and this is America and NO ONE should ever have to say they had to do such a thing?)

I mean, folks, I have just about had it. Investigating ME because I'm trying to help some 9/11 rescue workers our government has abandoned? Once again, up is down and black is white. There are only two people in need of an investigation and a trial, and the desire for this across America is so widespread you don't even need to see the one's smirk or hear the other's sneer to know who I am talking about.

But no, I'm the one who now has to hire lawyers and sneak my documentary out of the country just so people can see a friggin' movie. I mean, it's just a movie! What on earth could I have placed on celluloid that would require such a nonsensical action against me?

Ok. Scratch that.

Well, I'm on my way to Cannes right now, a copy of the movie in my bag. Don't feel too bad for me, I'll be in the south of France for a week! But then it's back to the U.S. for a number of premieres and benefits and then, finally, a chance for all of you to see this film that I have made. Circle June 29th on your calendar because that's when it opens in theaters everywhere across the country and Canada (for the rest of the world, it opens in the fall).

I can't wait for you to see it.

Yours,

Michael Moore

P.S. I will write more about what happens from Cannes. Stay tuned on my website, MichaelMoore.com.

Ophiel Ophiuci · #10 05-18-2007, 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sophia_

Narcissism is usually covert. The image of respectability is a first clue. A narcissist sufferes great pain when they are exposed to public ridicule, often shielding themselves behind a 'wonderful' persona. This relates to what we see in the media--images of desirability, esteem, popularity, perfection, and others. The public is attracted to people who exemplify their repressed positive shadow. It would be social and political suicide to reveal the true whole self. Politicians often meet the profile of malignant narcissism. We, the public, love a good lynching of these types--it relieves us of our own responsibilities for the state of the world. We can slink back into our protected cave of denial and justification. We can blame "them" for all the worlds problems. Find a scapegoat or a whipping boy and we are safely hidden behind the focus.

Narcissism is the finger pointing outward.

You're not a whipping boy though.

Anyway, why leave the name off the PM? To make it look like it was done anonymously? A PM isn't covert, it's discrete, the person was trying to do you a favour by not humiliating you in public and/or further nurturing your narcissism. You should thank them. But instead you're trying to make them out to be a coward. You are a pussy.

Little Fury · #11 05-18-2007, 02:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ophiel Ophiuci

You're not a whipping boy though.

That ruins his whole schtick, sugartits.

When not assuming his usual role (sad victim of everyone else's misdirected self-hatred) what does he really contribute? Every time you turn around he's assuming the christ position. Rather appropriate for what was once a Courtney Love board.

thumbscrew · #12 05-18-2007, 02:51 AM

So where are the "important points"?

Wildwoman · #13 05-18-2007, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thumbscrew

So where are the "important points"?

Presumably, to regain a sense of control by posting in public what was written as a private message, and to make the customary baseless accusations of censorship to the N&P regulars as though the message doesn’t specifically only mention Sophia as a reason for not posting. Oh, wait, those would be the ‘important points’ regarding starting this thread. The ‘important points’ in the PM are the same things most posters say to Sophia on a regular basis that he pays no mind to except to turn it around and accuse others of.

I honestly don’t know if this thing is sincerely insane or having fun inventing a troll personality. But I figure it doesn’t matter. Either way, it isn’t important.

Little Fury · #14 05-18-2007, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wildwoman

Presumably, to regain a sense of control by posting in public what was written as a private message, and to make the customary baseless accusations of censorship to the N&P regulars as though the message doesn’t specifically only mention Sophia as a reason for not posting. Oh, wait, those would be the ‘important points’ regarding starting this thread. The ‘important points’ in the PM are the same things most posters say to Sophia on a regular basis that he pays no mind to except to turn it around and accuse others of.

I honestly don’t know if this thing is sincerely insane or having fun inventing a troll personality. But I figure it doesn’t matter. Either way, it isn’t important.

you must spread it around before yatt a;jhd you know the drill.

Sophia_ · #15 05-18-2007, 02:28 PM

Michael Moore is a master at manipulating public narcissism. He can blatantly accuse, yet the public goes along with identifying with the projections, because narcissism is blinded by its own denial. I actually like what Michael is doing. He's trying to awaken those blinded by repressed self- importance and fear.

"Sicho" should be the next therapy session in the healing process. Unfortunately, or fortunately, which ever way a person sees the world, people may not see his motives. I think his art is wonderful!