Quote Originally Posted by AndrewBlack
Maybe you're a psychopath? .........
Seriously though has it ever crossed your mind, I've wondered it about myself before, unable to resist instant gratification, doesn't feel guilty about stuff, selfish...etc......Statistically, some of us have to be psychopaths.
the answers are No, yes, I don't know about you, and yes some of us are!

As you can see from my thumbnail sketch of psychopathic traits in a previous post a little earlier in this thread, they don't have any angst , save only largely imagined wrongs done to them. They lie ,cheat , and abuse friendships in all ways possible, yet get incredibly angry when anyone rejects them. psychopathy is a spectrum trait, some of us with just the minimal soupson of it, giving in to a little selfish self grativication,say eating the last chocolate in the box rather than offering it to our mate, friend whatever, others with a major trait yet still capable of strategic thinking become captains of industry, politicians etc. Fully fledged psychopaths are so into their own fantasies, and so much at the mercy of them that , whilst they can lie through their teeh with such apparent sincerity as to convince the most experienced sceptic, they think only tactically, and never learn from experience , and so get found out eventually. So the most dangerous , are those with a strong trait but with a cabability for strategic thinking, who tend to gravitate to the top in such areas as politics, business and crime.

As for me, growing up as an insular only child, sorrounded by doting female relatives, but without a father until nearly six, I have some of the self centredness and complacency, but am otherwise caring and supportive of others; so no I am not a psychopath, just eccentric!

Finally my mentioning "gravitating to the top", puts me in mind of one the Rev. Sidney Smith's(1771-1847 english clergyman,essayist,and wit) best quotes:--

" You and I are the exceptions to the laws of nature; you have risen by your gravity, and I have sunk by my levity."

In fact he is such a hero of mine I think I will embellish all my future posts with more of his sayings, and will close with one that may appeal to you american cousins

"The further he went west, the more convinced he felt that the wise men came from the east."