Quote: (05-16-2015 04:49 PM)DVY Wrote:
I've done some soul-searching and I can't make heads or tails about the "dark-triad traits". Yes, I've been manipulative, deceitful and selfish BUT I've been generous, truthful and selfless.
Is it really "dark-triad" if you figured out that this is the easier way to do things? Or is it being efficient? Or is it a reflection on others that they don't have the intelligence or courage to think independently. I really have no answers... just posing the Qs.
I lie to girls constantly (mostly in the beginning) and rationalize that I am giving them what they secretly want anyways. There is no being a playboy w/out selling the dream. On the other hand, I yearn for true freedom, independence and honestly.
I look at the dark triad as personality traits only. Given enough psychiatrists and enough time with any person and they would be able to label them psycho. And of all of the three, psycho is the hardest one for me to come to terms with. But am I anti social? Damn rights I am. At times.
DVY, you and I seem to be of similar thoughts so you will get this. I think we have enough natural 'game' most of our lives in order to get a lot of what we want, and only get into the darker parts of our brain to capture the little extra, or get the one small obsession. The natural curiosity that comes to certain guys leads more to the Machiavellian side as a boy becomes a man and strives to either leave behind, or use to his advantage, the average and below intelligence peers around him.
Narcissism also takes a bad rep here as a lot of guys associate it with 'selfies' and women. But I have molded my ego since I was a child and knew (partly because I was told) that I had a leg up on many of my peers. As an adult I was able to hone skills and accomplish many things that average people find amazing. My pride keeps my work to a level I have created for myself, without the need for constant attention.
Many of the other traits are dangerous though. I would never want to lose my empathy, even if it creates a vulnerability in me. I am steadfast in my beliefs that the stronger are meant to help the less fortunate. In my volunteer work over the years I have seen time and again that major traumatic events that happen to defenseless children set them on a path for addiction, prostitution and poverty. Without empathy I would only see the dirty beggar for the lazy and unmotivated human that they portray.
I have as many questions as you do, I think. I actually had to ponder your questions for a night as I have never formulated my thoughts on this in any way. After writing this out, I think it is definitely worth much more conscious thought.
