Hatred and Racism Over Monday Morning Memo®!
I receive a lot of email thanking me for Monday Morning Memo® (latest one is below) or offering other views. I try to respond to them all. The subscription list keeps growing, now past 15,000.
Yet, every so often, perhaps twice a year, the underbelly of society turns up. To give you a glimpse of how much hatred there is for others’ opinions, here’s a response received from someone who made what I felt were racist comments and who I said was free to disagree but didn’t have to let me know about it, and wasn’t listening to my response.
Of course, I’m not a psychologist, don’t live in the hinterlands (I didn’t think), but never mind the inaccuracies, just read the venom:
“I’m not listening to you? Of course not; are you crazy? As a PhD in Psychology you’re basically a magician with a degree. I’m sure your dissertation was done on something relating to your dog. That’s a subject you seem to be intimately familiar with. That’s scary. Are you an animal lover? Maybe that’s why you live out in the hinterlands, to be closer to nature. There must be a few sheep in the area that love you, especially during maple syrup season.
“You should stick to talking about subjects that you are familiar with, your car, your dog, taking cruises etc.
“Typically sociopaths like you want to foist their worst traits on other people. I’m not buying your bull; never have and never will. Take out the DSM 5 (if you can afford the new edition) it has has your picture next to Narcissist with a notation to also see Schmuck. You have been drinking too much of your own Kool-Aid.
“Frankly you are full of hot air; which is normal for a psychologist. You’ve got the zeros on the wrong side of the one. The other 10 people who subscribe to your weekly rant have it going straight to the spam folder, which is where all your mail to me now goes.
“Adios you old fart.”
This was sent by a David Malek, though he tried to disguise his email signature on this, of course. Isn’t it refreshing to be sane when you read this stuff? Of course, I’m a “sociopath” so what would I know?!
Craig Martin
That is absolutely disgusting!
It’s clearly a response from someone who hasn’t spent any time reading your pieces and absorbing the messages within. One of the first points I heard from you (in this blog I believe) mentions there being a fine line between confidence and arrogance and sometimes one can appear to step over that line, but it’s part of progress.
As for being a narcissist, the fact you accept that not all your ideas will work for all people at all times, and that everything you say should be subject to alteration and experimentation in line with the individuals circumstances, flies against the I AM PERFECTION PERSONIFIED grandiosity exhibited by narcissists.
That you can’t afford the DSM5 is laughable.
That psychologists are magicians with a degree is insulting, as I have seen the wonderful work they do with mental illness as well as the fantastic support they’ve given me since being diagnosed with ADD. They do not spout hot air, but it may sound like that to narcissistic sociopaths who don’t understand or like what they hear!
Dear Mr Malek, sociopaths, as you know, are unable to empathise with other individuals. They may have difficulty forming meaningful relationships with other people and often deem themselves as being far above their peers in terms of value and knowledge. Their disregard for other people is commonly displayed by using personal (ad-hominem) attacks, while attempting to discredit their capabilities and intelligence before finishing with an offensive remark.
Not that dissimilar to the statement written by yourself.
Alan Weiss
I published this to show some of the irrational, toxic hatred that’s just below the surface in society, people who simply want to hate and excoriate others. Imagine if this guy has a family?
Craig Martin
Poor buggers. What chance would they have with a guy like that at their development helm?
When I was a kid I thought my parents knew everything.
When I was in my 20’s I thought that I knew everything.
Now I’m in the last months of my 30’s I’ve long accepted that I can’t know everything, but it’s bloody funny trying to!
If there’s one thing I’ve learned here about others, its that a lack of self confidence, even if it’s hidden deep within the mind, is arguably the biggest cause of venom and destructive behaviour against others.
Alan Weiss
What you’re seeing is self-anger directed outward.
Philippe Back
This notion of self-anger directed outward is priceless. It helped me dozens of times in handling myself better, and dealing more efficiently with “difficult people.”
Thx Alan.
Alan Weiss
Glad to hear that!
Alan Willett
Indeed that was ridiculous, immature, and borderline insane. Also parts made me laugh out loud. Especially the sheep and maple syrup part, which I still haven’t figured out how that fits together!
I have read more cohesive writing and logic on a Dr. Bonner soap label.
Wow – what a way to start your day!
Noah
Venom indeed. That’s just ugly, and really sad.
Alan Weiss
It’s important to understand that there’s a cohort of emotionally disturbed people who vote for president, walk the streets, and perhaps teach our children.
Tim Wilson
Alan, I don’t know why but for some reason I’m reminded of the line Alfred said to Bruce Wayne when discussing the Joker, “some men just want to see the world burn.” This person sounds like one of them.
Your are absolutely correct that just below the surface there are people who can’t, won’t accept the fact they can be wrong and others correct. They resort to name calling and vitriolic speech. And as you pointed out self-anger projected outward.
Alan Weiss
There is this mindless hatred in some quarters that has to be exposed for what it is.
Chris Blackman
I call Mr. Malek out for fraud. I have just checked: his claim about your picture in the DSM5 is untrue.
Another point (amongst the invective) he seems to be missing is that a psychologist is one who follows a particular profession. It’s not a label for a personality type. The only profession I know of that truly relies on hot air is that of a balloon pilot.
Alan Weiss
Welcome to the word of the inept and incoherent. These are people who simply hate anyone with a differing view and launch personal attacks. These are the vigilantes. I’m amazed someone like this can walk upright.