Wow. The word ‘narcissist’ (including narcissists, narcissistic and narcissism) appears in this article no less than 60 times!

That suggests a ‘slight’ imbalance to me!

Like so many other human foibles, so-called narcissism could be considered to be within the spectrum of normal human behaviour, in much of its milder form, and only problematic when it gets a little severe or causes other people significant harm or offence.

As this relates to Dominic Strauss-Kahn, the ‘innocent until proven guilty assumption’ is much more important.

Here we have a man who has basically lost his job, his career, his reputation, and his formerly highly likely future leadership of France, and who protests his total innocence.

Until it has been determined that he did what he is accused of doing and in the serious manner that it has been purported to have occurred, people like Sam Vaknin should NOT be associating him with articles like this.

Our whole legal system is supposed to be predicated on an assumption of innocence. But just so totally isn’t!! THIS is at least as important as the most serious forms of narcissism.

'Narcissists, like children, have magical thinking. They feel omnipotent. They feel that there is nothing they couldn't do or achieve had they only really wanted to and applied themselves to it.'

That's what they tell ALL children these days. It's standard practise in all schools and parenting texts.

Especially girls. Girls can do anything!

Don't tell me we are deliberately nurturing a generation of narcissists?

OMG!

Houellebecq

Gangs of girls raping hotel staff.

Be afraid, very afraid.

Houellebecq, I do believe we are, and have been for about the past 2 decades, nurturing a generation of narcissists.

To tell our children that they can do and be whatever they want as long as they apply themselves is a useful encouragement and motivation - within the boundaries of acceptable legal and social mores.

It is largely failure on the part of parents, schools, judiciary and other authorities to teach, maintain and enforce those boundaries which has resulted in the prevalence of too many egocentric, disrespectful unpleasant children and young adults. Not saying that these will go on to commit crimes (though some undoubtedly will) but society is most definately NOT a better place for their presence.

Kids need to learn at an early age that they are part of the universe, not that it revolves around them.

More to the point, is the IMF a narcissistic bureaucracy ? The cap appears to fit.

divine_msn

I believe alcohol and drug stimulus is the driving force in a natural predisposition of youth, to display hormonal overactivism and unnatural levels of self-obsession (narcissism).

My fear for our youth is different to yours: I feel that compared to a time past, modern youth is stymied in social development by technology such as facebook networking sites which inhibit natural maturity and breed an inward looking product, devoid of ability to empathise and communicate effectively in the public arena.

In the contrary to trust, I believe our youth are growing into a system which lacks trust and faith in them. As an example, I sent my seventeen year old (trade)assistant to a Bunnings hardware store last week to buy a hand saw to replace one I damaged on the job; an innocent enough task, so I thought. He returned empty handed; denied the sale of a simple carpentry saw until he reaches the age of eighteen. That event is so far removed from the freedoms of my youth as to be rules applicable to another planet. I was shooting rabbits at fourteen with my own rifle and riding a motorcycle around while wearing no helmet, all acceptable behaviour: The young lad in question took his mate for a pillion up and down the street during lunch hour wearing no helmet (or shoes), if caught would be branded a criminal.

The more common street language for Strauss-Khan would be "up himself"

That said, given the information about him that is available,
that was availabe at the scene, given who he is and she is, I thought
the American justice system can be complimented for acting so
swiftly. I doubt if the same would have happened in France.